The Rocky Mountain Development Centre is nestled at the foot of the Vancouver's North Shore mountains, home to some of the world's most diverse and rugged terrain. We've been developing high performance mountain bikes here since 1981.
Many things have changed since we first opened our doors, but our product developers, engineers, marketing nerds, salespeople, and athletes are still a tight-knit crew that works and plays in these mountains. From local trail days to backcountry adventures, we're all here for a reason: we love mountain biking.
1978 — The soon-to-be Rocky Mountain founders are working in a Vancouver bike shop, and start modifying Nishiki road bikes with wide tires, straight bars and thumbshifters.
1981 — Rocky Mountain Bicycles Ltd. is incorporated in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. The three original founders are Grayson Bain, Jacob Heilbron, and Sam Mak.
1982 — The Rocky Mountain founders accompany Tom Ritchey to Japan to select durable components and tubesets. Later that year, they create Canada’s first homegrown fat tire bike—the Sherpa.
1984 — Sales expand beyond Vancouver and the first sale is made in Eastern Canada. The lineup for the 1985 season includes the Blizzard.
1988— Rocky Mountain sells its first aluminium production bike, the Stratos, and sells its first bikes internationally, shipping five bikes to BikeAction Germany. More exports would follow: CHRIS Sports Switzerland in 1992, DSB Italy in 1996, A&F Japan in 1997, and Tribe Sport France in 2000.
1992 — Alison Sydor wins Canada’s first World Cup aboard a Rocky Mountain.
1993 — In need of higher quality cranks and other parts, Rocky Mountain starts Race Face Bicycle Components. Bruce Spicer wins Canadian National XC Championships on Rocky Mountain, adding to his record 13 national titles.
1996 — Andreas Hestler beats Henrik Djernis and John Tomac at the Scottsdale Cactus Cup, and represents Canada at the Atlanta Olympics.
1997 — The Froriders are born. Rocky Mountain is acquired by Procycle, but continues to operate independently.
2000 — Element Race named Bike of the Year by Mountain Bike Germany Magazine.
2001 — Wade Simmons wins inaugural Red Bull Rampage in Virgin, Utah. The Slayer is introduced.
2002 — Both Rocky Mountain teams (Karsten Bresser/Karl Platt and Leslie Tomlinsen/Gretchen Reeves) win the Transalp Challenge.
2004 — Marie-Hélène Prémont wins silver at the Athens Olympics aboard a Rocky Mountain Vertex, while Alison Sydor comes in 4th.
2005 — The tagline Love the Ride is introduced. 2008 — Alison Sydor and Pia Sundstedt win the 966 kilometer long Cape Epic, the longest one ever held.
2008 — Marie-Hélène Prémont competes at the Beijing Olympics and wins the World Cup Overall.
2009 — Sabrina Jonnier (DHO) and Geoff Kabush (XCO) both victorious at the muddy Bromont World Cup. Sabrina Jonnier wins World Cup Overall.
2013 — The Altitude is reintroduced as one of the first major 27.5” trail bikes.
2014 — The Rocky Mountain Urge bp Rally Team takes 2nd in the Team Overall at the Enduro World Series. Rocky Mountain Bicycles are exported to 36 countries worldwide.
2015 — Wade Simmons, the Godfather of Freeride, celebrates 20 years with Rocky Mountain. A completely new downhill platform, the Maiden, is introduced for the 2016 season, and wins Decline Magazine’s Downhill Bike of the Year award.
2016 — Rocky Mountain celebrates 35 years of good times on two wheels. The Rocky Mountain Urge bp Rally Team wins the Team Overall at the Enduro World Series.