HT for stage racing

[tabasco]

I have raced both, I prefer the agressive nature of the hardtail. In my oppinion, you need to be a little more conditioned to race a hardtail. It is unforgiving on the down hills thus upperbody weight training is critical to ride enjoyment.  As for the rest both are enjoyable in there own way, just remember most your time can be made up  up on the climbs and thats where the hardtail is king.

[tabasco]

But even Burry rides a ST!!!!  Good quality ST is the way to go - check out the bikes on the front-end of the Epic - S-Works' date=' Scalpel, Merida ST's, even Kevin and David rode Raleigh soft tails.

 

Once you've decided to go soft tail your next Q should be 26" or 29"?????

[/quote']

Burry doesn't have choice in the matter though

Get a 29" HT, should be really good.

I am also doing the Sani2C and am considering purchasing a 29er.

 

Burry, Kevin and the rest of them also don't have to pay for their bikes and they have most probably have the luxury of free maintenance.

tabasco2009-10-22 07:40:16

[cat-i]

ive done 2*sabie X and sani2c on a hardtail. ride2rhodes on a dual suspension. i happen to love the bike i'm riding at the moment .... so go with whatever you can afford.

[EZRider]

I find my full suspension much more fun than my HT which only gets used when the dual is being serviced.

It's not about climbing as FS bikes do win races, especially marathon or stage races.

It's not about "being real" and riding a "real MTB" or you can take that argument further and say: ride a rigid bike like Gary fisher and co did when they started the sport.

It's not really about lines, fast lines are fast lines. Fast lines on a FS are sometimes just faster than on a HT because you can bomb over stuff.

It's not about maintenance as a full service on my FS is a fraction of what I pay to have my car fixed (my LBS does my baby for about R250, including full bearing lube) and if you can afford the FS then you can probably afford the service.

The question is all about money. Top riders win on expensive FS bikes. I ride better, and faster, on my (relatively expensive) FS. Expensive FS bikes are awesome! They are just expensive.

 

If budget is a concern buy a HT.

If you can afford it get a FS.

 

[Borriz]

Agree with TZmtb

You're young. Body is hard and cash is low = HT

In 3 years time you'll be earning more and will enjoy the comfort even more. Technology will be even beter. Buy DS at this point.

 

I'm yet to understand the issue about 29er. Whatever comfort you have going up you loose in momentum going down on the other side. You're all being caught out by the bike manufacturers! In 10 years we'll be riding Pennyfarthers again :-)