It's funny. It seems everyone I know who is into rigid mountain biking has a unique experience. Look at Skyler and Vic's Krampus takes. When it comes to tires, travel, and etc I always assume a rider is going to know what works best for them on their terrain (what I have to say about a tire on the North Shore is not universally applicable to Sedona).
I like long bikes and my [**rigid bike**](https://www.instagram.com/p/Bf2ZW8qnUB5/) is no exception. It makes almost every other hardtail I've ridden lately seem to steep (HTA) because at <66° it has a slacker static head angle and those bikes sag steeper from there. The wheelbase is right around 1200mm where it's currently sitting on the sliders. I have no problem climbing it up steep punchy singletrack including tight switchbacks and it only occasionally requires extra English in tight switchbacks when descending. Climbing traction is excellent.
In steep chutes and riding through rough terrain the bus is way more stable and capable than the four or five 'modern' rigid bikes I've owned which have all been much steeper and shorter (for example the Units above). I'm not much of a trials rider anyways so I'm happy to take stability over hopability.
When folks talk about 415mm stays, 69° static HTA, and trying to keep the wheelbase short I just scratch my head - but my bike is optimized for rigid riding around here and I can't say what works places I haven't ridden.
April 12, 2019, 4:13 p.m. - Andrew Major
It's funny. It seems everyone I know who is into rigid mountain biking has a unique experience. Look at Skyler and Vic's Krampus takes. When it comes to tires, travel, and etc I always assume a rider is going to know what works best for them on their terrain (what I have to say about a tire on the North Shore is not universally applicable to Sedona). I like long bikes and my [**rigid bike**](https://www.instagram.com/p/Bf2ZW8qnUB5/) is no exception. It makes almost every other hardtail I've ridden lately seem to steep (HTA) because at <66° it has a slacker static head angle and those bikes sag steeper from there. The wheelbase is right around 1200mm where it's currently sitting on the sliders. I have no problem climbing it up steep punchy singletrack including tight switchbacks and it only occasionally requires extra English in tight switchbacks when descending. Climbing traction is excellent. In steep chutes and riding through rough terrain the bus is way more stable and capable than the four or five 'modern' rigid bikes I've owned which have all been much steeper and shorter (for example the Units above). I'm not much of a trials rider anyways so I'm happy to take stability over hopability. When folks talk about 415mm stays, 69° static HTA, and trying to keep the wheelbase short I just scratch my head - but my bike is optimized for rigid riding around here and I can't say what works places I haven't ridden.