Mountain Biking History
The World's Fastest Growing Sport
Mountain biking history has its beginnings in Northern California . This young sport got it's start in the early 1970's and has continued to spread throughout the world, making it one of the world's fasting growing sports.
It's a story of boys being boys. You know how it is...you get a group of competitive guys together and they'll do crazy things! Mountain biking history can be described as a collaborative effort that took place among some key groups of bike enthusiasts.
Motivated by bragging rights, endowed with creativity , and equipped with "clunkers" for bikes, the Repack Riders of Marin county are credited for sparking the worldwide bike revolution. No longer is mountain biking just for California boys. Bikers from all walks of life are taking up this amazing sport...male, female, young, and old.
Read up on mountain biking history and impress your friends and fellow mountain bikers.
History of Mountain Biking, Marin County
Just
west of Fairfax, CA, lies a dirt road. This is no ordinary
dirt road for it was the birthplace of a worldwide revolution we
now call mountain biking.
From the top of Pine Mountain, spectacular views of the San Francisco Bay and Marin can be enjoyed on a clear day. At the dawn of the hippie movement, the Marin riders had no idea they were about to embark on a journey that went way beyond the bottom of Repack course.
Week after week, they raced for the best time, and week after week the buzz spread around town.
Wanting to win the next race, the Marin County riders continually made modifications to their clunky bikes. Eventually these modifications caught on, and the wonderful sport of mountain biking was born.
History of Mountain Biking Trivia
The days of Repack course are over, but the legacy lives on. Some of the industry leading mountain bikers that can be traced back to these early downhill races on Repack course are:
Gary Fisher: No need to explain (Gary Fisher bikes)
Charley Kelly: Mountain Bike Hall of Famer
Mike Sinyard: Founded Specialized Bicycle Components
Tom Ritchey: Founded Ritchey
Brian Skinner: Mountain Bike developer (Shimano etc...)
Steve Boehmke: With Shimano, RockShox, & Giant
Above is an aerial view of the Repack course these legends rode back in the 1970's. Click for more information and impressive facts about Mountain Biking History. This link will take you to the official Mountain Bike Hall of Fame.
Clunker: A heavy one speed bicycle with fat tires, handlebars, pedals and a chain. Just the bare essentials.
Mountain Biking History Trivia
Question: Why did they call this course "Repack"?
Answer: They used hub coaster breaks that required grease. The grease would vaporize due to the heat of breaking and they would have to repack their breaks with grease just about every run.
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