| From touring to off-road riding to track | | | | mindset than a structured style of riding. |
| riding to cyclo-riding to recreational | | | | For example, you could free ride downhill, |
| biking-there are almost as many different | | | | cross-country or down the boardwalk in Ocean |
| styles of riding as there are bikes. The | | | | City, Maryland. |
| following is a discussion of three of the | | | | |
| most popular styles of biking today. | | | | Many free ride bikes closely resemble |
| | | | downhill bikes and weigh as much, although |
| Street/Urban Riding | | | | they are usually designed to be easier to |
| | | | pedal. Free ride bikes should be in the 30 to |
| Street/Urban riding is when you bike through | | | | upper 50 pound range, have a steeper angled |
| urban areas, ride on ledges and other | | | | frame in order to make maneuvering on narrow |
| man-made obstacles. Some riders execute | | | | obstacles possible, and be built from |
| tricks as well as stalls and grinds. Hybrid | | | | stronger, heavier materials. |
| bikes, sometimes called city bikes, are | | | | |
| typically used for street/urban riding. | | | | Downhill Mountain Biking |
| Hybrid bikes are a cross between a mountain | | | | |
| bike and a road bike. Most have front | | | | If you think downhill biking is all about |
| suspension with wide comfortable seats and | | | | kicking back, stretching your arms and |
| upright handlebars. | | | | cruising at a leisurely pace, think again. |
| | | | Even though it's all downhill, biking down a |
| Free Riding | | | | mountain demands concentration, quick |
| | | | reflexes and bike-handling skills much |
| The essence of free riding has it origins on | | | | different than free riding or city riding. |
| the shores of British Columbia. As some free | | | | It's also a blast! Downhill mountain biking |
| riders have explained it, free riding is more | | | | races involve race courses that are designed |
| than just riding, it's about riding with your | | | | for riders to speed down while navigating |
| friends and doing things on your bike that | | | | huge jumps, obstacles and more. It's very |
| push the limits of both yourself and your | | | | similar to motor cross racing. |
| bike. It's not about being the fastest or | | | | |
| coming up with a new trick. Rather, it's | | | | While it's true that all bikes go downhill, |
| about being totally free on your bike. Free | | | | bikes that provide the optimum ride for |
| riding is different for everyone. | | | | Downhill Mountain Biking have what is called |
| Essentially, when you ride for pure | | | | full suspension. This means that the front |
| enjoyment, do your own thing, in your own | | | | and rear of the frame are equipped with shock |
| way, that's free riding--making it more of a | | | | absorbers. |