| Mountain biking is a sport that involves riding bicycles | | | | is primarily designed for. For example, a cross-country |
| off paved roads. It is an activity that is gaining | | | | mountain bike normally weighs between 20 to 30 |
| popularity all over the world since it is does not require | | | | pounds and is lighter than bikes designed for |
| any special skills other than being able to ride a bicycle | | | | down-hilling and free riding. Mountain bikes can also be |
| and can be done anywhere. | | | | ordered online. |
| A mountain bike is a sturdy bicycle with a strong | | | | Although bicycles have been used since the time they |
| frame, wide tires, gears and horizontal handlebars. This | | | | were invented, the first specialized mountain bike was |
| bike has special tires that are fat and knobby, providing | | | | built by Joe Breeze in 1977. The first regularly available |
| the extra traction that is required for dirt trails and | | | | mountain bike frame was built by Tom Ritchey, with |
| unpaved terrain. Though called mountain bikes, these | | | | accessories being built by Gary Fisher and Charlie |
| bicycles are often used for off-road cycling and can | | | | Kelly. These bikes were sold by their company called |
| be ridden cross country, on gravel roads and even on | | | | MountainBikes, later renamed Gary Fisher Bicycle |
| dirt trails. | | | | Company. It wasn't until 1982 that the first mass |
| People use mountain bikes for several purposes | | | | produced mountain bikes were sold. These were |
| including trailing, dirt jumping and street-urban riding, but | | | | called the Specialized Stumpjumper and Univega |
| the most popular versions of mountain biking are | | | | Alpina Pro. A huge range of mountain bikes with |
| down-hilling, cross-country and free riding. Apart from a | | | | specialized features are now available to cater to the |
| few common features, the specifications for mountain | | | | ever growing population of mountain bikers. |
| bikes differ, depending upon the activities that the bike | | | | |