Crankworx is a four-stop tour of mountain biking competitions and races, the premier event of which is held each summer at Whistler-Blackcomb in Whistler, British Columbia at Whistler Mountain Bike Park.
89-561: The Crankworx core competitive events are downhill mountain biking , Slopestyle, Speed & Style, Dual Slalom, and Pump Track. Other events unique to the festival include: Best Whip, Air DH & Kidsworx. Since its inception in 2004, Crankworx has become Whistler's largest annual festival. The event has evolved into the Crankworx World Tour with festivals in Rotorua, New Zealand, Cairns Australia and Innsbruck Austria. It has been called
178-416: A Donald Duck bike (Shelby Flyer) with quacking horn, " cowboy " models named after Gene Autry or Hopalong Cassidy (Snyder Rollfast) , and details such as fringed saddlebags, capgun holsters, proprietary springer fork suspensions, motorcycle-style horn tanks, and extensive chrome plating. The Huffy "RadioBike"® (one word) featured an electron-tube radio built into the tank and an antenna and battery pack on
267-488: A single-speed drivetrain , and straightforward steel construction with expressive styling. Cruisers are popular among casual bicyclists and vacationers because they are very stable and easy to ride, but their heavy weight and balloon tires tend to make them rather slow. Another common feature is their ability to be customized with accessories including fenders, lights and saddle bags. They are designed for use primarily on paved roads, low speeds/distances, and are included in
356-544: A "must-visit" place for riders on a budget. In the global context, there are very few notable downhill venues in Latvia. Most of them are located at local ski resorts in Baldone , Sigulda , and Cēsis . Also, there's a trail network in the forests of Tukums near Melnezers . All the tracks are built and maintained voluntarily by individuals who take it upon themselves to do so. Each year Latvian Downhill association regularly schedules
445-419: A 27 km and 17 km single track and 2 purpose-built downhill trails. According to the law, it is illegal to ride in the forests. All the tracks are built and maintained voluntarily by individuals and mountain biking clubs who take it upon themselves to do so. As downhill mountain biking has become more popular so has the call for more facilities and practitioners of this sport have begun campaigning with
534-594: A 4X Race, and a slopestyle contest. It is visited by around 25000 spectators and 1200 riders. In the small town of Wi of Willingen is a former World Cup Downhill and Four Cross Race Course. The World Cup has been held there in 2005 and 2006. With Germany being a high-level industry country, there are many firms are producing downhill bikes, such as Last Bikes, Zonenschein, Fusion Bikes, Cube Bikes, Ghost Bikes, Canyon Bikes, Propain Bikes, Rose Bikes, Solid Bikes as well as boutique bike manufacturers Nicolai and Liteville. There are also
623-490: A bike park with some of the rockiest terrain on the east coast. UCI Pro Downhill riders, Neko Mulally and Dakota Norton have built, train at, and promoted races at Windrock Bike Park in Oliver Springs, Tennessee as well. Vail , Colorado was the site of the 1994 Downhill World Championship. The trail was renamed "'94 Downhill", and is still ridden by downhill bikers today. In 2006, The U.S. National Championships were held at
712-426: A continuous course is defined on each side by a strip of tape. Depending on the format, riders have a single or double attempt to reach the finish line as fast as possible, while remaining between the two tapes designating the course. Riders must choose their line by compromising between the shortest possible line and the line that can be traveled at the highest speed. If a rider leaves the course by crossing or breaking
801-560: A day during dry and wet weather, mostly on weekends. El Volcan is the representative [Downhill] Track of Caracas city. The course is open to the public and riding is neither specifically allowed nor prohibited by law. The trails are also used by hikers all week long. Shuttles are about 10 Venezuelan bolivars per trip, they run from the parking lot of a Farmatodo drug store in La Boyera, up to the summit using public avenues and paved roads, taking from 15 minutes to 30 minutes depending on traffic in
890-507: A few tracks on Trebević, Igman , Bjelašnica , Cavljak – Barice, all featured tournaments on an international level. Unexploded ordnance is one of the reasons for slow development of this sport in a country with a such great potential for it. Canada is famous for its downhill racing as well as other sorts of mountain biking. The Whistler Mountain Bike Park in Whistler, British Columbia hosts
979-422: A fireroad now referred to as Repack Road, due to the need to repack the hub brake after each descent. The bikes used were based on cruiser bicycles that had a drum or coaster brake that worked by pedalling backward. The mechanism operated with a conical brake shoe being wound on a thread in a metal hub. To prevent the brake from seizing it was kept filled with grease. Heavy use during the descent would cause
