Downhill vs Freeride vs Justride

[Ryan]

The purpose of opinion pieces like this is to provoke discussion on the site. Please feel free to chip in with your 2 cents, try and keep it civil though :)
Ryan

[josh]

if you have no idea where to read this great article, its on the front page of the site in the news section. Or, alternatively if your lazy, click here (http://www.farkin.net/page.php?p=80c2dcd9b2c8f5158a3a80a4d93026c3) to read the article. Happy reading!

My thoughts:

Great Article, whilst freeriding gets the sport acknowledged, its the downhillers really pushing the bikes in my opinion. However, im all for just riding!

[Gutty]

I guess the bike companies are putting thier money where they think it'll make the biggest impact. For example, not all of us can go and race a Norba or World Cup but all of us CAN simply jump on our bikes and go "freeriding"(whatever that term means to you). Maybe if the World Cup got some TV exposure it would change things a little but currently in Oz we get to see the Red Bull ride once a year on channel Ten and no racing at all(to the best of my knowledge).

I ride for FUN and I ride for ME and i don't really care what anyone else rides, how they ride or who sponsors them.

Just my opinion.

[Scott]

Yeah, I think the whole freeride vs downhill battle is a battle for the sake of having a battle. When you actually get in depth and discuss it no one really has any gripes.

[lindsay]

Freeriders are d@#kheads, downhillers are stupid and everyone should go ride. Sounds good hey. :D

[lindsay]

Seriously as long as money isn't taken from dh i don't care. Freeriding seems to be getting more people into the sport and thats always a good thing.

[belly_up]

gee Lindsay, tell us what you really think :D

[Adi]

People need to ride more and enjoy the riding they do and not critisise other riders for what they do, were all on two wheels, so keep it friendly :)

Theres my $0.02

[Lukedog]

Freeriding is what Downhillers do when there not racing.
freeriding is just generally riding your bike, but now they have gone and created freeride comps, wich kind of defates the purpose of freeriding, but hey its all good its all riding, Ride Free..

[Techno Destructo]

I'm always amazed when I see rival factions rise up in a sport. It used to be the roadies vs the offroadies... then the BMX vs the mountain bike, then the XC vs the DH, then the freeride vs DH, now there's DJ vs street vs North Shore vs urban(?!?). What's next?!?

Instead of working together and uniting in strength and getting stoked on other styles of riding (hell, I love where MTB is going now... barspins and axle pegs and grinds... thass craaaaazy!), we just fight among ourselves.

Ok... I'm getting too melodramatic. Let's just make it easy. It's us vs the automobile! :)

[frank-oi]

funny isn't it at "freeride comp" redbull ride. there were well, no freeriders in the top five i think and who won it. well a racer won it.and not just some one that races every now and then between trips to utah a friggin jr world champ.

and the thing that pisses me of is that they (freeriders ) are going on about all this one with nature shit and they build friggin things through trees and crap like that do you really think that the tree likes that. no . i'm not a greenie or shit like that but i'm all for building tracks and stuff on the ground but shit in the air and stuff just bors me to tears. not to mention that they go to bloody slow .

i love racing and thats that.if someone says that i'm a freeriders just cause i still have 3 chain rings on my bike , i'll puch them in the face and say well you find a fucking chain guide that fits my bike and i put a fucking big arse 44 on it now how many freeriders have a 44 or bigger on there stupid peace of 100in travel crap .

i hope that i don't hurt anyones fellings

[Techno Destructo]

Yikes! A bit of negativity there? :shock:

I can't believe there's this animosity between freeriders and downhillers... that's one of the most pointless rivalries I've seen. :roll:

The two disciplines have so much in common (although I may get hit with a onslaught of arguments for that). You would think that the two would work, ride and hang out together!

Do freeriders come up and diss you, frank? And I mean insults... not calling you an innappropriate "label" like a "freerider".

What about the rest of you downhillers out there? Do you get static for what you do from freeriders?

And you freeriders... do you get played off by downhillers?

I've never gotten bad mouthed when I was riding... except when I'm coming home from my work commute, and I'm on my road bike with lycra - and that's by my buddies at the bike shop. :oops:

When I hear lines like "I'll punch them in the face"... I just shake my head. I don't get it. :(

[Kram]

Well said Techno.

I ride bikes. I like going fast, slow, techo, smooth, whatever. It's all good. Hell, I even ride down stairs, up hills and off dunnies.

If anyone has a problem with any of this, email ionlyrideonewayanditstherightway@standstillwhileip unchyouintheface.com

[Techno Destructo]

standstillwhileipunchyouintheface.com

I hear that site doesn't get many hits. :lol:

[Gutty]

if someone says that i'm a freeriders just cause i still have 3 chain rings on my bike , i'll puch them in the face and say well you find a fucking chain guide that fits my bike

Top attitude !! You must be really fun to meet on the trails. :roll:

[Techno Destructo]

Maybe "puch" is something really different from "punch"?

Maybe it's something affectionate?

[Ryan]

LOL techno. I never thought there was any animosity between freeriders and downhillers either, my main concern is money disappearing from race budgets to fund people who aren't necessarily better riders or more deserving. Frank-oi has proved my theory about no gripes wrong though and I will do my best to avoid calling him a freerider, for fear of being 'puched'.

[Stinky]

Anyone would think that mountian bikers have turned into a bunch of roadies, who will bag the crap out of Triathletes for not having any cycling skills and then go and develop all this techno stuff for individual time trials. Both are on a bike doing 40 ks with out assistance. this sort of crap and pigeon holing is the reason I picked up an MTB rather than any other sort of bike. this debate proves the success of some clever marketing by the bike companies.

this topic was hot in 97/98 when cannondale first coined the term freeride with their 80mm of travel super V (the black one with orange headshock triples). Back then there was debate about what exactly is freeriding, looks like it is still serching for definintion. Because dosen't the introduciton of competition (i.e rules, defined courses, winners/losers ) mean that the riding is no longer free.....

That probalby sounds a bit disjointed and soapboxy but thats what you get without a coffee in the morn.

I vote for freeride being just ride.

[Stinky]

Just actually read the article. I could not agree with you more Ryan. Basically summing up what I was trying to say in my last dribbling post. Perhaps I should learn to read b4 I jump (not that I can jump either).

[frank-oi]

ok i might of went off a little half cocked about this freeride thing.and i prosmise that i will punch nun of you if you call me a freerider. it was just cause i had a shit day at work. and i was rell fuckin anrgy.

the thing that makes me hate freeriding as a hole , not FREERIDERS is josh bender ( apart from him that is). i don't know why i dislike this tool it just that i do. yeah he can drop shit .but to tell ya the truth i don't care if he can drop shit. whoop-id-e-doo. stay in utah and crash your brains out a nob.

again i don't like freeriding as a term to discribe bikes and people. i just don't like josh bender. nuff said on my behalf i think. now i'm going to watch seinfeld.cause it's bound to lift my bad mood.

good by.

[lindsay]

Yeah i'm with you frank-oi.

The only reason i don't like the term freeriding is because of bender and a few others that i've seen that don't deserve the publicity they are getting. Some of them are just crap riders and they get on videos and get free bikes. It pisses me off.

