What's this freeriding thing all about?

[drevil]

Woohoo! First freeride post!

So somebody tell us what freeriding is all about, and where we can do it. Do we need to have a special bike or a certain amount of travel to qualify as freeriders? Thanks!

ps - does Cannondale still have the word "freeride" trademarked?

[BikerMiker]

Good news! Freeride is still trademarked by Cannondale (who else remembers that?) but they don't enforce it. Thank Gawd!

You know better than anybody that freeride is an attitude, not a bike! Heh...

Freeriding is also known as mountain biking so we don't have to worry about defining it, luckily.

Rigid, hardtail, travel, disc, v's, jumps, drops, trail riding... whatever. Just ride, eh? Even 29'er zealots!

Heh heh...

Anybody want to spend a weekend at Snowshoe hitting the drops? Talk about a camping trip! Who wants to step up and organize this? I guess I just answered my own question!

Mike

[themonkeyman]

Wow, I'm stoked to see a full-fledged "freeride" board! :D


"Freeriding" can be whatever you want it to be. Usually it involves jumps,or drops, and basically riding (or trying to ride :p ) really technical/crazy stuff(skinny things, wall-rides, ladder bridges, etc.)

No special bike is truly needed, but a smaller bike that you can maneuver and muscle around will make things easier. Suspension generally helps for bigger jumps and stunts, but it's not necessary. I would heavily reccomend a fork though.

Basically, it's all about having fun, and getting some air. So do both! ;)

--Graham

[mark w]

;)

Snowshoe's opening day (Memorial Day weekend) is a usually pretty big affair. Lots of folks show up to check out the new trails, gawk at new hardware and generally have a fine old time. I'm going to try my best to make it up there this year. For those w/o a "big bike" (6, 7, 8+ inches of travel) you can rent from their shop. Lots of travel and grippy tires make for a stable, forgiving ride. They also have full suits of plastic courage and full-face helmets available. If you're looking to push your regular riding a wee bit past your regular comfort zone, spending a day or a weekend riding the park up there is a great way to do it.


The only warning I would give is that gravity riding is highly addictive. It only took one outing for a friend of mine to get hooked. He took 3rd in his class last year at the nationals.

[Snot-Rocket]

Woohoo! First freeride post!

So somebody tell us what freeriding is all about, and where we can do it. Do we need to have a special bike or a certain amount of travel to qualify as freeriders? Thanks!

ps - does Cannondale still have the word "freeride" trademarked?

I once read that the "Free" came from folks not paying for ski lifts so they could ride down hill. Like folks would come up to the lines per the Ski Lifts and say is there any "free" riding around these parts? Thus the renegades of MTB were born where folks rode for free- free riding away from the "man" and his for pay, ski-lifts where there was no trail really, but no costs.

As for type of bike- I belive the orginal "free" riders saved so much cash on not paying for ski-lifts, they started investing in DH bikes to ride the "freeriding" venues- DH bikes were required because there were no trails and what not.

As the sport took anchor, the "free" became really critical cause "freeriders" bikes were so expensive and hard to maintain- the cost emphasized the necessity to only ride "free venues."

As for equipment- the class of bike does not matter. Freeriding is characterized by the following class of trails/venues:

1. Pedal assisted ascending not required- like you may ascend, but pedaling is not required cause you are likely on a ramp or something that will lend do total separation from earth. If you actually pedal on an ascent- you are not free riding.

2. Descending constantly or dropping in or off cliffs w/ some sloped transition off the bottom. Dropping onto flat is not free riding- that's trials.

3. Riding narrow stuff really high in the air in the woods. If you are not in the woods- they call it trials.

4. "secret trails" that only folks in the "Know" - know about it. There was a debate if Whistler classified as a free-riding venue. Per the secret debate held in Jan of 2001 at an undisclosed location an astute observer outlined that folks must pay to ride whistler, thus it is not free and can't be a free riding venue.

