Mountain biking is a sport that involves riding bicycles off paved roads. It is an activity that is gaining popularity all over the world since it is does not require any special skills other than being able to ride a bicycle and can be done anywhere.

A mountain bike is a sturdy bicycle with a strong frame, wide tires, gears and horizontal handlebars. This bike has special tires that are fat and knobby, providing the extra traction that is required for dirt trails and unpaved terrain. Though called mountain bikes, these bicycles are often used for off-road cycling and can be ridden cross country, on gravel roads and even on dirt trails.

People use mountain bikes for several purposes including trailing, dirt jumping and street-urban riding, but the most popular versions of mountain biking are down-hilling, cross-country and free riding. Apart from a few common features, the specifications for mountain bikes differ, depending upon the activities that the bike is primarily designed for. For example, a cross-country mountain bike normally weighs between 20 to 30 pounds and is lighter than bikes designed for down-hilling and free riding. Mountain bikes can also be ordered online.

Although bicycles have been used since the time they were invented, the first specialized mountain bike was built by Joe Breeze in 1977. The first regularly available mountain bike frame was built by Tom Ritchey, with accessories being built by Gary Fisher and Charlie Kelly. These bikes were sold by their company called MountainBikes, later renamed Gary Fisher Bicycle Company. It wasn’t until 1982 that the first mass produced mountain bikes were sold. These were called the Specialized Stumpjumper and Univega Alpina Pro. A huge range of mountain bikes with specialized features are now available to cater to the ever growing population of mountain bikers.

By: Kevin Stith