Short travel or no travel

7stanes-Midget

What do you think?
personaly short travel because it'll take anything you throw at it :?:

supersonic

Whatever you like best. That varies for us all.

NikB

Depends on what you're riding but I currently ride a rigid bike and I don't think it's worth it any more. I'm about to get a full susser and can't wait for the comfort it will offer. Rigid = pummelling ride. I did Wharncliffe at the weekend - it's got so many sections that are so rooty or rocky which make it almost unrideable on a rigid bike.

supersonic

You did Wharny on a rigid?!! Brave man!

How did you find the place?

supersonic

You did Wharny on a rigid?!! Brave man!

How did you find the place?

Anonymous

what about long travel? seems to be an awful lot of XC-capable bikes with 5 or 6inch suspension systems these days.

supersonic

If you got the money lol. XC is usually about light weight, and money buys you that.

Anonymous

I know XC racing is all about light weight, but for most people's uses, a light(er) all-mountain kinda bike is perfect.

supersonic

For most my trails, the 4 inch travel Idrive is erfect - its robust, enough travel to take the sting out of the worst, svery supple over small bumps and pedals fantastic. Unless I was regularly slamming boulders and doing drop offs I don't think I need any more!

NikB

supersonic wrote:

You did Wharny on a rigid?!! Brave man!

How did you find the place?

Hard work. The mud was that deep and my tyres weren't clearing it so I kept losing traction each time I got to a rocky section. The singletrack was great though just would have been able to ride it with more flow if I'd had some bounce. The big boulder section over the crags was certainly entertaining without any suspension.
My main issue with the place was a lack of signage. I was trying to do the longer route on the website (I think it's blue on the map) but I ended up doing more like the red run I think.

I will definitely be going back on my new bike.

supersonic

Its not too well posted, but loads of 'follow your nose' stuff. Not many ride he northern crag part, sticking to the woods mainly, but I like that the best - very technical in places, and a challenge.

Does this ring a bell?!

NikB

That's it, add a bit of rain and that's what I had fun with on my little rigid bike. You have to learn to use the elbows and knees as your shock absorbers instead but the hands and wrists come in for a real pummelling.

supersonic

I used my feet in a few places lol

indysmith

dude that rocky section looks hardcore! I'd love to give that sort of stuff a go one time.

I voted hardtail, because They're light and feel natural.
Full sus bikes are cool, but seem to take a lot of the sting out of the ride (i guess that's their job), but it seems to spoil the fun of it a bit :P

supersonic

That stretch is about 2km in all, and a lot worse in some places! Challenging, technical singletrack. Wharncliffe XC at its best.

clarkson

i ticked the shoirt travel full sus, but am thinking of changing the frame to an orange G3. im more of the mindset now, that most xc can be done on a hardtail, especially as i manged a week in the lakes on a hardtail last year. i came away thinking that my i-drive is kinda redundant. each to their own though!

Chaka Ping

Short travel FS is great, hardtails are great - and rigid bikes are great.

Unfortunately one isn't better than the rest, otherwise I'd only need to own one bike!

Planet_x111

I voted short travel full suss but I still like my hardtail.
Used to like my Kona Stab too but wasn't exactly designed for XC being a DH bike :?
At the moment I'm on a Giant NRS1 custom build (by me ), that's why it got my vote.