Trans Karoo - Hard Tail or Dual

[MeridaHFS]

Going to do the TK but I'm not sure if a dual suspension would be advisable or rather a hardtail. I'm willing to spend a bit on a new frame as the rest of my setup is quite nifty in my opinion. Any advise from anyone with some experience in marathon riding would be greatly appreciated.

[SFDT]

It depends if doing TK is the main influence in your decision. I did Transbaviaans in a dual susp bike and it was a very comfortable 11hours. But if you are very weight conscious and want to race to win in the future then maybe a hardtail is better, but in that case I will go for a 29er.

I would say for comfort, taking in mind the amount of time you will spend in the saddle, a dual sus would by my weapon of choice for a race like this one.

[eddy]

I am not an expert stage racer but as the race is almost exclusively on district roads with very little serious off-road stuff, i have decided to do it on my steel framed Niner HT, rather than a DS 26er.

 

I would be very interested in others views as well.

 

 

 

.

[RichB]

Hard tail 29er. No brainier..

[Belhammel]

I would go for the 29er hardtail option. The type of riding the Transkaroo will offer is not lending itself towards Dual Sus.

[TheDee]

Mmm, also a noob. When you say "hardtail no-brainer", does that mean it can't be done on a dual-susser? If I want to get a new bike(have upgraditis), should I look at the races I plan to do in future and buy accordingly, or buy what I want and race according to that?

[Pronutro]

Hard tail 29er. No brainier..

 

[Polo]

Unless you plan on winning the TK (or any other marathon type event for that matter) I don't see why you would want to punish yourself by spending in excess of 10 hours on a hard tail.

 

My one team mate in the TB used a hard tail in 2010 and a soft tail in 2011. He reckons there's no way that the weight saving can ever make up for the difference in comfort.

[WorcesterWheelers]

Get yourself a Cyclocross (CX) bike.

[Goodbadugly]

Ahhh the hubsa.

On more than one occasion I have done marathons on a HT. After 40 km's I start thinking of selling my FS bike, since this HT climbs so well etc. After 60 km's I start cursing myself. WTH was I thinking! Doing this on a HT while I have a perfect FS sitting in the garage!!!!????

[wynandvdmerwe]

FS all the way. hardtails for champs and guys that finish a race really quickly

[reteid]

fs for comfort ,but if you are chasing the podium 29 ht.can easily be done on both just depends on what r u going to do with the bike most of the time.that is if you are on a budget like me and not having a weapon of choice for every different type of terrain.

[MeridaHFS]

So the Ideal would be to go full sus 29er with lockout at the back?? This exercise could become costly

[Velouria]

How tall are you? How long will Trans Karoo take you? Will this be the same bike you'll use for cross country and marathons and ultra enduro's?

 

I think you have two options - a 26inch dual, or a 29er hard tail, depending on your answers to the above questions.

[covie]

Mmm, also a noob. When you say "hardtail no-brainer", does that mean it can't be done on a dual-susser? If I want to get a new bike(have upgraditis), should I look at the races I plan to do in future and buy accordingly, or buy what I want and race according to that?

 

Depends entirly on your bike, I wouldnt waste my money on a HT 29'er, i have a 26" and a 29" DS. If your not an elite A group racer doing it on a HT is just silly, sure the DS does weigh a whole 300grams heavier, but if you dont require the suspension you just lock the bloody shocks out. Then one day when you do do a stage race where you want a DS, guess what your not stuck with HT.

 

That my friends is the no brainer. Also your going to want to ride your bike on other races that will lend itself to the comforts of a DS. All that said, my new bike has the most progessive suspension setup i have ever seen on a DS, even on full open there is so little suspension movement that I havent once felt the need to lock it out going over easy terrain or up climbs.

 

In the end my advice to the OP is think long term not short term

[Jeepdude]

have you guys seen the gravel road this race would be run on? VERY VERY RUTTED!! eina