When Were Mountain Bikes Invented?: A Brief History of the All-Terrain Bicycle
Mountain bikes were invented in the late 1970s when a group of cycling enthusiasts in California began modifying cruiser bicycles to better ride over rough terrain. These modifications included wider tires and a more robust frame and suspension, creating the foundation for what we know today as the mountain bike. The first commercially available mountain bike was introduced by the company Specialized in 1981.