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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Cd-Rom Takes You On A Wild Bike Ride

Michael Hodgson Special To Outdoors

Product: “Mountain Biking: CDROM Skills for Outdoor Sports”

Description: An interactive, instructional CD-ROM available in either Windows or Macintosh.

The pros: Uses more than 400 animation, video and photo sequences to present mountain biking information and skills suitable for the serious amateur and would-be enthusiast in the most entertaining format I have ever seen. Combines the best of video with the best of books in presenting skills information clearly. Stresses environmental and safety responsibility throughout the program. Offers a clear, progressional learning curve so that the user can observe a technique or skill, play it back several times, even run it slowly in reverse if necessary, and then go out on a real bike and transition smoothly from virtual reality to actual application. I loved the animated mechanical drawings to illustrate skills!

Excellent use of buttons to allow the user to bounce around easily within the program, shooting from one area to the next without feeling lost in a computer zone.

The cons: The musical theme! On all the main menus and during many of the other featured video clips, the same music played over and over and over. Yeargg … I can hear it in my sleep like a bad commercial jingle. No, turning the volume down wasn’t an option since I needed to hear the narration that went along with the video clips.

Comments: WOW! I have never had so much fun reviewing a product from the seat of my desk before. I jumped logs, ripped down trails, climbed thigh-burning grades and only my finger got tired from clicking the mouse. Working with the CD-ROM made me want to get up out of my chair and go riding… which is what I’m going to do now. If you have been wondering what to get your mountain biking friend or family member for a special gift … this just might be a best bet.

Suggested retail: $59.95.

Company: Media Mosaic, 1314 N.W. Irving Street, Suite 713, Portland, OR 97209; (800) 972-3766.