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#17328517664531068-501: A flea market) with a drum brake threaded for a freewheel cluster developed the sport, and by 1979, two organizers and competitors of the Repack downhill, Charlie Kelly and Gary Fisher founded the company which named the sport, MountainBikes. As mountain biking grew during the 80s, downhill riders continued to use either rigid or limited-travel (under 2 inches (5 cm)) suspension bicycles. Purpose-made downhill bikes started to appear in
1157-405: A freewheel derailleur cluster to his old Schwinn Excelsior bike, enabling him to ride up the mountain, as well as down. About the same time, another rider named Joe Breeze began tinkering with his own Schwinn Excelsior, making it more suited to the "Repack" course. Soon, both of them began to build and sell custom mountain bikes to fellow enthusiasts, launching a worldwide cycling phenomenon. In
1246-541: A garage sale and would endure tremendous punishment. Soon, riders were snapping up these old cruisers, stripping off the heavy fenders and trim, and souped them up to improve downhill performance. Derailleur gears were added by Russ Mahon of The Morrow Dirt Club in Cupertino at the 1974 Marin County cyclo-cross and Gary Fisher's 1975 used a tandem rear hub (from a flea market) with internal steel drum brake and threaded for
1335-815: A lot of firms producing high-end parts like Rohloff , Magura, or Tune. Downhill Mountain Biking in India is fairly new. The main and the most popular downhill mountain bike race in India is called the Himalayan Downhill Mountain Bike Trophy which is organized by Himalayan Mountain Bike Network during the Himalayan Mountain Bike Festival. This race is conducted at Ski Himalayas Ropeway and Ski Resort located in Solang Valley near Manali which
1424-711: A world cup was held for the first time in La Bresse. In August 2011, La Bresse hosted the sixth round of the UCI World Cup. Since 2015, Lourdes has hosted a World Cup round each year. The first downhill trails in Georgia were developed in 2015. Among the first built was in Gudauri , followed by trails in Bakuriani . Both of the places are also ski resorts. Trails are at 2000–2250 meters, with trail lengths of about 5000 meters. In Germany
1513-567: Is a major riding event that opens the racing season. In 2008, experienced racer Mark Reynolds died after a crash at the Sea Otter Classic, highlighting the dangers of the sport. Plattekill Mountain in the Catskills, Mammoth Mountain, the Northstar at Tahoe , Brian Head Resort , Attitash and Deer Valley ski resorts, and Moab (Utah) are also well known to mountain bikers. Snowmass , Colorado
1602-553: Is accessed by shuttling in cars, buses or by walking to the top of the track (push runs), however the venues at Mount Buller and Thredbo provide lift accessed tracks during the snow less summer months. Mount Stromlo , near Canberra, hosted a World Cup Round in August 2008 and the 2009 World Championships. The top can be accessed by either riding up singletrack, or by shuttling via the road. Australia's first UCI Mountain Bike World Cup
1691-786: Is also a collection of manufacturers' booths, and the festival serves as a cycling industry gathering. Prominent display-type advertising, for a very wide variety of products, is present throughout all events. The festival has attracted sponsors including Bud Light , CLIF Bar , Monster Energy , Volkswagen , Dose.ca , SRAM Corporation , Norco , Giant Bicycles , Redbull , the Kona Bicycle Company , and various other corporate entities. The events held in 2009 were: Dual slalom, Monster Energy Garbonzo Downhill, Quon Memorial X/C Race, Womenzworx, Air Downhill, VW Trick Showdown, Giant Slalom, Kidsworx, Canadian Open Enduro, Trailsworx, Canadian Cheese Rolling Championships, Monster Energy Slopestyle, and
1780-626: Is also developing as a location for the sport. Mountain Creek Bike Park in Vernon, New Jersey is a downhill venue that hosts their own series of competitions called the Gravity Series. In the southeastern United States, Snowshoe Mountain is well known for its extensive mountain bike park, camps, and freeriding areas during the summer. Bryce Resort offers a self-described progression-based bike park, built by Gravity Logic. Massanutten Resort also has
1869-508: Is kind of a center for the European downhill scene. There are tracks in or near every city with high quality and steep descent. It has several World Cup tracks like "Champéry" or "Portes du Soleil. Switzerland is the home of parts manufacturer DT Swiss, EDCO Swiss bicycle components since 1902, frame manufacturer BMC and bike manufacturer Redalp. Mountainous regions of Northern Thailand offer great venues for downhill mountain biking. Chiang Mai
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#17328517664531958-510: Is often referred to as "North Shore Style." Canada has produced many world-class mountain bike racers, including downhillers Andrew Shandro and Steve Smith. The mount of Bromont, situated in Bromont, Quebec, and Mont-Sainte-Anne near Quebec City are great places for downhill biking. Downhill MTB races have been held in Croatia since 1993, when the first competition was organized outside Zagreb , on
