What is Freeride ?
Freeride. Is it a state of mind as much
as it is a mountain biking style? The
freedom to jump this log, drop off
that rock or send it off a step down
booter. The ability to ride in a way
that pushes your personal limits
freeing yourself from the bounds of
fear and gravity . The feeling of
euphoria when you rail a difficult trail,
hitting every stunt making every turn
without dabbing. The freedom of the
outdoors where you are released
from your urban chains. Its a bit of
both.
Freeride. Is it a state of mind as much
as it is a mountain biking style? The
freedom to jump this log, drop off
that rock or send it off a step down
booter. The ability to ride in a way
that pushes your personal limits
freeing yourself from the bounds of
fear and gravity . The feeling of
euphoria when you rail a difficult trail,
hitting every stunt making every turn
without dabbing. The freedom of the
outdoors where you are released
from your urban chains. Its a bit of
both.
541-608-0235
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| Do we need our own space? Freeride Mt Biking has exploded in popularity in recent years. Technological advances in bike designs and the human need to push limits has created another sport that people did not anticipate. Like snowboarding in its infancy, Free ride Mountain Biking is also feeling growing pains. A clash between XC riders, hikers and other trail users has caused "bad blood" in some areas. Hikers and equestrians get startled when an armor clad rider and 45 pound bike come plowing down the trail. Stunts and high speeds on multi use trails can be dangerous to riders because of other trail users. A lack of trail etiquette is to blame for most trail encounters, on all sides. So why not have our space. Not to say freeriders should not ride multi use trails, but why not build legal Freeride trails. This type of thinking is not new to our northern brethren. Legal Free ride trails are cropping up all over Northern Oregon. The best example being BRMBA ( Black Rock Mtn. Bike Association) in Falls City. Many of you may know about this shining example of a club working with local managers. Trail encounters will continue to increase as more people go outside to enjoy trails. Rather than wasting time and effort building illegal trails, stunts on multi use trails and more bad blood. Would it not make sense, to have our own space. |
| Prescott Park Plan Though the city of Medford has decided against freeride trails. The proposed trail itself will still be included in the master plan. This a 3 mile downhill from the north overlook down to a site behind the Bethel church on Mcandrews Rd. |
| Shuttle Trailer John at Bear Creek Bicycles has donated the use of his shuttle trailer to SOFA. Does anybody have a passenger van or Suburban type of vehicle that may be interseted in shuttle driving? We would like to put on some shuttle days for members. If you are interested please contact us. |
| Jacksonville's Forest Park Plan SOFA is working with the city of J-ville in hopes of being included in their 1800 acre Forest Park .The city is in beginning stages of grant writing for funding the trail systems. We will keep you posted as plans progress. UPDATE: We have been given the go ahead by park planners to scout out and map out routes for future freeride trails. Park planners are behind us and would like to see freeride trail in Forest Park. We will be scouting and mapping this winter with hopes of having a permission to begin building by fall of 09. |
| Grants Pass MTB Park There is a new sanctioned Freeride MTB park. Local riders have been busy building a Freeride trail system in G.P. since April of this year. Currently there are two short trails that contain some nice burmed corners, a double, step-downs, and some wooden features including a wall ride. We invite all interested parties to come check it out and see what has been accomplished so-far and welcome those interested in helping with more development down the road! DIRECTIONS |
| 10 MileTrail One of our members has been busy working on a freeride trail in his " backyard" for over a year now. He has done a really good job of creating one of the best Freeride trails in So. Oregon. New features are added almost weekly. The trail has some pretty nasty stunts as well as being a super fun downhill. He has invited all members to come and check out this trail. There is some very positive things happening in that area with the possibilities of sanctioned freeride trails. If your Interested in riding this trail hit us up on the "contact us" form. |
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| GOT PICTURES ? If you have any pictures that you would like to see on the site send them to mike@sofaride.com If they are good we will post'em |
and maintaining freeride/downhill mountain bike trails. Members are also very active in clearing and maintaining many of the trails in Ashland, Talent and the greater southern Oregon area Feel free to join us. We are currently in the process of becoming a 503C Non Profit Organization. We welcome mountain bikers of all disciplines. Our mission for 2008 is to continue working with the various land mangers that we have established relationships with last year. We have plans with the cities of Medford and Jacksonville as well as with the USFS and BLM. |
Pic by Mark Shuart
| TIME WARP RECOMMISSIONED !! After repeated requests by SOFA , the mountain bike community and with the help of AWTA the US Forest Service has decided to recommission Time Warp. Well what does this mean ? We have been riding it all along you say. Basically it allows us to "legally" work on and maintain this trail. This is also the first step in making Time Warp a mountain bike only freeride trail with sanctioned features. Whoop Whoop ! On Oct. 11th SOFA in coordination with AWTA and SOMBA organized the first Time Warp trail day. We had 26 People come out to help work on the trail ! On Nov. 9th we had a SOFA member only work day to spruce up the trail a bit more. We will have more work days scheduled for the spring of 09. |