Hippie Daredevils Who Invented Mountain Biking • Hacker News Board

Re: Hippie Daredevils Who Invented Mountain Biking

#11

Post by ghaff » Sat, Sep 13, 2014, 8:41 PM UTC

Theodores wrote: post #5

This is great history, however there is more to the craze of mountain biking than these tales of pioneering legend. History can be taught as 'kings, queens and their wars' or it can be told in terms of economic and social things. With the mountain biking craze not much has been written about why it did take off like it did - really very few people knew who Fisher, Breeze, Ritchey et al. were. People just wanted a mou…

It's hard to say why certain types of activities take off.

Inline skating (aka Rollerblading) came out of nowhere to become a very popular activity by the late 80s or thereabouts. (It predates that but that was around the time it really took off in the US.) Today, my observation in at least the places I live and visit is that it's essentially gone away--in spite of the increased availability of paved rail trails and the like.

Recreational kayaks have replaced canoes to a large degree.

Paddleboards are probably the hottest new thing in the watersports arena.

That said, you're right about both the technology aspects and the fact that road cycling was less prevalent and generally more dangerous at the time mountain biking came onto the scene.

Re: Hippie Daredevils Who Invented Mountain Biking

#12

Post by clsec » Sat, Sep 13, 2014, 8:42 PM UTC

Theodores wrote: post #5

This is great history, however there is more to the craze of mountain biking than these tales of pioneering legend. History can be taught as 'kings, queens and their wars' or it can be told in terms of economic and social things. With the mountain biking craze not much has been written about why it did take off like it did - really very few people knew who Fisher, Breeze, Ritchey et al. were. People just wanted a mou…

"I also don't believe that these mountain bike pioneers were really that pioneering - since the invention of the bicycle people have been cycling off road and enjoying the thrills of descending at speed. It is kind of a natural thing to do. To a certain extent the bikes that came before mountain bikes - BMX - were off-road bikes albeit with small wheels although you could get medium flavour wheels with a BMX."

This.

As someone who grew up in Marin in the 70's I agree completely. When I first saw the title of this post I immediately thought it should be changed to "The Hippie Parents of the Daredevils Who Invented Mountain Biking" IMO, the only reason that mountain biking took off is because our parents saw us hitchhiking up Tam and bombing down on our BMX bikes and wanted to try it out for themselves. Hence, the adaptation of "Klunkers" and "Bombers" that fit their larger body frames. Almost all of these people were, first and foremost, road cyclists.

btw - I first bombed Mt Tam on a BMX bike in 1974.

Re: Hippie Daredevils Who Invented Mountain Biking

#13

Post by rcraft » Sat, Sep 13, 2014, 9:18 PM UTC

vondur wrote: post #6

As an avid mountain biker, this article reminds me about the pure fun of riding in the outdoors. You don't need to spend 5K+ to do so. The technology in mountain biking has really taken off in the last 15 years. I can ride trails that only people on downhill bikes would have done 10 years ago, and the bike weighs less than 30lbs, making pedaling up hills not a problem. Enduro mountain bike racing has really taken off…

Any advice on bikes if I don't want to spend $5k?

Re: Hippie Daredevils Who Invented Mountain Biking

#14

Post by plq » Sat, Sep 13, 2014, 9:20 PM UTC

vondur wrote: post #6

As an avid mountain biker, this article reminds me about the pure fun of riding in the outdoors. You don't need to spend 5K+ to do so. The technology in mountain biking has really taken off in the last 15 years. I can ride trails that only people on downhill bikes would have done 10 years ago, and the bike weighs less than 30lbs, making pedaling up hills not a problem. Enduro mountain bike racing has really taken off…

Are you sure about the rear suspension? Yes, it can save your wheel in some situations (which you should really be avoiding as an amateur), but %99 of the time it's unnecessery weight that also happens to eat some of the power that'd normally go to the wheel. (I'm not a competitive biker, mountain or otherwise, I'm just curious)

Re: Hippie Daredevils Who Invented Mountain Biking

#15

Post by scarecrowbob » Sat, Sep 13, 2014, 9:22 PM UTC

eplanit wrote: post #8

Aside from all the other interesting history, it's great to recollect the pre-spandex, pre-"fashion" days of the sport.

I don't see why spandex is fashion. I don't wear it because I look good in it (I think it looks dumb, and I'm old enough to start to have a belly), I wear it because it's hot in Texas and it is the least amount of clothes I can wear and still feel like I have enough clothes on.

