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Olympic Mountain Biking
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Published: September 25, 2006
For professional athletes and thrill seekers alike, mountain biking is an optimum choice for exercise, adventure and competition.
Mountain biking can be traced back to the mid-18th century when the bicycle was first invented. The first prototypes of mountain bikes were primitive. The front wheel was originally much larger than the rear wheel, thus making it dangerous for the rider.
Since the wheels were disproportionate, the bike was difficult to control. However, in 1885 a man from England named J.K. Starley perfected these early designs by making the wheels nearly the same size, adding gears and a chain. With these changes, the modern mountain bike was born.
Racing bikes quickly became popular in the late 1800's starting out on tracks and roads. The bicycle was even part of the first contemporary Olympic Games in 1896. The popularity of mountain biking spread worldwide quickly, however this sport diminished in the United States in the 1930's. Nevertheless, Europeans still embraced the sport, and the first officially recognized world championships were held in France in 1950.
In the 1970's, bicycle racing developed rapidly in California with different style bikes, known today as bicycle motor cross or BMX. Members of the Velo Club Mount Tamalpals are said to be the ones who permanently established mountain biking as a sport. This in turn lead to the mountain biking national championships in the United States in 1983 followed by the mountain bike world championships in 1987.
Mountain biking became an Olympic sport in 1993, premiering in the 1996 Atlanta Olympics. The first gold medal went to Brent Brentjens of the Netherlands who finished with a time of two hours and seventeen minutes.
The competition had two categories: men's individual and women's individual. The terrain is usually very mountainous riddled with hills and valleys. The competitors must skillfully ride in between trees and over streams on a natural terrain. The men race between thirty and fifty kilometers, while women cover twenty to forty kilometers. Competitors want a finishing time of approximately two hours. The courses are set so the riders make between five and seven laps.
Serious consideration should be taken for those interested in adding mountain biking as a hobby. Training can take months and even years in order to be in peak condition for competition. Experts assess the best way to train is practice. The more one rides, the better one will become. A strict exercise and diet regimen are also recommended.
Although mountain biking popularity has waned in the past, it is sure to stay an exciting staple of the Olympics. Mountain biking is one of the most adventurous and well-liked events at the Olympics. The public’s interest will surely stay peaked as professional riders and novices alike continue to navigate the rocky mountain terrain.
Is there Olympic Mountain Biking?. Orbitz Away LLC. 24 September 2006.
http://gorp.away.com/gorp/activity/biking/expert /olympic.htm
Mountain Bike. 24 September 2006. http://www.bicycling.com/topic/0,6614,s1-6-3-0-1-- 21,00.html
Official website of the Olympic Movement. Business Interactif. 24 September 2006. www.olympic.org.
Mountain biking can be traced back to the mid-18th century when the bicycle was first invented. The first prototypes of mountain bikes were primitive. The front wheel was originally much larger than the rear wheel, thus making it dangerous for the rider.
Related Articles
Racing bikes quickly became popular in the late 1800's starting out on tracks and roads. The bicycle was even part of the first contemporary Olympic Games in 1896. The popularity of mountain biking spread worldwide quickly, however this sport diminished in the United States in the 1930's. Nevertheless, Europeans still embraced the sport, and the first officially recognized world championships were held in France in 1950.
In the 1970's, bicycle racing developed rapidly in California with different style bikes, known today as bicycle motor cross or BMX. Members of the Velo Club Mount Tamalpals are said to be the ones who permanently established mountain biking as a sport. This in turn lead to the mountain biking national championships in the United States in 1983 followed by the mountain bike world championships in 1987.
Mountain biking became an Olympic sport in 1993, premiering in the 1996 Atlanta Olympics. The first gold medal went to Brent Brentjens of the Netherlands who finished with a time of two hours and seventeen minutes.
The competition had two categories: men's individual and women's individual. The terrain is usually very mountainous riddled with hills and valleys. The competitors must skillfully ride in between trees and over streams on a natural terrain. The men race between thirty and fifty kilometers, while women cover twenty to forty kilometers. Competitors want a finishing time of approximately two hours. The courses are set so the riders make between five and seven laps.
Serious consideration should be taken for those interested in adding mountain biking as a hobby. Training can take months and even years in order to be in peak condition for competition. Experts assess the best way to train is practice. The more one rides, the better one will become. A strict exercise and diet regimen are also recommended.
Although mountain biking popularity has waned in the past, it is sure to stay an exciting staple of the Olympics. Mountain biking is one of the most adventurous and well-liked events at the Olympics. The public’s interest will surely stay peaked as professional riders and novices alike continue to navigate the rocky mountain terrain.
Is there Olympic Mountain Biking?. Orbitz Away LLC. 24 September 2006.
http://gorp.away.com/gorp/activity/biking/expert /olympic.htm
Mountain Bike. 24 September 2006. http://www.bicycling.com/topic/0,6614,s1-6-3-0-1-- 21,00.html
Official website of the Olympic Movement. Business Interactif. 24 September 2006. www.olympic.org.
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