Attention 24hr and Adventure racers

3lb hardtail frame or 5.5lb suspension frame? Discuss.

I've just made the change from hardtail to full-suss.

Pros: Descending is a pleasure - much more control, therefore safer when tired. More comfortable on all terrain
Cons: Weight. Suspension bob when climbing out of the saddle (how much real effect on forward speed this has I don't know, but definitely not as responsive as the hardtail)

My experience is based on a 4" travel Mountain Cycle Zen with 5th Element Air shock. My training partner has a Litespeed Sewanee - only 2.5" of travel Ti frame. It weighs 4.4lbs, so its a good compromise between the hardtail and full-suss. The ride is somewhere inbetween too. Not as soft on the downhills, but a lot less bob (almost none in fact) when climbing out the saddle. Downside for the Litespeed is price, $2995 for the frame.

What would I choose? Well, I chose the MC Zen over the hardtail and I'm pretty happy.

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nick.

www.nickcoyne.com

Boyfriend adventure races and will only use a hardtail due to the loss/waste of energy on the uphill sections, plus the extra weight isn't worth what he considers a very small gain on the downhill. He is pretty fearless and blasts down the hills with it, usually passing those with full suspension bikes. He is also the one with the tow system attached to his bike to help out his team mates and it will only work on a hardtail, I guess it could work on a full suspension, but it would depend on the bike.

Current bike is a Specialized Stumpjumper Comp with disk brakes.

Adeventure racing: FS, hands down. The weight isn't noticable, and the suspension will keep ya feeling more fresh at the end of a ride. To me, that's probably the most important thing. I don't want to get off the bike all beat up.

24 hr: It would depend on the conditions. And the bike. FS has come such a way that most of the mid to higher end bikes have all but negated bob. Even my old GT doesnt bob when set properly and with proper technique. If its all flat, or very little downhill, I would go with the hardtail. Lots of hills, I would take a GOOD FS, no low end crap.

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'05 GF Cake DLX SRAM X-9, 'Zocchi MX Comp, Avid BB7
Trek Equinox 7: 105, all stock, all fast
'99 GT XCR5000: LX/XT, Avid SDs, Judy XC
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Life is short, ride hard. BONZAI!!!!

yeah i wouold go with a good full suspension design, the good designs are more efficient in my view anyway, i ride a hardtail at the moment and probly will keep riding one mainly cause i think its more fun, theres more skill involved (not that i have too much of that lol but oh well) its not just ride over anyrthing and you get away with it, hardtail ya have to pick your lines more carefully and everything, i find it more interesting but for a 24 hour race i would rather something a bit more comfortable. im going to get a Giant Trance once they come into the country (late this year)

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GT Ruckus SS
2006 Giant Trance 1
Giant TCR Euro

I haven't exceded 6 hrs in the saddle yet but I would say a good cromo hardtail and a suspension seatpost is about right for me. The steering feel is more important than the weight. When you get tired the lines tend to wander, hence a more inherrently stable design is favorable. In that aspect a lot of FS bikes will beat HT, but I have an HT that is a lot more stable than most FS.