| From touring to off-road riding to track riding to | | | | Many free ride bikes closely resemble downhill |
| cyclo-riding to recreational biking-there are almost | | | | bikes and weigh as much, although they are |
| as many different styles of riding as there are | | | | usually designed to be easier to pedal. Free ride |
| bikes. The following is a discussion of three of the | | | | bikes should be in the 30 to upper 50 pound |
| most popular styles of biking today. | | | | range, have a steeper angled frame in order to |
| Street/Urban Riding | | | | make maneuvering on narrow obstacles possible, |
| Street/Urban riding is when you bike through | | | | and be built from stronger, heavier materials. |
| urban areas, ride on ledges and other man-made | | | | Downhill Mountain Biking |
| obstacles. Some riders execute tricks as well as | | | | If you think downhill biking is all about kicking back, |
| stalls and grinds. Hybrid bikes, sometimes called | | | | stretching your arms and cruising at a leisurely |
| city bikes, are typically used for street/urban | | | | pace, think again. Even though it's all downhill, biking |
| riding. Hybrid bikes are a cross between a | | | | down a mountain demands concentration, quick |
| mountain bike and a road bike. Most have front | | | | reflexes and bike-handling skills much different |
| suspension with wide comfortable seats and | | | | than free riding or city riding. It's also a blast! |
| upright handlebars. | | | | Downhill mountain biking races involve race |
| Free Riding | | | | courses that are designed for riders to speed |
| The essence of free riding has it origins on the | | | | down while navigating huge jumps, obstacles and |
| shores of British Columbia. As some free riders | | | | more. It's very similar to motor cross racing. |
| have explained it, free riding is more than just | | | | While it's true that all bikes go downhill, bikes that |
| riding, it's about riding with your friends and doing | | | | provide the optimum ride for Downhill Mountain |
| things on your bike that push the limits of both | | | | Biking have what is called full suspension. This |
| yourself and your bike. It's not about being the | | | | means that the front and rear of the frame are |
| fastest or coming up with a new trick. Rather, it's | | | | equipped with shock absorbers. |
| about being totally free on your bike. Free riding is | | | | Blue Sky Cycling is committed to bringing you the |
| different for everyone. Essentially, when you ride | | | | hottest mountain bike parts and mountainbike |
| for pure enjoyment, do your own thing, in your | | | | accessories on the market today for the lowest |
| own way, that's free riding--making it more of a | | | | possible prices. We guarantee it! Feel free to email |
| mindset than a structured style of riding. For | | | | us at: or give us a call: 1-800-585-4137. This article |
| example, you could free ride downhill, | | | | was written by the expert staff at Blue Sky |
| cross-country or down the boardwalk in Ocean | | | | Cycling. Please retain all links. |
| City, Maryland. | | | | |