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