Mountain Bike!
William Neally
I got into mountain biking about the same time William Neally released Mountain Bike! It was the early 90’s and rigid forks, 18 speed bikes, top mount shifters and pedals with toe clips were what we used. Many would say it was the Golden Age of mountain biking. The sport hadn’t yet caught on with the general public and this was before Mountain Dew ads with bikers hucking off jumps had really appeared. It was a time before corporate America had invaded the ‘new’ sport. Smaller, independent manufacturers flourished (Bridgestone, Grove Innovations, Eastern Woods Research, Fat Chance) yet for the entry level consumer there were many options available from companies like Diamond Back, Schwinn, Giant, Trek, Specialized and Mongoose. Mountain biking was delivered to the masses. Neally perfectly captures this early innocence.
What is amazing when you flip through this book are the many moves that are associated with mountain biking and they are catalogued here in amazing detail. Combination moves like shifting your weight to one side of the bike while preparing for a gravel strewn ascent are cleverly illustrated. These are moves that to a seasoned mountain biker are almost second nature. You just basically do it. However, Neally is able to break down these techniques with amazing clarity and detail. He also manages to combine these tips and explanations with some incredible humor. His pictures and captions will get the grumpiest among us to crack a smile.
The book is widely available on the internet and I strongly suggest you pick up a copy for yourself. For those who missed the early stages of the sport it serves as a history book of a bygone era. Some of the younger crowd, however, may fail to appreciate the book. If you are looking for specifics on how to ride a fully suspended rig in a bike park this may not be for you. But if you are looking for a snapshot of how things used to be, this book delivers.