When Did Mountain Biking Start?

Mountain biking is one of the most popular outdoor sports in the world and has been gaining in popularity since its inception in the late 1970s. But when did mountain biking start?

The history of mountain biking as a sport is closely tied to the development of the mountain bike itself. Mountain bikes were first developed in the early 1970s by bicycle companies such as Schwinn and Specialized. These early mountain bikes were designed to be able to handle the rough terrain and extreme conditions found on off-road trails.

The first true “mountain bike race” was held in 1974, when a group of cyclists from Cupertino, California, known as “the Cupertino Riders,” took their newly-built bikes out for a ride on some off-road trails near their hometown. This event is often credited as being the first organized mountain bike race and thus marks the official beginning of mountain biking as a sport.

From there, mountain biking quickly gained popularity throughout California and beyond. In 1977, an event called “Repack” was held in Marin County, California, which saw hundreds of riders competing in downhill races on their modified bicycles. This event helped to further popularize the sport and soon similar events were being held all over the world.

By the 1980s, mountain biking had become an established sport with its own dedicated following and dedicated racing events such as The International Cycling Union’s World Cup series. Today, it is estimated that there are over 30 million mountain bikers around the world enjoying this thrilling outdoor activity.

Conclusion:

Mountain biking started gaining traction in late 1970s when bicycle companies began developing early versions of modern day mountain bikes designed for off-road use. The first true ‘mountain bike race’ took place in 1974 near Cupertino, California and since then has grown into an immensely popular global phenomenon with an estimated 30 million riders worldwide today.

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Samantha Mckinney