History

The 1st 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 the single rear hub brake
after a descent. The bikes used were based on beach cruisers that had a single rear brake that
worked by pedalling backwards. A mechanism came into operation causing a conical metal
(bronze?) brake shoe to be wound on a thread into a conical metal hub. To prevent a metal to
metal brake from snatching it was always filled with grease. Heavy use of the brake during the
descent would cause the brake to over heat, melting the grease till it drained from the hub and
required repacking. Ten riders descended 1,300 feet (400 m) of Repack in about 5 minutes.[2] The
first bikes used for descending were known as "klunkers" or "paperboy bikes": coaster brake
cruisers using balloon tires first imported to America by Ignatz Schwinn.[3] By 1979, two
organizers and competitors of the Repack downhill, Charlie Kelly and Gary Fisher founded the
company which named the sport, MountainBikes.[4] As mountain biking grew enormously during
the 80s, downhill riders continued to use either rigid or limited suspension travel (under 2 inches
(5 cm)) bicycles, and purpose made downhill bikes were not made until the 90s. 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. Particularly, many BMX
racers made the crossover, including champions such as John Tomac (Team Tomac Bikes), and
Brian Lopes. Their influence is seen in the increased difficulty of many courses, especially the
big jumps and drops 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.
Teknik

A downhill bike (also known as a downhill mountain bike) is a full suspension bicycle designed
for downhill cycling on particularly steep, rocky trails. Unlike a typical mountain bike, durability
and stability are the most important design features, compared to lighter, more versatile crosscountry bikes. Downhill bikes are primarily intended for high speed descent, and downhill riders
will usually push, or shuttle via chairlifts or motorized vehicles, to the trailhead.[1]
Downhill bikes are typically made of aluminum or steel, will have 710 inches (178254 mm) of
rear suspension travel, and be designed around a 78-inch (178203 mm) suspension fork.[2] The
suspension sag is also much higher than cross-country bikes (25%-50% of total travel vs. 10%20%) for a more supple ride at higher speeds.
These bikes will also have very slack head tube angles (66 degrees or less),[2] long wheelbases
(over 45 inches or 1,143 mm),[2] and will accommodate the use of up to 3-inch (76.2 mm) width
knobbed tires. Downhill frames are also overbuilt to handle the stress of riding over rocky
terrain, drops, and jumps. Bike weights have been typically over 40 lbs (18 kg), but modern

downhill bikes have broken the 45 lb (20 kg) weight barrier (such as the Trek Session 10,
weighing in at almost 50 lb or 23 kg). Some newer (2007/8) downhill bikes can be built to weigh
under 38 lb (17 kg), such as the Santa Cruz V10 or the GT DHi.
Other features include 8-inch (203 mm) disc brakes and a chain guide to prevent accidental chain
deraillment. Other innovations include the use of OnePointFive head tube standard, which uses a
1.5 in (38 mm) wide steerer tube, instead of the more conventional 1.125 in (29 mm) diameter,
for added stiffness and strength.[3] Adjustable head tube angles are also available to adapt the bike
to the owner's preferred style of riding.[4]
Downhill bikes are also very similar to freeride bikes due to large strong frames and long travel.
[1]
Most downhill bikes use triple clamp forks which allow longer travel at the front(usually
203 mm or 8 in and increased stiffness that a single crown fork cannot offer. Drawbacks though,
are increased weight and reduced turning circle. Also downhill bikes have very thick and big
tyres in order not to drift in bad terrain