Mountain Biking refers to biking on dirt roads, trails in parks, or unpaved surfaces. It makes use of a bicycle which is designed to withstand the rigors of rough terrain. Joe Breeze, Gary Fisher, Charlie Cunningham, Keith Bontrager, and Tom Ritchey were considered as the founding fathers of Mountain Biking, which started in California in the 1970s.
More than 30 years later, Mountain Biking has undergone a lot of changes in its various aspects - from the emergence of different models of mountain bikes and establishment of various events and biking competitions, to development of numerous disciplines. To date, there are a lot of Mountain Biking variations which are enjoyed by thousands of enthusiasts every year. Some of these include downhill Mountain Biking, cross-country racing, dirt jumping, and freeride Mountain Biking. Each discipline requires a specially designed mountain bike as well as mastery in bike-handling skills.
One of the probable reasons why Mountain Biking is so popular is that it is more than just a form of recreation. You can reach places as you stay fit, plus it is a nice leisure activity to get away from the busy life in the city. For adventurous bikers and those who have the need for speed, Mountain Biking competitions surely have what you are looking for.
As Mountain Biking gets more and more popular, gear manufacturers are constantly at work, trying to come up with state-of-the-art bike designs and high-quality pieces of equipment and devices that will meet the demands of every rider. Unlike bicycles used in road cycling, mountain bikes usually have smaller frames, wider tires, larger system of gears, and front and/or rear suspension. Aside from the mountain bike, other pieces of equipment needed in Mountain Biking are clothes which provide comfort and can keep the biker warm and dry, gloves for hand protection, and helmet, the safety gear that you cannot go Mountain Biking without. A mountain biker also needs tools such as a pump and a repair kit to be used when he or she encounters bike problems along the trail.
Since Mountain Biking is usually done on off-road trails, each mountain biker should practice self-discipline and follow the Rules of the Trail, a set of widely-recognized guidelines formulated by the International Mountain Biking Association (IMBA). With the increasing popularity of Mountain Biking, every biker should be responsible enough when it comes to reducing the impact of this activity to the environment.
