mtb sites & info
i think there's an adk book re: mt biking in the daks.
in ny, there's quite a few areas to mtb: inlet, ny / old forge/ garnet hill, stewart afb, minnewaska st park (awesome for beginners and the views are really, really nice!), thatcher park etc.
you can also go to
www.trails.com - they require a membership for detailed info, but you can get the names of the trails, then do a web search on them & get the info for free. just click on your area on the map/ and on the mtb link.
here's a few other links
http://www.wnymba.org/portal.php
http://www.mtbr.com/trails/ go to your state
http://www.bikeadirondacks.com/
http://www.orda.org/mtnbiking.htm
http://www.hudsonriver.com/mtbiking.htm
http://www.kingdomtrails.org/links.html (in eastern vermont - rated one of the best mtb trail systems in the country!)
hhttp://mtb.live.com/
http://www.mbronline.com/
http://www.killington.com/summer/mountainbiking.html
plus, i contacted a bike shop up in lake placid ( the name escapes me right now) but they sent me a link to a list of all the trails up that way. also: inlet, ny - i contacted the chamber and was also sent an extensive list.
this should keep you busy for a bit. if i find my actual lists - i'll forward.
Here's some lists:
http://www.placidplanetbicycles.com/mountainride.htm
http://www.inletny.com/mtn_bike_trails.htm
Also: in regards to books, go to your local library, i found several when i first started to ride and they arent' really any type of book you need to keep so save the money for gear & parts!
if you need gear/parts try sites such as: nashbar, supergo, pricepoint, jenson usa & cambria.