Sunday, April 20, 2008

Freeride Mountain Biking

One of the exciting and heart-pumping disciplines of Mountain Biking is Freeride Mountain Biking, a hybrid of Downhill and Cross Country Mountain Biking. It is an advanced level of riding which is basically about performing tricks, jumps, and overcoming obstacles on the trail or area. The term “freeride” originally connotes that in this discipline, the rider is free to do whatever he or she wants.

Freeride Mountain Biking is often compared with Downhill Mountain Biking because of their similarities in the bikes used as well as the location where the sport is held. While Downhill Mountain Biking also involves jumps and conquering obstacles, its main objective is to finish the course in the shortest possible time, Freeride Mountain Biking focuses on the airborne tricks, jumps, and drops that the freerider can do.


If the simplest form of Mountain Biking is usually done on offroad surfaces such as mountain trails, Freeride Mountain Biking is done on areas where the rider can do a wide array of maneuvers.

With this type of Mountain Biking, the rider obviously needs a Mountain Bike which is specifically designed to meet the demands of the sport. For instance, the Freeride Mountain Bike is made from lighter and more durable materials. Weight is an essential consideration in Freeride Mountain Biking, since most maneuvers are done in mid-air. Also, it has front suspension, which refers to a system of shock absorbers. With this feature, the unwanted motion from the riding surface is reduced.

Since Freeride Mountain Biking is more challenging, the rider should learn specialized skills when it comes to bike handling. Performing tricks while airborne and jumping over obstacles and raised platform in the track should also be mastered by the rider.

Another important consideration in Freeride Mountain Biking is the inherent risks. Knowing the dangers involved is a big step in understanding what Freeride Mountain Biking exactly is. The freerider should be physically and mentally ready so he or she can perform the tricks, jumps, and drops safely. In a sport that is suitable only for those who are fearless and daring, safety should always be kept in mind.

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