MTB MILESTONES

The tech, riders and events that helped make mountain biking the best sport ever

- James Costley-White

1 REPACK 

1976 Where it all began. Had Californian rock'n'roll-band roadie and road cyclist Charlie Kelly not begun venturing off-road with his roommate Gary Fisher on modified singlespeed town bikes, then organised a downhill time trial to find out who in their 'klunker crew' was quickest, our sport could have been very different. As it was, the Repack races - thus-named because riders' coaster brakes got so hot they had to re-pack them with fresh grease after every run held on Marin County's Mount Tamalpais led to the development of mountain biking as we know it.

2 BREEZER SERIES

1977 Wanting to get one up on his Repack-racing rivals, Charlie Kelly offered fellow 'klunker crew' member Joe Breeze $300 to build him "a proper frame". The result was the Breezer Series 1, arguably the first purpose-built mountain bike. This custom 'ballooner' bike, now on display at the Smithsonian National Museum of American History, was made from tough chromoly steel, rolled on 26in wheels and was kitted out with a mix of hardwearing road/touring parts (Phil Wood hubs, SunTour gears, Dia-Compe brakes) and repurposed motorbike components (Magura brake levers, steel riser bar). 

3 SPECIALIZED STUMPJUMPER