You are going to have to change your whole riding style if you are coming off of a SS 29er. I actually sold my Sultan recently because I just felt like I was dragging around a refrigerator when spinning. Different strokes for different folks, spinning low, low gears is just not my thing.:nono:sprocket47 said:
time to make the switch from hardtail to suspension?
I'm shopping for my new bike, replacing my single speed 29er. I love the SS but I like to put longer miles on and the limited speed on flats on a single speed is frustrating. Anyway, I've always riden a hardtail since the late 80's.
I ride in an area that has pretty steep switch back riding and great single track downhill. I do a lot of xc riding in rocky areas as well. My last ride there on my ss (full rigid) I lost my water bottle due to the rough ride and it beat up my arms and hands bad. But front suspension will come on either option.
My budget is ~$2000 and I can get a pretty sweet hardtail 29er for that amount. Stumpjumper, Trek/Gary Fischer Paragon,
My LBS showed me the Giant Anthem 29x 3 with SLX and Fox shocks and said that's what I need. ~$2300. I can make the budget work but is it time to make the switch to full suspension? For the $ I get lower level components with full suspension than hardtail but will it make my rides faster and more fun? Will it be frustrations on the flats and pavement getting to/from my rides?
Any other die hard hardtailers made the switch recently that can contribute? Pros and cons? I've never riden a full suspension bike so I just don't know....help.
Thanks
I ride in an area that has pretty steep switch back riding and great single track downhill. I do a lot of xc riding in rocky areas as well. My last ride there on my ss (full rigid) I lost my water bottle due to the rough ride and it beat up my arms and hands bad. But front suspension will come on either option.
My budget is ~$2000 and I can get a pretty sweet hardtail 29er for that amount. Stumpjumper, Trek/Gary Fischer Paragon,
My LBS showed me the Giant Anthem 29x 3 with SLX and Fox shocks and said that's what I need. ~$2300. I can make the budget work but is it time to make the switch to full suspension? For the $ I get lower level components with full suspension than hardtail but will it make my rides faster and more fun? Will it be frustrations on the flats and pavement getting to/from my rides?
Any other die hard hardtailers made the switch recently that can contribute? Pros and cons? I've never riden a full suspension bike so I just don't know....help.
Thanks
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I only had the ss 29er for the past year so I'm definitely not a ss veteran and getting back to my geared roots won't be difficult at all. I'm also worried about spinning with a full suspension tank. But some people say the climbing is better as well as downhill (obviously) with a full suspension.
Maybe you could demo a FS 29er bike before dropping the coin? I'm not saying you won't like it, it just very different from SS.
Anthem has lockouts. Giant's Maestro suspension design pedals really well even with ProPedal off.
ride more
Been riding HT;s for many years. You could'nt give me a FS bike. Perhaps you should go to a 1x9 set up and simply ride more? Get your core in better shape.
Why settle for a so so 29'er FS when you could have a sweet steal HT?
Been riding HT;s for many years. You could'nt give me a FS bike. Perhaps you should go to a 1x9 set up and simply ride more? Get your core in better shape.
Why settle for a so so 29'er FS when you could have a sweet steal HT?
+ on this...
I understand the frustration with a SS on the flats. It bugs me, too. So i now gear pretty steep, 34x15. Tough on climbs. Nice on the rolling hills. Faster on the ride to the trail.
I ride SS, but have a sus fork. I lose a little on the climbs, but can charge tough sections of trail with more control than I could when I ran full rigid.
I agree with this sentiment. You like hardtails. Why not get a geared hardtail? With a sus fork? FS bikes are probably going to feel a bit sluggish coming from a hardtail background. I agree with the other poster...you will need to make a significant adjustment to your riding style.Mojo Troll said:Been riding HT;s for many years. You could'nt give me a FS bike. Perhaps you should go to a 1x9 set up and simply ride more? Get your core in better shape.
Why settle for a so so 29'er FS when you could have a sweet steal HT?
I understand the frustration with a SS on the flats. It bugs me, too. So i now gear pretty steep, 34x15. Tough on climbs. Nice on the rolling hills. Faster on the ride to the trail.
I ride SS, but have a sus fork. I lose a little on the climbs, but can charge tough sections of trail with more control than I could when I ran full rigid.
Say What ??????
Enough said...go try a few ! Yes , I've owned several HT's in the past.....I've also ridden some FS bikes I didn't like much ( set up and design is important ) ! TIG.sprocket47 said:I've never riden a full suspension bike so I just don't know....help.
Well since it's a local shop that suggesting it to you, then I'd have to assume they'd have one in stock for you to at least tool around the parking lot on :idea: I say SLX components are very decent parts, no they're not the lightest, but they sure are reliable and not all that much heavier than XT. If you truly do ride rough trails, then I personally think you'd like having the FS, just don't sell the HT so you have it for the smoother trails.
I right now only have either rigid or HT (rigid is mainly for road) and I absolutely love the HT, is loads of fun, but if you don't think for a second that I'm not looking forward to the FS I should have in the next few months you're dead wrong - I will enjoy not having to take the "better", smoother line, and be able to just bombo through the rough stuff, stay seated and pedal through those chunky rock gardens etc.
I right now only have either rigid or HT (rigid is mainly for road) and I absolutely love the HT, is loads of fun, but if you don't think for a second that I'm not looking forward to the FS I should have in the next few months you're dead wrong - I will enjoy not having to take the "better", smoother line, and be able to just bombo through the rough stuff, stay seated and pedal through those chunky rock gardens etc.
