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If
dad's into mountain biking check out locally made
FreeFall Gear for this year's father's day presents.
Owner Dave Citra got into the business about six years
ago through a variety of high-risk sports.
He
started snowboarding when he was about 43. "No
pads were available and though I was used to falling
down, in snowboarding you don't just fall but get
thrown, so I made some padded shorts." Other
people saw what he was wearing and wanted some for
themselves and that was the beginning.
In
his late 30's Citra was drawn to mountain biking,
"I had done road biking, wind surfing and racing
and was looking for something new and challenging,"
says Citra. Mountain biking offered all that and got
him off road and away from cars and exhaust. These
days, at 50, he's into downhill and recreational riding
mostly at the Highlands where he feels there is more
variety of landscape and technique than at the dump.
Citra's
background in physiology and art helped him to design
gear that both protects the body and looks good. Let's
face it mountain bikers are prone to vanity and as
for the protection you really need it if you have
Citra's attitude that if you're not flying off, you're
not working!
Travis
Wilson, Citra's assistant adds, "You can break
a leg or shin and it will heal but with your back
it's a one shot deal".
The
constant jarring that snowboarders and mountain bikers
endure means they need something to stabilize the
internal organs such as intestines and kidneys. The
Triple and Double Helix vests have a kidney belt that
protects the lower back and supports the abdomen muscles
with high-density foam. In addition to the foam, a
hard shell is added made of poly-carbonate (similar
to what is used on motorbike windshields) for the
back and chest. At trade shows Citra uses a 7lb coffee
can filled with pennies. "With one hand under
the padding you can pound away and not feel a thing"
Citra explains.
FreeFall
Gear is relatively new to mountain biking. Snowboarders
and motor cross riders, who have used the gear for
a few years have also been using it for mountain biking.
"A lot of the guys we sponsor are into multiple
sports", says Citra, and the gear works for all
of them. FreeFall Gear sponsors junior members on
the national snowboard team ranking in the top 10-12
places. They have also sponsored an in-line skater
who moved into the stunt industry producing films
showing radical stunt work in Citra's gear.
Now
don't let all this talk of athletes and high-risk
sports turn you off, FreeFall Gear works for everyone.
Beginners, especially with clipless pedals, tend to
be locked in and fall on their hips. This is where
the padded shorts come in - that high-density foam
padding your hips and tailbone can save the expense
of a lot of ice and painkillers.
Sure
no pain no gain but for father's day spend the money
to gear dad up before taking him out on the trails
so he can get up Monday morning and go to work. The
Highlands are off Millstream Rd north of town.
Check
out some of Free Fall Gear's new stuff on their web
site at www.freefallgear.com. Helix vests are available
at The Bike Cellar, Russ Hay's, Chain Chain Chain
and Rider's Cycle. New products are being designed
and tested so ask for them at the shops and keep an
eye out for them on the trails.
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