Downhill mountain biking
The rider commonly travels to the point of descent via a ski lift or automobile, since the weight of the downhill mountain bike often precludes any serious climbing.
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.
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.
[citation needed] 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.
[7] The bikes could endure abuse that would damage other bicycles by changing features from 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[5] of The Morrow Dirt Club in Cupertino at the 1974 Marin County cyclo-cross and Gary Fisher's[5] 1975 use of a tandem rear hub (from a flea market)[citation needed] 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[5] and Gary Fisher founded the company which named the sport, MountainBikes.
[8] 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 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.
At some courses, bikers ride gondolas, trams or chair lifts to the starting point, or "shuttling" with motorized vehicles is used to transport riders to the top of the hill.
Australia has produced a large number of internationally successful downhill racers, including Sam Hill, Chris Kovarik, Nathan Rennie and Mick Hannah.
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.
"[citation needed] Canada has produced many world-class mountain bike racers, including downhillers Andrew Shandro and Steve Smith.
[citation needed] 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 the country.
[citation needed] 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 the state on this issue.
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 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.
[citation needed] Located in the Tian Shan, the city of Almaty, Shymbulak bike park was opened in 2013.
The cheap living costs, warm climate, and fresh mountain air make Almaty a "must-visit" place for riders on a budget.
[citation needed] Some of the notable Russian downhill venues are ski-comp, the ski complex "Metallurg" (Bannoe lake, Magnitogorsk), Mashuk, and Chaget mountains.
South Africa boasts some great tracks and riders, especially from the Western Cape and the Pietermaritzburg area in Kwa-Zulu Natal, 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.
Within the UK, most of the main downhill tracks are in the Scottish Uplands, Highlands, Wales, and Northern England, as these are more mountainous areas.
The Sea Otter Classic, held each April at Laguna Seca near Monterey, California, is a major riding event that opens the racing season.
[citation needed] In 2008, experienced racer Mark Reynolds died after a crash at the Sea Otter Classic, highlighting the dangers of the sport.
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.
[citation needed] The Union Cycliste Internationale is the governing body for downhill mountain bike racing.
