| Any place where the terrain is rough and the sky is | | | | and fatter tires. This group included Joe Breeze, Otis |
| blue in Dallas, Houston or elsewhere in Texas is a | | | | Guy, Gary Fisher and Keith Bontrager among others. It |
| place you'll probably find mountain bikers. The sport of | | | | was Joe Breeze who built the first new, |
| mountain biking usually refers to riding bicycles, which | | | | purpose-made mountain bike in 1977. |
| possess particular design characteristics, off-road, | | | | Tom Ritchey built the first regularly-available mountain |
| although sometimes the term simply refers to riding a | | | | bike frame, which was accessorized by Gary Fisher |
| mountain bike. | | | | and Charlie Kelly and sold by their company called |
| It's a tough, demanding sport that requires endurance, | | | | MountainBikes. The first two mass produced mountain |
| good bike handling skills and a lot of self-reliance. It's an | | | | bikes, the Specialized Stumpjumper and Univega Alpina |
| individual sport that can be performed almost | | | | Pro, were sold in 1982. |
| anywhere. There are certain aspects of mountain | | | | Mountain bikes differ from road racing bicycles in |
| biking that are similar to trail running, more so than | | | | several ways. They have a smaller and stronger |
| regular bicycling. And, because riders are often far | | | | frame, knobby, as well as wider and higher-profile tires, |
| from civilization, there is a strong ethic of self-reliance. | | | | which are mounted on a rim that is stronger and more |
| Seasoned riders have learned to repair their broken | | | | durable than a standard bicycle rim. They also include a |
| bikes or flat tires to avoid being stranded in the middle | | | | larger range of gears, to facilitate climbing up steep hills |
| of nowhere. This reliance on survival skills accounts for | | | | and over obstacles; a wider flat or upwardly rising |
| the group dynamics of the sport. Club rides and other | | | | handlebar that allows a more upright riding position; and, |
| forms of group rides are common, especially on longer | | | | often, some form of suspension system for either the |
| treks. | | | | front wheel or both wheels. |
| Mountain biking can be roughly broken down into five | | | | The inherent comfort and flexibility of the modern |
| categories: cross country, downhill, freeride, dirt jump | | | | mountain bike has led to an estimated 80% market |
| and trials/street riding. And, even though there are five | | | | share of bike sales in the United States, United |
| very different terrains to ride upon, most mountain | | | | Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and other |
| bikes have a similar look: knobby tires, large round- | | | | countries. While it is estimated that only between 10 |
| frame tubing, and some sort of suspension or shock | | | | and 20% of mountain bikes are actually ridden |
| absorbers. Mountain biking can be done anywhere | | | | off-road, the sport of mountain biking has seen an |
| from a backyard to a gravel road, but the majority of | | | | explosion in popularity and diversification. |
| mountain bikers prefer to ride trails which they call | | | | There are environmental concerns regarding a number |
| singletrack -- narrow trails that wind through forests, | | | | of outdoor extreme sports, but properly-built mountain |
| fields, deserts or mountainsides. | | | | bike trails have little negative environmental impact. |
| The bicycle has really been no stranger to off-roading | | | | Studies reported in the IMBA (International Mountain |
| since its invention toward the end of 1800's. The | | | | Bike Association) Trail Solutions manual have shown |
| modern sport of mountain biking originated in the 1970's | | | | that a mountain bike's impact is comparable to that of |
| with several groups of riders in Texas and other areas | | | | a hiker, and substantially less than that of an |
| of the U.S. making valid claims to playing a part in the | | | | equestrian. |
| sport's birth. | | | | But irresponsible use, such as using a trail when it is too |
| Riders in Crested Butte, Colorado, and Cupertino, | | | | wet, can be damaging, whether the individual is on foot, |
| California, tinkered with their bikes and adapted them | | | | bike, or horseback. It's clear that other activities, such |
| to the rigors of off-road riding. Other riders around the | | | | as horseback riding and ATV or motorcycle use, are |
| country copied their friends who rode motorcycles | | | | far more damaging. Improper routing or trail |
| off-road, and then began riding their bikes in a similar | | | | construction techniques may result in a trail that does |
| fashion. | | | | not hold up well to any kind of use. Riding in rainy |
| However, a group in Marin County, California -- | | | | conditions can create ruts and holes in the trail, making |
| recognized by the Mountain Bike Hall of Fame -- | | | | it less usable. |
| played a central role in the birth of the sport. They | | | | Physically demanding sports such as mountain biking |
| began racing down Mount Tamalpais on old 1930's and | | | | can be a great way to exercise to maintain good |
| '40s Schwinn bicycles, retrofitted with better brakes | | | | health. |