- For other uses, see Free ride (disambiguation).
Freeride is a branch of mountain biking. A relatively new sport combining different aspects of mountain biking, such as downhill and dirtjumping, freeriding has progressed quickly in recent years, and is now recognised as one of the most popular disciplines within mountain biking. The term came from the concept of freeriding, which is used in a multitude of sports, including skiing, snowboarding, and windsurfing. The general concept was that there was no set course, goals or rules to abide by. Freeride bikes are similar to downhill bikes though they are slightly lighter which enables them to be ridden not just downhill but through more technical sections, such as North Shore obstacles. Additionally, most freeride bikes feature slightly steeper headangles and shorter wheelbases than pure downhill bikes to facilitate maneuverability on slower, technical sections of trail. Ski areas have started to embrace the sport, adding bike racks to chairlifts to create "lift accessed mountain biking". This helps keep ski areas profitable year round, and gives the bikers the ability to ride more runs in less time.
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Differences between downhilling and freeriding
Due to similarities with the bicycles used and often the riding locations, the divisions between downhill riding and freeriding are often overlooked. For example freeride bikes have a steeper head tube angles and shorter wheelbases for low-speed stability on technical stunts, while downhill bikes have slacker headtube angles and longer wheelbases for absolute high-speed stability at the cost of low-speed maneuverability. Downhill riding is primarily concerned with descending a slope on a given course as quickly as possible. There are often many obstacles in downhill riding, including jumps, roots, and rocky sections. Freeride is, by definition, a much broader realm of riding. For example, a freerider may often ride a very narrow wooden plank raised as many as twenty five feet above the ground, drop off of cliffs, raised platforms, or other man-made or natural objects onto a landing, or "transition" up to forty feet below. This may involve jumping over a structure below, such as a road or highway. Many aspects of freeriding are similar to downhill riding, with wide open speed and technical and very steep sections, or dirt jumping, with a series of man-made jumps and landings. Another key difference is the emphasis on performing tricks or stylish riding stances while airborne. A freeride course can be compared to a skatepark, where the purpose of the trail is to provide ample opportunities for the rider to become airborne, throw tricks, and create new and imaginative lines on and over the terrain.
Main features of freeride bicycles
- Frame: frame is made usually of aluminium alloys, and it is characteristically of smaller build compared to a downhill bike. It is almost always equipped with rear suspension systems, and many manufacturers still rely on simpler systems (i.e. single-pivot) in order to preserve strength and un-interrupted suspension travel. Freeride frames are also lighter (weight is an important aspect) than downhill frames, and many come equipped with the new, oversized "onepointfive" head tube standard, in order to cater for increasing demand for stronger, long-travel, single crown forks. - Fork: as aforementioned, single crown forks are now more popular. This is due to the fact that companies such as Answer Products, or RockShox, have successfully managed to introduce such forks which possess very similar strength qualities as their dual crown counterparts, while having the immense advantage of being single crown - thus enabling significantly wider steering diameter, and, more recently, airborne tricks such as 'barspin' or 'tailwhip'. However, some companies still rely on the older, dual-crown standard.
The North Shore
- For more details on this topic, see Mountain biking in British Columbia.
The sport has spread across the planet, but the widely recognized starting point for the addition of man-made obstacles for downhill trails is Vancouver, British Columbia's "North Shore". This refers to three mountains across the Burrard Inlet from downtown Vancouver, Mount Seymour, Mt. Fromme, and Mount Cypress. The mountains weren't the first places to have downhill trails with natural obstacles, but they were one of the first places to have man-made obstacles such as skinny bridges and teeter totters. The trail builders also embraced many natural features too, using fallen logs to ride on and rocks faces to jump or ride down. They didn't take out that much nature to make their trails, leaving some tree roots exposed to give the rider a bumpy but fun trail to ride. Trails on the North Shore are mostly described as "technical". This means that the trails corners are tight and the tread strewn of natural obstacles such as rocks and roots. These sections require quick-thinking to navigate, because roots often get slippery in the wintertime. The "shore" has seen some controversy. Most of the trails are built on private property or parkland. In a highly publicised "War of the Woods" BC Parks cracked down on the trails and started to fine mountain bikers and one trailbuilder was caught in the act and prosecuted. A major voice in the conflict in North Vancouver District councillor Ernie Crist, who recently has been lobbying for the closing of all the trails on Mt. Fromme. Housing developments at the base of the mountains complain of bikers going across their lawns etc. The expansion of the residential areas called for the destruction of some trails on Mount Cypress, and also there were cases of "sabotage" to the trails (such as the removal of bridge supports etc.).
North Shore Mountain Biking Association (NSMBA)
To help promote biking and keep the trails open there is an advocacy group, the North Shore Mountain Biking Association (NSMBA). They negotiate with landowners, organize volunteers to maintain the trails and hold races.
Freeride mountain-biking movie
- For more details on this topic, see Freeride mountain-biking movies.
Given the high spectacularity of the freeride and downhill action, an increasing numer of films are released every year, covering the annual major competitions and proposing particular trails and champions. Among the best films,
- New World Disorder
- Re-Focus
- Clorophilla
See also
External links
- NSMB.com E.magazine based on the North Shore Mountain Biking Scene
- BRMBA Black Rock Mountain Biking Association (Oregon trail advocacy group and builders/stewards of the Black Rock freeride trails in Falls City, Oregon)
- GFRA Gorge Free Ride Association (Oregon trail advocacy group and builders/stewards of the Post Canyon freeride trails in Hood River, Oregon)
- Freer1d3.com Freeride and Downhill specific search engine
- Hick Hucksters Website promoting Freeriding in North Carolina
- Bones Over Metal Video Magazine covering Freeriding, Downhill and Dirt Jumping
- Pinkbike.com Website featuring news, pictures, forums, videos etc of all mtb disciplines, particularly the extreme ones
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