The Birth of Dirt: Origins of Mountain Biking (Paperback)

~ (Author), Wende Cragg (Photographer), Erik Koski (Photographer) "BEGINNING around 1982, a sea change affected the sales of bicycles in America and Europe..." (more)
Key Phrases: derailleur clunker, geared clunkers, mountain bike history, Gary Fisher, Charlie Kelly, Tom Ritchey (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

PLEASE NOTE: This was the first edition of the book. It has been replaced by an updated, expanded 2nd edition in full color. The reference number (ISBN) for the new edition is 9781892495617.

From the Back Cover

Relive the birth of the sport and the invention of the machine. In this fascinating book, Frank Berto, former engineering editor of Bicycling magazine, leaves no stone unturned in his quest for the truth about the beginnings of mountain biking and the invention of the mountain bike.

Illustrated with numerous period documents and vivid photographs by two of the early pioneers themselves (Wende Cragg and Erik Koski), this book should put an end to the question of who invented the mountain bike. At the same time, it will let you experience the pioneering days of the sport for yourself.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 128 pages
• Publisher: Cycle Publishing; 1 edition (December 1, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1892495104
• ISBN-13: 978-1892495105
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.5 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.7 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,740,460 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4.0 out of 5 stars Probing history; fun read; a few errors, September 14, 2009

By	John S. Allen (Waltham, MA USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: The Birth of Dirt: Origins of Mountain Biking (Cycling Resources) (Paperback)

The Birth of Dirt is a quick, fun read, and offers a quite thorough review of origins of the mountain bike, with numerous contemporary photos and drawings. Berto, formerly the technical editor of Bicycling magazine, has a fine command of the technical issues of bicycle design. But the book holds its good share of entertaining stories as well. Berto has the advantage of living in Marin County, California, where the mountain bike originated, and of knowing and having interviewed most of the pioneers in its development. They are a lively cast of characters, and Berto is a personable and engaging writer.

Berto has gone to considerable lengths with his research, yet I found a few minor errors of fact: for example, what is described as an Atom drum brake on page 28 is a Maxicar brake; Berto also locates the home of the late John Finley Scott in Davis, California rather than in nearby Dixon. Though this book is nearly definitive, the last word in such histories always lurks somewhere in the future.

5.0 out of 5 stars Highly recommended to anyone who wants to know the origins of their favorite hobby, October 9, 2008

By	Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Birth of Dirt: Origins of Mountain Biking (Cycling Resources) (Paperback)

Biking is a great source of exercise, and for some, a great source of adventure. "The Birth of Dirt: Origins of Mountain Biking" is Frank J. Berto's journey to track down the origins of adventurous biking and the bike created to facilitate that purpose. With plenty of full color and black and white photographs tracing the history of the mountain bike, it's intriguing to see the progression of the bike variation. "The Birth of Dirt" is highly recommended to anyone who wants to know the origins of their favorite hobby.

5.0 out of 5 stars The MTB history book I've been waiting for!, June 6, 2001

By	Charles T. Lai (Mountain View, CA USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I read a Berto story in Mountain Bike magazine regarding the history of the mountain bike, so when I saw this book, I had to pick it up. It's a great read with all the usual suspects (Breeze, Fisher, Ritchey, Sinyard...), and as an avid mountain biker, factoid freak, and history buff, this book answered a lot of questions about the origins of the mountain bike. Living in Mountain View, CA, it's great to be able to ride the trails (at least the one's still open) where the mountain bike was born.