#16
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I visit So Cal at least once a year. There's some good riding down there where you could definitely make good use of a FS. I can also appreciate the simplicity of a hard tail. Big fat tires, say 2.5s or higher, paired with wide rims, and the right psi can soak up lots of bumps. My suggestion would be a trail type FS 29er or hardtail with clearance for at least 2.5s, dropper, and 1x.
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#17
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I think I answered my own question after watching this video. Full suspension is what I need. Here's a trail I used to ride years ago with a hard tail (well, technically, all of us did, since suspension hadn't come out yet). It's mind-blowing how fast he hits sections of this trail!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qJUMzTCnle0 |
#18
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I would definitely choose a full suspension. After riding a hard tail for 10 years, I finally changed and it has been a revelation. I recently picked up a Rocky Mountain Altitude and have really been loving it. It probably has way more travel than I need but it is nice to know that it is there. It climbs very well also.
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#19
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I love hardtails, specifically steel 29" hardtails. But a modern 29 short to mid travel FS at the price point we're discussing is just a more capable machine, and a lot of the drawbacks of FS of yore - wallowy pedaling, poor chain growth management, vague suspension feel - just don't happen in any bike over $2500. Ride a few different platforms and geometries, see what feels good to you, try some 2.5 or 2.6 rubber on wide rims and enjoy. There's been a lot of good candidates mentioned already, but one I haven't seen is the Santa Cruz Tallboy. The current gen3 is a little limited on tire clearance in the back, but rumor has it that gen4 is coming sometime this summer.
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#20
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Depending on the bike many like me find the 27.5 more playful, lively. |
#21
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You should visit your forumite friends
Ride all the bikes you can by visiting
Your forum friends with hard tail And FS MBs...I wouldn’t let you leave My place without a FS bike with 1x50 Wide, flat bars and short stem... Can’t wait for you to tell me Sometime soon how I need to get with the Program and have a dropper post as well! You’re going to love it! It’s like riding through a wormhole! Seriously, if you’re out in South Dakota By some chance let me know And you can give the Spearfish salsa And hardtail firefly a go
__________________
...until my yearning spirit might proclaim You |
#22
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Tony: I presume "long travel" means length of suspension travel (up front and/or in rear)?
I'm going to check out a Giant "Trance" locally that is a 27.5. Fork travel was advertised as 140. |
#23
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Mountain bike help - suggestions
I’m in Orange County so can relate with the trail riding you’ll enjoy around here. I’ve also had a gazillion mountain bikes of most genres from xc hardtails, long and slack more enduro geo hardtails, full suspension trail bikes to full suspension all mountain / enduro bikes. It really all depends on what you want. I’ve got the new Ibis Ripley currently and love it. Like the roadie world there are the big box manufacturers and boutique manufacturers. The range of cost can be big too. My favorite shop in Pro Bike Supply on Newport. They rep a lot of different brands that span the spectrum of cost. PM me and I can share more. Good luck. We are fortunate to live in an area blessed with awesome trail systems with a lot of varied riding.
My current rig: |
#24
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Quote:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZvEMoHNqsBs&t=219s Last edited by Tony; 05-19-2019 at 11:21 AM. |
#25
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#26
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Another OC mountain biker here. And another vote for The Path. Follow them on IG or FB and watch for manufacturers demo days. Then ride as many as you can on familiar trails.
If you are riding Telonics you need a full suspension bike..... Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk |
#27
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YMMV as with all things M |
#28
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I had the impression flow trails would be boring with 160mm travel, wrong. |
#29
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Last edited by colker; 05-19-2019 at 09:05 PM. |
#30
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All your road gear will work fine, with the exception of shoes. Assuming you will definitely use mountain pedals, you will definitely need mountain bike shoes to work with the cleats. You might want to consider using mountain bike jerseys as many have zippered rear pockets. (I've never seen zippered pockets on a road jersey - surely they exist?) Considering the simple trail riding you allude to, you won't need any purpose-built mountain bike clothes whatsoever.
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