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A hardtail mountain bike.
A hardtail mountain bike.

A mountain bike or mountain bicycle (abbreviated MTB or ATB (All Terrain Bicycle)) is a bicycle designed for mountain biking, either on dirt trails or other unpaved environments. The bicycle, cycle, or bike is a pedal-driven, human-powered vehicle with two wheels attached to a frame, one behind Mountain biking entails the Sport of riding Bicycles off-road often over rough terrain whether riding specially equipped Mountain bikes or hybrid road bikes A trail is a Path or Road used for Walking, Cycling, Cross-country skiing, or other activities In contrast, road bicycles are not designed for such rugged terrain. road bicycle is a Bicycle designed for use primarily on paved Roads as opposed to Off-road terrain

Mountain bikes have wide, knobby tires for extra traction and shock absorption. In recent years, front wheel suspension has become the norm and full front and rear suspension is becoming increasingly common. Bicycle suspension refers to the system or systems used to suspend the rider and all or part of the bicycle in order to protect them from the roughness of the terrain over Some mountain bikes are also fitted with bar ends on the handlebars, but with the increase in popularity of riser handlebars (as opposed to a flat straight handlebar) fewer riders use bar end extensions. Bicycle handlebar or often bicycle handlebars refers to the steering mechanism for Bicycles the equivalent of a Steering wheel. Handlebars usually refer to the steering mechanism for Bicycles Motorcycles ATVs Snowmobiles and personal watercraft; the equivalent The bikes normally have 26 in (559 mm) wheels, but since 2002 some models have been available with 29 in (622 mm) wheels, which is the same diameter most commonly used for road bikes (also known as 700c). [1] (The name given to a rim diameter in inches is different from the rim's actual size. )

Contents

History

A cross country mountain bike race.
A cross country mountain bike race.

Riding bicycles off-road goes back to the beginning of cycling itself. Road racing cyclists have long used cyclo-cross as a means of keeping fit during the winter, eventually becoming a sport in its own right with the first world championship in 1950. Cyclo-cross (sometimes cyclocross, CX, cyclo-X or ' cross) is a form of Bicycle racing. The French Velo Cross Club Parisien (VCCP) comprised about twenty-one young cyclists from the outskirts of Paris, who between 1951 and 1956 developed a sport that was remarkably akin to present-day mountain biking. [2] The Roughstuff Fellowship was established in 1955 by off-road cyclists in the UK. The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom, the UK or Britain,is a Sovereign state located [3]

However the mountain bike has its origins in the modified heavy cruiser bicycles used for freewheeling down mountain trails in Marin County, California, U. Cruiser bicycles are balloon-tired bikes with heavy duty frames and were America’s standard bike from the early 1930s right through the 1950s March 11, 1889 | California ( is a US state on the West Coast of the United States, along the Pacific Ocean. S. A. in the mid-late 1970s. At the time, there was no such thing as a mountain bike. The earliest ancestors of modern mountain bikes were based around frames from cruiser bicycles such as those made by Schwinn. The Schwinn Bicycle Company was founded by Ignaz Schwinn in Chicago in 1895 and became the dominant manufacturer of American Bicycles through The Schwinn Excelsior was the frame of choice due to its geometry. Riders used balloon tired cruisers and later modified them with gears and motocross style handlebars. Motocross is a form of Motorcycle sport or All-terrain vehicle racing held on enclosed Off road circuits They were called Klunkers. The term would also be used as a verb since the term "mountain biking" was not yet in use. Riders would race down mountain fireroads, causing the hub brake to burn the grease inside, requiring the riders to repack the bearings. These were called "Repack Races" and triggered the first innovations in mountain bike technology as well as the initial interest of the public. The sport originated in the U. S. state of California, on Marin county's famous mountain, Mount Tamalpais. March 11, 1889 | Mount Tamalpais (tæməlˈpaɪəs MWCD, known locally as "Mount Tam" is a peak in Marin County, California, USA, often [4]

