Leave breadcrumbs

The mountain biking in Oregon is pretty close to perfect. If that's what you're looking for, this is your book. The second edition of Kissing the Trail has 84 mountain bike rides all over Oregon—trails near Hood River, East Mount Hood, Bend, Oakridge, Eugene, and around greater Portland. It features a trails at Scappoose and two North Umpqua epics. These are mountain bike trails you won't find in any other guidebook. Elevation profiles, GPS coordinates, obsessively precise maps, over-the-bars trail descriptions. Plus the best driving directions you'll find in any guidebook. It's all mountain biking, and you'll be on singletrack on nearly every ride. Note: Last published in 2008; some of the trails have been changed, rerouted, or are gone entirely. So enjoy the rides at your own risk.

One thing is guaranteed to make you a faster runner. Intervals. There's also one thing that circles and double underlines the sheer tedium of running. Again, intervals! Running in Circles is different. It's for serious runners, but… The illustrations are off the hook. The writing is quirky and playful. The workouts make you think and run at the same time. Run hard! If you go to the track and try running a few of these workouts, you will never subject yourself to repetitive, humorless, mind-numbing intervals again. You're much smarter than that. Plus, you want to run faster. With a foreword by Lisa Jhung, author of Running That Doesn't Suck: How to Love Running (Even If You Think You Hate It).

See some sample workouts.

About the authors: Tucker, Zilly, Grube

The birthplace of Seattle, West Seattle has enticed adventurous pioneers since the Denny Party landed on Alki Beach in 1851. Now this enigmatic neighborhood is the first in Seattle to have its own guidebook—West Seattle 101. Inside you'll find an eclectic collection of 101 things to do. Fly fish at Lincoln Park, take it off at striptease aerobics, savor ice cream at the iconic Husky Deli, and discover 98 other intriguing West Seattle activities. Written by Westside native Lori Hinton, West Seattle 101 is a true insider's guide for locals and tourists alike, packed with details for each adventure plus a peek at the colorful characters and history of this thriving community.

About the author: Creative site, LinkedIn

5 Star Review from Amazon: This is one of 3 local hiking guides I have of the area and this is definitely the most user-friendly one. The driving directions were clear and the description of the hikes was accurate and very helpful.

The thing I appreciate most with this guide provides was that whether or not there is a fee (parking and/or permit) involved at each hike. By listing who manages each trail, I could avoid arriving at a hike to find out that I did not have cash to pay for parking or that I should have stop by a local vendor to get a punishment.

Also, I always take my dog on hikes, so it is good to know the pet regulation at each trail.

This is definitely a must for everyone who lives in the Seattle area and wants to explore the local trails.

In 1993, Kissing the Trail began serving up just what Seattle mountain bikers craved—great dirt trails within 85 miles of the city. The third edition stakes up more of the same good mountain grub. Seattle's mountain bike bible is back, with all the irreverence, fun, and expert detail you've come to expect. Whatever your factor or abilities, Kissing the Trail leads the way to great rides. Note: Last published in 2003; many of the trails have been changed, rerouted, or are gone entirely. So if you can find this book, enjoy the rides at your own risk.

5 Star Review: I wish all guide books were as well researched as this one. Each hand drawn map has GPS waypoints on it plus all the major features and a reference to the USGS/Green Trails Map. Locations of nearby campgrounds and supplies. Plus a very nice rating system so you don't get in over your head. There are 2 maybe 3 overlapping trails with the "Kissing the Trail" book but that's ok. Wish I had thought of having a career of riding my bike and writing a book about it. Way to go John.

For an exceptional fat-tire roundup of the Evergreen State, follow the highly informative tread of John Zilly. The author of Kissing the Trail widens his scope with two volumes detailing some of the best trails in Western Washington. Mountain Bike! Northwest Washington and its companion, Mountain Bike! Southwest Washington are the definition of good guidebooks: they boast serious research, sensible organization, and a battery of useful trail maps and directions. What's more, Zilly possesses a flair for the written word not often found in such practical guides: he steers the hungry cyclist through a variety of trail conditions and skill levels in style, highlighting particularly gnarly terrain and displaying an infectious enthusiasm for the thrill of a squarely midwestern descent. Serious knobby-heads will also thank Zilly (and, later on the trail, curse him) for the inclusion of 10-mile "epics," all-day single-track journeys that combine awesome views, technical riding, and all-out endurance tests. Note: Last published in 1998; many of the trails have been changed, rerouted, or are gone entirely. So if you can find this book, enjoy the rides at your own risk.

Filled with tips for training for a trip and then some, this mountain bike guide describes 50 mountain bike rides between Whistler, British Columbia, and Santa Barbara, California with 65 maps, 105 b&w photos, and precise trail descriptions. The guide also includes maps for touring the entire coast and information on restaurants, bed & breakfasts, bike shops, campgrounds and more. Note: Last published in 1995; many of the trails have been changed, rerouted, or are gone entirely. So if you can find this book, enjoy the rides at your own risk.

The first ever mountain bike guide for Idaho. The Mountain Bike Adventure Guide was, in its day, the bible for riding trails near Sun Valley. It went out of print after three editions, but riders enjoyed it throughout the 1990s. Note: Last published in 1995; many of the trails have been changed, rerouted, or are gone entirely. So enjoy the rides at your own risk.

One of the first mountain bike guides for the amazing, high desert trails near Sun Valley, Idaho. The Son of the Mountain Bike Adventure Guide was, in its day, a bible for cyclists searching out dirt trails near in the greater Ketchum area. It went out of print after two editions, but riders enjoyed it throughout the 1990s. Note: Last published in 1995; many of the trails have been changed, rerouted, or are gone entirely. So enjoy the rides at your own risk.

Ever bought a video game so bad it bordered on bogus? $50 down the drain. Fear not. The Good, The Bad, and The Bogus (TGTB2) reviews and rates more than 775 Sega Genesis, Sega CD, and Super Nintendo games, including all the classics. If you love those early gaming consoles and the nutty games that ran on them, this just might be the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow.

Extremely rare and hard to find. Try GoodReads or Amazon