Also, and I know this is a bit of a running joke - that I'm in on - when I hear folks getting all nostalgic about the state of mountain biking I always go back to [**You Should Ride A Rigid Fork**](https://nsmb.com/articles/ride-rigid-fork/) (which NSMB published in Feb 2017).
Pick up a hardtail frame with modern geo, get a rigid fork with the right axle to crown, put a big tire up front, raid the spare parts bin, and find yourself spending fully 50% of your rides on a bike that's worth less than your suspension package on your main rig.
Sure, mine has a dropper post, custom frame, and a slew of high-end parts now - but my rigid experiences have included a bunch of frankenbikes. Riding a frankenbike on real trails will give you joy that I certainly haven't managed to capture in words yet.
Feb. 24, 2021, 9:16 p.m. - Andrew Major
Also, and I know this is a bit of a running joke - that I'm in on - when I hear folks getting all nostalgic about the state of mountain biking I always go back to [**You Should Ride A Rigid Fork**](https://nsmb.com/articles/ride-rigid-fork/) (which NSMB published in Feb 2017). Pick up a hardtail frame with modern geo, get a rigid fork with the right axle to crown, put a big tire up front, raid the spare parts bin, and find yourself spending fully 50% of your rides on a bike that's worth less than your suspension package on your main rig. Sure, mine has a dropper post, custom frame, and a slew of high-end parts now - but my rigid experiences have included a bunch of frankenbikes. Riding a frankenbike on real trails will give you joy that I certainly haven't managed to capture in words yet.