Crazy World of Mountain Biking Quiz

Answer: The late 1970s

Bicycles that could handle rough terrain had been around for much of the 20th century (do you think daredevils are a modern 'invention), but a man named Joe Breeze brought out the 'Breezer I' in 1978 and is considered to be the prototype for mountain bikes that followed. The first 'Breezer 1' bike is now located in Washington D.C.'s Smithsonian Institution.

Answer: Knobbies

The knobbies...hard rubber nodules... on mountain bikes produce good traction on rough mountain trails. They keep the rider from slipping and sliding on the trails which often have pebbles and brush on them. Although they may be ridden on streets, the ride is uncomfortably bumpy because of the knobbies and the bike may slip and slide on smooth surfaces.

Answer: Crouching low over the handlebars

Think about it...you are flying downhill at a good clip and you suddenly hit an object on the trail. Yes, you will probably crash, but you might not fly off your bike if you are leaning forward and holding the handlebar. Experienced mountain bike riders use many of the higher gears on their bikes while going downhill; expert riders know just when to switch through the twenties in order to control their speed.

Answer: Feather them lightly by squeezing and releasing them

It's a good idea to ease up on brake use while going downhill. Experienced riders know how to lightly use ('feathering') both front and back brakes at the same time, but they also know that if their brakes lock up on them, they will probably experience a momentary airborne flight ending in a tree, brush or boulder.

Answer: It's in Marin County, California, and is still one of the most difficult downhill trail to attempt

Mount Tamalpais is in Marin County, California, and has some of the gnarliest trails to be found. Of course, bikers wanted to risk their lives by riding down Mt. Tamalpais and in the early days of biker madness, riders found that the speeds on the downhill trails would remove the grease from the hub, causing the bike to do things it was not intended for. So riders had to stop, get some grease out of their saddlebags, slather (pack) the new grease on the hub, and proceed on their ride.

Hence the name 'Repack.' Newer bikes eliminated the need to stop for new grease, but the name stuck and the ride is still offered.

Answer: Yes

It was first introduced in the 1996 games in Atlanta, Georgia. Many mountain bike riders submitted petition after petition to the Olympic Committee, but after the success of the Atlanta Games, the first official Mountain Biking Event was at the Bejing Games in 2000, but its future is dim and depends on changes requested by the Olympic Committee; purists feel these changes would reduce the thrill of the sport, while others look at the admittedly horrible accident statistics and waver in their support.

Answer: Visit the Marin Museum of Biking and stroll through the Mountain Bike Hall of Fame

The Marin Museum and Mountain Bike Hall of Fame is the official one for the sport and features a complete history of cycling, even before Joe Breeze's prototype appeared. Hall of Fame inductees are respectfully presented with a photograph and a letter describing their accomplishments.

There was another Hall of Fame in Crested Butte, Colorado, but technical difficulties led to the decision to transfer their museum exhibits to Marin.

Answer: False

Mountain bike riders are not officially required to wear one, but if a rider shows up at an event without a helmet, they are politely told by other riders that they are %$&^# crazy. Also, many states and cities have established their own laws requiring mountain bikers to wear helmets starting at certain ages.The Number One safety rule in mountain biking is "Wear A Helmet" and once a helmetless rider decides not to scramble his or her brains in the event of an accident, they have a bewildering array of helmets to chose from and most of them are pretty expensive.

Answer: Buffalo Solders tested some of the earliest versions of mountain bikes in the 1890's when they rode Montana's rugged terrain on a trip to Yellowstone National Park

The treks through Montana were not considered 'extreme biking', but a way of transportation to Yellowstone. The bikes were changed to permit some off-road work and it is here where the soldiers and the future mountain bikes had something in common. Their bikes were heavier than today's models, no variety of gears were available, and the overall experience was not one that most Buffalo Soldiers wrote home expressing a desire to repeat the trip anytime soon.

Answer: Norway

Proof that mountain biking is truly an international activity, Norway offers the main Birkebeinerrittet race which is over 53.5 miles long and has between 10,000 and 15,000 riders participating. Depending on your skills as a rider, there are many shorter races to chose from. All riders must be prepared for two other obstacles that may be in their path : snow and cold.