In September 1976, a hardy group of cyclists from Crested Butte decided to ride bicycles over the top of Pearl Pass, and into Aspen. Now known as klunkers, these were some of the first so-called mountain bikes.

According to an article from the Crested Butte Pilot, here's what the final descent into Aspen was like all of those years ago: "The descent was nothing but horrifying, rough and rocky," said Starr. "The original drop-outs jumped out of support vehicles at the tip and all 15 rode their klunkers down the pass until just before the pavement at Ashcroft where the brakes were smoking and rear ends were seizing up.”

The ensuing annual event helped motivate local cyclists to work tirelessly to improve their bikes. These technological advancements helped the creation of dedicated mountain bikes move from pipedream to reality.

Mountain bikers are still pedaling across Pearl Pass, and it's now known as the oldest mountain bike event in the world. Over the years, the road has continued to erode, and it's now known as one of the rockiest, gnarliest 4x4 roads in the state. As such, mountain bikes are still the preferred mode of human-powered transport through this wild and secluded area.

Sources: https://mmbhof.org/mtn-bike-hall-of-fame/history/pearl-pass-tour/ http://cbklunkers.com/