The originals that didn't coin themselves freeriders like wade simmons etc. are some of the best riders i've ever seen. It's just the new ones i hate cause they suck.

my 2 cents

[blacky]

to many labels
keep it real

blackdawg (west side)

nrg club race d/h , and a drop ,jump session after the race,name it what you want, i call it taking it to the next level.

last sunday this month

[lindsay]

Hopefully I'll be there. On the new bike too. Ippy World Cups are fun! :D

[blacky]

sweet lindsay see ya there
hey good job at the 24 hour,i was pumped we i heard how you guys did,you tort the xc guys a hard leason,one thing A grade d/h guys have is a big heart .

[lindsay]

Yeah it hurt to get where we did. We were about to drive home early sunday morning. However the podium looked too go so we had to keep going.

[frank-oi]

it's good people are by me. one thing wade simmons is a nut (but a good nut) he droped that friggin drop on the last red bull, with a flat tire . bender would have cried and asked for a new bike and someone to fix the tube.i don't really like to bag people that i haven't meet but in this case i don't care to meet him.so i'll bag him all i like. and tomorrow i'll get up late and do some DH runs that will have nothing to do with freeriding..

i think thays about 6 cents rounded down to 5cents.

[blacky]

you must be a sick down hiller franky


im going shuttling tomorrow at clear mt ,and i don't give a furk want it is called free ride, d/h to me they are the same unless it is race day.

[riles]

DOWNHILL DOWNHILL DOWNHILL DOWNHIIL DOWNHILL DOWNHILL
RACE RACE RACE RACE RACE RACE RACE RACE

[Adi]

What happens when you love downhill but you have to live in a flat country?

[Techno Destructo]

Start diggin', man!!!!!

Hey... 69 dudes! :mrgreen:

[Steve]

I think Blacky nailed it in one " freeride/DH, same to me unless its race day". Isnt being free to ride anything u want, how u want, when u want with ya mates what we all really love about riding? If u think back to when u first started riding, everyone was a "freerider", XC rider, and DHer. (tell me u didnt race ya mates down your local DH run on ya trail ride when this was all new to u). Most of us start out exactly the same, trail riding, and eventually are drawn towards a particular aspect of our faith. Marketing companies just pick up on the fact that most people need something to identify themselves by, "im a freerider", "im a DHer". Gives people something to call themselves. Dunno why MTN biker isnt enough because as far as im concerned, its da shit.

[Techno Destructo]

I think elitism may have something to do with it.

[Gutty]

it's good people are by me. one thing wade simmons is a nut (but a good nut) he droped that friggin drop on the last red bull, with a flat tire . bender would have cried and asked for a new bike and someone to fix the tube.i don't really like to bag people that i haven't meet but in this case i don't care to meet him.so i'll bag him all i like. and tomorrow i'll get up late and do some DH runs that will have nothing to do with freeriding..

i think thays about 6 cents rounded down to 5cents.

Bender's nothing more than a big poof in my opinion. :!:

[Techno Destructo]

Bender's nothing more than a big poof in my opinion. :!:

Awww... c'mon Gutty... ya gotta hand it to the guy... he's got balls... How many people do you know go for drops as big as him? Not many... and he was one of the first to do HUGE (30+ ft) drops... (And I think he's the only one to ever try "Jawdrop" - 3 times even!)

I'm not disputing that he might be a "one trick pony", since I've never really seen him do any other kind of riding than just run-ups to drops... though I'm really curious to see how he would do in something like the RedBull Rampage... but the guy was/is pushing the sport into new realms... mind you, it may only be one facet of the sport, but still... he deserves some respect.

[lindsay]

Bender can't ride. He went to red bull rampage and smashed himself that badly that they took him to hospital. He can't even land drops. He is a dick!

[Techno Destructo]

But you've watched him do drops before, no? Can you do what he does as well as him?

[Gutty]

Bender's nothing more than a big poof in my opinion. :!:

Awww... c'mon Gutty... ya gotta hand it to the guy... he's got balls... How many people do you know go for drops as big as him? Not many... and he was one of the first to do HUGE (30+ ft) drops... (And I think he's the only one to ever try "Jawdrop" - 3 times even!)

I'm not disputing that he might be a "one trick pony", since I've never really seen him do any other kind of riding than just run-ups to drops... though I'm really curious to see how he would do in something like the RedBull Rampage... but the guy was/is pushing the sport into new realms... mind you, it may only be one facet of the sport, but still... he deserves some respect.

yeah, your right, i really just don't like all the hype he puts on himself. Anyone can fall off a cliff, it just takes balls. Though not knowing him personally he may actually be hetro :wink:

[Techno Destructo]

Which Red Bull Rampage? Was it the one in Jindabyne? Or the one in Montana(if that was the place...). I hope it's on video... It'd be interesting to watch the guy ride one big continuous run.

And believe it or not... I'm not a "fan" of the guy... but what he does impresses me and I do think he deserves more respect than what he gets. But again... I've never met him personally. Hopefully the guy has little or no ego...

[Gutty]

Which Red Bull Rampage? Was it the one in Jindabyne? Or the one in Montana(if that was the place...). I hope it's on video... It'd be interesting to watch the guy ride one big continuous run.

And believe it or not... I'm not a "fan" of the guy... but I do think he deserves more respect than what he gets. But again... I've never met him personally. Hopefully the guy has little or no ego...

The last U.S rampage, where ever it was, Utah maybe. And i don't believe he even finished his first run so you might be out of luck there.

In my opinion, anyone that says shit like "got to go big, lifes too short not to go big" and "the great thing is the next huge air is just around the corner" is an ego tripper. He makes himself sound like he's launching some huge doubles or something when all he does is fall off stuff(cliffs). I don't really classify a huck as a "huge air".

Each to his own though, i guess if he's enjoying himself, whats the harm ?

[Techno Destructo]

In my opinion, anyone that says shit like "got to go big, lifes too short not to go big" and "the great thing is the next huge air is just around the corner" is an ego tripper.

Yeah... those are pretty corny things to say. :) Sometimes people just gotta restrain themselves and let their skills do the talking...

It reminds me of a CLASSIC corny line that was said in all seriousness by a snowboarder in a snowboard movie. I think it was TB2 and the guy was Mike Hatchet. He was in a plane and they were flying into Valdez, Alaska. He turns from looking out the plane window and says to the camera... "It's time to go off..... off the richter scale that is..." :lol:

He got paid out for YEARS after that classic line! :D

[Gutty]

hehehe, yeah, me and my friends laughed so hard when we first watched that vid. For the next few weeks anyone that did anything even remotely stupid was labeled richter.

[Techno Destructo]

You saw that too?!? Nice! :)

Did you see any videos afterward where people make fun of Hatchet? Like one where a dude's rock-climbing and talking to the camera like Hatchet did before (except this guy's on something really small)? Hilarious!

[Kram]

It's amusing to see how many people bag out on hucking, but won't do it themselves.
That's like saying DH racing sucks because it wrecks your bike, gets expensive, is too competitive blah blah blah when reality is I'm just slower than I'd like to admit. It's all riding and it's all good.
I don't like to bag other people's acheivements, especially when they do stuff I can't do. Anyone that can beat me up or down a hill gets my respect. Anyone who can't beat me up or down, also gets my respect for being smart enough to get off the couch and go riding. If I could have Bender's job and get away from this desk to go pitch myself off cliffs and get paid, I'd be a happy man. But the truth is I don't have the balls.

[Gutty]

nah, wasn't too big on videos back then, actually it was my mates very first boarding vid. Damn we had some fun giving each other shit about it though.

[DOM]

This debate will go on for years and years.

I agree pretty much with Lindsay though .. bender has hucked alot of stuff which is massive and hasnt landed too well.

I personally beleive hucking doesnt require as much skill as a Pro class Downhiller.

Im not a hucker and im not a pro class downhiller ... But on smaller hucks .. and drops .. i have the skills to control the bike and land down a transition .. but i dont have the balls to drop anything massive .. i use the excuse of riding a hardtail aswell ... but it takes more skill .. watching guys like Watson , and Vanderham .. hucking sideways .. while no footing .. and landing into a steep tranny slide ... control the bike then huck again .. continuesly down a course .. much like the redbull rampage.

Bender may be able to walk to a 45ft cliff and huck .. axe himself and be called a ledgend cause he had the balls ... sure hes ballsy .. he doesnt mind hucking off 45ft things .. but does he have more balls then skill ?

I tell you know .. i could huck 45ft .. and land on my wheels .. i beleive from alot of dirtjumping and riding .. that i have the control to keep the bike level in the air .... so when i slam into the ground and bounce and eat shit .. does this make me a ledgend ? i know i wouldnt be able to land it because im not strong enough .. The real skill comes into play when you constantly land smooth .. controlling the bike every huck .. bender lands pretty damm rough when he hucks .. ive seen him in numerous vids and you must admit .. not the smoothest thing youve seen. Everyone now and again he lands ok .. rides it out .. but is this luck ? or his strength coming into play ? was there any handling skills.

I take my hats off to guys like Watson, Vanderham .. Tyler Klassen .. these guys are hucking .. gaping .. tricking .. dhing .. they have good bike handling skills .. thats why when dhers like Sam Hill, Gracia .. Shane wode ... can hold their own in Redbull conditions .. because it is a course which requires .. 1. Balls 2. Skills 3. Control and Balance.

Sure bender has more balls and would huck the 45ft .. but thats what seperates him from good riders .. hes ballsy .. strong and lacks any respect for his personal safety .. but does that make you a good rider ?

It's one of those things .. I think bender has some skill .. ive seen him land stuff .. but im always going to be on the side of those with skills .. Id rather watch a Downhiller .. gap something or trick something then a physco nut huck 45ft bounce then eat dirt .. becomes boring after 1 attempt.

As for Krams comment ... i agree with that aswell .. bender has done well .. the dude has made money from being a physco .. everyone loves a daredevil .. props to him for making it ...
but if you talk skills only ... their are alot of other dudes doing stuff which require alot more skill. - Hence this debate as to why people think bender sucks.

[Adi]

Don't bash bender, I bet none of you aren't half the rider he is.

http://www.farkin.net/forums/albums/318.jpg
http://www.farkin.net/forums/albums/319.jpg
http://www.farkin.net/forums/albums/320.jpg

[Techno Destructo]

This Bender discussion also adds the question... why not ignore Bender instead of hating him? Why is there such a strong negative reaction? If somebody does a style of riding that I'm don't like... I simply don't bother following or watching the rider (in terms of videos, photos, what they're currently doing and riding, etc...).

I feel a new topic coming on....

[Ty]

Insane, have a bit of a think first, on the forum we have Lindsay Klien (Team Arai / Global and currently the leading under 19 in the australian series), Jared Graves (team matcatz/iron horse rider, 7th at Sea otter) i think i've even seen national mountain bike hero Micheal ronning post here. now none of these guys are going to step up and say they are the shit and talk them selves up so i thought i'd better do it for them.

[Adi]

I had a think, and I didnot intentionally mean it to come out that way. I guess i was just trying to say that were all on two wheels here, so why bash eachother about who is best at doing what when everyone does different things ;)

[Gutty]

This Bender discussion also adds the question... why not ignore Bender instead of hating him? Why is there such a strong negative reaction?

For me personally, i don't hate him, having never met him how could i ? i don't ever think about the guy until i see him in a video or a thread like this pops up. I believe the strong reaction is because of all the hype he surrounds himself with. He acts like he's some kinda hero when in reality if any of us were mad enough there's a good chance we could do alot of what Bender does on a bike.

Would anyone like to come out and say he's NOT a bit of an ego tripper ?? I doubt it.

Insane has a good point, we all ride bikes, we all enjoy it. lets keep it that way and let Bender do whatever the hell he wants to do.

[belly_up]

I think the main reason why it's hard to ignore bender is because he features in pretty much every video known to man recently, often as the main event.

And i agree that there seems to be a lot more balls than skill in his case. A lot of the time he's just using the bike to cusion the initial impact, so that when he rebounds and falls off it's only from 6 or 8 feet high, instead of 40. he might as well just put a 14 inch thick mattress at the bottom and jump off without a bike.

[DOM]

I never mentioned hate in my massive rant.

just hes over exposed. and alot of guys dont have as high respect .. because of lot of riders arnt exposed who have more skills.

I dont hate him .. hes mad .. funny to watch .. has made money doing what we all would love to do.

Bascially im just saying i agree with some people in the fact that there are alot more skilled riders around.

[Techno Destructo]

Just so there's no misunderstandings... by my previous question as to the negative reaction with Bender:

DOM, I wasn't thinking of you when I wrote that response. Your post was well thought out and you seem to keep an objective view of things.

But anybody who's been around to the various MTB website's forums on the web (NSMB, PinkBike, HCOR, etc...) can see that the "hating" of Bender isn't an isolated incident. In fact... just start up a topic on any one of these sites with a title of Bender - and nothing else in the content... and watch people go off!

Actually, I'm going to do that right now. I'm going to post on NSMB.com's forum, in "The Shore" section, a new topic with the title of just "Bender". Nothing else. What will happen?

Hopefully the Admins won't delete the post, thinking it was a mistake...

Check it out... or stay tuned for the results...

[Gutty]

hahahaha, your a bad boy Techno :)

[Techno Destructo]

Wow... 4 responses in just seconds.

Nothing that good yet. I think they're wondering WTF I'm up to...

[DOM]

hahah .. ive seen images of bender jumping etc .. hes quite a good dirtjumper .. but what pro class downhiller isnt.

the dude can ride. - just his ballsy attitude out weighs his skill i reckon.

[Techno Destructo]

Well, I've made it to 10 replies so far for the Bender post... I'm probably on my way to hitting the record for the worst ratio of characters typed for posts yet!

I guess I should give those guys more credit... No slagging of Bender yet... but the thread's still alive!

[Adi]

ill beat anyone with the worst ratio per post :)

Bring it on :D

[Techno Destructo]

Well, I've made it to 17 posts with not much said at all... :)

[Gutty]

you got the rainbow award......yay for techno

[Techno Destructo]

Thank you sweetie!

