Freeride mountain biking (freeriding) is a term coined by the bike industry to describe an extreme style of mountain biking. The freeriding craze is largely credited as originating in Vancouver, British Colombia’s North Shore. There, mountain bikers hungry for more challenging terrain began building man-made obstacles, known as stunts. These wooden stunts included teeter-totters, drop-offs, and high, narrow bridges. Soon, entire sections of trail were man-made, and often illegal.
As land managers tore down the illegal trails, the freeriders would move deeper into the backcountry, making their stunts more extreme as they rebuilt them. Eventually, freeriders began incorporating their extreme style to natural trails. Riders began exploring previously un-ridden terrain, and were soon shredding down nearly vertical mountainsides, or jumping (hucking, as the riders call it) off cliffs sometimes fifteen feet high. Soon, freeriders were being featured in mountain bike magazines and videos, as well as TV commercials and bike ads. The sport was further legitimized by contests such as the Red Bull Rampage, during which riders would compete by attempting to ride the most extreme sections of terrain.
Freeriding can be a very expensive sport. Freeriders use special mountain bikes - a normal, average mountain bike is not sufficient. A freeride bike is a full-suspension bike, featuring both a front and rear shock absorber. Both shocks should have at least six inches (or more) of travel, or the range of motion in your shock upon contact. Because of the need for sturdiness, the freeride bike will weigh more than the average mountain bike. The tires, rims, and items such as stems and handlebars will weigh more for durability. Expect a freeride bike to weigh thirty pounds or more. Most of these bikes will come with a disclaimer from the manufacturer, and normally riding in such a manner will void any warrantee’s. Freeride bikes can cost anywhere from $1500.00 to $5000.00 and beyond.
Protective gear is a must when free riding. Riders wear full-face helmets, with goggles for eye protection. Full body armor (chest protector, elbow pads, knee pads, shin guards) is also standard equipment. Freeriders also wear full-finger gloves, and often wear specially-made, protective clothing. An aggressive freerider might often look more like a motorcycle racer than a mountain biker.
Freerider’s spend hours perfecting jumps and tricks on smaller, less dangerous ground before attempting them on the more aggressive terrain. Even then, a freerider will often spend a great amount of time working out the details of an extreme jump before finally attempting it. This can include spending hours sculpting both the take-off and landing portions of the jump. As jumps and tricks grow bigger and more impressive, safety is of utmost concern to the riders.
If you choose to freeride, you should keep in mind that not all trails are built to handle the extreme nature of the sport. Freeriding these trails can damage the trail and cause mountain bikers to face a potential ban from the trail. In recent years, freeriders have began working closely with land managers, resulting in freeride-specific trails being built in certain areas. Check with your local land manager if you are unsure of the freeriding availability in your area. Many ski areas cater to mountain bikers in the summer as a way to maximize revenue. Some of these ski areas, eager to cash in on the freeriding craze, have built (or are building) freeride areas and parks on their mountains in order to cater to the extreme athlete
Freeride mountain biking is an exhilarating, adrenaline-filled sport. While it’s obviously not for all mountain bikers, it can be quite rewarding for the more adventurous minded. While it can be dangerous, as well as expensive, it can also provide hours of fun and entertainment for both participants and non-participants alike.
