The Deschutes Historical Museum is celebrating Central Oregon’s role in the development of mountain biking as a sport.
Executive Director Kelly Cannon-Miller says the trend started in California in the 1970s, “Central Oregon actually got connected with folks who were throwing themselves around on bikes in northern California pretty quickly. And, Central Oregon had a lot of areas that were just perfect for mountain biking, and originalists with ‘klunker’ bicycles to be throwing themselves around in the forest.”
Cannon-Miller tells KBND News much of the credit goes to Bob Woodward, “Who ends up becoming Mayor of Bend and who was known as ‘the mountain biking mayor of Bend.’ He actually wrote the first book on mountain biking for Sports Illustrated introducing a whole new audience to the world of “dirt bombing” and “klunkerz.”
Local motorcycle manufacturer Speed and Research built “The Outback” - one of the first bicycles made specifically for mountain biking which will be on display at the museum. “We’re going to have some fantastic ‘80s biking outfits that have some spectacular colors on them, and some personal stories from folks in developing it in those early years,” says Cannon-Miller adding that a soft opening for the exhibit is planned for March 17th. “Around April 1st, we’re going to have an official opening and a party, and celebrate Bob and Phil, of Phil’s Trail, and Peter Dog, and you’re going to learn all of their great nicknames that they had for one another. Just in time for mountain biking season.”
