Downhill Adventure

Whatever the market, the aim is to give Downhill Mountain Bike lasting cachet. For instance, Derby is pushing its models in tony magazines such as Vogue and Country Living. ''Who says you need a mountain?'' blares a new ad by Specialized airing on ESPN. And Huffy's hip Christmas ads have kids bopping on bikes to the music of Queen.

More is at stake than just bike sales: In the U. S., helmets, riding shorts, and other accessories generate as much in annual sales as the bikes do, BMRI estimates. ''This is not a fad,'' insists Antony Lo, Giant's president. Judging by how far Downhill Mountain Bike has come in the past few years, it's hard to argue with that.

This is assuredly not a scoop in the traditional sense; certain klunkers have been circling on the far edge of our vision for years, called, variously, cruisers or beach bikes. This is more an update, since it's the refinement of those fat-tired bicycles that's causing the stir these days. Enthusiasts wanted the same quality in their Downhill Mountain Bike that they have in their racing bikes, and they wanted durability as well.

No less an authority than Bicycling magazine has road-tested nine brands of off-road bikes, bashing them about very earnestly indeed, and Senior Editor John Schubert wrote, "All this leads me to a startling conclusion: I predict klunkers will overtake dropped-handlebar 10-speeds as America's favorite bicycles just as soon as enough manufacturers make them available in appropriate quantities and price levels."

Which is exactly what's now happening. What Schubert and other experts are talking about is a sophisticated contraption offering lightweight chrome-moly frames with long wheelbases to suit rough conditions. Bottom brackets are higher, about 12 inches; chain-stays are longer, 18 inches, and the clincher: New skinwall balloon tires and aluminum-alloy rims trim the weight of old blackwall tires and steel rims by more than six pounds.

The result is a lively bike of about 28 or 29 pounds, as light as many 10-speeds. Sealed bearings keep mud and water out of vital parts. Most mountain bikes have easy-grab motorcycle brake levers and cantilevered brakes that could stop a runaway truck, and gearing is much lower than on a normal touring bike -- so low that the grade one can climb is limited only by the ability of the rider to balance the bike.

Mountain Biking