2047-512: Is open to ride for amateurs visiting the bike park. It is known for its high speeds and an extremely difficult final section called "Vali's Hell" (named after multi-time World Cup winner and World Champion racer Valentina Höll ). Most of Bolivia's downhill riding is done in the Andes Mountains in and around La Paz . In the city there is the Pura Pura trail, there are also a few trails through
2136-659: Is the Megavalanche downhill race, the event in the Alp d'Huez and Bourg d'Oisans regions. Another downhill course in the region is Les Deux Alpes which sometimes hosts other downhill events. The downhill courses and events are limited in the area, however, because of the alpine winter and snow. The most popular region for downhill in the French alps is the Portes du Soleil , including the two more popular resorts of Morzine and Les Gets. Most recently,
2225-615: Is the Mountain Biking Capital of India. The DH race track is 2 km, long and the area offers a lot of natural mountain biking trails and lends itself to many styles of mountain biking. The paths in this Himalayan region are accessible to riders of all skill levels. Downhill cycling has increased in Ireland over the past 10 years, for example, the National Points Series rounds regularly attract over 250 riders from all over
2314-634: Is the most famous location for downhill mountain biking in Thailand . The Chiang Mai Downhill Challenge, which was held in November 2012 and 2013, attracted World Cup riders, such as Steve Peat, Josh Bryceland, Sam Dale, Brook Macdonald, Wyn Masters, and Edward Masters, as well as a Belgian free-rider. Nico Vink. Doi Suthep mountain is where most downhill actions take place in Chiang Mai. Tour operator, such as X-Biking Chiang Mai, offers guided tour or shuttle service to
2403-516: Is used to transport riders to the top of the hill. Others are accessible by riding (or pushing) bicycles to the starting point. Urban downhill courses have also appeared in mountain-side cities, with the courses going through city streets and sidewalks, such as the Taxco Downhill event in Mexico. Courses used in competition often feature several "lines" through or around difficult obstacles. For example,
2492-578: The English racer . Schwinn was no stranger to this style. Between the 28 inch wheeled track bikes that they built between the turn of the 20th century and the 1920s and the lightweight offerings they introduced in the 30s such as the Continental, Varsity and Superior, they knew their way around. These prewar bikes could be had with imported half inch pitch drivetrains with freewheels and hand brakes. In postwar production, Schwinn began producing lightweights again in
2581-630: The Infineon Raceway in Sonoma, California . In 2007 and 2008 the U.S. National Championships were held in Mt. Snow, Vermont, and in 2009 and 2010 the U.S. National Championships were held at SolVista Bike Park in Colorado. El Volcan, a small mountain in the southeastern, touristic El Hatillo Municipality of Caracas , has a Downhill course that has about 500 meters of vertical drop, it is used by hundreds of riders
2670-793: The Scottish Uplands , Highlands , Wales , and Northern England, as these are more mountainous areas. Fort William in Scotland is Britain's only World Cup standard track and was the venue for the 2007 World Championships. The UK has a powerful race scene with a national series and numerous regional series with a strong representation of all age groups present. The country has produced many of the world's top downhill mountain bikers, including Steve Peat , Gee Atherton , Danny Hart , Josh Bryceland , Brendan Fairclough , Rachel Atherton , Manon Carpenter , and Tahnee Seagrave . The Sea Otter Classic , held each April at Laguna Seca near Monterey, California ,
2759-418: The "A line" might be a direct line over a large jump with a sketchy landing, the "B line" a smaller jump with a better landing, and the "C line" completely avoids the jumps, but may take longer. Australia has produced a large number of internationally successful downhill racers, including Sam Hill , Chris Kovarik , Nathan Rennie and Mick Hannah . The large majority of Australian downhill riding and racing
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2848-427: The 1970s. Cruisers were popular throughout the 1930s and 40s and gained greater postwar success. Their combination of substantial weight (some models weighing over 70 pounds) , single speed mechanicals (often New Departure Model D oil coaster hubs), and wide tires (26 × 2.25″ 559) made the bicycles primarily suited to flat terrain. They were popular with paperboys and bicycle couriers . Competing firms including
2937-636: The 2010 European downhill championships and the 2010 Nordic downhill championships. The Philippines is known for its mountainous range and rocky hills. In Rizal , there are famous downhill tracks, such as the Patiis Downhill Tracks in San Mateo. Other downhill tracks around the country hold annual downhill races. Former downhill tracks include the famous and now-defunct Antenna Downhill Tracks in Binangonan, Rizal, which were closed and dismantled alongside
