| Freeride | | | | Differences between downhilling and freeriding |
| Freeride is a relatively new discipline of mountain | | | | Due to similarities with the bicycles used and often |
| biking, combining different aspects of the sport such | | | | the riding locations, the divisions between downhill |
| as downhill and dirtjumping which has progressed | | | | riding and freeriding are often overlooked. For |
| rapidly in recent years, and is now recognized as one | | | | example freeride bikes have steeper head tube |
| of the most popular disciplines within mountain biking. | | | | angles and shorter wheelbases for low-speed stability |
| The term is a derivative of freeriding, which originally | | | | on technical stunts, while downhill bikes have slacker |
| came from snowboarding and is now also used in | | | | headtube angles and longer wheelbases for absolute |
| other sports including skiing, windsurfing, snowmobiling | | | | high-speed stability at the cost of low-speed |
| and Jet skiing. The original concept of freeriding was | | | | maneuverability. Downhill riding is primarily concerned |
| that there were no set course, goals or rules to | | | | with descending a slope on a given course as quickly |
| abide by. | | | | as possible. There are often many obstacles in |
| The original freeride bikes were modified downhill | | | | downhill riding, including jumps, drops, and rocky |
| bikes which utilized gearing that enabled the rider to | | | | sections. |
| go up hills as well as down them. Modern freeride | | | | Freeride is, by definition, a much broader realm of |
| bikes are similar to downhill bikes, but feature slightly | | | | riding. For example, a freerider may often ride a very |
| less suspension travel and are lighter - which enables | | | | narrow wooden plank raised as many as twenty five |
| them to be ridden not just downhill but through more | | | | feet above the ground, drop off of cliffs, raised |
| technical sections, such as North Shore obstacles. | | | | platforms, or other man-made or natural objects |
| Additionally, most freeride bikes feature slightly | | | | onto a landing, or "transition" up to forty feet below. |
| steeper headangles and shorter wheelbases than | | | | This may involve jumping over a structure below, |
| pure downhill bikes to facilitate maneuverability on | | | | such as a road or highway. Many aspects of |
| slower, technical sections of trail. A few specialist | | | | freeriding are similar to downhill riding, with wide open |
| riders have embraced the sport from their humble | | | | speed and technical and very steep sections, or dirt |
| routes in dirt jumping, these riders include Darren | | | | jumping, with a series of man-made jumps and |
| Berrecloth, Cam Zink, Patrick Taylor and Jack | | | | landings. Another key difference is the emphasis on |
| "Tommo" Thompson | | | | performing tricks or stylish riding stances while |
| Ski areas have started to embrace the sport of MTB | | | | airborne. A freeride course can be compared to a |
| freeriding, adding bike racks to chairlifts to create "lift | | | | skatepark, where the purpose of the trail is to |
| accessed mountain biking". This helps keep ski areas | | | | provide ample opportunities for the rider to become |
| profitable year round, and gives the bikers the ability | | | | airborne, throw tricks, and create new and |
| to ride more runs in less time. | | | | imaginative lines on and over the terrain. |