Every year at the Malverns Classic bike festival, the retro bike show draws crowds of enthusiasts eager to relive the golden age of mountain biking. Rows of vintage bikes—some pristine, others still rolling daily—remind us just how far bike technology has come. For anyone new to mountain biking, or those who remember the pages of 90s MBUK magazine, here’s a look back at nine once-revolutionary technologies that have faded into legend.
V Brakes
In 1988, Ben Capron, frustrated by the poor performance of cantilever brakes, designed a side-pull brake that would later inspire Shimano’s V brake in 1995. V brakes delivered a significant leap in stopping power and became the standard for years, especially on entry-level and kids’ bikes. However, the rise of hydraulic disc brakes—with their superior power, consistency, and lack of rim wear—has relegated V brakes to history. Still, for many riders, they remain a symbol of 90s innovation.
DCD (Dave’s Chain Device)
Before the era of narrow-wide chainrings and clutch derailleurs, dropped chains were a common frustration. The DCD (Dave’s Chain Device) was a simple solution, adding tension to keep the chain in place. While it worked reasonably well, today’s 1x drivetrains have made such devices largely obsolete.
Retro Fit Handlebar Bracing
Mountain biking has always pushed equipment to its limits. In the 90s, riser bars often featured a cross brace for added strength, and aftermarket bracing kits were popular. As handlebar materials and designs improved, these braces disappeared, but they remain a hallmark of the era.
Brake Boosters
The introduction of V brakes brought new challenges, including frame flex at the brake mounts. Brake boosters—anodized metal or even carbon fiber plates—were bolted between the brake arms to stiffen the frame and improve braking. They were affordable, looked cool, and became a must-have upgrade for many riders.
Grip Shift
In the late 80s and early 90s, SRAM’s Grip Shift (originally “Twist Shift”) offered a new way to change gears. While innovative, it suffered from reliability and compatibility issues. Ultimately, trigger shifters from Shimano and SRAM proved more robust, but for a time, Grip Shift was the future.
Threaded Headsets
Threaded headsets were once the norm, but threadless systems took over thanks to their simplicity, lighter weight, and improved stiffness. Threadless headsets made maintenance easier and allowed for more adjustability, quickly becoming the industry standard.
Bar Ends
Bar ends provided extra hand positions for climbing, especially on the narrow handlebars of the 90s. As bars became wider and riding styles evolved, bar ends fell out of favor—though you might still spot them on a few bikes today.
Girvin Forks
The Girvin suspension fork was a bold experiment, but its lack of damping and stiffness led to a reputation for unpredictable handling. Despite its unique look, it never matched the performance of rivals like RockShox or Marzocchi, and soon faded from the scene.
Manitou Three Rear Suspension
The 1993 Marin Pine Trail FRS featured Manitou’s early rear suspension fork—a creative but ultimately short-lived approach to full-suspension design. As suspension technology advanced, these early systems were replaced by more effective solutions, but they remain a fascinating chapter in mountain bike history.
These are just a few of the innovations that shaped mountain biking’s past. What other lost legends do you remember?
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