It was not until the late 1970s and early 1980s that road bicycle companies started to manufacture mountain bicycles using high-tech lightweight materials. This article is about the Decade 1970-1979 For the Year 1970 see 1970. The 1980s was the decade spanning from January 1 1980 to December 31 1989. road bicycle is a Bicycle designed for use primarily on paved Roads as opposed to Off-road terrain Joe Breeze is normally credited with introducing the first purpose-built mountain bike in 1978. Joe Breeze (born 1953 is a bicycle designer and bicycling advocate Tom Ritchey then went on to make frames for a company called MountainBikes which was a partnership between Gary Fisher, Charlie Kelley and Tom Ritchey. Gary Christopher Fisher (born 1950 is considered one of the inventors of the modern Mountain bike. Charlie Kelly (Charles Richard Kelly born 1945 was an early pioneer in the development of modern mountain bicycles Tom Ritchey (born 1956) is a master Bicycle frame builder designer Welder and founder of Ritchey Design Tom Ritchey, with his skills in frame building, also built the original bikes. The company's 3 partners ran into rough times and finally fell apart at the 1983 trade show. The designs were basically road bicycle frames (with heavier tubing and different geometry) with a wider frame and fork to allow for a wider tire. The handlebars were also different in that they were a straight, transverse-mounted handlebar, rather than the dropped, curved handlebars that are typically installed on road racing bicycles. Also, some of the parts on early production mountain bicycles were taken from the BMX bicycle. BMX ( Bicycle Motocross) is a form of Cycling on specially designed bicycles which usually have 20 inch wheels The first mass-produced mountain bikes were produced by Specialized in 1983 and were copies of Tom Ritchey's frames, but they were not fillet-brazed, and were made in Japan. They were configured with 15 gears. Derailleur gears are a variable-ratio transmission system commonly used on Bicycles consisting of a chain, multiple Sprockets and a

Designs

Mountain bikes can be classified into four categories based on suspension:

Discipline oriented designs

There are several different styles of mountain biking, usually defined by the terrain, and therefore bikes employed. All of the bikes in this category fall into one of the above four categories and bikes of each of the above style can be found almost any of the following categories.

Cross country mountain bike.
Cross country mountain bike. Cross-country ( XC) cycling is the most common discipline of Mountain biking.
A Specialized BigHit II entry level Downhill/Freeride mountain bike with 180 mm (7 inches) of travel in the front forks and 190mm (7.5 inches) in the rear shock.
A Specialized BigHit II entry level Downhill/Freeride mountain bike with 180 mm (7 inches) of travel in the front forks and 190mm (7. Downhill biking ( DH) is a Gravity -assisted Time trial Mountain biking event For other uses see Free ride (disambiguation Freeride is a relatively new discipline of Mountain biking, combining different 5 inches) in the rear shock.
A simple dirt-bike.
A simple dirt-bike. Dirt jumping is one of the names given to the practice of riding bikes over cement type jumps of dirt or soil and becoming airborne

Modern bikes

Until recently, mountain bicycles had road bicycle style frames and geometry. Mountain biking has since become more mainstream with riding styles becoming more aggressive. Newer frames are better-designed, lighter, and stronger, with a geometry that allows for much more spirited riding over obstacles like logs, rocks, wooden bridges, and man-made ramps.

Newer mountain bikes have either 21, 24, or 27 speeds, with 3 gears in the front and 7, 8, or 9 gears at the rear wheel. 30 speed mountain bikes are currently unworkable, as a slimmer 10-speed chain is not strong enough.

Geometry

The critical angles in bicycle geometry are the head angle (the angle of the head tube), and the seat tube angle (the angle of the seat tube). A bicycle frame is the main component of a Bicycle, onto which wheels and other components are fitted Bicycle and motorcycle geometry is the collection of key measurements (lengths and angles that define a particular bike configuration Bicycle and motorcycle geometry is the collection of key measurements (lengths and angles that define a particular bike configuration A bicycle frame is the main component of a Bicycle, onto which wheels and other components are fitted A bicycle frame is the main component of a Bicycle, onto which wheels and other components are fitted These angles are measured from the horizontal, and drastically affect the rider position and performance characteristics of the bicycle. In general, steeper angles (closer to 90 degrees from the horizontal) are more efficient for pedaling up hills and make for sharper handling. Slacker angles (leaning farther from the vertical) are preferred for high speeds and downhill stability.

Suspension

A full suspension Mountain Bike
A full suspension Mountain Bike
Main article: Bicycle suspension

In the past mountain bikes had a rigid frame and fork. Bicycle suspension refers to the system or systems used to suspend the rider and all or part of the bicycle in order to protect them from the roughness of the terrain over In the early 1990s, the first mountain bikes with suspension forks were introduced. This made riding on rough terrain easier and less physically stressful. The first suspension forks had about 1½ to 2 inches (38 to 50 mm) of suspension travel. Forks are now available with 6 inches (150mm) of travel or more (see above under "Design. ") Bikes with front suspension and rigid, non-suspended rear wheels, or hardtails became popular nearly overnight. While the hardtail design has the benefits of lower cost, less maintenance, and better pedaling efficiency, it is slowly losing popularity due to the increases in full suspension designs.

