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Bicyclist, Mount Tamalpais
The sport of mountain biking originated on the slopes of Mt. Tamalpais in Marin County. In the '70s a group of locals bikers used one-speed bikes with balloon tires to bounce down the mountain's rocky trails. Before long, organized races were being held with bikers charging down a two-mile, 1300 foot vertical drop dirt track known as 'Repack Road'. The trail got its name because the ride vaporized the grease on the bike's brakes, requiring them to be repacked with new grease after every descent. It soon became clear that conventional bicycles weren't able to withstand the extreme conditions of the sport and these enthusiasts started designing and building their own bikes. Today nearly all mountain bike manufacturers can trace their founders back to one of those early riders on Mt. Tamalpais.
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