Let freeride cycling add adventure to your spring biking plans -- and you may just have the time of your life!
For you older cyclists out there (like ME, for example), freeride cycling is a relatively new form of downhill mountain biking. The term came to cycling -- and has been adapted by several other outdoor sports -- from snowboarding originally. Freeride cycling originally meant a sort of no rules, no goals downhill plunge from start to finish. Though some freeride cycling is now done in more formal competition, the whole idea is the thrill of the downhill plunge! There may be major twists and turns, ramps and berms, jumps and slides involved with it, but you can bet freeride cycling is NOT for the faint of heart.
A good downhill freeride bike combines a rugged, sturdy frame and components with lightness of weight. (Although some lines of freeride bikes take an opposite approach to lightweight strength, coming with wider frame tubing and a sort of make-it-strong-and-forget-about-the-weight approach.)
A superior quality, specialty freeride bike, such as the Scott Gambler FR 20, focuses on suspension sizes and components that offer the extra edge needed for someone interested in this particular, intense cycling sport. Freeride bikes, for example, generally have steeper head tube angles and rely on a smaller, shorter wheelbase to give them better stability for low-speed technical stunts. Regular downhill bikes, by contrast, have longer wheelbases for dependable high-speed stability -- at the sacrifice of lower-speed maneuverability.
Whether you're just starting out or you're an experienced freeride cyclist, start the outdoor season out right and put a little of the "wow" factor into your cycling season. Take the plunge and at least consider some freeride cycling adventures. (Unless you're a fragile -- and dare I say cowardly! -- Old Guy like me. In that case, you might prefer to stay off the freeride courses and look at a good road bike like the Giant OCR 3.)