Fire roads to rock gardens,
railing corners to 10 ft drops,
rigid steel forks to 200 mm travel forks,
steel to carbon,
drum brakes to hydraulic brakes,
Chevy's to cable cars.
Times have changed in downhill.
Once upon a time, chaps like Charlie Kelly were just at the start of mountain biking. He'd just started the Marin County mountain biking phase. Back then mountain biking was drifting around corners on dusty fire roads ,but now it's going down a mahusive rock garden. Charlie Kelly and his gang introduced downhill racing. There were no sponsored jerseys or £130 goggles back then; it was just jeans and checked shirts (or some cheeky sunglasses). These Americano's were just riding good ol' heavy clunkers with brakes that wore down after one run and hilarious riser bars.
UCI's first downhill race was in 1991. This is when mountain bike racing really took off. The bikes had suspension, but not anything like todays suspension. Riders began to get known as they were participating in the world champs and cup's every year. Riders like Nico Vouilloz were dominating the world cup circuit and kids wanted to be like them. Year after year more people knew about this sport that would later go on to dominate peoples minds in many years to come. British people started to get inspired as Sheffield lad Steve Peat entered the downhill scene in 1993. Steve Peat was world champion in 2002, 2004 and 2006.
There was different downhill tracks every year, people understood the possibility's of downhill and the jobs and experiences it could bring. Other riders were coming up on the scene ,but it wasn't only the riders that were improving, the bikes were too. Suspension, gears, protection, bike strength and weight, brakes and understanding of what was needed and what wasn't were getting better. At the moment downhill is at it's best and most popular. Let's just hope this thriving sport keeps the kudos for many more years.
Stay tuned for chapter 2
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