Mountain Bikes Honored

[andy aka rut]

I totally stole this from HecklerMark on the MTBR SoCal forum, but I thought it was interesting and deserved more attention.

The faculties of the University of California, Berkeley, and the
University of California, Los Angeles, have jointly ranked the invention
of the mountain bike as one of “25 brilliant California ideas that are
shaping the future.”
The UCLA and UC Berkeley faculties, working with the editors of /UCLA
Magazine/ and /California/, the university and alumni magazines of UCLA
and UC Berkeley, rank the invention of the mountain bike as one of 25
“transformative” and “brilliant” California ideas “that were either
created or took off in the past 25 years.”
Others in this exclusive compilation include the discovery of the
structure of the early universe, pioneering stem cell research, the
invention of the iPod, the development of the Internet search engine,
and the development of computer-generated imagery.
The judges include “dozens of educators, researchers, and scientists at
both universities.”
The award is explained in this admiring language: “Ushering in an era of
‘extreme sports,’ mountain bikes helped change the way Americans view
athletics. Outdoor sports was no longer just a distraction for the
intrepid young. We adopted a ‘sports-for-life’ ethos, according to Gary
Fisher, who credits the change to a motley group of off-road racers on
the slopes of Mt. Tamalpais in the late seventies.”
See these links to read more about this remarkable honor:
http://www.alumni.berkeley.edu/calmag/200701/ideas.asp
http://www.alumni.berkeley.edu/calma...1/id_intro.asp
http://www.alumni.berkeley.edu/calma...id_cyclist.asp

[uzziboy]

Stole is such a harsh word how bout procured? Anyway I think that is totally true about how it changed the way we looked at the outdoors I have had a bike since I was seven and never looked back but when the mountain bike came out it was amazing who would have ever thought what you were doing on a bike at 15 you could be doing at 40? I dont like sounding like a cliche' but this sport does kick ass!!! And to top it off it one of the best cardio things you can do to keep your ticker running.

[Kid A]

#26 Arrogant Bastard

[Pain Freak]

were doing on a bike at 15 you could be doing at 40?

Let's say 50.

[uzziboy]

hey 50 is even better. When I was fifteen and riding my little 20 inch bmx bike we would build a jump out of just about anything and attempt flying over trash cans, people, old tires stacked up I wish I had some of the pictures we took. My point is that that was a hugh rush and like now when I ride my bike I get that same feeling. And hence the reason UC Berkley gave mountain biking well deserved praise.

[klunkerbill]

Hey,
It's cool that the establishment is honoring the mountain bike. Many of the legends were at my screening on Saturday in Hollywood. Fisher, Breeze, Kelly, etc were on-hand, as was Mountain Bike Action and BIKE magazines. Did any of you come down?

[andy aka rut]

I saw the Newport Film Festival show. It was amazing. I would have gone this last weekend too, but I was out of town. I hope it went well.

Originally Posted by klunkerbill

Hey,
It's cool that the establishment is honoring the mountain bike. Many of the legends were at my screening on Saturday in Hollywood. Fisher, Breeze, Kelly, etc were on-hand, as was Mountain Bike Action and BIKE magazines. Did any of you come down?

[maxwell]

Originally Posted by uzziboy

hey 50 is even better. When I was fifteen and riding my little 20 inch bmx bike we would build a jump out of just about anything and attempt flying over trash cans, people, old tires stacked up I wish I had some of the pictures we took. My point is that that was a hugh rush and like now when I ride my bike I get that same feeling. And hence the reason UC Berkley gave mountain biking well deserved praise.

Man, I didn't get off my bike until I started getting big, and breaking parts (bike parts, that is...)! That was when I was 15.

Then at 34, I started MOUNTAIN BIKING!!

I feel like a KID all over again! Even when riding with my kid's, I feel like a BIG kid!!

And at 43, I still like to "test" my limits.....

Hey uzziboy, I've even got the pictures stashed away!

Old School.....



New School.......



And STILL more to come............

[Schecky]

Sweet jump & NICE SOCKS!!!!

[OMR]

[quote=maxwell;Then at 34, I started MOUNTAIN BIKING!!quote]

Crash...

You start off looking sooo good on those jumps... it's those landings you've got to work on dood! ... luckily, Lacey doesn't take after you on this...

Keep on riding ...

OMR

[Schecky]

Looking for the article about slowSSer's pop turned up some other biking stories in the Register:

Maxwell:
Article - Sports - Going cross country

Steve Boehmke:
Article - News - Wheels of fortune

[maxwell]

Yeah, Dave Strege was out there at the last Rim Nordic race. He talked to us for a while before and after our races.

If you look close, Lacey is the third rider back in this picture...........

Going cross country
TIGHT SQUEEZE: Mountain bikers in a recent cross-country race at Rim Nordic find the single track a bit too narrow to pass. DAVE STREGE, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER