Full Suspension vs. Hardtail vs. Rigid (read first post)

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Full Suspension vs. Hardtail vs. Rigid (read first post)
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flag jamesashton
Posted: Jan 1, 2020 at 12:36 Quote
if it's slack, I imagine that A rigid could be fun, but if its an xc type geo, that would not be that great, I imagine
flag JacobyDH
Posted: Jan 1, 2020 at 14:28 Quote
I do a lot of dh, ad was wondering if it might be a good idea to try out a rigid on some tech. now thinking about it, it could end catastrophically.
flag rahrider
O+
Posted: Jan 1, 2020 at 21:54 Quote
I rode a rigid 29er all over BC for 15 years - it is fine for everything but fast and rough. I rode north shore, squash, whistler trail and epics on it without trouble. Fast flow trails with lots of stutter bumps suck though. I still have that bike set up as a single speed but it doesn't get much use. I agree with everyone that it is best for slow tech riding. The only caveat there is when it gets super steep with harsh bottom outs - the margin for error is pretty slim.

I now mostly ride either a 160mm hardtail or one of my FS bikes. In this day I wouldn't recommend a rigid over a hardtail. I also wouldn't recommend an aluminum hardtail over anything. Hardtail needs to be steel, ti or carbon imo. I think a 65 or 64 deg HTA works best. With modern geo a hardtail is a great option for all the reasons mentioned.

As for FS bikes, why not? Super comfortable and capable. Pedal better than my hardtail on tech riding and as mentioned can be locked out on roads. If I could only have one bike these days it would be a FS rig as they do everything the best. Lucky for me I have a garage with room and a wife that understands my bike problem and let's me keep them all. Let us know what you decide on....
flag jamesashton
Posted: Jan 1, 2020 at 22:06 Quote
JacobyDH wrote:
I do a lot of dh, ad was wondering if it might be a good idea to try out a rigid on some tech. now thinking about it, it could end catastrophically.

yes, but could also be awesome
flag JacobyDH
Posted: Jan 1, 2020 at 22:33 Quote
I hate to be all pessimistic, but I've snapped four frames in the last five years. I only weigh 180-190, maybe at the most 200. also, I'm that guy with the LT DH bike. im sure that it would be pretty epic for XC, or even a bit of AM/enduro.
flag fielonator
Posted: Jan 2, 2020 at 1:51 Quote
Riding or training on a hardtail then switching to fs gives you a few rides feeling like a hero. The same trails feel so much easier to push your limits on, hit everything as big or hard as you can, and is a lot of fun. I also take a lot of confidence in the fact that it's not just the bike meaning i can ride, and i actually know what I'm doing.

Gradually i get lazy and loose the benefits of hardtail training over a few weeks of fs riding. I stop using my legs so much for extra suspension, don't move around on the bike as much and don't land stuff as smoothly. Basically i start allowing the bike to let me get away with worse technique instead of riding much better on an easier bike to ride.

Riding my hardtail more through summer would help with this, but when it's dry and fast out it's always too tempting to take the fs and try to smash everything.

A rigid bike would probably have the same effect but I've got no plans to get one. It would hang in the garage next to the roadbike (i also haven't got) taking up space and gathering spiders.
flag muddytreker
Posted: Jan 2, 2020 at 4:49 Quote
I have and ride 24" 26" 27.5" full rigid, hardtail and full susser,
steel and aluminium,
each ride differently, you just learn how each feels and adapt to it.

My first suspension fork I ever rode with was a Pace RC36 pro evo
back in 1998, 80mm travel, prior to that it was full rigid on all my riding,
sure on the hard stuff it was a bone shaker, but you change how
you ride to suit, if anything it gives you a better appreciation
to all types in how they feel, and you have to adapt the way you
ride with each, thats what makes it fun and keeps things interesting.

I have no preference either, as each bike is unique in its ride handling characteristics,
the light response instant feed back on a steel rigid fork 26" with 650mm bar width,
to the almost slow sloppy comfort of a 180mm Fox 36, 27.5" 800mm bar.

At the end of the day I'm riding my bike and having fun, and have no issues
whatsover how others may see it or what negative thoughts they may put accross,
I just don't care and have nothing to prove, thats there insecurity I guess.
flag JacobyDH
Posted: Jan 2, 2020 at 11:16 Quote
what about a fork that had "shaft coverings" were you put on a hard carbon/plastic cylinder onto the sanctions, causing there to be no movement. just an idea. also, the thing would break beforeyour fork would, so you wouldnt break your bike.
flag jamesashton
Posted: Jan 2, 2020 at 12:30 Quote
in that case, the geo would be wack compared to a rigid, due to the fork being able to move
flag JacobyDH
Posted: Jan 2, 2020 at 15:15 Quote
Well, the fork would be held up, but it would only move if there is too much pressure, I guess though, it may be a bad idea as it would be very untrustworthy as to when it might break next.
flag jamesashton
Posted: Jan 2, 2020 at 15:22 Quote
yeah, and if one side breaks, it could put lateral force on one of the stanstions, pushing it sideways into the lower, breaking the fork
flag JacobyDH
Posted: Jan 2, 2020 at 16:18 Quote
Yup, Smart thinking!
flag JacobyDH
Posted: Jan 4, 2020 at 19:53 Quote
What about a fork with super strong lockout, which would produce the same effect.
flag JacobyDH
Posted: Jan 8, 2020 at 19:52 Quote
traqs wrote:
yeah, and if one side breaks, it could put lateral force on one of the stanstions, pushing it sideways into the lower, breaking the fork
Well, a well built fork should have energy impact on both sides, and even if it isn’t, I think that the other side would snap too, because it would have a lot of pressure.
flag GravityCandy
O+
Posted: Feb 14, 2020 at 7:56 Quote
I'm a big fan of rigid bikes.
I ride a rigid, hardtail and full sus bike and swap between them throughout the season. The rigid is a bike I have to be in the right mood for. I'll maybe ride it 5 times a year on anything from double black tech to blue flow but it's incredibly fun. It also really helps you learn how to absorb with your body and not just rely on suspension. Most of my friends who try it out can't even finish a downhill since it rattles them so much because they all started on full sus and never learned how to absorb impacts properly. I always tell them that even though the bike has no suspension, your arms and legs have more travel than a downhill bike.
Another thing with the rigid is I think it helps your cornering. Because you're getting bounced around all the time you have less traction so if you don't corner well you just bounce off the trail out of control. If I'm in the zone on the right trail with it I can pretty much keep up to my friends on it.

The full sus and hardtail are what I ride 95% of the time though. I would still say they're way more fun.

Heres my rigid ride.

 
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