general

The Ultimate Ride picks up and refines where a previous collaboration between Lance and Chris titled "The Lance Armstrong Performance Program - 7 Weeks to the Perfect Ride" left off. The Ultimate Ride provides enough detail in the areas of goal setting, proper training routines, nutrition, and overall bike and body awareness that I constantly pick it up and refer to it as a reference tool before and after a ride. If you have constant pain after a ride there is a chart in there to break down the causes of such pains. If you want to know how to eat and drink in preparation of a race or long ride or what is best to eat and drink for recovery after the ride, it is in there. If you want to learn to climb better, it is in there. Riders of all levels will find nuggets of information that will make them a better cyclist.

I would assume that most people who buy this book do so because they're looking to self-train themselves and need some guidance on how to do so. That, at least, is the reason I looked into it. Unfortunately, the Ultimate Ride is inadequate for such a purpose.
Carmichael emphasizes that periodization is the best way to organize your training year. However, he gives you no advice on how to actually do this. He tells you its important, but doesn't get into the hows and whys of it. He gives examples of training months (4 total), but offers no insights on planning subsequent months, or on linking months together coherently. He tells you that you should gradually increase "workout stimulus" in a stairstep fashion, but doesn't describe how to actually do it.
This is the biggest problem with Carmichael's book- he tends to tell you that things are important, but doesn't bother describing how to put them into practice. As a cyclist you already KNOW that these things- training principles, cycling techniques, skills, etc.- are important- that's why you bought the book to begin with! What you need to know is HOW to improve them. This is where Carmichael fails.
I suspect this failure is intentional. The reviewer below who likened the book to an infomercial was spot-on. Carmichael is trying to sell his training program, CTS. The reason this book is so spotty is that he wants you to go out and join his program to get the answers and the training that this book leaves you hungry for. This is pretty shoddy business, if you ask me.
I give it two stars because there is a smattering of helpful information, such as nutritional concerns and some good workouts. But much of the book consists of stuff you already know, or is filled with "Ra-ra-you-can-do-it-you're-the-champion-110-percent!!!" pop sports psychology that you could get from any junior high gym class. Extremely disappointing, can't even recommend it for absolute novices.

About 40% of this book presents the best written summary that I have seen on bicycling-related nutrition, physiology, tactics, and training. The other 60% is an infomercial for the Carmichael Training System (CTS). The book presents its information in a very redundant fashion, frequently repeating the same points over and over. For season veterans of bicycling who read a lot, you won't find too many new revelations to justify purchasing the book, however, the few that you do find may make it worth it. For those who are newer to the sport and who want to improve, I'd recommend this book. The best parts of this book are easy to read and have invaluable information. Skim the other 60% unless you want to pay for CTS coaching and need to understand more about it.