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The World of Mountain Biking: Latest News and Events
Whether or not you are a mountain bike aficionado, there is something for everyone in this world of action, awesome riders, and over the top adrenalin.
For those of you unfamiliar with all things mountain biking, here's a brief history. If you really want to go back and get to the nitty gritty of biking, you have to take a look at the late 60's. It was then, in San Francisco, where two guys just got sick and tired of the hectic lives brought on in part by all the traffic in the city. Gary Fisher (a bike racer banned from the traditional sport of bike racing because his hair was too long) and his partner, Carles Kelly, teamed up and moved to Marin County so they could be closer to nature and and manage their lives in a more laid back environment. It was here they discovered the ultimate thrill of bombing down dirt trails on bikes. They also met Joe Breeze and the 'Clunkers' (also referred to as 'Bombers' or 'Cruisers'– old Schwinn 5 and 10-speed bikes that had been highly modified).
Fast Forward to the mid 70's, where Fisher, Kelly, Breeze, and another in the fold, Tom Ritchey, were responsible for both the organization and increasing of 3-mile long races that were held near Fairfax, California along the Cascade Fire Trail. All the riders would start at various intervals on the course with the hope of achieving just one thing: the chance to get their hands on a real 'Clunker' and “break the 2.9 mile dirt track record that had a vertical drop of over 1600 feet”. It was here that the Hell's Angels motto was adopted: “Ride to live and and live to ride”.
While participation and media notoriety increased over the years, due to the impossibility of properly insuring the event locally, 1984 saw its last race of this kind.
Today, Gary Fisher is just as passionate about mountain biking as he was the in the 60's. A self-confessed “bike-bum”, Fisher sold his successful bike-manufacturing company so he could get back to his first loves: racing, inspiring and, designing innovative products for cycling.
From the recreational to the competitive, there is something for everyone when it comes to mountain biking. For the hard-core riders (or just for pure entertainment), you can check out some of the popular movie out there about the sport. Titles include Virtuous, Seasons, Kranked 7, Unhinged, Fluid Ride: Like a Pro, just to name a few. For more titles check out www.ameibo.com
Still can't get enough? Look no further than Aaron Bartlett and Paul Roberts, filmmakers whose highly anticipated sequel to the very popular “Foot Out Flat Out”, “Foot Out Flat Out 2 - Fast and Loose” is set for release on DVD November 23, 2009. This film features down hill mountain bike racing at the highest level at the UCI World Cup and World Championships. The movie was shot on 3 different continents and offers viewers numerous rider sections (including Downhill and MotoX).
In the coming year, mountain bikers should look for the Alpine Bikes Winter Series. Borderline Events and Innerleithen has partnered with Alpine Bikes, Trek, and Fox Racing, to offer a new three-race downhill competition that will be held at Innerleithen in Scotland. The courses offered will be a mix of everything, plus old tracks will be updated and new sections will be built. Races will be held on January 30-31, February 20-21, and March 13-14, 2010.
For more information, go http://www.ameibo.com/movie-blog/
© Shelley Vassall, 2009.
About the Author
I am a freelance writer with an Honors degree in English Literature. I write on a wide variety of subjects, from dogs, to movies, to health, even fiction and non-fiction (to name a few).