[Gutty]

Thank you sweetie!

Sweetie ???? watch your mouth boy-o !!!! :wink: :wink:

[Techno Destructo]

Oh thtop it!!!

[DOM]

lets keep these forums with information people want to read ?

or use the private message thingy..

cheers boys.

[josh]

whats the link to your nsmb thread techno? :)

[Gutty]

lets keep these forums with information people want to read ?

or use the private message thingy..

cheers boys.

Are we not allowed to dribble in a thread ?? Thats a bit strict isn't it ? This isn't school last i checked.
Not trying to be an ass or anything but if we're not allowed to have a bit of fun in a thread why bother coming here ? Life is too serious already.

[kalem]

Don't bash bender, I bet none of you aren't half the rider he is.

http://www.farkin.net/forums/albums/319.jpg


what the fuck is going on there? how'd he get so high? Did someone Photoshop out the kicker or something? Or is Bender still bouncing from hitting the ground so hard! hahaha i'm so funny!

[Techno Destructo]

whats the link to your nsmb thread techno? :)

Well, it finally happened. Not even left with a dreary slide down the ranks in that forum's topics, it dissappeared entirely without notice. I think the admins over there actually bothered to check what kind of conversation was going on in that thread.

Which was none. There was almost as many Emoticons than actual words in that thread.

So they blew it away!!! :lol:

My experiment failed. Hardly even a comment about Bender. Somebody mentioned something about him having a period, my thread was given the big rainbow award, there were mostly replies like "poop dip" and "car car goes vroom vroom", and that was it! :)

Oh well. I guess I should be happy. I got 21 replies and the entire content of my post was "."

Oh yeah... sorry for letting the posts here get a bit silly. You admins can delete all of my posts that aren't appropriate. I thought somebody might have a laugh...

[Techno Destructo]

Don't bash bender, I bet none of you aren't half the rider he is.

http://www.farkin.net/forums/albums/319.jpg


what the fuck is going on there? how'd he get so high? Did someone Photoshop out the kicker or something? Or is Bender still bouncing from hitting the ground so hard! hahaha i'm so funny!

Bender kicks ASS at bunnyhops!!! :D

[Scott]

I'm thinking that would be a world record bunnyhop.. I don't remember him being in the books...

[Ty]

45.5 inches by Jeff Lenosky is the record

[Scott]

45.5 inches by Jeff Lenosky is the record
Jeff is a freak. Didn't lopez have the record for a short while. I remember reading that ages ago.

[frank-oi]

yeah he did for a bit but i thought that lopes had done it higher then 45.5in but i could be wrong. yeah most likely wrong.

[Techno Destructo]

Yeah, but can he throw in a no-footer? Eh? Eh?

I hear Bender doesn't even use his feet... that hop was done solely by the torque of his arms!

[S.]

yeah he did for a bit but i thought that lopes had done it higher then 45.5in but i could be wrong. yeah most likely wrong.

I think Lopes got over 50 inches on a BMX, years ago.

[Gutty]

Don't bash bender, I bet none of you aren't half the rider he is.

http://www.farkin.net/forums/albums/319.jpg


what the fuck is going on there? how'd he get so high? Did someone Photoshop out the kicker or something? Or is Bender still bouncing from hitting the ground so hard! hahaha i'm so funny!


Ahahahahaha, i remember the first time that pic was posted on RM, about 50 people asked the same question you did. Apparently there is actually a drop behind the concrete into that car park and there is a small luanchy down there. Prometheus is on HCOR, he may be able to shed some more light on it for ya.

[Gutty]

And speaking of Bender......

A coupla pics by Shuntavi over on eMpTy BeeR.
http://forums13.consumerreview.com/crforum?viewall@199.U6H6a3KYxrc.0@.efa9363

[kalem]

And speaking of Bender......

A coupla pics by Shuntavi over on eMpTy BeeR.
http://forums13.consumerreview.com/crforum?viewall@199.U6H6a3KYxrc.0@.efa9363

those pics are cool, that drop looks evil...

[Adi]

Wow, nice pictures!

[wonderllama]

yehy i like the freeride side of things i do dj, dh , street so that wat i call freeride, and i like my trail out the back;) thats my 2 cents

[Scott]

Don't bash bender, I bet none of you aren't half the rider he is.

I'm not sure if you meant to word it that way, but I'll have to agree. You have to remember that we do in fact have some very good riders on these forums. The likes of which could beat bender at his own game (if they were stupid enough).

[Simo]

as long as people are riding and having fun, it doesn't mater if it's stairs in the city or rock gardens durring a DH course.
It's all pedalling and guiding a bike around some form of obstacle.

[perfor8r]

here, here! I second that. We're all in this together, as riders.

ok
my 2 cents on bender.....
He is over publisized... im glad he didnt get overrated in NWD3 like in NWD1... but i will give the man some credit he is entertaining.....wade and klassen would own him tho

[trobb]

i just ride because i enjoy it

http://www.farkin.net/forums/albums/319.jpg


:O:O:O NO HELMET!! WHAT KINDA EXAMPLE IS HE SHOWING FOR HIS YOUNGER FANS!!!! :roll: :roll: 8) :lol: :o

[Grass hopper]

each to their own...
the last 8 months i have been thrown into the crazy exciting world of mountain biking.... before that i hadn`t rode for about 3-4years....

since my introduction,with the help of a one speed mtb that was built for me in late 2003.to now flying down mt cootha brisbane on a 1sp dh HT..
its wicked, to just see all these ppl b into their sport with such enthusiaism, great social events,(like bike week)new products coming out (with better products)and all the excellent info on riding(learning better technique)
that all comes from exposure and a sport becoming more popular. So if a sport can be more excessable to anyone from any life style,than yippee more ppl to have a nice ride with.... more to talk about than what happened at work or how much did you have to drink on the weekend...
And the more riding becomes popular to the public the healthy the nation will be....

peace
:wink:

[Inoue]

i totally agree. as long as people are out there riding bikes and not at home sitting around on the couch or riding skate boards its all good.
although i reckon there is so much more skill in being a pro downhller than a pro freeride hucker. but what ever keeps you off the couch and skate boards thats sweet

[Inverted]

I bet Bender is having fun even when he does crash, he may not be the most skilled rider but he is having fun thats what its all about. Downhilling is a is a type of racing, freeriding is a combination of stuff you like eg DJs, DH, XC, Urban. Being a jack of trades & hopefully master of some.

Bike companies use the word freeriding as a marketing gimmick to generate sales, like yo-yos its a big fad gets everyone sucked in then something else becomes cool like motorised scooters. I hate those fucken scooters there so gay.

Thats my 2 cents.

[timduncan]

totally agreed at least there not sitting at home....... doesnt matter if your chase,cedric,bender or armstrong riding is still riding

id rather be bender then not ride at all :?

[Derek Yates]

Having re-read this I'm sure I should re-edit this to make more sense but here's some thought in response to the article. Sorry about the grave dig.

Hey Ryan,

An interesting article I think and something similar has been going through my mind for a while now. There seems to be a lot of bad feeling about ‘freeriding’ in general and often these arguments bring up rider skills, sponsorship and many other things.

