The Hiker And Cyclist Clash

John’s scrapes were a painful price to pay for the thrills, but hardly the most expensive. Store-bought cycles are priced as high as $2,000 -- or $1,000 less than Joseph paid for his Mountain Bike Reviews 12 years ago. "It's worth it," said Jeff Redman, 31, a Reseda resident and an avid mountain cyclist. "If you don't have the right equipment, how do you expect to be any good at anything?"

The price hasn't slowed the demand for the Mountain Bike Reviews. Bill DeBor of the Pedal Shop in North Hollywood estimates that half of the cyclists in Southern California are now riding mountain bikes.

"Fifty to 65% of our sales are now mountain bikes," DeBor said. "This time last year, they were just coming into vogue. Since then, sales have doubled -- almost tripled. "It's getting bigger."

Big enough to have spawned competitions, clubs and magazines. An estimated 15 million bicycles were sold in the United States last year; 40% were mountain bikes. Larry Hoffman, owner of the Pedal Shop and a follower of mountain biking, said the sport is about to peak.

"It appeals to people who are just getting into biking," Hoffman said. "It also appeals to the cyclist who wants to get rid of his 10-speed and get something more comfortable. A person who has never owned a bike and wants to get into cycling, will, more times than not, buy a mountain bike."

Hoffman said there is an organization that sanctions mountain bike races and functions -- the National Off Road Bike Assn. Competition also is gaining popularity.

Joseph, 28, who used to ride his motorcycle through the hills above Studio City and now owns a Beverly Hills real estate firm, said his new hobby is a way to get away from traffic and civilization.

"I used to road race," Joseph said. "But it's different up here. I used to ride motocross all the time. This way, I get the best of both worlds. I like to hike and I missed riding in the dirt. Up here, there aren't any cars to compete with."

The competition, oddly, comes from hikers, Redman said.

"It's too bad that cyclists and hikers can't get along better," he said. "The bikes make no sound and they do nothing to hurt the land. But still, some places have been closed to mountain bikes."

Mountain Biking