I was a huge fan of companies like Balfa, Xprezo, Brooklyn Machine Works (based in NYC but you get the point) etc. Basically anyone making durable frames out of trusty old cromo steel tubing. Now all those companies are all defunct or not making freeriding full suspension frames. How is it in the Shore these days? I am based in Finland but I always lurked around here as well. Is the freeriding North Shore scene still alive? I see frames made today like the Banshee Darkside but somehow they just dont feel right...!
North Shore style freeriding still exists?
different scene these days. the north shore still rocks, but big hits are few and far between. a modern trailbike gets the job done just fine.
Modern enduro bikes with 170mm+ travel are kind of Freeride 2.0 but they seem less necessary on the Shore than they used to. The bikes have gotten better and the trails have been cleaned up a bit and now a good 150mm bike is totally adequate. We're also not dorping to falt like we used to.
Posted by: elgirafe
I was a huge fan of companies like Balfa, Xprezo, Brooklyn Machine Works (based in NYC but you get the point) etc. Basically anyone making durable frames out of trusty old cromo steel tubing. Now all those companies are all defunct or not making freeriding full suspension frames. How is it in the Shore these days? I am based in Finland but I always lurked around here as well. Is the freeriding North Shore scene still alive? I see frames made today like the Banshee Darkside but somehow they just dont feel right...!
Ironically the best bike I've ridden on the shore is my Pole Evolink...based in Finland.
Shore style freeriding is still alive and well. It's just not obvious....and it's not just on the North shore.
The demise of the steel frame has more to do with progress, technology, and marketing. That said, Chromag seems to be growing beyond cult status. They are functionally fun machines.
Everything is about how awesome pedalling up a mountain is now.
Downhill is passé
my canfield balance may not be chromo, but it still feels freeride to me. As far as old school freeride trails go they don't really build them too much. Skinnies are dead and dirt is all the rage. But like the eighties it will come back.
Hopefully it makes a comeback. Such a rad time in a way. If getting another bike is an option at some point, it surely wont be a toxic carbon one. Now that Pole withdrew from putting their carbon bike into production, one can see rays of hope in the current madness of the bike industry. Maybe its a trend that will catch on with the rest of the folks as well.
There is still plenty on the north shore you just need to know where to look. Its back to an underground movement which I think is a good thing.
Posted by: elgirafe
Hopefully it makes a comeback. Such a rad time in a way. If getting another bike is an option at some point, it surely wont be a toxic carbon one. Now that Pole withdrew from putting their carbon bike into production, one can see rays of hope in the current madness of the bike industry. Maybe its a trend that will catch on with the rest of the folks as well.
Despite leaving a few details out of the discusdion, I think that interview on The Other Site was an important one.
Well...off-topic anyways.
Posted by: Kieran
There is still plenty on the north shore you just need to know where to look. Its back to an underground movement which I think is a good thing.
That is awesome.
I always likened such 'underground movements' and the impact on a greater culture or industry to the history of Hip Hop and how the music industry made it mainstream. Journalists invented/adopted the term 'breakdance' and 'grafffiti', for example.
I think the same can be said for biking. Without the exposure to biking media I would never have had the chance to experience the beauty of the Shore and the friendliness of the riders, though.
But then, I really think in the end it is what we all make of it all.
My local park gets funnier by the week, it feels. Lots of folks in flashy gear pretending to be really awesome and cool. Kind of like golf. Passion and an open and like-minded exchange and friendliness is missing. Silly, really.
That is why me and my kid really like the Loose Fest in Belgium. No pretense, just a good time with like-minded folks into it for the love. And watching in awe the progression of riding, and always looking for ways to progress individually.
Posted by: Mic
That is awesome.
I always likened such 'underground movements' and the impact on a greater culture or industry to the history of Hip Hop and how the music industry made it mainstream. Journalists invented/adopted the term 'breakdance' and 'grafffiti', for example.
I think the same can be said for biking. Without the exposure to biking media I would never have had the chance to experience the beauty of the Shore and the friendliness of the riders, though.
But then, I really think in the end it is what we all make of it all.
My local park gets funnier by the week, it feels. Lots of folks in flashy gear pretending to be really awesome and cool. Kind of like golf. Passion and an open and like-minded exchange and friendliness is missing. Silly, really.
That is why me and my kid really like the Loose Fest in Belgium. No pretense, just a good time with like-minded folks into it for the love. And watching in awe the progression of riding, and always looking for ways to progress individually.
Must be amazing to see Loose Fest in person, those have to be some of the biggest jumps ever hit on a bicycle.
I find Whistler is actually where folks are the most friendly, stoked and up to chat about biking on the lifts or randomly in the village. I run across more uppity attitude types who don't respond on the trails on the shore and Squamish.
Ive found the opposite on Cypress. When I moved here, everyone I came across on Cypress (not a big number), changed their ride to show me around. I'm doing the same now because about 80% of the people I come across on BLT or up top have either never riden Cypress or don't know it very well. Eight times out of ten, when I see someone on Cypress we finish the ride together. Safety in numbers!
Its different on Seymour and Fromme - both heavily populated and unless you're on a socialish ride where people are there to ride with others, people are just trying to get their ride in (or so I also find). It really depends upon where you are.
I am a big proponent of showing and sharing with new to the area riders. I have met many of my riding group and current good friends by having a conversation on the trail. Then either showing them where to go or them showing me where to go. This includes all levels of riders from beginner to advanced we plan our rides to allow for everyone. I find challenging myself with the better riders is a great push and the same for the lower level riders. We all started somewhere and learned trails. Share them with people.
I have recently over the past 5 months started riding Cypress. I have introduced it to a few friends over the last few months. I am a die hard Seymour guy but we have really been riding Cypress hard this past summer, including yesterday. There are some amazing trails up there and they are running great. Get out there be friendly and share the experience.
^^^^ Lets ride!
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