Granted, this is the criteria applied by those who "keep it real" - all posers may subscribe to different criterias to claim "freerider" status!

Living the Life!

OUT!

[robbie]

As for equipment- the class of bike does not matter. Freeriding is characterized by the following class of trails/venues:

1. Pedal assisted ascending not required- like you may ascend, but pedaling is not required cause you are likely on a ramp or something that will lend do total separation from earth. If you actually pedal on an ascent- you are not free riding.

2. Descending constantly or dropping in or off cliffs w/ some sloped transition off the bottom. Dropping onto flat is not free riding- that's trials.

OUT![/QUOTE]


sounds like you can freeride with a razor scooter, no pedals necessary.

[Snot-Rocket]

As for equipment- the class of bike does not matter. Freeriding is characterized by the following class of trails/venues:

1. Pedal assisted ascending not required- like you may ascend, but pedaling is not required cause you are likely on a ramp or something that will lend do total separation from earth. If you actually pedal on an ascent- you are not free riding.

2. Descending constantly or dropping in or off cliffs w/ some sloped transition off the bottom. Dropping onto flat is not free riding- that's trials.

OUT!


sounds like you can freeride with a razor scooter, no pedals necessary.[/QUOTE]

I think a limiting factor is a conveyance of some matter- like those "Dirtboards" even. I've watched and own all 5 x "Kranked" DVDs- kinda makes me an expert- ha, ha!

Actually, I think Freeriding is a state of mind- not regulated to the Marketed-Media...I think it is all about finding and riding "the line"...you can do this on any bike. I hate the hype- here would be my decomposition of the major categories of riding:

1. Trail Riding- this is basically riding a bike, any bike on dirt trails from SS to Fire Roads from Rails-to-trails. In general, folks do this because they find cycling and the outdoors experience lends to a great way to exercise and experience the universe. Riders may train in this domain, but they are just training for a greater ride- like an excursion to MOAB or something. Trail riders are all about new trails- a great experience is riding something new.

2. XC - this is race oriented riding- an appreciation of nature, but a focus of blowing through the trail as fast as possible, rarely taking time to experience the outdoors. Rides are centered around training to race, to compete and often these folks are closer to road bikers then Trail Riders. XC weenies are all about cutting the time to go from A to B- a trail is enjoyed by their relative times to other weenies.

3. DownHillers- XC, but on a descent. Same as XC, but different class of riding- more emphasis on bike handling skills then aerobic capacity and endurance (granted, endurance is a part of the sport).

4. Freeriding- I consider this term attempts to group a more spiritually/zen oriented class of rider. Folks who seek and ride "true lines", recognizes that trails have rhythms that are dynamic- sometimes they should be ridden, fast, sometimes slow- a good ride is more about connecting lines, flowing and balancing rider, bike characteristics and trail conditions. I think these class of folks- the true class- are more attuned to the physics of riding and are way more laid back about the sport. A good trail to these weenies is a trail that is ridden well. A first ride can be fun- but it is the 3rd or 20th or 100th ride where they get that experience, where they own all the set ups, flow and can just "ride" that trail or rather one continous "line." I consider Trials, Street, Marketed-Free Riding and many core SS (folks who ride it for the enjoyable limitations and experience then the aura and what not). Granted, the term "Free Riding" has been bastardized over time- I feel it connotes a group of folks who push boundaries for no reason, get caught up on connecting lines that no one else can connect. A weenie like me constrains my "lines" to existing trails and how nature has impacted them. Building trails (to include boardwalks, bridgest, fords, etc) imho is in the context of the terrain and nature- cause what I enjoy about MTB is a balanced way to enjoy a whole heck of a lot of nature...building a ford, bridge/boardwalk is great when it balances needs- building a ladder bridge 10-feet in the air for the sake of it- doesn't fit my model and is likely more appropriate at places like "what his face" indoor MTB Park out West (but before mid-West).

