Freeride is a discipline of mountain biking closely related to downhill biking, Dirt Jumping, freestyle motocross, and freestyle BMX. When riding a freerider one focuses on tricks, style, and technical trail features. Freeride is now recognized as one of the most popular disciplines within mountain biking.
The term freeriding was originally coined by snowboarders, meaning riding without a set course, goals or rules on natural terrain. In mountain biking, it is riding trail with the most creative line possible that includes style, amplitude, control, and speed. Many in the cycling industry suggest that the Laguna Rads were the first to freeride, that is riding terrain that didn't already have an existing path or network of trails.
History
The original freeride bikes were modified downhill bikes that used gearing that enabled the rider to go up hills as well as down them. Modern freeride bikes are similar to downhill bikes, but feature slightly less suspension travel and are lighter – which enables them to be ridden not just downhill but through more technical sections, such as North Shore obstacles. Most freeride bikes feature slightly steeper headangles and shorter wheelbases than pure downhill bikes. Although a minimal difference, it is done to help with maneuverability and spin tricks. Ski areas have started to embrace the sport of freeriding, adding bike racks to chairlifts to create "lift accessed mountain biking". This helps ski areas operate year-round and gives the bikers the ability to ride more runs in less time.
Notable riders
A few specialist riders have embraced the sport including:
[Brett Tippie]
Graham Aggasiz
Bienvenido Aguado
Gee Atherton
Darren Berrecloth
Robbie Bourdon
Max Fredriksson
Cédric Gracia
Matt Hunter
Emil Johansson
Andreu Lacondeguy
Jeff Lenosky
Kelly McGarry
Anthony Messere
Ryan Nyquist
Sam Pilgrim
Hans Rey
Sam Reynolds
Brett Rheeder
Ethen Roberts
Nicholi Rogatkin
Brandon Semenuk
Andrew Shandro
Wade Simmons
Martin Söderström
Kurt Sorge
Dave Watson
Fabio Wibmer
Cameron Zink
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 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, drops, 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.