Having been out of the cycling loop for a few years of absence without excuse is interesting. 1st off there are a bunch of new bike styles. What works for what conditions? What bikes fall into which categories? Sometimes it's hard to tell for a newb. Maybe a sticky with definitions would be a good idea?

Its hard to make a sticky because everyone thinks something different. FR especially is left to the imaginations of many. But here is how I see it (if you do a search you will find many many many definitions)

Xc - racing format. I just can't ride xc. Typically for what I have seen on tv it is non-technical aerobic riding. Climbing and some decline. The WC races I have seen reminded me of why I don't find the sport interesting. In a super steep technical sections on grouse (north shore WC) 80% of the riders got off an walked. To me anyways this kind of riding is really groomed and road racers can make the transition pretty easily (which they shouldn't be able to do).

Trail riding - what most people consider xc. some technical, some climbs and some descents. Usually a perfect ride into the woods to get away and have some fun going fast.

DH - Long trails that point down. When I think dh I also think racing. (same as xc but all down, all technical and fun) In england these courses are 1min to minute and a half. Here you can find dh runs of 20 minutes from top to bottom. Jumps, rocks, rock gardens, roots, berms, jumps....speed...fun...

FR - Probably the most overused term and the most difficult to nail. Everyone thinks they FR or know what FR is. Fr is the combination of everything but it has to be extreme (haha I despise that term but thats the easiest way to put it) for me FR means super steep, very technical and I like my stunts. Some people say I fr but I refuse to claim that. I trail ride with some dh and some stunts (did I say I love riding stunts)...I think there has to be some aspect of danger beyond simply falling and fr encompasses that. FR usually requires a long travel bike to absorb the hits. (7 to 8 inches I suppose) I consider this to be like bmxing more than mtb. I can sit in one spot and session a stunt or drop 100 times.

Now that i have labelled a few of the basics....there are no labels. I know guys who FR on ht's and I know guys who trail ride on FR bikes. I know guys who race expert DH on ht's and guys who need 10in of travel to race dh. There is no pigeon hole. Just ride, figure out how hard you really push yourself and buy a bike built for it.

This is also why there is not a sticky

wat am i? i ride trails throguh the deep woods from anywhere between 2-5 hours. i go off drop offs in woods and urban areas ranging from 2-6 feet.
maybe ill create my own category

Yes, we go out with rakes before races and clear the trails of any debris or rocks, and smooth out all the jumps because god forbid an XC rider leaves the ground. We just like to to go straight at a moderate pace on level ground.

Theres no moderate pace. You guys are smoking fast. (I didn't say anything about your speed)

But the WC races and Norba races I have seen on Tv look pretty damn dull. The only 2 races I saw of interest when I watch in 2002 and 2003 they walked the sections that looked awesome. One was esentially one long grooved rock garden tha would have been fun to hit and the other was a steep section at grouse ending with a drop and then getting steep again into a series of switchbacks. Walking,walking walkin... Roll yer eyes all you want I know what I have seen and xc racing is dull to watch.

I watched some old footage of xc racing back in the day (90's) and damn was it exciting. Short fast, roots, rocks and holy crap a jump. Totally warped my mind in favour of xc racing. Until I realized that was 12 years ago when people watched the sport and tonnes of money was rolling through.

Well I still do that kind of XC.

It's all relative. To me XC is longer rides at a fast pace over semi-technical terrain with rock gardens, roots and the occasional small drop.

Freeriding is (to me) a less "extreme" downhill with more jumps/tricks/whatever.

Downhill is exactly what it's called. Going downhill and doing everything(rock gardens, jumps, roots etc.) and doing it fast.

I'm one of those freeriders who prefers a hardtail.

i have no idea what i would classify myself as... i like DJ, i loove urban.. trails are fun and such...

i just ride whatever i think would be fun... so... im an all around rider, i guess..