A Sport called Mountain Biking

Mountain Biking, a recreational sport that enjoyed increasing popularity in the 1990s. Mountain bikes were developed from the rugged old bicycles ridden by a small group of off-road riders on the steep, rocky hillsides of Marin County, California, in the mid-1970s. The fashion spread, and the first mass-produced model appeared in the United States in 1981.

Sometimes known as all-terrain bikes, or ATBs, mountain bikes have toughened frames with high ground clearance and wide tires with knobby tread. They also have wide, flat handlebars, powerful brakes (usually cantilevered), and a wide range of gears (typically 18 or 21).

Although many mountain bikes are used for touring and for daily travel in cities where riders value their robustness and maneuverability -a strong competitive scene has developed. The United States has held national mountain-bike championships since 1983. The first world championship for downhill and cross-country races was held in the United States in 1990 and has subsequently been held annually. The sport was included as an Olympic event for the first time at Atlanta, Georgia, in 1996, with men's and women's cross-country races.