Now, bar ends and disc brakes, that's fashion. :D

Re: Hippie Daredevils Who Invented Mountain Biking

#16

Post by geargrinder » Sat, Sep 13, 2014, 9:31 PM UTC

The reason Ritchey, Fisher, and the rest of their group are known as the "founders of mountain biking" is because they were the first to make bikes for others to also enjoy off-road riding.

Lots of people rode off-road, down mountains and on trails before them. But they were the first to turn it into a successful business.

Re: Hippie Daredevils Who Invented Mountain Biking

#17

Post by collyw » Sat, Sep 13, 2014, 9:48 PM UTC

rcraft wrote: post #13

vondur wrote: post #6

As an avid mountain biker, this article reminds me about the pure fun of riding in the outdoors. You don't need to spend 5K+ to do so. The technology in mountain biking has really taken off in the last 15 years. I can ride trails that only people on downhill bikes would have done 10 years ago, and the bike weighs less than 30lbs, making pedaling up hills not a problem. Enduro mountain bike racing has really taken off…

Any advice on bikes if I don't want to spend $5k?

Something like this will be good enough to get an idea if you like the sport or not, and is a fraction of the price.

http://www.eriksbikeshop.com/Specialized-2014-Hardrock-Base-...

Many bikes in this price range have similar frames and components. The components won't last as long as on a better bike, but will be good enough to get you started. After that you pretty much get what you pay for in improved components. Its like buying a computer - the more you spend the better components you get but the higher you go, the less gain you are likely to notice (unless you are really pushing limits).

If you are keener to commit and spend a bit more trail centres should be able to rent you a trail bike.

Re: Hippie Daredevils Who Invented Mountain Biking

#18

Post by utefan001 » Sat, Sep 13, 2014, 9:54 PM UTC

rcraft wrote: post #13

vondur wrote: post #6

As an avid mountain biker, this article reminds me about the pure fun of riding in the outdoors. You don't need to spend 5K+ to do so. The technology in mountain biking has really taken off in the last 15 years. I can ride trails that only people on downhill bikes would have done 10 years ago, and the bike weighs less than 30lbs, making pedaling up hills not a problem. Enduro mountain bike racing has really taken off…

Any advice on bikes if I don't want to spend $5k?

Ebay has lots of good deals. You need to research things like the difference between shimano xtr and shimano altus or sram "x" vs sram "y". I got a great 2009 shimano xtr light weight mountain bike for my son. Note 29 inch wheels (29ers) are all the rage now. This means 26 inch mountain bikes are going way down in value but are still great bikes. Lots of good info on youtube as well.

Re: Hippie Daredevils Who Invented Mountain Biking

#19

Post by mmariani » Sat, Sep 13, 2014, 10:05 PM UTC

tempermanent wrote: post #7

vondur wrote: post #6

As an avid mountain biker, this article reminds me about the pure fun of riding in the outdoors. You don't need to spend 5K+ to do so. The technology in mountain biking has really taken off in the last 15 years. I can ride trails that only people on downhill bikes would have done 10 years ago, and the bike weighs less than 30lbs, making pedaling up hills not a problem. Enduro mountain bike racing has really taken off…

> you don't need to spend 5K+ to do so links to two five-thousand-dollar bikes

Pick your time. Usually bike shops have their sales in the fall when you can get a previous year model at a good discount.

Avoid carbon fiber frames and pro level gruppos. Go for an alumninum frame and a Deore gruppo as it's gonna save you a load of cash and give you a good bike to get started.

Save some cash to buy a new saddle. Usually the saddles that come with lower cost bikes are incredibly uncomfortable. Money spent on a good saddle is money well spent.

Most importantly, enjoy your bike as much as you can!

Re: Hippie Daredevils Who Invented Mountain Biking

#20

Post by maxerickson » Sat, Sep 13, 2014, 10:12 PM UTC

scarecrowbob wrote: post #15

eplanit wrote: post #8

Aside from all the other interesting history, it's great to recollect the pre-spandex, pre-"fashion" days of the sport.

I don't see why spandex is fashion. I don't wear it because I look good in it (I think it looks dumb, and I'm old enough to start to have a belly), I wear it because it's hot in Texas and it is the least amount of clothes I can wear and still feel like I have enough clothes on. Now, bar ends and disc brakes, that's fashion. :D

I was visiting someone in Montana and we decided to ride down an easy mountain trail/road. I melted a tube riding the brake.