Ever wonder where mountain biking came from? Mountain biking’s origins are a fascinating story that brings together the 1970s bike boom, the Summer of Love, road bike racing, the Grateful Dead, shop class, the back-to-the-land movement…all fueled by a desire to make the world a better place and have some fun along the way.

I’m currently working on a book on the origins and growth of mountain biking, along with a series of articles on trail building and trail access issues. Watch the video below for a synopsis of my work. I’ve also created the Mountain Biking History & Culture Archive, which integrates my research and teaching.

For a more in-depth account, you can peruse my dissertation. Feedback always welcome, as the dissertation is a draft for further published works to come!