Years ago a met a cyclist named John Summerson on the King of the Mountain list serve. He checked out my Southern Appalachian Road Climbs web site and then asked me to review some layouts, maps and text of his upcoming book, The Complete Guide to CLIMBING (By Bike). I said, "sure!" I was honored to have been asked by John to review it. Well, John just sent me a copy of the book. I was thrilled to see my name is in the Acknowledgments section.
Be sure to pick this one up. It highlights the 144 climbs across the USA. It also includes a top 10 list of most difficult climbs.
-Frank (wishes he was a climber, but he's a sprinter instead.)
My review of the book:
ReplyDeleteJohn,
I've been looking at the book more closely. You've done a very nice
job. Of course, there are tons of climbs across the country that you
did not include....but, I don't think that is as important as the
quality of content that you have provided the reader for the climbs
that you did include. Maybe one approach to include more climbs
would be to publish regional books every so often. But, that has to
be a lot of work.
I really like how the book touches on many aspects and interest of
climbing in general....and not just the climbs. The ratings and the
profiles are great. The section on Memorable Climbing Performance
add a VERY NICE touch to the reader before they start reading about
the climbs. It kind of get the reader all pumped up and excited
before they "climb" through the book. It is very motivational to
read that section and then go into the climbs. The layout and the
content flow from front to back is great and in the correct order.
In the sections of the climbs you did a very nice job to include the
information on one page without have to turn the page to finish
reading about any of the climbs. Great layout. The maps are good.
There are so many mapping technologies out there today, I think you did a very good job with the maps. I can understand them and read the sections and climbs that I've been on myself. I do love the Cherohala Skyway, it is one of my favorites. I finished 10th on the Cherohala Challenge in 2005....it was my best performance ever....and honestly I am not a climber....but I climbed from 23rd to 10th that day on that climb up the Skyway.
I climbed Mount Lemmon in November.....we didn't make it all the way to the top because we had to get to Kitt Peak for a night under the stars....but I did love that climb.
I have not read every piece of the book, but what I have read I
really like. Maybe the only thing that would be missing is a list of
worthy climbs that you did not include. Obviously I know of many in the Southeast, as well as you do too.....but to maybe fend off the
"you didn't include my favorite climb" people....that would be a
useful list to include in the book. Probably the most significant
southeastern climb that I know of that you did not include would be
Hogpen gap in north GA. That, I believe, may be a little harder than Brasstown....and anything else that I have climbed. But, that is
okay. I really like this book and was happy to see that you credited
me. I have a ton of motivation to work on my mountainmapper.com
website, but just need the time.
I hope all is going well.
-Frank