Review of Bicycling America's National Parks: Arizona and New Mexico: The Best Road and Trail Rides from the Grand Canyon to Carlsbad Caverns

Bicycling America's National Parks: Arizona and New Mexico: The Best Road and Trail Rides from the Grand Canyon to Carlsbad Caverns
Average Rating: 4.0 Total Reviews: 1
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surprisingly good

by: jrawlins On: 2005-06-18

I bought this book expecting it to be a useless gimmick--especially since Ive hated Alleys other mtb guide books. Lo and behold, its a gem with a specific and useful purpose: if youre going to visit the national parks in these states and want to ride in or around them, this book is essential. I ride and my partner doesnt, and she loves National Parks, where good riding can be hard to find, so this book saved our lives--she would visit the park and I would head out to find a nearby ride. The trail and road choices are good--the treatment of trails/roads around the south rim of the Grand Canyon is the best Ive found. Alley casts her net widely around the parks--anything within 60 miles or so of the park counts. Thus the "trails in and near Tuzigoot Natl Monument" is really little more than a short list of trails in Sedona, 40 minutes away. Trail info is good, background info is fascinating, and the maps are the usual. Each park or monument begins with a handy one-paragraph summary of the riding opportunities, e.g. "Near this park you have a choice of two nice road rides, one beautiful dirt road, and three challenging single-tracks." One inexplicable gaff: the book omits Canyon de Chelly, so youre on your own, but you only have two paved roads to choose from there anyway.