Personally I think that freeriding has been great for the sport of mountainbiking as it has taken away some of the ‘inside the box’ thinking about what you can do on a MTB. No longer is MTB portrayed in the media as only about either XC or DH. Suddenly peoples minds have opened up to the possibility of having a bike that does more than one thing. I see this as the natural evolution of the sport and although the traditional styles may have suffered in the face of it this is only good for the long term health of the sport.

There are some inherent things that are never going to make MTB a mainstream sport. Cost, trail access, rider attitudes and poor for spectating are all things that have stopped the sport progressing into the mass media, high profile sponsorship and TV. Many people are happy with this outcome and don’t actually want MTB to become another ‘made for TV’ event.

To say that freeride has taken money from DH racing is probably a true statement. Much as DH took money from XC racing and XC from Road back in the day I think this is simply progression. To say freeriders are less skilled riders or lacking in ability is a little one sided. It all depends on what aspects of riding that you are comparing. Often a freerider is sponsored because of their ability to see new lines, try new things in different environments and throw down some style in the process. These are things that a traditional ‘racer’ has not been encouraged to do, so often freeriders are people who may not have been top 10 racers in the past but had skills that stood out in other areas. This is obviously not hard and fast as there are awesome DH riders with style, skill and creativity and some damn quick and skilled freeriders. It all comes down to labels and generalisation once again and the argument can go round and round forever.

One possibility that could explain Australian DH riders high level of skill in many areas could even be a product of the environment. Looking around Australia there are few dedicated DH venues. Riders are forced to ride trails that are local or hand built to train and hone skills. In some places this would be called ‘freeriding’ but here we’d be more likely to call it going for a ride. We all ride differently due to the different conditions and trails around the country. It just happens that when riders in OZ get into DH they seem to get really good at it. I’m not going to try to explain it, because I’m sure you could write an article on that alone and never really get the right answer.

One thing that maybe worth considering is that ‘hucking’ and freeriding at it’s more extreme level is just an extension of what downhilling has been about anyway. Early ‘freeriders’ that did this type of riding would have been riding some kind of DH bike and would have considerered themselves ‘downhillers’ before the name Freeride even was used in MTB.
Modern Freeride bikes are using technology and equipment from the DH scene and in many cases is flowing back the other way. If DH is in decline then Freeride is propping it up by pushing the development of stiffer and stronger frames, better shocks (ie, Bottom out resistant), better brakes, stronger parts (ie Saint) and all the while opening up more riders to the sport. Maybe this is why companies are embracing freeride as a concept? DH racing has been very stale for a long time. Not many new major developments in tracks, bikes or technology have come from the last 5 years. Sure there have been things such as platform damping and virtual pivots but that technology has been in the market for a LONG time and only recently has it been marketed successfully. Almost all else has been small changes to existing technology. From a race format perspective there has been some interesting additions to the tracks but the overall format is very similar. Not that there is anything wrong with that, but sometimes you have to accept a sport for what it is and not push it to a level it may not need to be.

I think the sport has a long way to go before it settles down and in the long term it will go through many ups and downs, trends and busts. As riders we should be embracing things that keep our sport fresh and get new riders into the sport. One thing I think we all need to do is stop thinking in labels and stop holding ourselves back with narrow minded thinking. If a rider/bike/component has something new to offer the sport and is able to encourage new blood to get involved in riding (competitively or not) then I think there is as much validity in that as the traditional focus on ‘faster, lighter, most winningest’. We need to be open to new ideas and progression instead of the quick draw ‘that’s crap because it’s different’ mentality that seems to pervade MTB. If we all focus on doing the type riding that we like best and stop thinking inside preset ideas of what we ‘should’ be riding maybe we would all be happier. MTB is going in lots of directions and everyone gets the benefit so lets all do what we like best and enjoy the ride!

Cheers,

Derek @ Norco.Au.


if you have no idea where to read this great article, its on the front page of the site in the news section. Or, alternatively if your lazy, click here (http://www.farkin.net/page.php?p=80c2dcd9b2c8f5158a3a80a4d93026c3) to read the article. Happy reading!

My thoughts:

Great Article, whilst freeriding gets the sport acknowledged, its the downhillers really pushing the bikes in my opinion. However, im all for just riding!

[andy73]

ah the freeride -vs- racer debate. It never ceases to amaze me how riled up people get over this one. I think labelling is one of the big issues - after all, aren't we all freeriders. I don't mean that in a "we share one big world, so let's hug" kind of way. But if you class yourself as a downhiller, consider this: any time you do a run that's untimed when there's no event running, you're essentially freeriding and guess what - there's nothing wrong with that.

The problem is that downhillers tend to think of freeriding as simply hucking - hell even the freeride section on Farkin has the tag "huckers anonymous". If that was trully all freeriding was then I don't think any of us would want to be assosciated with it. if you've spent years honing your skills, i understand how someone like Bender would just seem like a a big fool with a death wish. But freeriding is not al about hucking - for the most part, it's based on downhilling. Whistler is the world's greatest freeride park and the concept there is catch a lift up so you can ride it DOWN. Whether you do it fast or slow, whether you take a few drops, whether you ride the odd ladder bridge, whether you stay low over tabletops or boot off the top of them, you're having fun.

Get over the damn labels people. let's not threaten to puch each other in the face. we're really all doing the same thing here.

[Shintaro]

My definition of DH riding is bound to differ from other peoples. For me it's about a blend of downhill & freeriding mixed into a trail. The downhill elment means that the majority of the trail will not have any uphill sections, and obviously be well suited for a downhill bike. I'd expect the track to be fast, flowy and challenging, probably with burms, tecnhical sections and possibilites of drops and basic northshore.

My definition of Freeriding is similiar to downhilling yet the focus of the trail is based around stunts. Ideally a freeride track has over 10 advanced stunts (Jumps / Drops / Northshore).

For me it's not always a matter of choosing a riding dicipline it's more about creating a personal challenge, evolving my style & skills and alot of time spent with mates.

Ride hard eat plenty!

[@nDr3w]

i think i might cop a bit for this, but when you look at it freeride and downhill arent exactly that different. the bikes are alot the same and alot of the terrain is similar. i just cant understand what the big fight is about. we all ride bikes so why are we paying out on eachother. we should take it back to the original battle... SKATERS VS PUSHYS!!!;)

[DEMONATION]

i think i might cop a bit for this, but when you look at it freeride and downhill arent exactly that different. the bikes are alot the same and alot of the terrain is similar. i just cant understand what the big fight is about.

dude the freeride bikes are 9+ rear suspension as heavy as a brick and are made to be abused, the suspension is hard and the tyres are thick. Where as the DH race bikes are 8- rear suspension and are made to be light, doing so they comprimise the strength of the bike by using lighter but easier to break meterials like carbon fibre. the suspension is set soft and tyres are smaller.

look at squids 0range 224 and compare it to something like a banshee scream,the bikes are quite different.

as for same terrain...

a wise man once said when ever anyone asked him what downhilling is " just imagine a hill, then visualise a beaten line running all the way down that hill that alot of people have worked very hard to make. that line is a highway and you are on a bike trying to get down that highway as quick as posible"

Downhilling is an art, cornering, going through rock and root sections as smooth as possible, finding lines that u can glide thorugh, accesing the terrain in front of you and riding as smooth as possible.

as for freeriding and i assume we are not talking about the cross sport of downhill racing with jumps and drops in the track but instead the hucking idea where u hit big drops and jumps.
when dropping off cliffs you are riding a set line and trying to land as clean as possible so u dont fuck up. there is no style involved and it really aint cool for ur bike.