3026-419: The 90s, with innovations such as dual crown forks and disc brakes , as well as more elaborate suspension designs. Later, riders from other disciplines began focusing on downhill, such as BMX racers Daniel Solano (Team Tomac Bikes), and Brian Lopes . Their influence is seen in the increased difficulty of many courses, with bigger jumps and drops added. The coming of age for downhill biking was its inclusion at
3115-466: The Canadian Open Downhill presented by Kona. Downhill mountain biking Downhill mountain biking ( DH ) is a style of mountain biking practiced on steep, rough terrain that often features jumps , drops , rock gardens and other obstacles. Jumps can be up to and including 12 meters (39 feet), and drops can be greater than 3 meters (10 feet). The rider commonly travels to
3204-559: The Cleveland Welding Corporation (CWC) which made many of the Ward's Hawthornes and Shelby Flyers, later American Machine and Foundry AMF (Roadmaster) after the merger that took place in 1954, Westfield (Columbia) , Monark-Silver King (bought out by Huffy in 1957), Snyder Rollfast, Evan's Colson, Murray (Elgin, JC Higgins and later Sears), and Huffman (Huffy) used styling features and distinctive models to attract buyers—including
3293-550: The Continental, a name they resurrected, and later the Varsity. The Varsity was offered between 1960 and 1962 as an 8 speed and as a 10 speed between 1963 and 1982. While largely obsolete by the late 1960s, the cruiser remained popular for utility and recreational use at the beach, where they soon earned the title of "beach cruisers". The term "beach cruiser" started in 1976 at Recycled Cycles in Newport Beach when Larry McNeely coined
3382-645: The Cruiser Series which has survived multiple iterations and has been offered more or less continuously through present. The most desirable Cruisers are the Cruiser, Deluxe Cruiser and Cruiser 5. The Cruiser Six was made by Giant, for Schwinn. The 4, 7 and Alloy as well as the other models were made as part of the Signature Series by Schwinn's current parent, in China. Schwinn registered the trademark "Schwinn Cruiser"® with
3471-467: The Henderson and Excelsior motorcycles his company had built during the 1920s, including a heavy "cantilevered" frame with two top tubes and 2.125-inch-wide (54.0 mm) "balloon" tires from Germany. Innovations like the fat-tire Schwinn with derailleur gears by Russ Mahon of The Morrow Dirt Club in Cupertino at the 1974 Marin County cyclo-cross and Gary Fisher 's 1975 use of a tandem rear hub (from
3560-559: The National downhill cup and championships. In the next several years, it is expected to grow a local community around downhill mountain biking by increasing the number of riders and improving local ski resort trail quality. Hafjell , a ski resort in the county of Oppland and host of the alpine skiing events ( giant slalom and slalom ) at the 1994 Winter Olympics , offers a vast combination of courses and tracks for cross-country and downhill mountain bikers during summer. Hafjell hosted
3649-544: The Nordic Championships in 2007. There are numerous graded biking trails down the Åreskutan fell . Sweden's most southerly DH bike park is called Vallåsen Bike Park. And it is located on the north side of the Halland ridge between Skåne and Halland. Vallåsen opened in 2008, and it attracts riders not only from Sweden but also Denmark due to Its relatively close location to Copenhagen. Vallåsen holds an annual DH race at
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3738-523: The Super Bowl of the sport and/or "The Ultimate experience in Mountain Biking", and is the biggest annual gathering of the mountain biking community. A central aspect of Crankworx is a series of village-wide promotional displays and activities pertaining to extreme-style mountain biking. Many events happen throughout the week including demonstrations of bicycle tricks, music, and other entertainment. There
3827-529: The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office in November 1979. TRAC International Corporation of Atlanta , Georgia , registered the trademarks "Beach Cruiser"® and "Street Cruiser"® with the USPTO in December 1983, for their Taiwanese made bicycles. The release of the 1985 film Pee-wee's Big Adventure highlighted the main character's cross-country search for his lost custom-built heavily-accessorized horn-tank bicycle. In
3916-640: The U.S., NORBA , as a part of USA Cycling , runs the National Mountain Bike Series, and the NCCA is the governing body for collegiate cycling. In the UK, British Cycling controls mountain biking as well as road and BMX. In Australia, MTBA controls all disciplines of Mountain biking. Cruiser bicycle A cruiser bicycle , also known as a beach cruiser or (formerly) motobike , is a bicycle that usually combines balloon tires , an upright seating posture,
4005-586: The USA, a full year before Schwinn. And the streamline movement in bicycles was really pioneered by Sears and Huffman. The resulting bicycles could endure abuse that could damage others. In 1934, Schwinn successfully re-styled the B-10E, renaming it the Aero Cycle . While the Aero Cycle featured no technical improvements over the original B-10E, its streamlined frame, faux gas tank, and battery-powered headlight came to define
