Mountain biking is growing fast into an excitingly popular sport possible for people of all ages, sizes and abilities. Mountain Biking is for everyone, young, old, or in-between. It’s a great way to be outdoors and to stay fit. A wonderful activity for the whole family.

Mountain biking was born in the 70s on Mount Tamalpais, better known as Mt. Tam, in California, USA. A group of enthusiasts consisting of famous names like Gary Fisher, Joe Breeze, Keith Bontrager and Otis Guy among others, started modifying the heavy Cruiser bikes to be used for riding down the mountain trails. The mountain bike was born.

In the early days, mountain biking was perceived as quite a risk. In fact, it was. First mountain bikers were purely downhillers. They would race only downhill, to get up a mountain they used a truck. Because the slopes were more than those first bikes could handle, they started modifying and improving, which lead to the first real mountain bikes.

The first real mountain bike made with all new components was build in 1978 by Joe Breeze. Other giants in the field like Gary Fisher, Tom Ritchey, Charlie Kelley and Charlie Cunningham just to name a few, soon followed.

By 1986 the mountain bike was outselling the road bike in the US. Soon it exploded worldwide. When the first mountain bikers propelled down the mountains in California, few would have believed how popular this new sport would become. Today, it’s an Olympic sport.

In the last decade or so, mountain bikes have improved immensely. New materials and technology really enhanced the performance on every level imaginable. Today you have affordable bikes for any kind of adventure. You can choose from downhill, cross country, all-mountain, or trials. There is a mountain bike for just about everybody.

Mountain biking is a relatively new sport and recreational activity. From a bunch of enthusiasts to a mainstream sport, mountain biking is still growing and is here to stay.

Technorati Tags: bicycling, cycling, exercise, fitness, mountain bikes, mountain biking, recreation

Tags: bicycling, cycling, exercise, fitness, mountain bikes, mountain biking, recreation

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