I've been riding my trusty Klein FS for three seasons now, and recently
picked up a basic hardtail for commuting - yes, via roads.
Having not ridden a hardtail or some time, I took it up on some of the local
singletrack last weekend with some friends. Maybe ten miles or varied
terrain. I then rode it to my work a couple of times (20 miles return), and
had a few observations.
1 - I spend very little extra time in the saddle on my FS. Not sure if this
is due to a long history of hardtails before getting into FS, but I
instinctively unweight my butt when hitting the rough stuff. Small hits on
the flats are the exception, where they translate into just a buzz on FS but
are pretty disruptive on the HT.
2 - I get more bob when powering up on the HT. Noted this especially when
commuting and pedalling up slight grades at speed. Maybe the FS absorbs
this? Likely bad form on my part, but I was really surprised to feel the HT
"bouncing" under me.
3 - Wow, HTs are light. The Klein Adept I ride was one of the lighter XC
rigs when it came out. I knowingly added some weight with mediocre disc
wheels and avid brakes a couple of seasons back, but was totally used to the
weight and balance. Had to get past the feeling that the HT might be
flimsy.
4 - I like em both. I still plan to do most singletrack with my FS, just
because I think it's more flexible (no pun intended). I'll probably keep
road tires on the HT most of the time. If I had more room, time and money I
might try to keep a dirt-dedicated hardtail around, but circumstances don't
allow for that.
Gary