4094-608: The Urban Downhill, known as Downtown. Lisbon DownTown is a famous annual event that brings world-class Downhill athletes to Portugal. Steve Peat is the King of the race, winning against 8 of the 11 editions. The Gouveia International Downhill is another important annual race that normally brings some of the WorldCup racers to the country. Places like Lousã, Tarouca, and Sintra offer a large mixture of single tracks and Downhill circuits. Some of
4183-757: The annual Crankworx and Joyride Huckfest racing events. The province of British Columbia is also home to several other large lift-serviced mountain bike parks, including Sun Peaks in Kamloops, BC , Silver Star Mountain Resort in Vernon, BC , Kicking Horse Mountain Resort in Golden, BC and Fernie Alpine Resort . The North Shore Mountains of North Vancouver , BC, are a famous downhill biking destination in their own right. The popular style of technical downhill freeriding that involves many man-made trail elements originated here. The style
4272-499: The area. The course apart from being used mostly for recreational purposes. It has also been used for irregularly scheduled downhill races due to the lack of organization in the rider's community. The Union Cycliste Internationale is the governing body for downhill mountain bike racing. Racers qualify to compete in World Cup races by earning UCI points, which are gained by being a top ten finisher in certain races, usually national. In
4361-547: The brake to over heat, softening the grease and causing it to drain from the hub, requiring frequent repacking. Ten riders descended 1,300 feet (400 m) of Repack road in about 5 minutes. The first bikes used for descending were known as "klunkers" or "paperboy bikes" – sturdy cruisers using balloon tires and coaster brakes , designed by Ignatz Schwinn during the Great Depression . The bikes could endure abuse that would damage other bicycles by changing features from
4450-416: The brand names Ranger, Pathfinder and Crusader. The Crusader “Cruiser” model was the high-end men/boy’s bicycle, and included additional features, such as front headlight, rear rack, and most importantly, the motorbike tank. The low-end model, (also described in ads' fine print as a cruiser), was the crusader “chaser,” and the ladies’ the crusader “clipper” and ‘cutter” models to complete the nautical theme in
4539-480: The city of Schladming . It is about 5 km long and with an average descent grade of about 35% it has become a legendary World Cup race track known for its technical and steep sections. Since 2010 Austria's biggest bike park in Leogang has taken over hosting the annual UCI World Cup DH races. It has also been host zu multiple Downhill World Championship events. The race track is called "Flying Gangster" and most of it
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#17328517664534628-416: The classic 1950s 5-Star was produced in the early 1990s), and Roadmaster. Harley-Davidson even licensed a cruiser bike with their logo and trademark styling. These helped stir up interest in cruisers, which brought them to the attention of aging Baby Boomers, who remembered the originals from their youth and now were reaching an age where a comfortable bike was more exciting than a fast bike, and who also had
4717-455: The country are now part of an annual 'Cro-enduro series and the fall of 2017 saw the organization of the first-ever Croatian Enduro National Championships. Urban downhill events are also held in the coastal city of Rijeka . 2018 saw the first UCI Mountain Bike World Cup held in Croatia, on the island of Lošinj . The French Alps are home to many downhill routes and events. The most famous one
4806-466: The country's large population, the sport has developed quickly in Germany. The number of riders can go up to 600 at races. With 3 cup races, Thuringia , in the middle of Germany, is the center of gravity riding. The most popular race series is the 'iXS German Downhill Cup'. In Germany is Europe's biggest Mountainbike Freeride Festival held, called iXS Dirt Masters. It includes one iXS German Downhill Cup Round,
4895-666: The country. Irish tracks vary greatly in length and difficulty. Moneyscalp is one of the shorter tracks with times for Elites coming at just over a minute. Other tracks such as Carrick in Co.Wicklow are closer to 5 minutes. There are no official downhill tracks in the Republic of Ireland . Just across the border in Rostrevor, Northern Ireland however, Newry & Mourne District Council has recently built some tracks in Kilbroney Forest which includes
4984-442: The cruiser 'look'. Modern cruiser bicycles retain these design elements, (except sometimes for the tank and/or light accessories). Schwinn is credited with kicking off the balloon tire craze when they introduced their offerings for 1933. By 1954, the balloon tire was tired and on its way out. That's when Schwinn introduced the middleweight. All other manufacturers followed suit in quick succession. The middleweights would last well into
