Throwback Thursday: Freewheelin', Arguably the First Mountain Bike Film Ever

 I expected a mullets festival though (haircuts I mean), but I might be wrong. The golden age of mullets was probably more during the 90's...

 Parts of it looks like 2021 gravel riders on basically the same bikes. Gravel has brought the 80's back. Listening to 80's alternative today. Thanks for this great video.

 80's. The golden era of everything.

 that soundtrack at 4.00 SO GOOD!

not sure if the white hard shell with the stripe and holes in it OR the "hair through" helmets are worse...

 @danstonQ: Its right now in Australia!

 @Mfro: yeah... Amyl and the Sniffers are completely into it

 The ones without helmets have a BMX background

 I thought the same some impressive filming for the era.

 This was just as entertaining as Chainsmoke, which came about a decade after this. Were there any other good mtb films between them in those ten years? I don't remember any.

Sick wheelie at 12:00 was my favorite part.

 @DoubleCrownAddict: I liked a couple in the mid 90's

Tread the Movie with Hans Rey and Greg Herbold. youtu.be/ayt87Iv1OSI

Pulp Traction with Tippie. youtu.be/bE6Y1GzQTgY

 I want to see the set up for the first-person shots. Imagine riding a bike with a brick of a camera strapped to your front fork.

 Who needs a helmet when you've got a 'tache as good 6:25?

 @ROOTminus1: lol

 Leather hairnets, Skid Lids and Bell V1-Pro. I rocked a V1-Pro knock-off made by Hannah back then.

 I'd argue the other way around: if I were to have the slightest chance of repeating their stunts and survive, I need all the help from latest tech I can get! Skills > gear, but with a lack of skills, I need all the help I can get!

 Those who can leverage outright skill will do this on a rental city cruiser hybrid bike... Sure people don't need 180mm e-bikes tip to tip carbon with wireless shifting and dropper. But modern geometry with air suspension and tubeless tires and hydarulic brakes go a LONG way to helping newer riders build confidence and smooth out the learning curve. All while breaking less bikes and bones.

 Trials isn't the greatest example though, is it? a) trials bikes haven't changed all that much over the years b) rigid bikes are still best for it, so not sure how a 2022 mtb would make it easier c) it's probably the discipline where the bike matters the least as long as it doesn't fall apart and has working brakes.

Now look at the trail riding footage of those presumably advanced riders in the video and then at the kind of terrain and speeds an average newbie easily handles these days after a couple of months riding and tell me again modern bikes don't help.

Besides, it's just a silly hobby. No one ever said we "need" cool new tech. We don't "need" to ride bikes in the first place. We just want it because why not.

 On the other hand 2021 average mtber with his all mountain bike would be an awesome rider in 80's

 @bananowy: As a trials rider for over 20 years I'll say that your statements about trials bikes not changing much since the 80's is about as far from the truth as possible. It may seem that way because the bikes are still rigid. Your average trials rider looses a ton of tech and ability just moving from a pure trials bike to a street trials bike these days, the level of talent it takes to do anything impressive on the old bikes is just unreal.

 @cwtrials: I was thinking the same thing, mods are crazy different than their bmx roots and stock bikes look like they're from a different planet. Wish more trails and people focused on slow speed technical riding still though.

 @matjtom90: You jump on a new Echo Pure and compare that to say a Neon Bow, and venture farther back to a Brisa. All of these have different geo and all ride totally different. Take one of todays new Monty Mod and try a old school monty mod and the difference is crazy. I built and gave a old Brisa B26 for a neighbor kid who showed interest of trials and once that bike was built, it feels so obscure compared to my competitive Echo. But was perfect for him and in 2 years hes progressed so much- once he gets a new trials hes going to be a beast.

Even the bikes in this video have bash plates. Its been probley 15 years since I've been on a trials with a bash plate. Used to think it was so badass jumping onto big obstacles using the bash plate like picnic table to over bar height. As geo progressed the need of a bash plate diminished as guys were making higher Bottom Bracket bikes and you miss an up and don't even touch the bash ring. I can now go well over bar height to rear wheel at ease that would have been impossibe or near impossible or with using a bump jump aid to reach the distances I can hit on todays trials bikes.

The general technique haven't changed much but the bikes have. I'm like CW I've been a avid trials and competitive rider for well over 20 years now.

 @lepigpen: This is why I love MTB! If only there was a way to smooth the learning curve for every activity. Life can be so challenging and frustrating sometimes! Ugh!

 @cwtrials: I'll echo that. I rode/competed on modified and stock 90s Monty X-Lites and a GT Zaskar in a 12.5" frame and they both require a lot more work (I still have both) to do the most fundamental rear wheel hop than say, an Inspired Hex or even the latest GT Zaskar carbon bikes (although these days, it's a stock bike but "stock" trials bikes seem a lot less "stock").

Trials has benefitted from frame geometry, brakes that don't fatigue your hands, rear hubs that engage noticeably immediately and the overall weight these days makes the bikes feel less clunky.

And the sport has evolved from the Ot Pi and Hans Rey days where trials was trials where ever you rode but now it can be further categorized into street, etc. Trials may not be as big as other cycling disciplines but it continues to evolve as whole just like the rest.

 All hail a properly set up set of cantilevers!!

 Yep, there was some legit riding in there. Those guys were seriously handicapped with that equipment…kinda makes you laugh about the carbon everything trend.

 This is what Sam Pilgrim does in his "Freebike challenges"

 Some people think ebiking is fatcountry.

 Agreed. Think it was a 26" though?

 He's a legend! Especially what he's done/doing on his moto recent years.

 Ffs auto correct her = Gee if only I could edit!

 @TheBrickOriginal:
The resemblance is uncanny, I think Gee was born in 85'

 @THEATB: Yep,
Feb 85

 NICE!! I remember being HUGELY disappointed when the 10 speeds my Grandparents got us as a family gift had huge cushioned spring seats, fenders, and cowhorn bars with molded hard plastic grips. We pulled the fenders, installed BMX seats and flipped the bars upside down! When I was able I put real roadie bars on.

THEN we started riding our 10 speeds on the BMX track and the dirt hills around the track and I went home and put the cowhorn bars BACK on with BMX grips! The bikes were way too big for us kids, someone would always get RACKED riding them. I remember taking your hand off the bar to use the shifters on the downtube off road was like risking your life every time because the lever throw was so stiff and it would shift so SLOW...

At the time it never occurred to us to try to find bigger knobby tires or wider wheels. We only had the one BMX shop near us and everything else we had to mail order from the back of a magazine...

 @stiingya: Didn't mean to downvote. Sorry.

 That article is great too. That truck - omg! Team Wolf for sure. Epic days.

 I think that's Todd from beavis and butthead .

 @Middnight: Todd is cool.

 Opening POV is in Toronto ...

 Yep, I've set it to run in background tab just to listen to it again!

 I have a Univega of this era it has a pretty slack head tube, decent reach and a nice seat tube angle. Pedals like a road bike and descends pretty confidently all things considered.

 Needs his own brick at the HOF if doesnt already have..

 For some of us its close to a lifetime.

 Unless they surf too lol