Many new mountain bikes have a "full suspension" design, meaning that both front suspension forks and some form of rear suspension are used, as opposed to front suspension only ("hard tail"). The advantages of dual suspension are increased comfort on rough terrain, and improved handling over obstacles. Disadvantages of rear suspension are increased weight, increased price, and with some designs, decreased pedaling efficiency. At first, early rear suspension designs were overly heavy, and susceptible either to pedaling-induced bobbing or lockout at certain points of the suspension arc or travel. One of the most popular rear suspension designs to solve these issues has been the 'Horst Link' which first appeared with the AMP series of bikes, and was later adopted by Specialized and many other mountain bike manufacturers.

Disc brakes

A front disc brake, mounted to the fork and hub
A front disc brake, mounted to the fork and hub

Most downhill mountain bikes now feature disc brakes. Bicycle brake systems are used to slow down or Brake a Bicycle. These offer improved stopping power over rim brakes under adverse conditions, because they are located at the center of the wheel (on the wheel hub) and therefore remain drier and cleaner than wheel rims, which are more readily soiled or damaged. While the traditional cantilever and V-brake style braking system provided ample braking for fully rigid bikes and the earlier, less sophisticated suspension fork-equipped bicycles, as suspension has evolved bicycle speeds have increased. Disc brakes offer the capacity for sustained heavy braking with fewer problems of brake fade than are encountered with rim brakes, allowing greater safety margins with less rider fatigue, greater modulation and therefore control.

The disadvantage of disc brakes is their increased cost and often greater weight. Hydraulic disc brakes, which work by moving brake fluid through a hose or line to squeeze the pads together, require much more technical maintenance but enjoy much longer service intervals than their mechanical counterparts. Mechanical disc brakes, which are simpler and somewhat less expensive, work in a similar fashion to rim brakes by pulling one pad towards the disc with a cable.

The braking power of a disc brake also depends on the size of the rotor. For example, an 8-inch rotor has more stopping power than an 6 inch rotor of the same design (about 33% more). This is because the brake caliper can apply more torque with the same amount of force because the larger disc provides a longer moment arm. A torque (τ in Physics, also called a moment (of force is a pseudo- vector that measures the tendency of a force to rotate an object about In Physics, a force is whatever can cause an object with Mass to Accelerate. In Physics, the moment of force (often just moment, though there are other quantities of that name such as Moment of inertia) is a Pseudovector

Wheel and tire design

Most mountain bikes use 26 in (559 mm) bicycle wheels, though some models offer 24 or 29 in (520 or 622 mm) wheels. Bicycle Wheel is a readymade by Marcel Duchamp consisting of a bicycle fork with front wheel mounted upside-down on a wooden stool Bicycle wheel sizes are not precise measurements, a 29 inch mountain bike wheel actually has a 622 mm (24. 48 inch) bead seat diameter (the term, bead seat diameter (BSD), is used in the ETRTO tire and rim sizing system). The European Tyre and Rim Technical Organisation (ETRTO exists to specify and harmonise sizes of rims and their associated Pneumatic tyres across the European Union 622 mm wheels are standard on road bikes and are commonly known as 700c. In some countries, mainly in Continental Europe, 700c (622 mm) wheels are commonly called 28 inch wheels. Continental Europe, also referred to as mainland Europe or simply the Continent, is the Continent of Europe, explicitly excluding European [1]

24 inch wheels are used for dirt jumping bikes and sometimes on freeride bikes, rear wheel only, as this makes the bike more maneuverable. 29 inch wheels were once used for only Cross Country purposes, but are now becoming more commonplace in other disciplines of mountain biking.

Wheels come in a variety of widths, ranging from standard rims suitable for use with tires in the 26 in x 1. 90 in to 2. 10 in (559 x 48 to 53 mm) size, to 2. 35 and 3. 00 in (60 and 76 mm) widths popular with freeride and downhill bicycles.

Manufacturers produce a wide variety of tread patterns to suit different needs. Among the styles are: slick street tires, street tires with a center ridge and outer tread, fully knobby, front-specific, rear-specific, and snow studded. Some tires can be specifically designed for use in certain weather (wet or dry) and terrain (hard, soft, muddy, etc) conditions. Other tire designs attempt to be all-around applicable. Within the same intended application, more expensive tires tend to be lighter and have less rolling resistance. Sticky Rubber tires are now available for use on freeride and downhill bikes. While these tires wear down more quickly, they provide greater traction in all conditions, especially during cornering. Tires and rims are available in either tubed or tubeless designs, with tubeless tires recently (2004) gaining favor for their pinch flat resistance. Tubeless tires are pneumatic tires that do not require a separate Butyl rubber inner tube. Tubeless tires can also be run at lower air pressures to improve traction and increasing rolling resistance. Popular tire manufacturers include Wilderness Trail Bikes, Schwalbe, Maxxis, Nokian, Michelin, Continental, Tioga, Kenda, Hutchinson and Panaracer. Wilderness Trail Bikes (usually shortened to WTB is a privately-owned company based in Marin County, California.

