Downhill MTB
wheelMainstreamCalifornia, USA, 1980
Gravity-fueled mountain biking down steep, technical terrain at high speed on full-suspension bikes. Downhill is the most visceral form of cycling — rider versus mountain, no room for error.
History
Downhill racing evolved from the earliest mountain bike races on Mount Tamalpais. As bike technology advanced through the 1990s, courses got steeper and more technical. The UCI World Cup circuit became the proving ground for the world's fastest riders.
Culture
Downhill culture worships commitment and style. The community is smaller and tighter than XC, united by a shared understanding that what they do is genuinely dangerous and genuinely worth it.