Originally Posted by climbo
does susp take the fun out of it though? if you can just point it down the hill do you benefit from it? No skills are obtained, take the susp away and can you still ride down the same trail?
Not you specifically bucky but the collective general bunch of youse out in the World.
Originally Posted by dbuckingham144
I cannot really comment to much for I am only a noobie when it comes to off road anyway, but I have seen a fair bit of debate about it. Some say it makes no difference, others say you no longer need the skill for the susp takes it all in its stride and you just need to point forward. I know at times I would like to be able to have a bit more travel for my bike handling skills are still in development. I guess a safe way of looking at it would be, for a beginner it would be tops for it allows you to get away with a lot, and as you advance, get the shorter travel stiffer forks and develop the skill...
But that is just me rambling really.
Have you ridden a rigid fork off road lately? Last time I gave it a go, it was an exercise in futility. I have more than enough skill and experience, but I can tell you that neither will keep your front wheel on the ground over washboard bumps. Never mind the punishment I endured, I was unable to steer or slow down. 70 or 80mm is all you need to get by for the kind of XC stuff we do around here. A bit more would smooth out the ride, allowing you to go faster, but I wouldn't pay extra for it. 170mm is probably beyond freeride and hucking, and into downhill territory. We're talking big drops, and 30 foot or more gaps.
Front suspension lets you go faster, but there is a point of diminishing returns. Bucky, if you add a slightly taller fork, you'll slacken the head angle, slowing your steering. Better for going down hills, where it give you more control, but it also makes it harder to climb hills. The only change I would make to your Trek is to replace the rear derailleur when it either breaks, wears out, or gives you grief as far as shifting. You have a very capable bike that's more than enough for the trails out here. Before you consider replacing your fork, read up on tuning it to suit your weight and riding style.
Whew! That was a lot of typing. I think I'll go take a nap.