Freeride Mountain Biking: Just For The Fun Of It

Freeride mountain biking is only the latest variation in the adrenaline-high producing sport of mountain biking, but as a cross between dirt jumping and downhill mountain biking, it's rapidly developing some very passionate followers.

Affectionately called "The Big Hit", freeride mountain biking allows riders a wide freedom of choice in their maneuvers, like those allowed in sports like free-style skiing, surfing, and snow or skate boarding. It has no set of official rules or course specifications; the basic intent of those who invented freeride mountain biking seems to have been to have as much fun as possible.

Freeride Mountain Bikes

Because many of the techniques used in freeride mountain biking were borrowed from downhill, the freeride mountain bike bears a strong resemblance to downhill bikes. The most noticeable difference between the two is in their weight; a freeride mountain biking bike will typically weigh much less than a downhill bike. The maneuvers involved in freeride mountain biking necessitate a lighter bike.

Unlike downhill bikes, freeride mountain bikes can, in limited circumstances, be ridden uphill. But the somewhat severe angle of their head tubes makes them awkward to handle either when they are ascending a slope or when they are traveling slowly.

Because freeride mountain biking usually includes ramping, or "hucking," as well as downhill and stunt riding, the bikes must be able to travel uphill, if only to reach the summit of the downhill parts of the courses.

The major difference between freeride and downhill mountain biking is in their courses.

Downhill mountain biking normally takes place on a natural track requiring riders to navigate around and over roots, logs, boulders, and other natural obstacles. Free ride mountain biking, however, takes place on an artificial course, but challenges riders with terrain and hurdles the equal of those faced by downhillers.

North Shore Freeriding

A subcategory of freeride mountain biking is North Shore biking. Developed by bikers on the slippery, steep, and rocky trails of Vancouver, Canada's north shore, it sometimes required bikers to actually build their own bridges over bogs or muddy sections of the trails. The bridges eventually evolved into riding exploits which took exceptional finesse and balance, and current North Shore freeride mountain biking includes negotiating bridges, jumps, and drops.

Freeride mountain bikers who want to attempt a North Shore course will first need to spend a great amount of time mastering the enormous balancing and bike control skills required. Those who succeed in completing the course, however, will have deservedly achieved a position among the upper echelons of the world's freeride mountain biking specialists!