Protective equipment

Inherent in the sport of mountain biking is the risk of injury. Many companies now produce protective gear, often referred to as "armor," to protect against injury from crashes, mostly aimed at downhill, freeride and dirtjump riders. Armor ranges from simple knee and elbow pads to full body padding. Some companies market full body armor suits or jackets that allow the rider to remove some of the padding and/or plastic plates that protect the rider's arms. Most upper body protectors also include a spine protector that comprises plastic plates joined together, with foam padding underneath. Full face helmets, often resembling motocross helmets (but usually considerably lighter and with more ventilation) are required by some bike parks, although advanced riders often wear these helmets by choice, in order to better protect their heads. Backpack hydration systems such as Camelbaks are also considered to be armor by many riders for their valuable protective effects. CamelBak is an outdoors equipment company known primarily for their Hydration packs Hydration packs from many other companies such as GoLite, Kelty

Latest trends

Some of the latest trends in mountain bikes include the all mountain bike, the 29er and the singlespeed. 29ers or Two-niners are Mountain bikes that are built to use 700c or ISO 622 mm wheels. A single-speed bicycle is a type of Bicycle with a single Gear ratio. The "all mountain bike" is characterized by 4-6 inches (100-150mm) of travel, the ability to descend and handle very rough conditions and still pedal efficiently for climbing. 29er bikes are those using 700c sized rims (as do most road bikes), but wider and suited for tires of two inches (50mm) width or more; the increased diameter wheel is able to roll over obstacles better and offers a greater tire contact patch. Contact patch is the portion of a vehicle's Tire that is in actual contact with the road surface The single-speed is considered a return to simplicity with no drivetrain components or shifters, but thus requires a stronger rider.

Following the growing trend in 29 inch bikes (29ers as stated above), there have been other trends in the mountain biking community involving tire size. One of the more prevalent is the new, somewhat esoteric and exotic 650B (27. 5 inch) wheelsize, based on the obscure wheel size for touring road bikes.

Another interesting trend in mountain bikes is outfitting dirt jump or urban bikes with rigid forks. These bikes normally use 4-5" travel suspension forks. The resulting product is used for the same purposes as the original bike. A commonly cited reason for making the change to a rigid fork is the enhancement of the rider's ability to transmit force to the ground, which is important for performing tricks.

Rapid popularity increase has led to the development of mountain bike oriented resorts, similar to or in the same complex as a ski resort or abandoned factory, such as Ray's MTB Indoor Park. A ski area is a developed recreational facility usually on a Mountain or large Hill, containing ski trails and vital supporting services Ray's MTB Indoor Park is located in Cleveland, Ohio, USA and is the world's first multi-terrain indoor bike park Their parks include chairlifts which are adapted to bikes, a number of trails of varying difficulty, and bicycle rental.

See also

References

  1. ^ a b Tire Sizing Systems
  2. ^ http://forum.velovert.com/wiki/index.php/Historique
  3. ^ Rough Stuff Fellowship
  4. ^ http://www.mtnbikehalloffame.com/history.cfm?page=3

External links

The UCI Mountain Bike & Trials World Championships are the world championship events for Mountain bike racing events in cross country, downhill, Four-cross Mountain unicycling ( MUni) is an emerging adventure sport that consists of traversing rough terrain on a Unicycle. A Quadricycle is a four-wheeled human-powered vehicle. It is also referred to as a quadracycle, quadcycle, quadrocycle or as a four-wheel This article is about the mountain biking organization For the ancient Italian town see Norba. The International Mountain Bicycling Association ( IMBA) is a Non-profit educational association whose mission is to create enhance and preserve trail opportunities See also This page lists Bicycle manufacturing companies past and present Freeride mountain-biking movies are films about Freeride mountain-biking and downhill cycling Ray's MTB Indoor Park is located in Cleveland, Ohio, USA and is the world's first multi-terrain indoor bike park

Dictionary

mountain bike

-noun

  1. A bicycle specially designed for off-road riding, typically with straight, flat handlebars, a heavier frame than road bikes, higher ground clearance, and wider tires, sometimes with knobs on them for greater traction.
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