THRILLS & SPILLS

Mountain bikes have come a long way from their origins in the hills of Marin County, California in the 1970s. Beginning as modified cruisers, the bikes were known as ‘ballooners’ after their wide tyres, and were notable for their sturdy, old-fashioned inch-pitch chains and sprockets. The first organised downhill race was known as Repack, because the bikes’ coaster brakes needed to be repacked with grease after each run down the long, steep course. Innovation was central to the off-road biking movement, with motorcycle and road cycle parts modified to suit. It wasn’t long before purpose-built machines were on sale, at first from small-scale specialist makers, followed by mainstream manufacturers. The Specialized Stumpjumper was the first mass-produced mountain bike when it was released in 1981.

In the 40-odd years since, mountain biking has spread across the globe, both as an organised sport and