[harrypowell]

to be honest, i rekon freeriders are nice guys, but boring to whatch, downhillers, are wankers, but good to whatch.

[Mitch_M]

freeride bikes are 9+ rear suspension as heavy as a brick and are made to be abused, the suspension is hard and the tyres are thick. Where as the DH race bikes are 8- rear suspension

So your saying that Kona Stinkys with 7 inches of travel or Norco shore hardtails are not freeride bikes? and that a Foes 2:1 DHS Mono with 10 inches of travel is not a DH race bike? Personally I think that we are getting to carried away trying to pigeon hole each area of the sport. IT IS ABOUT HAVING FUN! who cares is someone is a racer or a hucker, as long as they are enjoying themselves classifications don't matter.

[Venciferus]

Another note on the ye olde bender debate.

Red Bull Retrospective Quote:
I push myself and go big so it progresses the sport. So that when another rider sees it done, whether it be a bid drop or jump etc. They can step up with less fear of failing.

Not in his (bender) exact words but along those lines so everyone stop dissin bender.

[AN AUSSIE]

Hrm the topic i might add into this is that many people say some tracks are "downhill" and others say they are more "free ride" orientated...how can u define this? Is it the jumps,drops,north shore? that make it free ride...or is it the fast downhill speed, berms,technical decents that make it "downhill"?

You ask anyone who has ridden downhill....a track with out some sort of drop or jump or such "apparently" "free ride" obstacle...would purely suk extreme ass.

On the other hand you can also ask any "freerider" as they might call themselves...what would one of there tracks be with out downhill speed and fast corners and such?

In the end you will come to agree that everyone should shut up and grow up just because the "free ride" guys run bikes that can be dropped off cliffs, that doesnt give the "downhill" guys who ride durable race bikes the right to give the "free riders" shit and like wise to the "free riders"

[johnny]

This has to be the longest running thread on Farkin, ever.

[Martin.au]

Indeed.

Just ride. The differences are all trivial. We all ride bikes in the dirt. Most of us go off drops, over jumps, etc. Some of us just do it on different looking bikes or with a bit more consideration to personal safety.

Now lets all go pick on the roadies..........oops did I say that. :D

[avablast]

i always thought freeriding was wat riders did when they dont have to pay for entry fees and not worry about needing to win a trick comp or style comp but freeriding to has gone comercial because of its name sake im all for just riding but i'll always ride free and do wat i do

[avablast]

Oh an taking Money from DH bike companys make a shitload of Money from people who dont even ride Dh or *Freeride* or wateva u wanna call it they make money from kids or the general public for commuters or kids bikes or wateva if DH is lacking Money then the Promoters suck Cause there the ones that put up the events

[MATT_82]

well i race dh and go shuttling quite a lot and i freeride as in dirtjump, skatepark, decent hucks, decent gaps and a bit of urban(but inly stairgaps no grinds or such)
so i have to go with just ride and do everything because nobody i know just does downhill or just hucks etc. i think most people would agree with me that most people do a bit of everything

[DHdog]

I have been riding for about 2yrs now (duallie). i tend to think that i make dh tracks for the fact that im riding down a hill, You know, pick a steep descent and throw in some switch backs, drops, jumps, berms, gap drops, wooden jumps, tecky sections, speed sections and as many rock gardens as possible into one track!!!!!!!!! (grab a breath).

so my question to everybody is .... what am I !!! A freerider or downhiller ???

I will answer it myself ! who gives a farkin fukc, just ride ya bike !!!!!!!!!!!!

[pylet_thekid]

Does it matter what it is called?No,it is all MTB and therefore we should all watch each others backs and not bag out MTB,it gives a bad name.

Now lets go tell some BMX'rs off for not wearing a helmet.:)

[Hamsta]

I like riding my green machine and skidding on the wet grass

[Knight]

We've all bikes....Who cares what it is or what you do with them. Just ride what you want, where you want and get along with everyone else that rides anything, anywhere. Forget about the whole classification thing. IMHO, if there is a whole X vs Y thing, it should be ALL RIDERS vs people trying to stop us from riding. Simple :)

[L06hardn]

IT doesent matter either way, DH to compete, compare and meet. Free ride to learn about your self, ability and your bike. Just aslong AS YOU ARE ON A FUKING BIKE and have a set of balls we are all riders

[allstar]

The originals that didn't coin themselves freeriders like wade simmons etc. are some of the best riders i've ever seen. It's just the new ones i hate cause they suck.

my 2 cents

so these 'new' riders like paul bas, cam zink and kyle strait and a few others, suck? there proberly the ones pushing the sport the most atm.

[mtb_slipknot_fan]

so these 'new' riders like paul bas, cam zink and kyle strait and a few others, suck? there proberly the ones pushing the sport the most atm.

They wernt pushing the sport 3 years ago when that post was made were they??:confused:

[allstar]

:o :o my bad i didnt read the date :o :o

[higiff]

well i rekon freeriding is for people that cant dh buts its really goos and a lot of pros have transferd over to fr like cedric gracia

[ovadahill]

well i rekon freeriding is for people that cant dh buts its really goos and a lot of pros have transferd over to fr like cedric gracia

WTF are you talking about - not everyone wants to do the "R" word (racing) with its structured formats and restrictions (that goes for DH, 4X, and XC). Pros like CG HAVE NOT "transferred over to FR" - they have always been freeriders with the skill and speed to make a living out of racing DH.

[JonesyBIGHIT]

LIVE TO RIDE thats what i say we are all on two wheels.

[V.B9]

same sh*t different smell

[Meat Pie]

Freeriding incorperates DH without the race format involved. people got board with DH and so evolved Freeriding. the thing thats divided people between the 2 is competition. so just ride and call it funriding. CG is DH

[fletcha2233]

i think it depends on what you feel like doing on the day. like going djing or downhilling or doin some hucks it depends i guess on what type of mood you are in for the type of riding you want to do. any way that is my opinion on this matter. hope you all agree:D

[chriscross]

i feel that some down hillers are just nuts at the speeds the go down trails whilst free riders are also nuts at the size of the drops and gaps that they hit

[Screaming Gecko]

It seems "Aussies" are more DH oriented (generalised) ... and seem to be the ones leading the DH vs Freeride attack.

For example over the last few years, any interview with Rennie pretty much bags the crap outta FreeRiders (or Huckers) ... the most memorable quote being "... any 12 year old can huck off a cliff ..." similarly, I recall in Earthed, racers saying "... this [DH racing] is where you will find the best and fastest riders ...", openingly questioning why the money is flowing from DH to Freeride ... "we DHers are the best" ... Finally, read in any of our mags now days, any you can't miss the endless backslapping "Aussie DHers the best".

