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I wanted a BMX but in 1982, I was given a metallic green bike, for my birthday.

I loved that bike, but I grew out of it and had to give it away. It was definitely one of the first mountain bikes around. It had the large fat tyres, the wide handlebars and a raised seat post.

I remember fitting a red plastic BMX saddle to it and to match, red BMX nobbly tyres. It was so good to ride up and down the local fields and woods.

Many people seem to think that mountain biking started in the 90's but it mountain biking has actually been around since the 70's with Gary Fisher (bike rider and manufacturer) starting it all. The first bikes were indeed single speed like mine.

In the early 90's the mountain bikes we now know and love arrived, with brands like Cannondale and Specialised, producing some excellent bikes, some with hefty price tags.

Mountain bikes have evolved so much in the last 15 years. Firstly with rear suspension, front suspension and they have now progressed to becoming superlight full suspension.

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Do You Remember Mountain bikes?

Do You Remember Mountain bikes?

  • Anonymous user
    on
    I had my first mountain bike in 1989, it was a Townsend Highlander 10 spd had to get used to the brakes cos it was fitted with bmx calipers and in top range you went pretty quick.
  • Anonymous user
    on
    I bought a Raleigh Maverick with my first weeks wages. My mate got his a few months earlier than me but boy did we look cool. Rode up the steep cobbled hill in Lincoln the onlookers just could not believe it. I recieved a round of applause when I reached the top. Only 15 gears though not 18
  • Anonymous user
    on
    I got my first mountain bike when I was 12, in 1993. It was purple, white and black. It was only a 5 speed, but anyway I had this bike for years until I outgrew it.
  • Anonymous user
    on
    My 1'st mountain bike was a Raleigh Maverick I think it had 18 gears and it (seemed like)it weighed a ton! It was great on the hills and around the woods near where i lived but i never tried it on a mountain!!!
  • Anonymous user
    on
    I remember getting one of the first 'proper' mountain bikes just on the brink of them becoming the next big thing. It was 1989 and I was a bit behind the times as I still wanted a BMX, but I got a Raleigh mountain bike instead. Can't remember what it was called, but it was white and a sort of mustard yellow colour, and it was a girl's model. Even rarer at the time I imagine. I was a bit disappointed at first but soon forgot about the BMX when suddenly everyone started ditching their BMXs to ride my new bike. Next thing I knew, everyone else had a mountain bike too!
  • Anonymous user
    on
    I remember they weren't technically mountain bikes but home built mongrels out of various spare bke parts from the tip (when you were allowed to climb on it and get stuff). Mainly a large frame, large wheels and Cow-horn handlebars. Not unlike the bikes they used in cycle speedway, except with brakes.

Do you remember these?