Extreme sports, such as freeriding, have long been firmly entrenched in the lives of people who are fond of a healthy lifestyle. Translated from English, freeride denotes a descent from high altitudes, as a rule, not prepared for this upland. And if earlier this term was actively used among snowboarders and skiers, today freeriding is one of the directions in the world of cycling. It happened around the 80s of the XX century.
What it is?
The classic understanding of freeride in cycling is the ability of a cyclist to ride along mountain trails, copses and various “wild” trails, which makes this sport spectacular and unforgettable. It’s also dangerous, because the unknown route is fraught with many unpredictable situations: vertical cliffs, a road to nowhere, flights from ski jumps.
Descent or skiing can occur at any time of the year and in any conditions: dirt, rain, sands, ravines, cliffs, mountain rivers. At the same time, the athlete’s skill lies not only in the ability to pedal, but also to perform dizzying stunts, and to “fly” an impressive distance on the bike.
Very often, freeride competitions are organized by manufacturers of bikes and mountain equipment to popularize this sport.
Freeride Bicycles
To overcome difficult tracks, special “iron horses” are needed. In addition to daily long-term training of an athlete who hones his skills and dexterity, special requirements are also imposed on a freeride bike. And it depends on the options of movement of the "rider".
First of all, the athlete must:
- own the technique of proper landing and control of the bike;
- navigate in stressful and unpredictable situations;
- be stress-resistant and be able not to lose their presence of mind.
The design of the bike should be different from the standard two-wheeled vehicle, since on the usual it is almost impossible to perform a trick without damaging the bike. Therefore, experts are developing models for extreme sports, based on the nuances of picking mountain bikes. Pluses of today's models for cycling:
- absolute strength;
- light weight;
- stable depreciation system;
- high-quality braking system;
- strong wheels.
Particular attention should be paid to the strength of the model, since during the movement, not only the weight of the athlete, but also various dynamic “somersaults” during jumps and turns affect the bicycle structure. The danger of this sport lies precisely in the risk of falling off a speed bike and getting seriously injured.
Therefore, manufacturers make vehicle structural elements from light alloys, mainly from aluminum. This metal is quite resistant to shock and has a low weight, which is necessary for the cyclist when climbing uphill, jumping and overcoming steep cliffs. If the bike is heavy, it is unlikely that the athlete will cope with the tasks, so usually the weight of the transport for freeriding does not exceed 18 kilograms.
Typically, a model for extreme sports has two pendants with a shock absorber (they have a large stroke - about 7 inches) and a suspension stroke of up to 25 cm in length. Therefore, experts often call such models two-suspensions. Such a system guarantees almost perfect cycling on uneven ground. However, such models have their drawbacks:
- increased weight in comparison with analogues;
- considerable cost.
Suspensions also have their own characteristics:
- for a "serious" unit, manufacturers install spring-oil suspensions;
- for light weight bicycles, spring-elastomeric analogues are suitable.
When using this design, the athlete and his bicycle are easier to tolerate shock vibrations and brake better in extreme situations. A twisted steel or titanium spring ideally "reacts" to road irregularities. The shock absorber stroke is also of great importance in such sports models - usually choose bicycles with a stroke of 110 to 160 mm, and for downhill, descent from a height with avoiding obstacles, a 180 mm stroke is preferable.
By the way, the brakes on these models are hydraulic, reliable, guaranteeing the fulfillment of any wishes of the athlete. The disc hydraulic brake system of bikes is a special pride of manufacturers of such high-speed models. Such a system works due to the brake fluid, which provides powerful braking; weather conditions do not affect its operation. It is the hydraulics that provide the smooth pressing of the brake handle.
Manufacturers install special discs on both wheels, brake pads are made of metal, which further enhances the reliability of the brake system. For high cross-country ability of the bike, wide-profile “toothy” tires with a significantly deep tread pattern are used.
The bike itself is very unproblematic to transport in a bike carrier by car.
Athlete Safety
Despite the fact that freeriding is not a completely safe sport, it is a fascinating and unforgettable sight. If you choose the right riding style and take care of the high-quality equipment, you can achieve the highest results in achieving your goals.
therefore it is very important to choose a reliable helmet, body and neck protection for training and competitions. Experienced athletes use durable Full-face helmets. Unlike conventional sports helmets, this model covers the driver’s head completely, both above and below.
Special devices are made for the neck that take a hit on themselves in the event of a fall, protecting the cervical vertebrae from deformation.
Wearable protective clothing for freeriders is worn under a cycling suit, which is mounted on the body with special devices.
To protect knees and elbows, all athletes use knee pads and elbow pieces made of lightweight but very durable plastic. They are attached to the body using special clips.
And this is not all: gloves with cut fingers and special glasses are also included in the equipment of athletes.
The best bike brands
Today, freeride fans are offered a huge selection of bike bikes that meet all the requirements of professional athletes. Particularly popular among professionals are German GHOST models, in particular, MTB Fully and 4-Cross. Despite their high cost, they have high-quality assembly, simplicity and functionality of the design, as well as an attractive design. These models are manufactured using innovative technologies: needle bearings give special rigidity to the structure without increasing its weight at all.
To the best bike bikes today can be attributed to the model of the American manufacturer TREK, producing sports bikes since 1993, as well as designs from the Taiwanese manufacturer GIANT, which introduced the sale of models without welds, which provides the bike with stiffness.
About the rules for choosing a bike for freeride, see below.
