Originally Posted by
vw addict
My full suspension broke, and the fork on my Homegrown blew all in a week so i was forced to lead group rides on my Homegrown frame with a ridgid front fork. People said they couldn't keep up with me anywhere, climbs, singletrack or decents, and it isn't easy riding here. I can't explain it other than my total focus was on running smooth lines rather than just being comfy and short running stuff.
I'm also on the east coast. Western Mass to be exact. There is trails around here that a rigid in no way can keep up with a suspended bike given equal riders. No way, no how, not even close type of keeping up. that being said, on some buffed out single track I could see a rigid being fun and faster so the answer is: surprise surprise, depends on the trail. Also unless your racing, who cares how fast you are. Its about the ride, right? Also agree with the dude who said not to bother with a cheap suspension fork. They tend to be flexy, power robbing pogo sticks IMO.