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May I trouble you for your thoughts on my possible purchase of the above please? It will be used for a spot of Beastway racing, Epping trails and SDW. I'm converting from road racing and the rigid appeals - I'm still a bit baffled by the range of suspension and bikes out there....does it handle like a race bike? The 29er sounds good being 6'. If anyone has ridden one would appreciate your thoughts.
cycles goff
Not ridden a Fortitude Race but I have ridden steel 29er hardtails. I would say that a 29er hardtail is the ideal starting point (I'm 6ft and they're definitely the faster choice for me). If you're serious about racing, a carbon or ally frame is likely to be stiffer and lighter. I race on a steel hardtail but I don't race to win! Someone will have a better insight than me on the Fortitude's geometry - but Genesis have a rep for very well-designed bikes.
For longer rides, like the SDW, I'd imagine the Fortitude would be great if your wrists can take the jarring. Personally, I'd prefer a 100mm fork for ironing out the fist-sized flints over a 50km+ ride. I looked at a Fortitude and the Cotic Solaris and in the end went for Steven Shand's new 29er ([url= http://www.flickr.com/photos/shandcycles/8837453989/in/photostream/ ]http://www.flickr.com/photos/shandcycles/8837453989/in/photostream/[/url])
I was considering one of those recently but the frame is designed for short forks, which means if you decide you do fancy suspension forks in the future, the front will be too high, affecting the geometry. I went for a High Latitude instead, but built up with rigid forks which gives me options.
The Fortitude is built on the slack side of things I think to compensate for the battering you can get from rigid forks, so probably not like a race bike, (definitely not like a road race bike!).
A primarily road rider I know who also likes his MTB's to be rapid, responsive machines swears by Scott's, though I don't think these do fully rigid bikes, you'd have to buy some forks also. Think this may be the case for most of the main producers of racy MTB's.
Picked up my Fortitude Race last week. Covered 96 miles so far, on and off road. I come from an alloy 26" hardtail running Kona P2 rigid steel forks so I am used to having no suspension. Reynolds 725 frame is more forgiving off-road. Coupled with the bigger wheels, it all seems to ride faster and smoother over rough ground.
The more I ride it, the more I love it.
A purely subjective reply I know...
Try one. I asked my LBS to get one on for me to try, and one ride was enough for me to decide to buy one. Having said that, as mentioned above by tthew, a High Latitude will allow front suspension, should you want it...
Si
Oh... A couple more thoughts...
The Race is 1x10 and cannot be changed to more rings up front, as you cannot fit a front mech, there is no room.
I am 5' 6" and the 17.5" frame is fine for me...
Si