Dirt

Trek was founded in 1976 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin by Dick Burke and Bevil Hogg. The company started out by manufacturing steel touring frames, and it wasn’t until 1982 that it made its first complete bike, a steel road racing model. Most Trek bikes are now made in Taiwan and China, but the the company’s headquarters remains in Waterloo, Wisconsin.

The first Trek mountain bike was produced in 1983, and the current range features cross country, sport, single track trail, technical trail and enduro, gravity and dual sport models. Top of the range is the Session 9.9, now with Shimano Saint brakes and Shadow Plus drivetrain, which continues to prove itself at the world’s biggest events including the World Cup and Red Bull Rampage. Trek also makes and distributes mountain bikes under the Gary Fisher brand name.

Trek is heavily involved with sponsorship of mountain biking – Trek World Racing is a World Cup Downhill racing team competing in both the Elite and Junior categories of the UCI Mountain Bike World Cup, and features Brook MacDonald, George Brannigan, Neko Mulally, Greg Williamson and Laurie Greenland.

There is also a freeride squad, riding under the ‘C3 Project’ banner. Star names on the team include Brandon Semenuk, who was spotted as a 14-year-old by freeride pioneer and longtime Trek athlete Andrew Shandro, as well as Brett Rheeder, Cam McCaul, Rene Wildhaber, Ryan Howard and Ross Schnell.