ccsami4x4

I rode and raced full rigid for years until I had a bit of a mishap while riding the ski slopes during the summer...seems I allowed my headset to work itself loose and then during the descent the fork decided to buckle under the bike. So now I'm riding with shocks up front...and I must say I like 'em.

RT

I have purchased two front suspension MTBs in the past four years and have swapped the forks out for Surly rigids. I am rebuilding the Rock Shox Judy (from my Giant Rainier) and will be selling them, along with the Suntour XC60 (?) (from my Raleigh M50-DX). Just a preference - I like to 'feel' the road/trail

Bike Lover

My next bike is going to be a rigid SS 29er. I think I got all the hot industry buzz words covered there. Oh wait, I'm sure I'll have some carbon fiber on there somewhere. There. Done.

BearSquirrel

The first couple time out my rigid 29er beat the crap out of me. Then I realized that I was actually going to have to pilot the bike instead of relying on the fork to do things for me. Then with more experience, I realized the fork was actually making really stupid decisions on my behalf.

Since then, I have found suspension forks really annoying. If I ever went back, it would be nothing but platform shocks with high blowoffs.

Beyond that, I think a lot of people like training on rigid singlespeeds because it teaches them about piloting the bicycle. So when the DO hop back on their tricked out race bikes, they are reacting as if they're on rigids and making their bikes more efficient.

lukewall

i ride a fully rigid 2000 M-50 with slick tires through the streets of NYC. accelerates well and is pretty nimble, a good setup to have in the city.

currently converting it into a 1x7 drivetrain. anyone else have any experience with this setup?

x550x

Yes. I ride a rigid Surly KM 29er. It's also a SS. I can see how a rigid bike would be bad for some situations. I only ride single track and the KM fits the bill quite nicely.

I wouldn't want to do it with a 26er. The big wheels coupled with lower tire pressure is all the suspension I feel that I need.

Bike Lover

x550x, that's what I'm hoping for too.

And the SS is for getting me additional leg strength by forcing me to work up hills instead of dropping a gear. The fact that it's rigid can change, although I'm looking forward to it.

I don't know if I agree 100% with the learning of a better line. With a suspension, it allows you to pick the quicker line, not necessarily the "best". The quicker line could be full of roots and stuff you wouldn't want your rigid to go over, yet with a suspension, it's no problem. YMMV.

douglas1

yup (salsa el mariachi)

VT tallbike

Yup full rigid and fixed gear!

EthanYQX

Wow that's a small chainring. What's the gearing on that thing?

stapfam

93 Kona Explosif- Project ll rigid forks. L/W steel frame and forks and it works. Climbing ability and rigid works. Downhills and you have to get used to riding out of the saddle and relaxed. Can't overtake the Full suspension bikes on the downhills-Which I could up to 2000- but can still shock them by staying close enough to them.

born2bahick

Oh the pain!!!!

roccobike

Yeah, I have a rigid. It sits in the basement while I ride my suspension bikes. It's a really nice 96 Rockhopper in great shape. I don't ride it cause I just don't enjoy beating the crap out of myself.

bobsaget

yep, I've been riding rigid for 8 months or so... I'm going back to suspension in a bit though.

C Law

I do



It is great fun and toughens you up!

Just another way to experience the trails.

Bike Lover

How do you like the CF fork? Mine's comming with a steel fork but I may end up putting a White Bro's on there (after trying out the steel for a while). Did you start with that or something else? If something else, then what was it and material?

C Law

I started with a vicious cycles rigid, non suspension corrected. I wanted a suspension corrected fork (what the frame was designed for), so I got the WB. No complaints with the WB fork at all. definately stiffer and lighter than the steel.

I will probably end up going back to a vicious cycles fork with the same ac height as the WB fork after 2 more years. I just can't see riding the WB fork for more than 3 hard years.

I think I prefer the look of the steel fork better and the ride is actually more compliant than the carbon.

Also, in my experience, there is a big difference between low end and high end steel forks.

xprop1

still break out my original 86 procaliber often. Did buy a 06 stumpjumper hard tail on impulse, it's okay I guess,,, but wished i waited to order a proper Rigid from one of the handmade guys here in Northeast.

joetronic

Here too. (26") Rigid is the way to go. Different strokes for different folks.

Some things have changed, like cranks, levers, and saddle, but, rigid, and loved

commo_soulja

A nice steel rigid is buttery smooth on *some* trails.

joetronic

^^ nice score on the IRD frame.

nachomc

I just built a fully rigid 29er SS. I like it. I need to relearn to ride.

surreal

i ride 2 full-rigids. one is a 26" 3x9; the other is a 29" ss/FG. I'm considering building a hardtail with front suspension, but i'm worried about the tuning/maintenance.

-rob

Biopacer

I always wanted to know if certain rigid frames with "switchback(?)" seat stays i.e. Nishiki Ariel/Alien are actually worthy for moderate mountain biking. I ride with sus, but I'm thinking of a fully rigid ride (except, maybe, for a sus stem). Bmalmquist, how do you get a 29 in a 1x1 fork? isn't the fork made for 26?

surreal

I think it's only natural that a neanderthal/luddite thread like this would attract a post by an individual named "biopacer"; we all probably saw that coming, somehow. But we could never expect him to be inquiring about switchback frames...

Now THAT's retro.

But, seriously, the full-rigid concept seems to be coming back in full-force, which is possibly a subconscious influence on my drive to try out a squishy fork. "Yeah, i decided to take it back to the old school; I'm gonna get me some suspension up front. A return to simpler times, i guess."

That'll be the day...
-rob