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Spinal cord Armageddon!

Dec. 6, 2024, 9:55 a.m.
Posts: 741
Joined: Feb. 24, 2017

Posted by: mammal

Posted by: Mic

Posted by: Climber

What are your thoughts about a hardtail (bike rich otherwise)? I have so much trouble to explain to some (beginner) bikers riding fancy bikes what I use it.

If I had to talk to new riders who own the latest whizzbang bike, I would revolve around the need for really good line choice and solid body language while riding a hardtail. Riding a hardtail makes a rider aware of the trail a way that even an "ordinary" full suspension kind of takes away. A full suspension bike is a bit like anaesthesia, the bike takes away a lot of feedback and what the trail has to say.

Agreed. I usually intentionally switch to hardtails for most of my "winter" riding, just to regain that complete trail and body focus again. The flip side of that, is it takes some time to reacclimatize to the speed of the big squish bike, come spring.

It’s ironic how some riders have complained about trails being dumbed down and diluting their experience yet those same riders are on very capable longer travel bikes that similarly dilute the experience. Lower risk trails on a hardtail might be a similar experience to high risk trails on an enduro type bike.


 Last edited by: andy-eunson on Dec. 6, 2024, 9:56 a.m., edited 1 time in total.
Dec. 6, 2024, 10:03 a.m.
Posts: 40
Joined: March 30, 2015

Posted by: andy-eunson

It’s ironic how some riders have complained about trails being dumbed down and diluting their experience yet those same riders are on very capable longer travel bikes that similarly dilute the experience. Lower risk trails on a hardtail might be a similar experience to high risk trails on an enduro type bike.

Also what is "remarkable" (to me) is that some riders are obsessed with saving grams on their bikes ($$$), but don't care that they carry around like extra 30 pounds of fat. :)

Dec. 6, 2024, 12:51 p.m.
Posts: 517
Joined: Feb. 24, 2017

Posted by: Climber

What are your thoughts about a hardtail (bike rich otherwise)? I have so much trouble to explain to some (beginner) bikers riding fancy bikes why I use it.

I find that my hardtail gives me a different perspective on the same trails I ride my fully on. It's not as fast, but somehow more in tune with the nuances of the trail surface.  It also has a huge *fun* factor. I wouldn't have a hardtail as my only bike for shore riding, but I really enjoy the different riding experience it provides.

Dec. 6, 2024, 5:51 p.m.
Posts: 34258
Joined: Nov. 19, 2002

Use this bike in the rain. You'll feel exhilarated.

Dec. 6, 2024, 6:06 p.m.
Posts: 3676
Joined: Nov. 23, 2002

The u-brake under the bottom bracket is like the chef's kiss of mtb brakes

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