As the sport of freeride mountain biking evolves, the bikes are partly keeping up and partly the key to accellerating the progression in riding. We're also seeing all the different aspects of freeriding influencing each other. The Big Mountain guys, Dirt Jumpers, Slope Stylers and Urban guys seem more willing to borrow from eachother which is super cool.
As part of all this, freeride bikes have moved away from being mammoth beasts and are moving to lighter, nimbler beasts. While you may not want to go "huge" on one of these new bikes, the fact that you can manipulate the bike in the air and on the ground allows for more flow and creative riding.
If you're looking for a new freeride bike, we like stuff like Marin Quakes and Giant Reign X models. We feel these bikes offer amazing performance whether going to Moose Mountain, Fernie, Kicking Horse - what ever - and, if needed, they'll both ride uphill pretty well too.

If this doesn't excite you... you are a sick person.

My biggest tip will sound too much like I'm trying to sell bikes, but here goes.

AVOID USED STUFF. There are deals to be had out there, I'm sure. Why is it then, that every time I see someone at the shop with their "wicked deal" from some bike-porn website - the bike is screwed!

Freeride bikes have progressed incredibly over the last few years - kinda like computers. I don't hear of too many people proudly displaying their '03 HP 'puter they got for 1/2 the price it was new. WTF? Why would you pay 1/2 price then for a 5 year old freeride bike with worn bushings, blown seals and in need of everything from shifters to bottom bracket? Buy new. Buy somewhere else, I don't care - I just hate being the guy who looks like "Mr. Bad News" when I tell you your "new" gem is made of fools gold.

This is a really hard "tips" section - I'll try to give you something.

1. I used to say "Avoid buying a do everything bike". Bike companies until just the last year or two couldn't figure out how to build a "one bike" for riders who are as happy spending 5 hours in the saddle on an epic ride as they are ripping a stunt laiden gravity trail. Times have changed. Depending on how aggresive you are, consider bikes like Giant's Reign or ReignX or Marin's Wolfridge.
2. Buy smart - if you're petite and not super aggressive, does 9" of suspension and a 50lb race beast serve you well? Consider how aggressive you are, what your typical ride will include, how strong/tall/heavy you are and how much bike handling skill you have. We at Bike Bros are proud of the fact that we know bikes so well that when you describe these things to us, we'll be able to narrow things down to maybe 2 or 3 perfect bikes for YOU.
3. Ride lots. Yes, rent if you have to at first. This will start to give you an idea of how you like to ride. Maybe you're a style meister - you'll have to do a New-School style bike with single crown forks so you can do huge XUps.

Gears: It is 6:41 AM. I have been working on this website so long, I asked Andrea if she was www dot interested last night - what a romancer I am.

Ask about how or what kind of gears you need. I am way too tired to suggest every possible style of setup, but there are a bunch of tricks to having gears and not destroying derailleurs too regularly.

Brakes: You can thank lord baby Jesus for the invention of disc brakes (Thank you Taledaga Nights and Wil Farrel). Ok, maybe overstated, but disc brakes are awesome - powerful in wet, dry, hot or cold. Disc brakes are essential for freeride, so talking about them like they are an option is pretty dumb.

I have an engineering background and have worked in mechanical design. I take a great deal of pride in selecting bikes that offer unbeatable performance - especially in the full suspension bikes. I don't like bashing companies, but there are a bunch of low-tech bikes being passed off as something special. Those are the bikes you won't find here. Sorry.

The bikes we sell are about as good as they get - allowing you to have the most rewarding riding experience possible. You may notice that we don't sell some brands that other shops may try to sell as "top performing" full suspension models. It isn't a mistake and it isn't an oversight. The brands we sell offer better performance.

Marin Quake Quake 7.8 SALE $2999 that is like over $1000 off!

The frame on this bike was unchanged from 2008 to 2009. The parts on the 2008 are such a huge standout over any other freeride bike on the market in this price range that we just continued to bring in the 2008 version as long as Marin had stock in their warehouse. Fortunate for us, most shops are oblivious to how amazing this bike is.

Be different from all the other schmukks riding outdated designes or expensive vpp bikes that self destruct. The Quake is one of the best Moose Mountain/Ski Hill rippers available. Find out why people who own Marins can't shut up about them.

The spec on this bike is amazing. Hope hubs (maxle rear end), Codes, Marzocchi 66RCV are just component highlights. This bike is the fastest, most efficient, rideable in all conditions Freeride bike available. Don't be fooled by crappy outdated suspension designs. The Quake is amoung the absolute best suspension freeride bikes available.

Ski hill riders may not care, but riders in places like Moose Mountain or Crowsnest Pass appreciate that these bikes pedal extremely efficiently without sacrificing any of its gravity speed or huckability.

This category of bikes serves 2 purposes. It can get you freeriding for way less money than a Fully and riding a hardtail will make you a much better rider. I have a fully - I'd still love to get a hardtail because it is a different experience - different being good.

2010 Giant Brass 1 $679

If you're looking for a rad looking bike that actually has a DJ rated fork, gears that work and disc brakes - this is it. Oh, the green hubs are hot too!