5073-537: The early Seventies, two groups of enthusiasts: the Larkspur Canyon Gang , from Larkspur (long-time speed-riders down Mount Tamalpais ), and later members of Velo-Club Tamalpais from Fairfax and San Anselmo in Marin County, California began group rides in the canyons and over ridges, up and down the fireroads around Mount Tamalpais , later racing bikes downhill in a race they called "Repack" because
5162-415: The end of the season called the Vallåsen DH Challenge. Jarvsö Bike Park is another downhill park, which is in the locality of Järvsö , in the municipality of Ljusdal approximately, 3 hours north of Stockholm by car. The park consists of 17 tracks of varying difficulty and a pump track. Located between the Alps and the Jura and surrounded by the downhill nations of France, Germany, Italy, and Austria. It
5251-428: The enduro tracks of the exact location due to the development of the private property. Some notable Downhill athletes in the Philippines are Parabanne Mendoza, Lea Dennis Belgira, Fredrick Farr, Jerich Farr, Eleazar Barba Jr., and Niño Martin Eday. The Downhill Riders Organization of the Philippines (DROP) organizes some downhill races around the country. Portugal is the host country of a unique variety of downhill races,
5340-502: The entire lowrider look of "old school" accessories such as springer forks and bullet headlights is in the cruiser tradition. Lowrider bike magazines and catalogs also feature cruisers and are a great source of accessories for cruiser owners. A similar trend is the sudden appearance of " chopper " bicycles over the past couple of years, in response to the surge of interest in custom motorcycles. Several manufacturers offer "chopper" style bikes in their cruiser range. These bikes usually feature
5429-417: The first UCI Mountain Bike Championship , held in 1990 in Durango, Colorado . Many ski areas are converted into downhill mountain biking venues in the summer, such as Whistler Mountain Bike Park and Fernie Alpine Resort, alongside the specifically developed all-season downhill trails. At some courses, bikers ride gondolas, trams or chair lifts to the starting point, or "shuttling" with motorized vehicles
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#17328517664535518-437: The first round of the 2009 UCI World Cup, which was in Pietermaritzburg (Greg Minnaar's hometown). With the Caledonian mountains forming the borderland with Norway , this country has places for downhill races. The majority of Sweden 's notable downhill tracks are situated around Åre and Åre Bike, accessible via lift shuttles. In 1999 Åre was the host of the UCI Mountain Bike & Trials World Championships, and it hosted
5607-586: The forest. Camiraya at the outskirts of La Paz has more and longer trails. The Loma Loma and Chu Chu trails are a little further out in Sorata . There are also trails in other parts of the country, for example in Cochabamba and Potosí . Bosnia and Herzegovina is rich with mountains especially around the capital city of Sarajevo , in which a downtown race is held, although mountain bike and downhill especially are still developing to become known sports. Mountains like Igman , Bjelašnica and others are being increasingly used for downhill racing. Currently there are
5696-498: The hometown of Greg Minnaar. In the Western Cape, the best tracks are Edeouth and Jonkershoek in Stellenbosch , Playgrounds in Paarl , Sir Lowry's Pass near Somerset-West (hometown of Andrew and Jonty Neethling), Zevenwacht near Kuilsrivier , and Witfontein in George. They provide quite technical, but fun courses. Ferncliff and World's View our great in Pietermaritzburg. Helderkruin (West of Johannesburg), Klapperkop in Pretoria, and Gillooly's Farm in Johannesburg . South Africa held
5785-425: The landscape is quite diverse, reaching from flatlands in the north to medium-sized mountains in the center to the alpine mountains in the south. Downhill tracks in Germany are not as steep as in Switzerland , Austria , or Canada and the difference from top to bottom is less, but the main parts of an average track are everywhere in Germany. Racing on these short tracks is highly intense and allows no mistakes. Due to
5874-401: The late 1970s and early 1980s, cruiser frames formed the basis of the newly developed mountain bike . The late 1970s and early 1980s saw the emergence of interest in collecting old bicycles, and prices for balloon-tired classics climbed. A bicycle collecting community has developed, with newsletters and specialty shops focused on bicycle collectors. Gary Fisher was one of the main men behind
5963-538: The local riding community to communicate which trails are acceptable and which are not. Additionally, the area known as 'Grma' has seen the growth and development of DH-specific trails. MTB DH riding has also flourished in other parts of Croatia, especially in the northern Adriatic coastal region and in the northern (continental) part of the country. In 2010 the national DH Cup events were held in Buzet (Istria), Samobor (Zagreb area), Pakrac (Slavonia), and Gracisce (Pazin, Istria). Additionally, multiple enduro races around
