Sportive events are the equivalent of marathon running, in which cyclists are involved in a personal fight to ride long distances. Mountain biking can be fast and furious, although always fun. There are many variations of this sport, from trail riding and four-cross to slalom and dirt-jump riding. This volume is the essential guide for any cyclist who wants to improve their performance on a sportive or mountain bike. Including sections on the most suitable cycle for either discipline, the clothing you will need, setting goals, what to expect, the types of events, the strategies, and how to beef up your fitness to prepare for them, the book helps you get started at whatever level you feel comfortable. The great sportives of the world, including Cape Argus and Gran Fondo Gimondi as well as great races such as Milan San Remo, are outlined in detail, with the routes, the pitfalls and the tactics that win. The many different disciplines of mountain biking are explained. After choosing the right bike, the clothing and equipment, the book teaches all the skills such as dealing with mud and rocks, choosing a line, descending, climbing and downhill racing. There is information on well-known mountain bike rides around the world, such as Moab, Utah, US, or the South Downs Way, UK, with tips about the distances involved, the difficulty of the ride, the climb, and the surfaces that have to be traversed. More than 200 evocative photographs illustrate the bikes and equipment, the techniques, the great races and training techniques.