Mill Valley, California

Although it’s often controversial to claim invention, many regard Mill Valley and its peak, Mt. Tamalpais, as the birthplace of mountain biking. The first single-speed, balloon-tire bicycles that raced through the redwood and eucalyptus-studded trails were instantly famous and spurred the design of a new type of bike for a new type of rider. It’s no wonder that this wooded Marin County arts haven, just over San Francisco’s Golden Gate Bridge, would osmose the same experimental and free-thinking aesthetic that permeated the Bay Area in the 60s. Mill Valley – and Marin County as a whole – quickly became the spot for the adventurous, where you could live amongst California’s famous towering redwood trees and access classic mountain biking, hiking, surfing (Mill Valley is only about 7 miles from the coast), and cycling, all the while mingling with famous bohemians and the art, music, and culinary culture that surrounded them. Nowadays, if you throw a stone, you’re more likely to hit a Porsche than a camper van, but the exploratory spirit lives on, just in a nicer pair of shoes.

Recent Articles

1. 

   The eMTB Controversy: eBikes Should Be Allowed On Mountain Bike Trails

   By Bryce Stevens in Mountain Biking

   This is the first part in a series of articles delving into the controversy surrounding eMTBs and their use on mountain bike trails. Read Part 2. Electric mountain bikes (eMTBs) are relatively new on the scene and mountain bikers are freaking out. “They shouldn’t be allowed on our trails.” “They are going to ruin the […]