Lynskey Performance R230 Ritchey Shimano Ultegra Fulcrum 3's
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 2009 JAMIS XENITH TEAM ROAD BIKE 54CM  US $5,200.00
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 2011 Argon 18 Gallium Carbon Road Bike Mad Fiber Wheelset Campagnolo 11 speed US $4,999.00
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 Jamis Xenith T2 2009 Tri bike 56cm carbon zipp 808 US $4,800.00
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 Santa Cruz Blur LT 2009 Fully CUSTOM Size Large 19 all ACCESSORIES NWOB US $4,495.00
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 2010 Wilier Tri Crono complete TT bike US $3,900.00
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 Kestrel 4000 SL PRO Ultegra 525 CM US $3,899.99
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 Kestrel 4000 SL PRO Ultegra 50 CM US $3,899.99
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 Trek 8500 ZR Perfect Condition 2010 US $3,899.00
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 BRAND NEW AWESOME FUJI 2011 SST 20 ROAD BIKE US $3,895.00
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 Blue AC1 SL Road Bike SRAM Red Groupo with wired powert US $3,750.00
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 Louis Garneau SteepleX Custom Cyclocross Bike59cm US $3,549.00
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 MOOTS Compact Titanium road bicycle 59 cm 2006 US $3,200.00
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 2010 GT Force Carbon Expert XL Mountain Bike with upgrades US $2,080.00
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 GURU VINIO ROAD BICYCLE SILVER BLUE 52 US $2,046.57
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 2009 XENITH COMP FEMME 54CM ROAD BIKE US $2,000.00
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 SCOTT GENIUS 10 2011 MEDIUM FRAMESET BRAND NEW US $1,999.99
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 USED 2010 GT ZASKAR CARBON PRO MOUNTAIN BIKE US $1,999.99
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 2010 Fuji SST 20 56cm Carbon Fiber Road Bike Shimano Ultegra US $1,999.99
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 Jamis Xenith T1 Tri bike 2009 full carbon US $1,900.00
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 2010 gt sensor 10 DJ 4Xdual slalom US $1,850.00
|
 SRAM Quarq S975 BB30 Powermeter Crankset 1725mm 53 39 Black Rings No BB US $1,844.91
|
 GT R PRO Carbon fiber Road bike XL Frame 57 58 CM Rival sram double tap shifter US $1,923.90
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2009 JAMIS XENITH TEAM ROAD BIKE 54CM US $5,200.00
|
2011 Argon 18 Gallium Carbon Road Bike Mad Fiber Wheelset Campagnolo 11 speed US $4,999.00
|
Jamis Xenith T2 2009 Tri bike 56cm carbon zipp 808 US $4,800.00
|
|
Santa Cruz Blur LT 2009 Fully CUSTOM Size Large 19 all ACCESSORIES NWOB US $4,495.00
|
2010 Wilier Tri Crono complete TT bike US $3,900.00
|
Kestrel 4000 SL PRO Ultegra 525 CM US $3,899.99
|
|
Kestrel 4000 SL PRO Ultegra 50 CM US $3,899.99
|
Trek 8500 ZR Perfect Condition 2010 US $3,899.00
|
BRAND NEW AWESOME FUJI 2011 SST 20 ROAD BIKE US $3,895.00
|
|
Blue AC1 SL Road Bike SRAM Red Groupo with wired powert US $3,750.00
|
Louis Garneau SteepleX Custom Cyclocross Bike59cm US $3,549.00
|
MOOTS Compact Titanium road bicycle 59 cm 2006 US $3,200.00
|
|
2010 GT Force Carbon Expert XL Mountain Bike with upgrades US $2,080.00
|
GURU VINIO ROAD BICYCLE SILVER BLUE 52 US $2,046.57
|
2009 XENITH COMP FEMME 54CM ROAD BIKE US $2,000.00
|
|
SCOTT GENIUS 10 2011 MEDIUM FRAMESET BRAND NEW US $1,999.99
|
USED 2010 GT ZASKAR CARBON PRO MOUNTAIN BIKE US $1,999.99
|
2010 Fuji SST 20 56cm Carbon Fiber Road Bike Shimano Ultegra US $1,999.99
|
|
Jamis Xenith T1 Tri bike 2009 full carbon US $1,900.00
|
2010 gt sensor 10 DJ 4Xdual slalom US $1,850.00
|
SRAM Quarq S975 BB30 Powermeter Crankset 1725mm 53 39 Black Rings No BB US $1,844.91
|
|
GT R PRO Carbon fiber Road bike XL Frame 57 58 CM Rival sram double tap shifter US $1,923.90
|
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