What Are The Defining Features And Characteristics Of A 'Mountain Bike'?

[hookooekoo]

Just something to ponder on.

How do we define 'Mountain Bike'? Clearly it must be designed for and suited to riding non-tarmac routes.

Can the definition be broken down to a list? For example:
1. Large volume 'balloon' tyres
2. Large nobbles on the tyres

Or are lists of defining features and characteristics counterproductive and unhelpful in defining a mountain bike?

 

[Tsundere]

I'd say a balance between lightness and durability across the board, components that are designed to take a knock, elevated crank height to help get over obstacles, low top tube to prevent smashed groin on bumpy terrain.

Of course these days mountain bikes have evolved to be much more specialized, designed to excel in specific roles such as downhill, but most of the mid to top tier atb/mtb's from the mid 80's to the mid 90's were pretty well suited to most off and on road riding, which is why they are almost indistinguishable in many ways from modern so called hybrids.

 

[Nickinthecorner]

ATBs always was a more apt name for them, wasn't it?

 

[Takingabreak]

ATBs always was a more apt name for them, wasn't it?

I couldn't agree more.

 

[hookooekoo]

The ATB name definitely makes more sense for 1990s 'mountain bikes'. Especially when you consider the number of people who kept slicks and nobbly tyres, and switched tyres around as required.

 

[Nickinthecorner]

When I was a kid, "mountain bike" meant "more gears" and "fatter tyres".
The more, and the fatter, the better.
And cool colours

 

[hookooekoo]

In terms of 'more gears' or a wider range of gears, I think the granny ring may have been invented for mountain bikes. Was anyone using triple chainsets before mountain bikes? People on touring bikes carrying full gear for camping would obviously benefit from granny rings, but were they available before mountain bikes arrived?

And I think 'fatter tyres' is one of the undeniable features and characteristics of a mountain bike, along with 'nobbly tyres'.

 

[legrandefromage]

'Mountainbikes' was a name Charlie Kelly gave to his limited run of bikes in 1979 - he mildly regrets not patenting the name

No single person can claim to be the actual inventor of the 'all terrain' bicycle as they have existed since the bicycle was invented. Smoother roads were for the cyclist before the car took over.


The 'granny' ring came from tourers and tandem triple chainsets such as TA



French 650b bicycles had larger tyres and were very capable off roaders in their own right

1952 Rene Herse (gravel bike!!)



1953 John Finlay-Scott 'Woodsie' (its a maaaannntain bike!!!)



So, fatter tires, wide bars and multiple gears is your starting point for 'defining features'

 

[legrandefromage]

skinny tires, drop bars, its a...

...'all terrain roadie!' (Rough Stuff Fellowship)

non of the attributes of a mountain bike!

 

[legrandefromage]

Sloping down tube - check

triple chainset - check

big tyres - check

1950's Jack Taylor 'Rough Stuff'

1979 model