Mountain Bike in Details for Dummies

The term mountain bike is used to denote a kind of sport in which athletes participate in cross-country races using cognominal vehicles. As is clear, this sport variation should include various types of bicycles, and they differ according to a particular race type. Thus, the given article is going to present the most useful information on mountain bike variations and history of this kind of sport.

Cross-Country Olympic (XCO)

It refers to races through hilly areas represented by tracks that are 5-9 kilometers long. These tracks should include forest roads, fields, dirt roads, as well as a significant number of ascending and descending slopes. Paved and asphalt roads should not account for more than 15% of the total length of a track. These events imply mass starts. Depending on a particular category, a race can last for from 1 hour 45 minutes to 2 hours 30 minutes.

As soon as it is a part of the Olympic Games, it implies prizes and medals. Thus, there are different competitions for male and female athletes. A victory is given to a rider who manages to be the first to cross the finish line provided he or she did not make any fouls.

The list of possible fouls and mistakes includes the following items:

• accepting assistance in overcoming a distance and/or repairing a bicycle;
• carrying a bicycle to overcome an obstacle or pushing off the ground;
• creating some hindrances for other athletes.

Cross-Country Marathon

A marathon is a lengthened variation of the cross-country Olympic. In this case, athletes should overcome a distance of 60-120 kilometers. In addition to other peculiarities, the marathon is popular because both professional and amateur athletes are allowed to participate in such events. As a rule, such events take place in hilly areas with many slopes, both ascending and descending. What is different from cross-country Olympic, cross-country marathon competitors never go through the same point of a distance more than once.

Cross-Country Eliminator

Cross-country eliminator races take place on 500-1000-meter tracks that should include natural and/or artificial obstacles. They can be represented by trees, staircases (ascending and descending), various slopes, bridges, similar wooden constructions, and others. They are used to make a short race more dynamic and exciting. In these events, athletes start one by one, and the starting order is based on qualifying results. Thus, the winner of the qualification round is the first to start in an appropriate cross-country eliminator event. It is eliminator because athletes should eliminate from a race at particular stages.

History

In the late 1970s, this new bicycle variation began to develop in California. It was a new one because it introduced a few changes to the construction of bicycles adding wide tires to contribute to better stability of the vehicles. 1983 witnessed the first mountain bike National Championships that took place in the United States of America. As for the first mountain bike World Championships, it was held in 1987.

In 1990, the sport of mountain bike was officially approved by the International Cycling Union. Three years later, in 1993, mountain bike cross-country events were officially included in the program of the Summer Olympics. The first Olympic competition took place in 1996.