“IT’S NOT A NEW BICYCLE, IT’S A WHOLE NEW SPORT”

pecialized didn’t invent mountain biking, the Nobel prize for that should go to the Repack races in Marin County in the 1970s… or controversially, archives (full feature to come soon online). What Mike Sinyard’s brand does lay claim to is the first production mountain bike, in the Stumpjumper. Released in 1981, you could now actually walk into a shop and buy a machine purpose-built for mountain biking rather than cobbling one together from sub-standard parts. Naturally this made things more affordable for more people than getting a bespoke bike, although at around $800 for the Stumpjumper, it wasn’t a cheap hardtail – allowing for inflation, an $800 bike would cost $2,500 at today’s prices.