sloar

i'm looking to get into mountain bike racing. i live in central indiana so no mountains or even big hills involved. i will start out with the bike i have now, 1998 trek y-glide full xtr with spin mags. i plan on getting a new bike later this summer but unsure which would be best for racing. i will most likely be buying from a shop that carries cannondale, trek and giant and my budget will be around $2,500. i havent ridden a new mountain bike since i bought mine in 98 but the full suspension bikes that they offer now just looks to heavy and bulky to be a good race machine in my type of environment. i'm sure i'm wrong about that, but thats just how they appear to me. i think im leaning more towards a 29'' hardtail. i would love to get something light. what are your opinions on the info i just gave? thanks

VNA

I just bought a new fully suspended mountain bike to replace my Klein hard tail of 1990.

The full suspended bike makes a very big difference of course comfort, but traction is improved tremendously on very steep hills so is control.

As for the weight is very similar to my old one: around 27 lbs.

It is a great improvement.

bikeme

I have a 2012 Santa Cruz Superlight full suspension 26'r. It's lighter than my 1990 Fisher Paragon rigid bike it replaced and it's way faster. I sure love the FS on techy, rocky descents. I descend faster and more confidently with the FS. I even added a remote dropper post which helped even more--well worth the extra 1/2 pound over a std. post. I haven't ridden a 29'er rigid or FS yet so I can't comment on that. My buddy rides a 29'er FS and loves it--rolls over everything. I guess I'd consider an HT on a more rolling, less techy fireroad-type course. Try and demo both but for your location/type of trail, I'd probably go with the 29 HT. See what the successful riders in your area are using.

sloar

thanks for your replys.if i lived in a more hilly location, i wouldnt hesitate getting a f/s. but honestly the biggest hill i ride is a dried up creek bank. most trails are flat to rolling single track. i have a f/s now with short travel and honestly i think its overkill.