6052-528: The mid 40s with models such as the New World. These bikes could be had with Sturmey Archer 3 speeds from England and had chromoly tubing. To popularize these bicycles they enlisted the help of Hollywood celebrities. Ronald Reagan is seen riding one in the 1947 Schwinn catalog. The cruiser also ceded market share to muscle and lowrider bikes , which Schwinn introduced in 1963, featuring banana seats, oversized shift levers, and ape-hanger bars inspired by West coast motorcycle customizers—which in turn gave birth to
6141-426: The modern BMX bike, while the cruiser went into a steep sales decline. By 1972, a new wave of lightweight derailleur-equipped bicycles led a wave of new consumer interest in recreational bicycling, resulting in the bike boom . Derailleur-equipped sport bikes or ten speeds inspired by European racing bicycles soon dominated the adult market. Schwinn introduced their 10 speeds in the early 60s starting first with
6230-467: The money to buy whatever they wanted. The classic "retro" looks, reliable mechanical performance, comfortable ride, and relatively low price of cruisers (compared to mountain bikes or road racers) also appealed to young Gen Xers. Nearly every major bike manufacturer now offers at least one cruiser model, if not an entire line. Some notable contemporary manufactures include Electra Bicycle Company and Felt Bicycles . Cruiser sales have continued to rise over
6319-554: The more resilient youth market—originally marketing the Schwinn B-10E Motorbike —which resembled a motorcycle but carried no motor—in 1933. Mr. Schwinn adapted features from the Henderson and Excelsior motorcycles that his (formerly purchased) bankrupt company had built during the 1920s, including a heavy "cantilevered" frame with two top tubes and 2.125-inch-wide (54.0 mm) "balloon" tires from Germany. Schwinn, like others, copied what they saw going on in Europe. Both Sears and Montgomery Ward had bicycles in 1932 that had balloon tires in
6408-478: The mountain bike. He was one of the original Tam Bombers and essentially commercialized the mountain bike. Cruisers' comfort, style, and affordability (compared to mountain and racing bikes) have led to renewed popularity in recent years In late 1979, Schwinn produced the "Schwinn Cruiser" model. In the 1980s Huffy built the "Good Vibrations" beach cruiser, and Murray built the "Monterey" beach cruiser, both using product names, like beaches, with an association to
6497-560: The non-racing/non-touring class and heavyweight or middleweight styles of the road bicycle type. The bikes, noted for their durability and heavy weight, were the most popular bicycle in the United States from the early 1930s through the 1950s, and have enjoyed renewed popularity since the late 1990s. One of the first uses of the term “cruiser” for motobikes may have been in the WW2 era, by Mead Cycle Co., who sold via mail-order bicycles of
6586-543: The notable Russian downhill venues are ski-comp, the ski complex "Metallurg" (Bannoe lake, Magnitogorsk), Mashuk, and Chaget mountains. And in the city of Novosibirsk has a trail for such races. It is located in the CHP-5. Slovenia's vast hilly landscape and undamaged nature make very good conditions for downhill cycling, thus one of the world's top, not only tracks but riders are also in Slovenia. The famous tracks that are included in
6675-502: The past decade and today many towns have clubs sponsoring regular cruiser rides as a way to promote the low-tech, high fun aspect of cycling. Three other contemporary bike trends are related to cruisers. For decades, Latino car enthusiasts have been lowering the suspension on older American cars to build "lowriders". Their younger siblings have begun building their own custom "lowrider bikes". Lowrider bicycles are usually built on old Schwinn Sting-Ray or other "muscle bike" frames, but
6764-504: The phrase and used it as their trademark for the production of the modern Beach Cruiser. Secondhand cruisers found new life on America's coastlines as practical transportation for beach bums and surfers. By the late 70s, Schwinn reintroduced heavyweights, but this time with a blend of BMX parts. The Spitfire was reintroduced as a heavyweight for 1977 and was sold through 1979 with reissue S2s that were made in Hungary. In 1980, Schwinn introduced
6853-633: The point of descent via a ski lift or automobile, since the weight of the downhill mountain bike often precludes any serious climbing. In this context, the use of a motorized vehicle or device does not make DH a motorized sport. Riders must possess a unique combination of total body strength, aerobic and anaerobic fitness, and the acceptance of a relatively high risk of incurring serious permanent injuries. Downhill bikes are heavier and stronger than other mountain bikes and feature front and rear suspension with over 8 inches (20 cm) of travel, to glide quickly over rocks and tree roots. In competitive races,
6942-563: The product naming scheme. Art work of U.S. Navy Cruiser ships were depicted in the Mead Cycle Co. ads. So "cruiser" may have originated as one model name used by one distributor of the motorbike style of bicycles. The term beach-ranger never really caught on. In an old catalog from Sears, Roebuck and Company, the Elgin Motor Bike was advertised, and the term motor-bike was explained as follows, "The term "Moto-Bike" has reference only to
