How to choose a DH / Freeride bike suited to your riding style?
The most extreme disciplines of MTB, DH and Freeride require, in addition to a good dose of madness and adrenaline, a highly specific bike capable of withstanding enormous stresses on the landing of ever-bigger jumps while allowing precise and ultra-fast handling. Here is everything you need to make the right choice when selecting a full-suspension MTB.
What are DH and Freeride?
The most committed discipline in MTB, Downhill (DH) is also certainly the most exclusive in terms of the commitment and technical level it demands. This effort, as short as it is explosive (around 3 minutes), is also ultra-specific, as it requires taming steep slopes littered with big jumps and sequences of very tight corners, and therefore requires a very specific bike.
WHICH FRAME FOR MY RIDING STYLE?
Of course, a specific discipline calls for a specific bike frame, with an unmistakable geometry designed entirely to deliver as much travel as possible, maximum handling precision and great stability at high speed, with very short chainstays and an open head angle of around 65/63°.
In terms of material, the vast majority of models are made from aluminium to withstand the physical stresses associated in particular with the landing of the enormous jumps inherent to this discipline. The highest-end models — reserved for competitors chasing every last second — do adopt carbon, even if the most common solution is to combine a carbon front triangle for liveliness and an aluminium rear triangle for robustness.
Regarding the MTB wheel size, all options are viable here. The 26-inch, which until recently was still the norm in this discipline, has almost entirely disappeared in favour of the 27.5", favoured for its excellent compromise between the nimbleness of the 26" and the ease of handling of the 29". It should however be noted that, driven by certain pro riders, the 29" is today the most widely used size thanks to new geometries. It all comes down to personal preference, as well as the rider's height, with a 29-inch potentially being advantageous for riders measuring over 1.70 m.
WITH WHAT EQUIPMENT?
In addition to a fork/suspension unit capable of absorbing the harshest impacts with travel of 200 or even 220 mm, the other component to consider with the greatest care will of course be the MTB disc brakes. These should be at least 180/200 mm in diameter and ventilated where possible to avoid overheating, with four-piston callipers for maximum bite and metallic pads that better withstand high temperatures, thus ensuring effective braking throughout the descent.
Finally, the choice of tyres will greatly determine the quality of your handling. Whatever the terrain (wet, dry, rocky), opt for a wide tyre (at least 2.40" in section), with thick lugs particularly on the sides to ensure maximum grip when braking and cornering, and a relatively soft compound (especially at the front) to stick to the terrain and effectively absorb impacts.