Joy,

[dcraider]

4. Freeriding- I consider this term attempts to group a more spiritually/zen oriented class of rider. Folks who seek and ride "true lines", recognizes that trails have rhythms that are dynamic- sometimes they should be ridden, fast, sometimes slow- a good ride is more about connecting lines, flowing and balancing rider, bike characteristics and trail conditions. I think these class of folks- the true class- are more attuned to the physics of riding and are way more laid back about the sport. A good trail to these weenies is a trail that is ridden well. A first ride can be fun- but it is the 3rd or 20th or 100th ride where they get that experience, where they own all the set ups, flow and can just "ride" that trail or rather one continous "line." I consider Trials, Street, Marketed-Free Riding and many core SS (folks who ride it for the enjoyable limitations and experience then the aura and what not). Granted, the term "Free Riding" has been bastardized over time- I feel it connotes a group of folks who push boundaries for no reason, get caught up on connecting lines that no one else can connect. A weenie like me constrains my "lines" to existing trails and how nature has impacted them. Building trails (to include boardwalks, bridgest, fords, etc) imho is in the context of the terrain and nature- cause what I enjoy about MTB is a balanced way to enjoy a whole heck of a lot of nature...building a ford, bridge/boardwalk is great when it balances needs- building a ladder bridge 10-feet in the air for the sake of it- doesn't fit my model and is likely more appropriate at places like "what his face" indoor MTB Park out West (but before mid-West).

Joy,

Can Freeriding also be defined as bombing down a hill at Fountainhead at what feels like mach 4 and end up doing an elbow and shoulder plant to a face plant to a back bend causing a mild concussion and four stitches inside ones bottom lip with a bruised elbow that appears to have a tennis ball inside of it?

If so, than I can officially call myself a freerider. Too bad no one actually saw it. I wasn't riding alone I was just in back because I wanted to go mach 4 down the hill without riding up someones back. At least I slept good last night after leaving the ER. Oh and I broke my Bontrager race lite seatpost during my "freeride." Warranties are good things.

Kris

[werace424]

Can Freeriding also be defined as bombing down a hill at Fountainhead at what feels like mach 4 and end up doing an elbow and shoulder plant to a face plant to a back bend causing a mild concussion and four stitches inside ones bottom lip with a bruised elbow that appears to have a tennis ball inside of it?

If so, than I can officially call myself a freerider. Too bad no one actually saw it. I wasn't riding alone I was just in back because I wanted to go mach 4 down the hill without riding up someones back. At least I slept good last night after leaving the ER. Oh and I broke my Bontrager race lite seatpost during my "freeride." Warranties are good things.

Kris

Well I wasn't going to tell, but now that you mentioned it.... :D

I do wish I had seen it htough I'll bet it was spectacular!!! ;)

Hope you are feeling better!

[BikerMiker]

If you are into this type of riding, you will want to know what is happening at... blog link below.

mike
shameless promotion of the blog day... you'll see more.

[dcraider]

Well I wasn't going to tell, but now that you mentioned it.... :D

I do wish I had seen it htough I'll bet it was spectacular!!! ;)

Hope you are feeling better!

Feeling much better now thanks to pain meds. You thought my elbow was bad after the ride, it's worse now, only to get worse later in the week.

Rosaryville may be out for Thursday morning (not because I don't want to ride, but becaue my better half may give me hell for riding while hurt), but I'll let you know.

Peace and Anti-infection Grease

[Jason Reckner]

Freeriding is all what you make of it. To some riders it is a pile of logs with some speed, others need a 7' drop into a rocky section to get the blood pumping. To me it is all about progression. When you start you say, I just want to be able to do a 3 footer then for some it just grows into a beast that you need faster, bigger and nastier stuff to make it fulfilling. The best part of sessioning and freeriding is just riding with a great group of people and one upping each other all day.


It is great to see a forum just for FR. The more people we can get to try this the better it will be. Practice and speed is everything.

Mark is SOOO right though-it is an addiction :D

For those of you that would like to see some pics of different FR locations go to pinkbike.com. they have some of the best pics around