This is all good coz they're kicking arse and taking names ... but an interesting alternative perspective was shown in Gracia's interview a few issues back in DIRT ... he didn't mention names but you couldn't help but read between the lines "... those Aussie / DH whingers ... just get on with it."

Slow and Techy, Fast and Ragged ... I ride.

[error_500]

I have been riding for about 2yrs now (duallie). i tend to think that i make dh tracks for the fact that im riding down a hill, You know, pick a steep descent and throw in some switch backs, drops, jumps, berms, gap drops, wooden jumps, tecky sections, speed sections and as many rock gardens as possible into one track!!!!!!!!! (grab a breath).

so my question to everybody is .... what am I !!! A freerider or downhiller ???

I will answer it myself ! who gives a farkin fukc, just ride ya bike !!!!!!!!!!!!

well your name say's DHdog so are you a DH'er? but beside the point, DH is when you go out to a DH track and rideDH, freeride is when you set out and ride your bike on any thing that isn't a DH track etc.

[bomberj]

I had a similar question i have a specialized bighit DH for when i want to ride down a hill whether on a track or my own doing. I have an STP for dirt jumps and general riding. Id use my Bighit for that but its too heavy... Personally i just ride my bike. The ego based classification is for losers who are desperate to belong.

[chrisjack4]

what ever gets your adrenalin going i love the idea of smashing done a track as fast as i can then getting a lift back to the top(if i can get my girl to drive the loop)if not i'll bash around around any trail i can. just enjoy the ride

[mtb.rider.jd]

i find the best kind of riding is just muckin around some djs or a dh track or a skatepark with no real intensions on a lazy sunday afternoon. when people get too serious the riding isnt as fun. so FUN is the key word of when you describe riding.

so it's justride for me

[Ozza]

Freeride is not a sport.

[Rik]

Says who? There's alot out there that is considered a sport, I don't know why you'd say "freeride" (which has a huge range of definitions) isn't one.

[MMelissa]

I'm just starting out at downhilling... so for me, freeriding is where I deviate from the track, lose control and go sailing down the side of the wrong embankment.

*Weee look at me freeriding!*

I far prefer downhilling ;)

[Hobbsy]

i belive freeriding is striving for something new, to make progress and push limitations. maybe this is why Bender does what he does. i am only new at this sport and this was my first impressions,
my 2 cents.....

[darth rider]

I think I've finally worked out what type of rider I am:

"Allfreedowncrossdjhucker"

Is there anyone else out there who fits into this narrow pidgeonhole? Lets meet up for a ride!

[fast and furious]

i find the best kind of riding is just muckin around some djs or a dh track or a skatepark with no real intensions on a lazy sunday afternoon. when people get too serious the riding isnt as fun. so FUN is the key word of when you describe riding.

so it's justride for me

Well said mate

[Raw Toast Man]

yes i concur with mtb.rider.jd

[V10]

I race DH, I Free ride, I also just ride my bike. I dont think i really need to label what i do. Its more of a marketing load of crap than anything else. Who cares if your a hucker or a racer, just ride your bike. I think the real wankers are the people slagging off other riders for being what they belive are free riders or races!

[solo]

i think the whole problem is the word versus to use it means a sort of competition of one type of riding against another at the end of the day we all do the same thing and thats love to ride our bikes.It gives us all a feeling that you cannot explain to those not lucky enough to have found this great sport that caters for everyone from young to old ,fitness freaks to social riders and dh to road .
i came to find biking on bikepaths in melbourne on a hardtail then to cross country races and now technical trail rding on a 5.5 inch trail bike and i get a kick out of watching people do big gaps and backflips and stuff i would never attempt on dvds but this still pushes me to ride as much as possible and enjoy myself because if it wasn't fun we wouldn't be doing it.

as far as i'm concerned we are all the same

[TheChallenger]

i don't care what anyone else says, DH and Freeride are both good in there own respects.:)
_________________________
steelwheelz.com.au (coming soon):cool:

[frdlvr]

Im 35 like riding the old downhill racing flat out no real drop but rocky and rutty trails, then freeriding came in where the riders wanted more jumping off things stuff like that. Some people just do not want to race they want to just ride and do what comes natural.

Really everything is freeriding, it is all up to you and the enjoyment you get out of it...

[GRIM]

I don't really see a huge difference between the two disciplines DH or Freeride. A lot of riders may not realize that they actually do both even though the may consider themselves a Dher or Freerider. I love DHing but I also love to get into the Drops and Jumps.

If you really look at the bikes they may only have small difference and I think that Freeride is more than just doing massive drops its more about being creative and pushing the boundaries, DH is more about speed and time.

I think everyone has a right to their opinion but DHillers & Freeriders have more in common that they may care to admit and at the end of the day I just want to get on with the riding rather than giving it pretty names.

[W.bat]

What a boring thread. Who gives a f**k.

[STRETCH JP]

DH is racing downhill as fast as you can but freeride is want you want it to be, if your out riding around or hucking till you drop, dh is a part of freeride, to compare the aspects is silly, you usually use dh rigs to freeride anyways. And to lots of people dhillling is part of there freeriding.

Dont want to sound like an ass, but thats how i feel
CHEERS!

[markfak]

Dude's, does it matter as long as were ridin and pushin ourselves and mates?
Go oldschool and check out "Joe Kid on a Singray" the Movie? Classic stuff.

[gleeso]

I suppose its just all about what you want to do and what you enjoy and also what you are good at. It doesnt really matter as long as your riding and having fun. Its up to you, people have different opinions but really the only opinion that matters is yours.

[Roj899]

I suppose its just all about what you want to do and what you enjoy and also what you are good at. It doesnt really matter as long as your riding and having fun. Its up to you, people have different opinions but really the only opinion that matters is yours.

Sure, this and most of the posts so far like it give me that lump in my throat and make me just want to go and hug someone.

But for a 40 yr old newby to riding like me I would find the following more useful:

What are the traits of a FR bike that distiguish it from a DH or other bike?
eg a long travel dually or hardtail or something else?
Steep or shallow angles?
High ground clearance or low C of G ?
Light carbon frames or burly steel ones?

Please don't answer with more touchy-feely "whatever you want it to be" answers. If that is trully the answer, then FR is probably meaningless.

My C'dale prophet has geometry that can be changed from "Crosscountry" to what it calls "Freeride" by slackening the head tube angle. I still have little idea why does this specifically make it freeride? Particularly if freeride is "anything."

[fleshbone]

Roj899 the answers you seek have been covered,i understand you're new to farkin.click on the search button and type in your queries.

this battle of which is better then the other is an understandable question that every rider does question(if that makes sense).dh and freeriding has bits and pieces of each other.i beleive you have to aquire both skills to progress as a rider wether you skew of either way.

Cam McCaul says it with alot more meaning in the new "dirt" mag,'ten years of dirt'.:)

[Roj899]

Fair enough.
Actually, having just watched a replay of this weeks Ch. 9 "60-minutes" episode on Freeriding, I think i've learnt enough to stick with cross country / simpler downhill stuff.

