| When it comes to mountain biking, everybody who | | | | then as they are today, it is only the bikes that have |
| takes part does it for a different reason. It could be | | | | really changed. |
| that they enjoy the leisurely rides along the countryside, | | | | The main trouble with the bikes when they were first |
| it could be that they want to keep fit, or it could be that | | | | designed, was that they were not overly sturdy. The |
| they want to take part in extreme biking. Whatever | | | | bikes today are built to withstand practically everything |
| your reasons are for taking part in mountain biking, | | | | that can be thrown at them. This makes them ideal for |
| when you look back into mountain bike history, you will | | | | extreme biking. The frames have been made lighter, |
| see that it wasn't always as popular as it is today. | | | | yet stronger at the same time. There are also more |
| The History of Mountain Bikes | | | | gears on mountain bikes today too. Riders first started |
| One of the main reasons why mountain biking is more | | | | to change their bikes when they wanted to adapt to |
| popular today than it was in the 1970's for example, is | | | | downhill runs and routes. That is how the typical |
| because the bikes today are designed much better | | | | modern day mountain bike started out. |
| than they used to be. The way they are designed | | | | The bikes that were mainly on sale when mountain |
| now has made biking more accessible to more people. | | | | biking was first created, were ones that were created |
| So whilst it may still have been popular back in the | | | | only for the road. So that is where they were mainly |
| 1970's, these days it is much more accessible to a | | | | ridden. People did start to take their bikes off road, but |
| wider range of people. | | | | it was not as popular. It was the enthusiasts within |
| If you were to look at when mountain biking first | | | | California which changed this and they thought about |
| started, you will notice that it was in California where a | | | | creating a bike that could handle all terrains. |
| group of enthusiasts got together. They decided to try | | | | So overall the main reason why you can now enjoy |
| out downhill racing and that was the main type of | | | | mountain biking off the road over all kinds of different |
| mountain biking that was enjoyed right at the beginning. | | | | terrain is down to those enthusiasts in California. It all |
| Today it is still as popular, but it is not the only type of | | | | started back in the 1970's and thanks to those |
| biking enjoyed by enthusiasts these days. The tracks | | | | enthusiasts mountain biking is now more popular than |
| that were ridden along were exactly the same back | | | | ever before. |