2014 holiday gift guide: Books

If you are planning to do some shredding in the Bow Valley in Alberta or Pemberton Valley in B.C., you should check these two volumes by Peter Oprsal of bikepirate.com. The trails in Bow Valley Mountain Bike Trail Guide (Second Edition) ($22) and Pemberton Valley Mountain Bike Trail Guide ($24) are rated with skulls and cross bones. Five Jolly Rogers is a must ride; one, not so much. These guides also come as apps for your smartphone. Eric’s Big Day ($15) is a sweet tale of a boy on his bike, racing to meet a friend. Children age four to eight will enjoy the little adventures Eric has on his ride. Fat Tire Flyer ($30) is the story of the origins of mountain biking by someone who was there at the beginning, Charlie Kelly. Part coffee-table book, part history book, this volume is a must for any fan of the fat tire. Calgary journalist Tom Babin chronicles his journey into winter cycling in Frostbike ($20). He not only details how he started riding in the snow and cold, but the history of the art of winter riding and how it’s continuing to develop.

For more ideas, see our ever expanding 2014 holiday gift guide.