The history of early mountain biking is often seen through the lens of a handful of guys who modified their old Schwinns in the mid-1970s and used them to explore the slopes of the mountains around San Francisco.
Wende Cragg - the woman who witnessed the birth of the MTB
Wende Cragg was the only woman to take part in these early adventures. Always with her: her camera, which she used to capture the events of the time on film. Little did she know at the time that a small group of pioneers who were blazing a new trail with these old bikes would soon change the future of cycling.
It was this chance encounter that gave birth to the famous "clunkers" - fat-tired, converted newspaper bicycles from the junkyard. The old mills were rebuilt and taken to the forests and mountains of Marin County, California - a wonderland of nature and a true feast for the eyes.
Mount Tamalpais, the "sleeping lady", was the natural amusement park of bling. The real crown jewel, however, was right in Wende Cragg's backyard. Camp Tamarancho, a 400+ acre wooded property that was right on their doorstep. Thanks to the extensive network of fire roads and singletrack trails, the adventurers here could technically ride all the way to the Pacific Ocean. For several decades, it was an undiscovered treasure trove for various disciplines, eventually evolving into a network of comprehensive, versatile bike trails. The names of the individual trails reflect the physical nature or history of the region: Serpentine, Rock Garden, B-17, Wagon Wheel, Alchemist, Endor and you name it.
Wende's first bike was a monster of over 50 pounds, cumbersome and almost half her body weight. After switching to a lighter vehicle, her fire was ignited. Because she enjoyed photographing nature and the landscape, she bought a Nikkormat, a robust SLR camera that could take a lot of punishment. These old-school cameras were easy to use and produced high-quality images. Over time, she focused her camera more and more on the makers and shapers of the new sport, laying the foundations for this unique documentary film. Camera Corner shows the birth of mountain biking in fascinating images and with authentic commentary by Wende Cragg.
The video: Camera Corner - Full Film Release
Stefan Frey
Editor
