| e use bicycles for many different reasons. They | | | | come into existence, it has become easier to build |
| are a great means of transport for getting to and | | | | a bike that is capable of withstanding everything a |
| from work, you can fit your shopping into the | | | | rough off road terrain has to throw at it. Stronger |
| baskets available to attach to the front, and they | | | | lighter frames and better gears have made |
| provide a wonderful way to travel when on | | | | mountain biking easier for more people to |
| holiday and exploring different areas. People have | | | | attempt. The history of mountain biking shows |
| always ridden off road as well as on it, but the | | | | that the earliest riders began to adapt their bikes |
| history of mountain biking really begins more than | | | | to get the best from those downhill runs and |
| thirty years ago, in the 1970’s. Modern | | | | routes, and so the mountain bikes that we know |
| bike designs have made the sport more | | | | today began to evolve. |
| accessible to more people, and the history of | | | | At the time, the only type of bicycle you could |
| mountain biking certainly shows it is now even | | | | buy was intended to be ridden on the road. |
| more popular than ever. | | | | Although people did ride off road it wasn’t |
| But although mountain biking is now enjoyed all | | | | popular enough to warrant a bike designed |
| over the world, it began life in California, America. | | | | specifically for that use. But the bikers in California |
| A group of cycle enthusiasts decided to try out | | | | changed all that. The history of mountain biking |
| some downhill runs on bikes that would now seem | | | | began with them, and they began to rethink the |
| antiquated to many of us. The dirt tracks were | | | | way that bicycles were made in order to create |
| much the same as many mountain bike race | | | | a design that could handle all the obstacles and |
| courses today, but the bikes have changed | | | | conditions the off road trails could throw at it. So |
| considerably over the intervening years. Those | | | | the next time you grab hold of your own |
| races became famous, and before long similar | | | | mountain bike and go for a ride – perhaps |
| races were taking place along tracks at locations | | | | across a muddy field, or down a steep slippery |
| in many different countries. | | | | slope on those knobbly tires – you should |
| As new materials and ways of building bikes have | | | | think of the pioneers of the 1970’s. |