Comments on: Ride Guide New Jersey Mountain Biking

By: Chriss J

Chriss J — Sun, 04 Jul 2010 08:47:07 +0000

I gave this book a token 2 stars because I wasn’t actually able to try any of the trails for myself…So, I don’t know how good the trail maps or descriptions are. All I can report is that there isn’t anything here for those of us in the soutern part of the state! For mountain bikers in S. Jersey, I recommend Bob Di’Antonio’s “Mountain Bike America: Greater Philadelphia Area.” This book covers some S. Jersy rides as well as nearby Philadelpha and Eastern Pennsylvania.
Rating: 2 / 5

By: Joshua M. Pierce

Joshua M. Pierce — Sun, 04 Jul 2010 07:14:44 +0000

This isn’t necessarily a review, since I am the author, but I thought that this new edition warranted a comment. I completely rewrote this book over the past year for this third edition. If you look at the previous reviews of the book, I address all of the issues brought up by reviewers. I re-rode, re-plotted and re-measured every mile of trail in the book. I added nine new parks that include every place to mountain bike that I know of in South Jersey (including Estell Manor, Gloucester Community College and Wharton State Park).
New Jersey gets a bad rap from lots of people, but the truth is there is a lot of excellent riding in the Garden State.
Rating: 5 / 5

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Sun, 04 Jul 2010 06:39:50 +0000

I took up mountain biking last summer (1999). It has been a great source of challenge and pleasure to me. Finding this book has made such an adventure out of biking in NJ! It is well-written, has great maps with the mileage and turns and a good rating system so you know what you are getting into before you leave. Driving directions to the spots and explanations of where to park, whether or not there is a fee… it’s got everything you need to know. He really did a good job of researching the book and a nice touch is the inclusion of other nearby sites (relevant to the place you pick). One possible improvement: There’s a map of NJ showing all the sites, it would be nice if the page numbers were listed there and the trail ratings were also included on the map. As it is now, you need to go to 3 different pages to find all of that info. Hardly worth mentioning, but if there was one thing to make it better, that would be it, in my opinion.
Rating: 5 / 5

By: Midwest Book Review

Midwest Book Review — Sun, 04 Jul 2010 06:18:05 +0000

Biking has become an increasingly popular hobby — even more so these days with the astronomical prices of gas. Now in a newly updated third edition, “Ride Guide: New Jersey Mountain Biking” by mountain biking expert Joshua M. Pierce is a comprehensive guidebook to mountain biking rails throughout the Garden State. The twenty-six rides include both low-impact and hard-core trails that take the rider through the varied and occasionally spectacular terrain that New Jersey offers. “Ride Guide: New Jersey Mountain Biking” is enhanced with the inclusion of practical information as to levels of trail difficulty, turn-by-turn cue sheets and maps, as well as accurate and succinct descriptions of topography, trail conditions, and points of interest. Also very highly recommended for regional bike enthusiasts is Joel D. Sendek’s “Ride Guide: Mountain Biking in The New York Metro Area, third edition” (9780933855267, $15.95).
Rating: 5 / 5

By: Mark

Mark — Sun, 04 Jul 2010 05:49:55 +0000

A more discriptive title would be, “Ride Guide Mountain Biking the Counties of Northern and Central New Jersey.” For those of you living in the southern part of the state…look elsewhere. All of Southern New Jersey is ignored. Wharton State Forest is the largest single tract of land within the New Jersey State Park System. It covers part of Atlantic, Burlinton, and Camden counties and has some great off road riding. Lebanon St. Forest is historic and includes a major section of the 50 mile Batona trail. A major mountain bike publication listed Lebanon St. Forest in an article called “Five Great Places to Ride Double Track.” These areas’ as well as the rest of Southern New Jersey are completely ignored in “New Jersey Mountain Biking”Hey Josh, buddy. Come on…if you’re going to write a book about riding in New Jersy, how about including the rest of us!
Rating: 1 / 5