[Trizender]

Don't you know any better than to listen to Australian journalists? I'm only 24 and I learned it a long time ago.

[alexgardinerlp]

I Don't actually think there is a distinct line between freeriding and freeriding, except for the fact that downhillers race... but now there are comps for freeriding as well so its just two different faces of the same coin.

[woodsy269]

What’s the point of having free ride comps when that’s what you are suppose to be doing on the weekends between downhill comps so you chill you with some mates and have a good time? What’s happens if you do both like me do you have a fight with yourself doesn't make any since to me if you've got two wheels your all mates. Fight with ones that have four of those big round things. Anyway in a couple of years it will be another form of riding until then happy ridding who ever you are.

[nickmann]

it doesn't matter. Some people like different styles of riding. People can argue that downhill is better because you go faster and you need more skill. But people can say that freeriding is better because you can do pretty much anything and just make up new things to ride as you go. Not have to ride at a specific downhill track.

[marcus 01]

surely its all upto you, like if you get a person who is awsome at free riding and the stick him on a down hill track he'd be crap i think its upto your abilty at your style of riding:D

[Andrew_D]

surely its all upto you, like if you get a person who is awsome at free riding and the stick him on a down hill track he'd be crap i think its upto your abilty at your style of riding:D
Agreed:cool:

[Badwolfl69]

I respect both. Free style and Downhill. Both great to watch and exciting to do. I would call it a sport because it involves competition, and crowd participation when there is a meet. Watching the canadians doing technical free rides with their great organised track with lots of technical courses, it makes me want to go to Whistler. And seeing then riders speed down a slope whilst doing big drops makes me cringe with fright. And yet I want to do what they do. So both forms rocks!!!

[Viv92]

Just letting you know, since you're only new. You shouldn't generally post in threads that haven't been used in ages, it tends to annoy people. This one was posted in about 4 months prior to your post. Just check the date on top of the last person's post. However, if you have a lot to add to the discussion it's probably better not to start a new thread and just post in the old one. ;)

[Ride.Dirt.Wake.]

hey every1,
i'm going to buy a freeride bike for about 3 grand and i want to know,
should i get a norco 08 shore 3? ive read about it and it seems the way to got
just need another opinion.
thanks guys
freestle1410

[glenburton]

At the end of the day i think anyone who has a passion for riding (whatever type of riding that is) should be happy with themselves, respect others and their riding terrain. Riding is an international passtime and should not come under critisism from fellow riders, just get out their on your bike, ride it and have a great time because thats what riding is all about.

just my opinion.

[Ultra Lord]

Holy gravedig Batman!

Seriously, did you read that whole thing?

On topic though, I think that whole downhill V freeride thing is over now. Everyone seems to respect each other.

[Jimass]

.....respect each other.

Almost, hehe. I always thought freeriding was like northshore and stunts and stuff, big gaps and drops. Really just crazy shit.

[Viv92]

I just had a look at the old NWD movies...

I can see why this whole argument existed. They are totally ridiculous. Bender is by far the worst, but none of them are smooth at all. They all sort of land really rear wheel first then bottom out sooo bad that the back wheel goes up in the air and they are endoing after they hit the 'landing'. WTF is with the landers as well? Most of the time they are just sort of slightly slopped ground, but hucks to flat are pretty common too. It's entertaining but disgusting to watch! Everything was just so crude and stupid. Nothing like the stuff Vanderham and Matt Hunter do in Seasons or Roam.

[chillywilly]

i was told that freeriding was downhilling, but not racing.
then i was told that freeriding was the stuff that is in the new world dissorder movies.

so, its really up to you what you think freeriding is. i personly thin that freeriding is better, because you don't have to go flat out all the time, keep on line and you don't have all the presure that downhill has. Don't get me wrong downhill is fun to.

but as i said before its really up to the rider what is better.

will

[WasabiJim]

i think as soon as you neatly define freeriding or even try to then you have lost the point of the exercise. its just doing what you want.
obviously some want to be "free-er" than others and feel the need for more travel, vert, air, big brand marketing affilation, recognition, attitude.....

[F1234K]

none of them are smooth at all. They all sort of land really rear wheel first then bottom out sooo bad that the back wheel goes up in the air and they are endoing after they hit the 'landing'. WTF is with the landers as well? Most of the time they are just sort of slightly slopped ground, but hucks to flat are pretty common too. It's entertaining but disgusting to watch! Everything was just so crude and stupid.

Dude... when's the last time you saw a video of yourself doing a 40 foot drop? I'm sure you can do it super smooth right?

[jo90]

i wish the word freeride was never invented ,we all go downhill (don't we)????? other wise its just f@#$*&G riding your bike and enjoying your life sorry if that offends but this is ridiculus

[powley]

Freeriding is for Nut-jobs,
Downhill is for totally insane Nut-jobs

[Gruntled]

See my signature for more information....

[dunndog]

Jesus this threads still going!?! All these classifications, they're cooked up by big brands you know. They hammer out terms such as freeride and all mountain to give themselves more markets to build genre specific products. so instead of being content with your 2 bikes, you need 5, because your 140mm dual sus am bike is too aggressive to ride xc but won't handle the massive drops of freeride and so on. Although as each of these riding slyles evolve they are legit, they pretty soon become massive grey areas and people just get back to riding with expression of what they want to do. It's happened in skiing, snowboarding skating, bmx and surfing and probably more. IMO unless you're competing or following a training program, you're freeriding.

[zanus]

Jesus this threads still going!?! All these classifications, they're cooked up by big brands you know. They hammer out terms such as freeride and all mountain to give themselves more markets to build genre specific products. so instead of being content with your 2 bikes, you need 5, because your 140mm dual sus am bike is too aggressive to ride xc but won't handle the massive drops of freeride and so on. Although as each of these riding slyles evolve they are legit, they pretty soon become massive grey areas and people just get back to riding with expression of what they want to do. It's happened in skiing, snowboarding skating, bmx and surfing and probably more. IMO unless you're competing or following a training program, you're freeriding.

This Guy just hit the spot

[ozztrailia]

I always thought freeriding was like northshore and stunts and stuff, big gaps and drops. Really just crazy shit.

Exactly my thoughts. Freeriding to me is the whole "Northshore, stunts and Big Drops and Jumps"

[blake_lombard]

dh all the way

[jthornton]

i think dh and free ride are both pritty even both full of adrenaline both great to watch and do but in the end any type of riding is great

[Soda]

If I had a choice I'd live in the mountains, down 1 side a perfect road, and the other a rugged terrain while at home having both an indoor and outdoor park for stunts... I'd own them all and a few extra. If I could go back to my childhood I'd of picked a 'freeride/downhill' bike ... but alas, I don't and I can't, I live in the city with traffic. So therefore a short travel 'all mountain' bike is something that works well for me, convenient enough to take to trails, while useful on the road.. so I'm just going to put it down to time and place and I love them all...

[jailbait]

buuuuump :rolleyes:

[AN AUSSIE]

buuuuump :rolleyes:

Or let it rest in piece the thread is dead, dunndog's last post blew its head off and ripped out its insides bro;)