What is Mountain Biking?

Mountain Biking is an Olympic sport of riding bicycles over rough and challenging terrain.

Who Invented the Mountain Bike?

Bicicyle frame builder and designer, John Breeze, built the first bike that was specifically meant for rough and mountainous terrain in 1978. Another notable contributor to the mountain bike, named Tom Ritchey, built the frames of mountain bikes for a company called MountainBikes which he co-owned with Charlie Kelly and Gary Fisher. Even though the design of the mountain bike has evolved due to the advancement of modern technology, the concept is still based on the first mountain bikes created by John Breeze and Tom Ritchey.

Where it all began...

The origin of competitive mountain biking goes back to the 1970s in California. Members of a club, now known as the Velo Club, organized what is thought to be the first competitive mountain biking race in Mount Tamalpais in Marin County, CA. The race, known as the Repack Downhill Race, attracted more and more people throughout the years as it gained popularity and competitiveness. As people and bikers started to come up with different unique versions of mountain biking, the sport started to gain more participants, bikers, and spectators. Soon, as more races and championships were organized, the sport became an Olympic sport in 1996 for both men and women that were interested in cross-country mountain biking.