I went to Gisburn today on my hardtail, having only ever ridden it on a full sus in the past.
A few thoughts:
- It gives me so much more feedback on my technique. Heels need to be down, braking needs to be done in the right places or I’m in danger of coming off/OTB.
- Because of the above it makes slightly sketchy stuff even more fun.
- It really makes me try and conserve speed, because if I lose it, it’s much harder to pick up again.
- It feels much faster up hill, unless traction is a bit dodgy at which point the rear wheel is more likely to spin out.
Yes it’s not as fast, nor as forgiving, but those aren’t necessarily bad things.
I’m not saying one or another is better, just that they’re different. I’ll never get tired of hooning around on a full sus, but I’m enjoying a bit more of a challenge at the moment.
I’ve been riding a gravel bike and a rigid MTB for the past few years with only occasional rides on the full sus, rode the latter last night and it just felt all mushy and weird to start with - I only did two laps of the local wood and snapped a split link near the end, about 5 miles total. Once I re-learned the bike and trusted it and the tyres I started to enjoy it, but the speed wasn’t where the enjoyment was really coming from, and for me that’s what the full sus is about, speed and comfort. So I’m starting to wonder if a modern hardtail with a dropper would be better to replace the full sus and the rigid bike, and I get another (better) gravel bike for everything else.
My full sus is/was my dream bike (Cotic Flare) after years of hardtails and a couple of other FS frames when I was too tight to buy the Flare at full price, but I just don’t ride the technical sort of trails I used to or go afar riding, and I can’t see when I’m likely to again so perhaps it’s time for a change. That directness you get from a hardtail or rigid bike brings so much feeling to a ride for me, and the impression of speed even if you’re actually going slower.
Personally, I can’t help but go as fast as I can, whatever the bike/ride if I’m on my own or with good/fit riders, so perhaps the full sus really just increases my chances of a big off and an injury…
The only full suss I own is a 2005 and the frame is in the loft.
Never really got on with them long term, much prefer the instant feedback of a HT.
Until recently all my riding was either Rigid SS or Rigid Gravel, have recently got a geared HT as a longer distance MTB.
I've spent the winter on a Crush for the first time in years and have really enjoyed the experience. My favourite thing is that I don't mind sloggy long road sections to go ride 'that nice descent' that's miles away. That has been great over the last 6 soggy months!
I do know that the Airdrop is going to feel amazing though when the trails dry out again (if that ever happens...).
Recently serviced a mate's hardtail and took it for a quick ride to check its all working good and couldn't wait to get off it, it felt so weird and wrong.
Having returned to more HT riding in 2020, I feel that they are more trail and user-specific experiences, which is also why HTs are so 'marmite'.
Feeling fit and strong, good solid core and riding confidently? HT is fun. Not ridden in years and been on the sofa? I hate HTs.
Mixed trails of rough and somewhat smooth, sharp technical challenges with some reprieve? HT is fun. Continuous blown-out trail of constant exposed roots and braking bumps? I hate HTs, etc.
If you've got the right conditions for a nice hardtail, they are awesome! But I do get why people have bad times with them
On the flip side from the OP I've had two full sus bikes, SC Superlight 2010 and a Starling Murmur 2022. After riding them for a few months I went back to a hardtail/rigid as they didn't give me the ride feel I wanted. I don't know what the correct analagy would be, not enough feedback, made it easier, rolled over stuff etc.
The Murmur was a great bike however I think a bit to much for me in travel and capability. I was hauling on the brakes on parts of trails I've ridden a lot as I had gathered to much speed due to just rolling over most stuff I'd usually have to ride around or slow down for.
I'm exclusively a hardtail (or rigid) rider.
I do still own a full-sus, buts it's been hung up as a frame only since 2020.
I much prefer the trail feedback you get from a HT, and I don't find it slows me down much compared to mates on FS bikes.
I did a weekend away in Minehead a few weekends ago, and it wasn't holding me back on any of the downhill trails.
Imo it's better for ones overall fitness as you're having to use your upper body more, and you're definitely standing up and using your legs/core more.
Been riding my 650b, 150mm, 2.6 tyre Pace this winter and it’s been ace fun. The short rear end really helps get the front end up so I’ve been able to improve my terrible jump/drop off technique. Defo feel more beaten up the next day compared to my full suss though!
I seem to find climbing on my fs easier than on my ht even though it's heavier, traction maybe? Just considering a new bike and am a bit conflicted and found the 29 inch wheels on the ebike that was briefly in my possession felt a bit like a farmer's gate. I'm 6ft but like the flickability of my medium fs. Decisions, decisions.
I think the longer travel the bike, the more hardtails and full-sus bikes diverge - and also the weirder the hardtails feel but also the more remarkable they are at being fun on trails that look like they NEED rear suspension. And the gnarlier the trails, the harder you have to work on a hardtail.
I've gone back to a hardtail after a few years of not much riding - bought a FS frame to get me back into it thinking that's what I really wanted to smooth things out and give more confidence, but I didn't enjoy it at all. Modern geometry and long travel makes everything feel slow and cumbersome to me, unless you're really ragging it down the gnar all the time (which I'm not). I think I've found a good balance of stability/quick feeling with a 29er 130mm hardtail - it's got that hardtail "snap" but the bigger wheels smooth out the annoying momentum/speed sapping bumps in the trail better than smaller wheels.
I've gone the other way. Full suss any day of the week now, even through winter, having always been a hardtail for crap conditions to save bearings etc then full susser for better days and spring to autumn. Given we only get 2 seasons of semi-wet and sopping wet that argument had gone out the window.
Also sick of getting battered on the hardtail. My full susser is similar weight. More comfy. Not noticeably less agile. More confidence inspiring over jumps, less tiring on a big day out and generally feels more fun as the speed I can get compared to hardtail really gets the adrenaline going when that "come off at this speed and it'll seriously hurt" thought pops into my head.
Cant bear to part with the hardtail but TBH, struggling to find a good reason to keep it apart from the massive hit I'd take seeling it!
As a regular hardtail rider, the big things are hardtails will beat the s*** out of you, and provide very little margin for error, be that technique error or line choice error.
I've mostly been riding my hardtail for the past 18 months, but when switching between full sus and hardtails, the main thing that catches me out is hardtails don't brake as well. I usually re-remember that after straight lining some rough rocky/rooty section then having the realisation I'm not slowing down as quick as I'd hope for the impending corner 🙈
It is however nice to get back on a full sus, as they do make riding easier.
I really like modern hardtails. I like how they they make less dramatic trails more fun/challenging and that you have to be on the ball all the time to get the best from them... Except for the time I went for a ride to clear a hangover and spent the whole morning nearly getting ejected into the bushes - they definitely punish sloppiness, lapses in concentration, etc. It's a really good feeling when you get it right though.
I tend to do shorter rides though, wouldn't fancy doing all day on one. I'm not fit enough for that right now. After the right kind of 2-3hr ride, my whole body feels like it's done work.
