Mountain biking first appeared in California, USA, in the 1970s. The practice began with a group of friends who enjoyed riding down mountain trails, hence the English name “Mountain Bike.” Gradually, they modified their bikes to adapt to these steep paths: shortening the frame, widening the tires, and making the bike heavier. The first true mountain bike was created in 1977, called the “Breezer No. 1” (named after Joe Breeze, one of the friends in the original group).
For the first time, in 1979, MTB entered mass production with the “Stumpjumper.”
In France, the first mountain bike arrived in 1983 at La Plagne, coming directly from Canada. The following year, the country held its first MTB competition, the Roc d’Azur. At that time, only 7 participants took part; today, the event attracts over 20,000 riders! MTB’s popularity kept growing, and it was eventually included in the Olympic Games with cross-country racing in 1996 in Atlanta.
The structure of mountain bikes has changed considerably since their creation, as manufacturers constantly seek improvements. Technical features (saddle, wheels, suspension, etc.) vary depending on the bike’s intended use. Today, MTB accounts for more than 70% of the French bicycle market. A growing MTB discipline is tandem mountain biking, where two riders share a bike, emphasizing coordination and teamwork.