Mountain biking is a great way to get outdoors and enjoy the scenery. There are different ways to ride mountain bikes, and one of the most popular is freeride mode. Freeride mode is a way of riding that emphasizes tricks and stunts. It’s a more aggressive style that can be physically demanding.
What is freeride?
The freeride or freestyle is a form of mountain biking where tricks and jumps are its greatest strength. With the mongoose 26 mountain bike, you can enjoy the freeride. If there was a phrase to describe it, it would be huge jumps. It consists of doing tricks, jumping in a descent both artificial and natural. The competition is evaluated by judges who score the runner depending on the difficulty of the trick. Within the FreeRide, there is also the SlopeStyle, which is very visual and is considered a great show where riders make jumps on huge artificial tracks.
Mountain biking: freeride mode steps
1) Wear the right gear. Make sure you have a good helmet, and pads and gloves can help protect your body in case of an accident. You might also want to invest in knee and elbow guards or other similar gear that will keep you safe while riding.
2) Learn the basic moves. Some of the most popular freeride moves include ‘nose manuals’; when you are riding along on your bike, balance yourself by using just your front tire to lift into the air. To slide on your back tire, use it to slow down while making turns. Try a ‘superman seat grab’: hold onto the handlebar with both hands and lean back if you’re more daring. Then, extend your arms out to either side and make an “M” shape with your body. This is a great move for tricking people into thinking you’re flying like Superman!
3) Gain speed. You can do this by riding down hills or mountains or pedaling quickly on flat ground.
4) Use your environment to your advantage. Look for obstacles to jump over, such as logs or rocks, and use them to help you get more air. Be careful not to crash into things that might hurt you.
5) Stay safe. Remember that mountain biking can be a physically demanding activity, and you should only participate if you feel ready.
6) Practice. After you’ve learned the basics of freeride, practice your moves to build up your skills.
7) Join a mountain biking club or group. You can get together with other people who enjoy riding their bikes for fun and comparison tricks.
8)Â Set goals. Have fun and be safe by trying to achieve tricks that are not too difficult for you.
9) Find a partner. Remember that mountain biking is much more fun when done with friends!
10) Enjoy the ride. Freeride can be very exciting and fun, so don’t forget to have a good time!
Terrain characteristics
The terrain where Freeride is practiced is multifaceted. It can be inside the mountain or hill or, in parks created specifically for this modality, even on artificial tracks or circuits placed in the middle of a city to present a show or competition.
Most of it consists of a track created in unevenness to begin the descent and to be able to take the speed and height that a jump needs. These tracks have ramps, receivers, drops, wallrides made by human hands, either with wood, metal, or earth.
Distances
In Freeride, there is no specific downhill distance or the size of the circuit or track. It all depends on how the competition is. Rather, the tracks or circuits are made up of different sets of ramps so that the rider can perform the tricks or jumps. The ramps, drops, wallrides, etc., can be of different heights, where the rider will create his best jumping strategy to add points and be evaluated by the judges.
Features bike freeride
The bike in question is the same or similar to the Downhill, with a trip between 180mm and 200mm in both suspensions. The selection of the bicycle depends on the rider and the type of competition or tricks to be practiced. The geometry of the frame is short of having a better position in the descents and being able to move the bike with ease in the different tricks.
Team
The Freeride modality is considered high risk or extreme due to the speed and height they reach to perform the tricks or jumps. Therefore, a full-face helmet, knee pads, elbow pads, back protector, and many even use the neck support to draw lots.
Characteristics of the freeride competition format
The Freeride competition is made up of a circuit of ramps, drops, and wallrides available so that the cyclist or rider can perform their tricks on their turn. Unlike the DH in competitions, Freeride, no matter the total time of the descent, which qualified judges are the “lines” that choose and jumps or tricks performed during the tour.
The rider freely chooses which ramps to use (this is where the name of this MTB modality comes from), the order of the ramps, and, above all, freely chooses the tricks to perform.
A panel of judges observes the rider’s descent from a distance to evaluate each competitor. Depending on the trick, its performance, and its landing, points will be assigned according to each competitor’s performance. The rider, in his turn, takes the circuit to perform a series of trick combos.
Freeride competitions are generally made up of two rounds of descent, and in the end, the one who obtains the most points in one of those two descents wins. In short, a rider has two opportunities to demonstrate his skills on the bike, which gives him the opportunity to create a better strategy with combinations of jumps to overcome his opponents or even to re-score in case of a fall or poor performance in its performance (performance).
At present different forms of Freeride are practiced that, with the passage of time, become more “wild” or “aggressive,” occupying natural regions and visually almost impossible to descend. As an example, we have the RedBull Rampage held in Virginia, Utah, in the United States. In this competition, the judges evaluate the level of the runner by how risky or complicated the line is where he goes down and the tricks he performs while going down.
SlopeStyle Competition
Slopestyle competition has the same format as freeride with a panel of judges and different ramps or drops for the competitor to do their best trick.
One of the small differences between Freeride and Slopestyle is that they do not need to take a lot of speed to perform their tricks. They can take the ramps with the same slope that the circuit or track offers.
Slopestyle bikes are different from freeride or DH bikes. These bikes are more similar to dirt jump bikes. Its roll is 26,” and the frame has a small and short geometry to be able to maneuver with ease. Bicycles only use front suspension with a trip between 80 and 100mm. Generally, only have a rear brake and for personal taste, they can have a front brake and/or speeds.
Another difference is the jumps since, in slopestyle, they are characterized by staying longer in the air and thus being able to perform a combo of tricks to obtain more points in their performance. That is why slopestyle is more of a visual spectacle that has conquered the hearts of many fans.
Conclusion
Mountain biking offers something for everyone; there are ways to appreciate nature, take part in team sports, compete in tournaments, or simply ride your bike in the park. Freeride is a great option for people who are looking for something more adventurous to do with their mountain bikes. It’s an exciting way to experience nature while enjoying the thrill of jumps and tricks!
Have you attended any Freeride or Slopestyle competitions? Then, if you find the opportunity to attend one day, do not hesitate for a second. You are going to be impressed by the great tricks that you will see.
