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'Downhill cycling' ('DH') is a gravity-assisted time trial mountain biking event. Riders race against the clock, starting alone at set intervals, on courses which typically take two to five minutes to complete. The placing is determined by the fastest times to complete the course. As the name of this discipline implies, downhill races are held on steep, downhill terrain with no extended climbing sections, resulting in high speed descents with extended air time off of jumps and other obstacles.

Contents

Downhill bikes and equipment

Governing bodies

History of downhill cycling

External links

References

Downhill bikes and equipment

Main articles: Downhill bike

A Downhill bike (also referred to as DH rigs or sleds) tend to weigh between 17 to 25 kg (35 to 50 pounds), and usually feature a full-suspension design, and frame geometry that leans back further than other mountain bikes. As of 2006, 203 mm (8-inch) is the 'norm' for suspension travel. Large-diameter 203 mm (8-inch) hydraulic disc brakes moderate the riders' speed, the same technology as used in motorcycles or cars. Downhill bikes and freeride bikes are very similar but there are some slight differences. Downhill race bikes are typically much lower and have slacker geometry than freeride bikes, meaning that bottom bracket height is lower, the headtube and seattube angles are smaller, and the wheelbase is longer. This creates the effect that the bike is more stable at speed and in corners. Freeride bikes have a more upright geometry and a higher bottom bracket height, so that they are better for jumping and stunts. The price of downhill and freeride bikes ranges from 1500 dollars for an entry level bike, all the way to 10,000 dollars for a top of the line world cup race bike. The price differences have to do with the components that are on the bikes, also the more expensive bikes are usually made with higher quality materials and more time and care is put into quality frame production. Choosing components on a downhill bike is a constant battle between weight and strength. Parts have to be strong but still must be light. Recent advances in technology have allowed companies to make very strong but still very light components.
DH mountain bike technology is considered the area in which most technological innovation occurs. As professional teams sometimes spend tens of thousands of dollars to save weight, increase suspension efficiency and improve handling they develop new materials and geometries that trickle through to consumer markets on a consumer level downhill bike and other bikes.
Downhill gear features body armor and motocross-type helmets.

Governing bodies

The Union Cycliste Internationale is the global 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 the U.S., NORBA, as 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.

History of downhill cycling

The first downhill time-trial race took place in Fairfax, California on October 21, 1976 on a fireroad now referred to as Repack Road, due to the need to repack hub bearings after the long descent. Ten riders descended 1300 feet of Repack in about 5 minutes; only Alan Bonds made it to the finish line and was declared the winner.^[1]
The first bikes used for descending were known as "clunkers" or "paperboy bikes": coaster brake cruisers using balloon tires first imported to America by Ignatz Schwinn.^[2] By 1979, two organizers and competitors of the Repack downhill, Charlie Kelley and Gary Fisher founded the company which named the sport, MountainBikes.^[3] As mountain biking grew enormously during the 80's, downhill riders continued to use either rigid or limited suspension travel (under 2 inches) bicycles, and purpose made downhill bikes were not made until the 90's. Some of these innovations included dual crown suspension forks and disc brakes, as well as very elaborate frame suspension designs.
Later, riders from all disciplines of cycling began focusing on downhill. Particularily, many BMX racers made the crossover, including champions such as John Tomac and Brian Lopes, and their influence is seen in the increase in difficulty of many courses, especially in the "big air" aspect of downhill.
The coming of age for downhill biking was its inclusion at the first UCI Mountain Bike Championship, held in 1990 in Durango, Colorado. This inaugural event was won by Hall of Fame racer Greg Herbold.

External links

★ Bones Over Metal Video Magazine covering Downhill Racing, Freeriding and Dirt Jumping

References

1. Mountain Bike Hall of Fame - Repack History [1]
2. History of Clunker Bikes [2]
3. Mountain Bike Hall of Fame - inductee Gary Fisher [3]