7031-426: The rear carrier. During the late 1950s and early 1960s, bicycles imported from Great Britain and Continental Europe became popular, especially lighter and more nimble sports roadster models or " English racer ". These models featured three-speed gearing, taller wheels, narrower tires and lighter weight and greater hill-climbing ability. By the late 1950s, U.S. manufacturers such as Schwinn ramped up production of
7120-472: The ride was so grueling that riders had to repack their coaster brakes with grease after each run. The off-road terrain was rocky and the steep mountainside helped riders attain high speeds as they bounced and slammed over rocks and mud. Such harsh treatment caused regular road bikes to crumble, so the racers searched for a more durable and affordable alternative. They soon discovered that old balloon-tired "clunkers" (as they called them) could be had for $ 5.00 at
7209-423: The same mountain that today hosts the world cup races in alpine skiing. Until the past 4–5 years, Mountain biking was banished from popular hiking trails and ski slopes around the capital. However, with the rise in popularity of DH and enduro, (gravity) riding, Trail management regulations have been relaxed and along with allowing riders, have begun to allow for the development of MTB-specific trails, cooperating with
7298-665: The seaside, served by shuttles. Among the most famous trails in the country is the Sanremo Downhill, a rocky, technical, and dangerous course won in 2007 by Fabien Barel. The 2008 World Championship happened in Val di Sole . Located in the Tian Shan, the city of Almaty , Shymbulak bike park was opened in 2013. There are also the Charyn canyons and mini Red Bull Rampage trail. The cheap living costs, warm climate, and fresh mountain air make Almaty
7387-454: The state on this issue. Bardonecchia , one of the Torino 2006 winter Olympic venues, converts some of its ski courses and lifts for use by mountain bikers in the summer, and several downhill courses are present. Other ski resorts turning to mountain bike parks in summer are Canazei , Pila , Sestola , and Livigno . The area of Finale Ligure , near Genoa , offers year-round tracks that end on
7476-576: The tape they must return to the course at the point of exit, unless they do not gain a time advantage from crossing the tape, in which case they can continue with their run. Riders start at intervals, often seeded from slowest to fastest, and courses typically take two to five minutes to complete with winning margins being often less than a second. Riders are timed with equipment similar to that used in downhill skiing . The 1st downhill time-trial race took place in Fairfax, California on 21 October 1976, on
7565-493: The trailheads and pick up the riders once they complete the trails. The Thailand National Championships, are held in many different venues across Thailand by the Thai Cycling Association. It also attracts many riders across Southeast Asia. The cheap living costs, great foods, warm climate, and great ridings make Thailand a "must-visit" place for riders on a budget. Within the UK, most of the main downhill tracks are in
7654-477: The type of frame, meaning that it is built on the order of a motorcycle". Schwinn was one of many manufacturers who contributed to the development of the cruiser at a time when U.S. bicycle sales had declined sharply due to the Great Depression ; adults purchased few bicycles, which were seen as luxury products intended largely for sport or recreation. In response to other manufacturers' innovations, Schwinn conceived their own sturdy, affordable bicycle designed for
7743-569: The west coast of California. Then in the early to mid-1990s, Schwinn produced a series of cruiser models, including the "Cruiser Deluxe" (which featured a Phantom-style tank with horn, chrome fenders, white-wall balloon tires, rear rack, a springer fork, and two-tone blue or green frames). The cruiser resurgence continued in 1995, when Schwinn reissued the Black Phantom to celebrate the company's 100th birthday. During that same time frame, similar offerings appeared from Columbia (a limited reissue of
7832-651: The world cup are at a ski resort the ski resort Kranjska Gora in the northwest tip of Slovenia, while the other track is on the ski resort hill Pohorje at Slovenia's second largest city Maribor . Downhill racing is not currently a very big sport in South Africa but is rapidly growing. South Africa boasts some great tracks and riders, especially from the Western Cape and the Pietermaritzburg area in Kwa-Zulu Natal ,
7921-571: Was held in Cairns in 1994–1995. followed by the World Mountain Bike Championships in 1996 and again in 2017 , placing Cairns on the map as the premier Australian mountain bike destination. Located in the Alps , Austria is very suitable for downhill riding. A large majority of Austria 's downhill tracks are accessible via lift shuttles. A World Cup track called the "Planai" is located in
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