Who needs full suspension?

[GilesM]

R1 GTR said:

But I know that'll all change after next weekend as I'm getting a demo bike and going to go spank Glentress

What bike are you going to test, and whatever you do, make sure you go down Deliverance on the Black run, even if you don't ride the whole of the Black, this is one descent where you really see the advantage of a full suss.

[k-ink]

jt racing said:

Our ablitiy to read the lines, and adjust accordingly is what made us so much faster than him. (Sorry if this sounds big headed but i'm kinda delighted all the same!!)

I can image. Some of the fastest guys on our local downhill sections are the bmx lads. They literally fly over half of it! Their basic bikes make many blinged up FS riders look utterly daft. In fact there seems to be a bit of a an anti-FS / expensive kit attitude locally. When expensive Norco's etc rock up some just snigger at the ott kit. I'm undecided as I can see pro's and cons either way.

[R1 GTR]

GilesM said:

R1 GTR said:

But I know that'll all change after next weekend as I'm getting a demo bike and going to go spank Glentress

What bike are you going to test

I was actually going to make a thread about it after I had the demo, so I'll keep you all guessing 'til then and stop hijacking this thread

[jt racing]

I can image. Some of the fastest guys on our local downhill sections are the bmx lads. They literally fly over half of it! Their basic bikes make many blinged up FS riders look utterly daft. In fact there seems to be a bit of a an anti-FS / expensive kit attitude locally. When expensive Norco's etc rock up some just snigger at the ott kit. I'm undecided as I can see pro's and cons either way.
[/quote]

We have the same sort of thing going in our place, We'd be parked at the top of the run and looking a mess, jeans, etc when you'd see the bling bling boy's come along, give them a minute or two then give chase. Ha, childish i know but mighty craic!

[markoc]

GilesM said:

R1 GTR said:

But I know that'll all change after next weekend as I'm getting a demo bike and going to go spank Glentress

What bike are you going to test, and whatever you do, make sure you go down Deliverance on the Black run, even if you don't ride the whole of the Black, this is one descent where you really see the advantage of a full suss.

My last trip up there made me realise I want a full bouncer. My HT Cannondale was great, and on sections like Spooky Woods was a lot of fun (think I rode back up 4 times to do it again!)- but I really want something full bouncing, and to get across to some of the DH at Innerleithen.

[GilesM]

R1 GTR said:

I was actually going to make a thread about it after I had the demo, so I'll keep you all guessing 'til then and stop hijacking this thread

Have fun

[GilesM]

markoc said:

My last trip up there made me realise I want a full bouncer. My HT Cannondale was great, and on sections like Spooky Woods was a lot of fun (think I rode back up 4 times to do it again!)- but I really want something full bouncing, and to get across to some of the DH at Innerleithen.

I've ridden most of the Glentress trails (including many of the hidden trails) on a hardtail and full susser, Spooky wood is great on a hardtail, I don't really think it's any quicker on a full sus, however some of the Black Run Descents are much quicker on a full sus, they are much rougher than the red run and much longer, more fun, and much quieter, innerleithen is also very good, the XC course is fantastic and joins up with Cadon Bank for the final DH section to the Car Park, but don't be fooled by the red grade of the XC route, most of it is a very dark red, but fantastic, the descent from the top of Minch Moor is definately worth the climb up, first time to Innerleithen on my hardtail I did have two over the bars moments.

[markoc]

GilesM said:

markoc said:

My last trip up there made me realise I want a full bouncer. My HT Cannondale was great, and on sections like Spooky Woods was a lot of fun (think I rode back up 4 times to do it again!)- but I really want something full bouncing, and to get across to some of the DH at Innerleithen.

I've ridden most of the Glentress trails (including many of the hidden trails) on a hardtail and full susser, Spooky wood is great on a hardtail, I don't really think it's any quicker on a full sus, however some of the Black Run Descents are much quicker on a full sus, they are much rougher than the red run and much longer, more fun, and much quieter, innerleithen is also very good, the XC course is fantastic and joins up with Cadon Bank for the final DH section to the Car Park, but don't be fooled by the red grade of the XC route, most of it is a very dark red, but fantastic, the descent from the top of Minch Moor is definately worth the climb up, first time to Innerleithen on my hardtail I did have two over the bars moments.

When I did Minch Moor down to the bottom (black) on my HT I was knackered - probably due to riding up to the top... Cadon Bank was great, but after that I wasn't really enjoying being bounced all over the place Stayed on the bike, but one of our party didn't and left with a nasty spiral fracture to the finger.

[Steve_F]

There will be very few trails coming back downhill where a ht will be as quick as a fs and none where a rigid will get anywhere near it (at least with the same rider in the same conditions).

Coming down caddon bank at Inners the other week I saw a guy riding a rigid (who I'd bee chatting to most of the way around) sitting looking at a steep rocky chute. I rode up to it on my full bouncer and dropped off it. Would I have ever done that back in the days of riding a rigid or even a ht? Would I feck!

[jshell]

What?

But all the mag's say you need an 8" travel, £2.5k full susser, minimum for the worst canal tow-paths!

[ewenm]

It all depends on what sort of ride you're going on. At a lot of trail centres a full-sus is needed for decent pace on the steeper trails. However, I went out on a ride around Cross Fell with some guys from MBR and Keswick Bikes - the locals turned up on hardtails (with me on full-rigid due to lack of choice ), the MBR guys on full-sus - much more of a XC route where the travel of rear suspension wasn't needed (I had no issues on the Fat Chance with RC30s either) and the weight penalty/power loss was more of a problem.

Horses for courses really. I like XC, I like hillclimbs, I'm crap at rocky descents so the rigid (or I guess a hardtail) suits me fine.