DoWhile this idyllic picture might strike some as boring, today’s young cyclists look for action and excitement, without forgetting the dreams of yesteryear. And if it can be had on a bike, what could be better?

One mountain biking sport that has caught on in the last few years, and little by little is attracting more followers, is Downhill. For those who have never heard of it, in Downhill bikers compete on a two-to-three kilometre-long course to see who is fastest while avoiding all kinds of obstacles with spectacular pivots and breath-taking jumps. While Downhill bikers are usually timed on the course individually, there is a variant of Downhill called Dual-Slalom where two racers compete against each other at the same time, and where the time-trials are much shorter and require greater skill and daring to take on the tight turns and extreme jumps.

While these kinds of exhibitions are relatively new in Spain, the Downhill phenomenon has been going on in the United States for the last 25 years. Downhill bikers need to use all of their skilfulness with the bike to keep from falling flat on their face, since nose-dives are pretty much a common occurrence in Downhill. One slip-up or slight error in controlling the bike and the biker might just find himself kissing the ground. Protective gear is therefore a must. (…)