What happened to your RIP?LyNx said:I right now only have either rigid or HT (rigid is mainly for road) and I absolutely love the HT, is loads of fun, but if you don't think for a second that I'm not looking forward to the FS I should have in the next few months you're dead wrong - I will enjoy not having to take the "better", smoother line, and be able to just bombo through the rough stuff, stay seated and pedal through those chunky rock gardens etc.
Full squish is only better in technical climbing that you can't clear on a HT due to too many rocks or ruts that make you spin out. They have better traction in those cases. For long, grind-out-the-miles climbs the HT will be better because it's lighter.
get whatever you'll have fun on. i went from a riding a ss26er for 15 years to a FS 29er without ever riding one, and having only ridden any FS bike twice. definitely a different way of riding, but i was also having a lot of fun with something new.
As one mentioned about the Maestro suspension. It does pedal well, and you might be suprised. I also agree about a "different riding style" which is said exactly correct. You will ride the bike differently, but implementing some of the riding techniques of SS will help. The most important thing though is to use your gears or it will feel like you are pulling a fridge!
Schnee stated that FS is ONLY good in technical climbing. I beg to differ since I don't don't seen any rigid or HTs racing DH. They are far superior on decents, and though you may lose a small amount of time on a climb, you will make that time up on decents, and will have more energy left over due to less fatigue. Less fatigue will be another advantage altogether. Your body doesn't absorb as much shock from the trail, and you can actually use the saddle more often which a HT prohibits if the trail is unrelenting.
Overall, the best advice though is to demo the bike(s) that you are considering. Really, you can't know if you will like the bike just by studying the geo or specifications. $2300 is an expensive amount for no test drive.
Schnee stated that FS is ONLY good in technical climbing. I beg to differ since I don't don't seen any rigid or HTs racing DH. They are far superior on decents, and though you may lose a small amount of time on a climb, you will make that time up on decents, and will have more energy left over due to less fatigue. Less fatigue will be another advantage altogether. Your body doesn't absorb as much shock from the trail, and you can actually use the saddle more often which a HT prohibits if the trail is unrelenting.
Overall, the best advice though is to demo the bike(s) that you are considering. Really, you can't know if you will like the bike just by studying the geo or specifications. $2300 is an expensive amount for no test drive.
change is a great thing sometimes....you can read here all day long and still not know what your missing or not. Get hold of a demo for a week if you can, you need more than one ride to get in the groove of a new bike if you ask me...
Was a FS 29er rider and raced multiple endurance events. Last year went to a ss with a suspect fork. I kept the FS and only ride it Moab or when feel like something different. It feels slow and heavy compared to the ss. I thought about racing coarse specific on gears and decided to get some shifter and deraileurs
etc. I don't feel I need FS unless I'm doing Porcupine Rim in Moab etc.
Given that you ride rigid already, unless you are having back issues or something I'd agree with most posters here and stick to a HT. You'll get a better bike for your money and be more pleased as well.
etc. I don't feel I need FS unless I'm doing Porcupine Rim in Moab etc.
Given that you ride rigid already, unless you are having back issues or something I'd agree with most posters here and stick to a HT. You'll get a better bike for your money and be more pleased as well.
I rode Porcupine Rim in 1992 with my hardtail Klein Rascal (sweet bike back in the day and wish I still had it).
I think just getting my front suspension back will give me great pleasure so I'm swaying towards sticking with the HT. But I just found out the shop will let me take the FS bike for the weekend for a $55 rental feel that will go twards the purchase of a new bike, whichever one I choose. I might consider that if that particular lbs has both the HT and FS I'm looking at.
I think just getting my front suspension back will give me great pleasure so I'm swaying towards sticking with the HT. But I just found out the shop will let me take the FS bike for the weekend for a $55 rental feel that will go twards the purchase of a new bike, whichever one I choose. I might consider that if that particular lbs has both the HT and FS I'm looking at.
Congrats on the bike search, always fun and exciting to get something new to try. The Anthem 29-3 is decently spec'd, and after some time on it - maybe you can upgrade an item or two to lighten it up and customize it for you. The demo ride is beneficial too, does the LBS have a demo bike? if so, take advantage of it - sometimes the LBS will 'rent' you one, and then apply the cost of the demo to a purchase - always helps give you a taste of the bike first, then - you buy local and everyone feels good in the end. And YES, keep that HT!! And gear it up for around town, or go 1x9 for fast single track (smooth) days.
And less/no bob so, therefore, more efficient.schnee said:For long, grind-out-the-miles climbs the HT will be better because it's lighter.
OP, agree with XChic on the rental/demo idea. Also agree on picking up some parts to 1X9 the SS. I switch mine around depending on whether I'm commuting or wanting the ssimplicity on a weekend trail ride -- smooth trails that is.
Just my 2 cents, but I went from a short-travel (3") 26" FS, to a 29" HT, and I have no plans to go back. Bigger tires with low air pressure, and a Thudbuster is good for me. Simple is good.
sprocket47 said:I rode Porcupine Rim in 1992 with my hardtail Klein Rascal (sweet bike back in the day and wish I still had it).
I think just getting my front suspension back will give me great pleasure so I'm swaying towards sticking with the HT. But I just found out the shop will let me take the FS bike for the weekend for a $55 rental feel that will go twards the purchase of a new bike, whichever one I choose. I might consider that if that particular lbs has both the HT and FS I'm looking at.
The good 'ol days. Klien had the coolest paint and cable routing. A company ahead of its time.
Take advantage of the demos. It'll be an adventure.
1 - 20 of 22 Posts
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