I took my single speed on the first "real" trail ride yesterday. It is a full rigid frame. It was some pretty hairy single track with a lot of roots and 1-2 foot drops. Nothing really major. Well I found it to be very enjoyable. I never even missed my front suspension. I was going as fast as I do on my "real MTB". I did have to be more alert. The handling was awesome. I feel like I was on rails. As I was going down some pretty steep stuff I was thinking that we have been tricked into thinking we need suspension. The steep stuff felt better too. I didn't feel like I was going to come over the bars when I hit some roots. I had more fun on that ride than any in a long time. I am happy I built the old school MTB. I know that suspension has its place but being able to hammer some single track on a rigid frame has its place too.

one step closer to the illuminati

We'll see how you like it in the dark.

"I was thinking that we have been tricked into thinking we need suspension."

suspensions,
uber-lightweight bikes
clamp-on stems
dura-ace
27 speeds (or even 10 for many)
saddles with holes cut-out
carbon/titanium/scandinavian/etc
clipless
specialized bikeriding costumes
etc
etc
etc

we've been 'tricked' into thinking we need a whole lot more than we need.

Nobody tricked me into thinking I need pie...

"Nobody tricked me into thinking I need pie..."

yeah, but someone MUST have tricked you into liking pbr...

Out of what's in my normal price range, I'd take it over the competition any day. But when I go to a bar, it's usually Newcastle...

blah

No marketing brainwashing. Ok, some. Case in point: FSR Magna's that weigh 50 lbs and never leave the sidewalk. And thank god they don't because they'd probably fall apart at the first hint of downhill.

Riiiight.

But it's also a cultural thing. We (being Americans in particular) LIKE doodads and gewgaws. Why else would anything be the Cadillac of anything. As if a Cadillac was a generous comparison. The markedroids sell us what we want to be sold, they're part of the feedback loop but they don't create that initial demand.

(that said, all those other things have their place, just many of your average consumers don't know there are alternatives or why they want those things to begin with)

"they're part of the feedback loop but they don't create that initial demand.".

ill agree with this....though they certainly rely on the ignorance and gullibleness of the average consumer...

However, there's a huge whack of marketing that hits you between the eyes before the product even goes to market. Who, apart from a select few, ever really needed a Teddy Ruxpin/Furbee/Tickle me Elmo? Sure, there is some innate willingness to get sucked into the "new gear" vortex or just the play with toy factor, but marketing is very persuasive and plays to our fears as well as desires. The other end is availability; companies only make money when people buy new -- not when they hang onto things or fix sh** up. Planned obselecence. Try getting mainstream bike shop to sell you a half decent entire bike sans suspension. Or cantlever brake hanger cable... Look at the whole free-ride gig, best marketing ploy ever. Butt-heavy bikes that most people won't take off the gravel...

ps Anyone want to buy a Brodie Electro?

one of my favorite things is turning the pages of the new colorado cyclist and saying, "i don't need that, i don't need that..."

I do that with the Nashbar catalog...

"Or cantlever brake hanger cable"

but that makes sense....cantilevers are obsolete. Remember when we all demanded v-brakes from the mnfgrs.

obsolete...

Strictly speaking V-brakes are cantilever, the difference is that centre-pulls use a cable and yoke and the v-brake (Shimano trade name) use a direct, horizontal pull. Perhaps my style of riding doesn't require the mechanical advantage offered by V-brakes, hence my bias...

IMO, the major reason people want stuff is that they're exposed to it and it's marketed as better than existing technology, regardless of whether that's true or not. I don't think desire or perceived need is specific to a particular commodity and precedes marketing. Maybe generally, "gee I wish I could buy a shock for this thing"