Mountain biking’s origins are a tale of innovation, passion and sheer joy, captured vividly through the lens of Wende Cragg. Her work provides a rare window into the early days of clunkers, camaraderie and creative exploration that would evolve into a global phenomenon.
Documenting a revolution
In the 1970s, Wende Cragg’s camera became an extension of her experiences on the trails. Initially used to photograph wildflowers and mushrooms, it quickly turned toward the riders she accompanied. These weren’t ordinary cyclists—they were pioneers tinkering with road and cruiser bikes to handle Marin County’s rugged terrain. “I just wanted to capture the spirit in those people,” Cragg said, reflecting on the thousands of images she amassed over six years.
Her work became the most comprehensive documentation of mountain biking’s infancy, capturing a community united by curiosity and adventure.
The clunker scene and the Repack race
The earliest mountain bikes were “clunkers,” repurposed Schwinn cruisers with wide tires and makeshift gears. Riders like Gary Fisher, Joe Breeze and Charlie Kelly took these creations to Marin County’s trails, where the legendary Repack downhill race was born. Named for the smoke-filled hubs that required repacking with grease after each run, Repack became a proving ground for both riders and bikes.
Cragg was there, documenting everything. “Repack wasn’t just a race,” she said. “It was a celebration—a gathering of daredevils and innovators pushing the limits of what these bikes could do.”
The first purpose-built mountain bike
Joe Breeze, inspired by the failures and triumphs of clunkers, built the first modern mountain bike: the Breezer. This lightweight, custom-designed frame set a new standard. Cragg captured its debut at Repack, where Breeze won the race. That moment marked a shift—mountain biking was no longer just an experiment; it was becoming a sport.
A movement goes global
Mountain biking’s big break came in 1981 at the New York Bike Show, where Cragg’s photos helped sell the vision of this new sport. “People needed to see it to believe it,” Cragg recalled. Her images captured the freedom, joy and raw energy of riding through nature, convincing skeptics and industry leaders alike.
Celebrating the experience
For Cragg, mountain biking was always about more than the gear or the races—it was about the connection to the outdoors and the people who made every ride special. Today,…
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