**1. Downhill Mountain Biking Overview:**
– Downhill biking involves riding on steep, rough terrain with jumps, drops, and obstacles.
– Riders use heavy, strong bikes with over 8 inches of suspension travel for a smooth ride.
– Courses are marked by tape boundaries that riders must stay within.
– Races feature timed descents lasting 2 to 5 minutes with winning margins often less than a second.
– Riders start at intervals, seeded from slowest to fastest, and are timed similarly to downhill skiing.
**2. History and Competitive Racing Development:**
– The first downhill time-trial race took place in Fairfax, California in 1976 on Repack Road.
– Early bikes used were based on cruiser bicycles with drum or coaster brakes.
– Innovations like klunkers, fat-tire Schwinn, and dual crown forks shaped downhill biking.
– MountainBikes company was founded by Charlie Kelly and Gary Fisher in 1979.
– Downhill biking was included in the first UCI Mountain Bike Championship in 1990.
**3. Notable Downhill Racing Venues and Locations:**
– Ski areas like Whistler Mountain Bike Park are converted into downhill biking venues.
– Some courses use gondolas, trams, or shuttles to transport riders to the starting point.
– Urban downhill courses in mountain-side cities provide unique racing experiences.
– Various countries like Australia, Austria, Canada, Croatia, France, Georgia, Germany, India, Latvia, Norway, Philippines, Portugal, Russia, and Slovenia offer diverse downhill biking opportunities.
**4. Downhill Mountain Biking Events and Competitions:**
– Mountain Creek Bike Park in Vernon, New Jersey hosts the Gravity Series competitions.
– Snowshoe Mountain in the southeastern US is known for its extensive mountain bike park.
– Historical events like the 1994 Downhill World Championship in Vail, Colorado are significant.
– U.S. National Championships have been held in various locations like Sonoma, California.
**5. Governing Bodies and Resources for Downhill Mountain Biking:**
– The Union Cycliste Internationale governs downhill mountain bike racing globally.
– NORBA under USA Cycling runs the National Mountain Bike Series in the US.
– British Cycling controls mountain biking in the UK, and MTBA governs all disciplines of mountain biking in Australia.
– Various websites and archives provide information on mountain biking for enthusiasts and racers.
Downhill mountain biking (DH) is a style of mountain biking practiced on steep, rough terrain that often features jumps, drops, rock gardens and other obstacles. Jumps can be up to and including 12 meters (39 feet), and drops can be greater than 3 meters (10 feet).
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The rider commonly travels to the point of descent a ski lift or automobile, since the weight of the downhill mountain bike often precludes any serious climbing. In this context, the use of a motorized vehicle or device does not make DH a motorized sport.
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.
Downhill bikes are heavier and stronger than other mountain bikes and feature front and rear suspension with over 8 inches (20 cm) of travel, to glide quickly over rocks and tree roots. In competitive races, a continuous course is defined on each side by a strip of tape. 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. Riders must choose their line by compromising between the shortest possible line and the line that can be traveled at the highest speed. If a rider leaves the course by crossing or breaking the tape they must return to the course at the point of exit, unless they do not gain a time advantage from crossing the tape, in which case they can continue with their run.[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. Riders are timed with equipment similar to that used in downhill skiing.