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PacMan · 12-17-2007, 07:13 PM

So I've only ridden the new carbon rigid fork twice, but I hated it every minute of those two rides. I couldn't get used to it and it basically ruined any fun I might have had. I liked how light it was and how hammering out of the saddle was more efficient, but the cons are out-weighing the pros so far.

Like I said, it's only been two rides, so maybe things will change. I will give it a go several more times and I'm trying to be positive and open minded about it.

Anyone else have a similar experience?? I'm curious to see how other people felt.

Innes · 12-17-2007, 07:17 PM

I feel the same way. I have a rigid fork on my SS and I'm not too fond of it. I had a SID on it, but I put it on a different bike, so I put on the rigid. It's not bad, but I prefer a little squish up front.

el_d00der1n0 · 12-17-2007, 07:42 PM

Do you think it's a 26er thing? Maybe running rigid on 29" isn't so bad???

Just wondering...

1FG rider · 12-17-2007, 07:43 PM

I'm running rigid forks on my 29 SS and 26 SS. Really boils down to the type of terrain you're on, distance, and comfort level. I can go down just about the same trails suspended bikes go down, only a lot slower and have to be more careful about the lines I choose. Not ideal if you like going fast downhill, but I prefer the efficiency and lighter weight of a rigid fork on the climbs. My 29er is definitely smoother over all than my rigid 26 SS though.

Generally I don't ride more than 15 miles at a time and stick mostly to fireroad, XC type of riding so a suspended fork really doesn't benefit me all that much.

DeeZee · 12-17-2007, 07:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by el_d00der1n0

Do you think it's a 26er thing? Maybe running rigid on 29" isn't so bad???

Just wondering...

[SIZE=3]BAD[/SIZE] [SIZE=4] BAD[/SIZE] [SIZE=5]BAD[/SIZE]

[FONT=Arial]a little sus up front please

[/FONT]

2wheel_lee · 12-17-2007, 08:04 PM

I rode a rigid fork on my SS for a couple years. My only real complaint was making turns on bumpy terrain. The bumps made it difficult to control the front, and I often felt like it was going to wash out (and it would have, if I would have pushed it any harder).

As Mechman mentioned, rigid forks are usually only desired by a small few...and Steppie (he's not so small

).

Pain Freak · 12-17-2007, 08:10 PM

If god had wanted us to ride rigid, he wouldn't have let us invent suspension. C'mon now, even Steppie uses suspension.

Not an option for me although I tried it about 5 years ago and less then 20 minutes into the ride I gave it up, just to much for these ol broken down wrists of mine.

cjwally · 12-17-2007, 08:10 PM

Get a Reba... I like mine on my Niner.

ODB · 12-17-2007, 08:13 PM

I too tried to embrace the rigid SS thing a while back. The first couple rides I even convinced myself i was enjoying the whole minimalism dealio and getting back to basics--the good ol' days when i first started riding on my rigid GT. When my hands began to feel like the claws of an arthritic lobster, however, i knew we were a mismatch. Suspension, i'll never stray from you again.

allison · 12-17-2007, 08:19 PM

I think if you aren't into... you probably aren't gonna be into it.

bjammin · 12-17-2007, 08:20 PM

i like the feeling of my hammock

sladnas · 12-17-2007, 08:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by allison

I think if you aren't into... you probably aren't gonna be into it.

Hey, I got him to roll a set of stairs with it...

chauvinist_youth · 12-17-2007, 08:24 PM

I actually enjoy riding my cheap murray(I could be wrong, some lady left it in her apartment years ago and it was given to me) hardtail. I would use it much more if it wasn't so small and clunky. I dont feel like Im "one with the trail" like some say about it, but knowing what your bike is going to do no mattter what is kinda cool.

dstepper · 12-17-2007, 08:39 PM

If I only had one bike, it would not have a rigid fork. But I don't just have one bike. I like keeping my bikes as diferent from each other as I can. My SS will remain rigid to keep it as light as posible. The only time I really dislike rigid is on fast fireroads decents...I have to slow way down or get punished.

0gravity · 12-17-2007, 08:40 PM

After a couple years on a pretty squishy dual suspension, I just built up a light geared hardtail with a REBA (with its flick of a switch lock-out) and absolutely love it. But I especially love locking it out, standing up, and hammering up climbs and then opening it up for the downhills. But I definitely noticed, and did not appreciate, when I forgot to flip it open on a downhill.

The takeaway is that I don't think the weight penalty of running a good, light suspension fork with lockout is so much it makes running fully rigid a better approach. Afterall, if you're not racing, why would you sacrifice some safety and plushness for saving a couple pounds of weight.

2wheel_lee · 12-17-2007, 08:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chauvinist_youth

I actually enjoy riding my cheap murray(I could be wrong, some lady left it in her apartment years ago and it was given to me) hardtail. I would use it much more if it wasn't so small and clunky. I dont feel like Im "one with the trail" like some say about it, but knowing what your bike is going to do no mattter what is kinda cool.

Is this really Steve_Jackson_Youth?

foofighter · 12-17-2007, 09:53 PM

i was talking to neil about his experience w/ that schwinn retro SS that he built. he said that having the Mary bars w/ the swept bars really helped with his wrist and comfort because he didnt feel tired due to what he thinks is the wrist positioning.

I'll take his word on it because i like a little squish up front

dstepper · 12-17-2007, 10:57 PM

Doug, I would stick to the rigid a little while before giving up on it. Riding rigid will teach you to ride a bike loose, you will learn to not hold the bars tight and relax and let the bike do its job. I like the solid feel of a rigid bike, feeling all the bumbs and rocks on the trail. I ride most of the same stuff I ride my suspension bike on I just go alot slower and pick my lines better. Then there are some trail that are just better on a rigid SS, most of the ones I like are in Arizona but the local one I think is made for SSing and rigid is SART.

kev · 12-18-2007, 04:22 AM

Didn't catch it but is a 26" or 29er? 29er is better. Steel frame is better yet. I've been riding rigid for the last year. I'm currently out on the East Coast and it is very rocky and tons of tree roots. You have to build up to it. You have to get your shoulders, arms and knees used to the jarring. I ride mine in all kinds of terrain and I acutally like it better in super techincal pick your line rocky stuff. It's perdictable and it's super stiff and responsive.

PacMan · 12-18-2007, 05:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by el_d00der1n0

Do you think it's a 26er thing? Maybe running rigid on 29" isn't so bad???

Just wondering...

I'm sure it's not as bad on a 29er.

Quote:

Originally Posted by 2wheel_lee

12-17-2007, 07:13 PM	#1 (permalink)
PacMan Harden The F*** Up!!	Rigid fork on the SS--mixed feelings. So I've only ridden the new carbon rigid fork twice, but I hated it every minute of those two rides. I couldn't get used to it and it basically ruined any fun I might have had. I liked how light it was and how hammering out of the saddle was more efficient, but the cons are out-weighing the pros so far. Like I said, it's only been two rides, so maybe things will change. I will give it a go several more times and I'm trying to be positive and open minded about it. Anyone else have a similar experience?? I'm curious to see how other people felt. __________________ Less typing...more riding.

12-17-2007, 07:17 PM	#2 (permalink)
Innes Senior Member	I feel the same way. I have a rigid fork on my SS and I'm not too fond of it. I had a SID on it, but I put it on a different bike, so I put on the rigid. It's not bad, but I prefer a little squish up front. __________________ "Nothing compares to the simple pleasures of a bike ride." - J.F.K

12-17-2007, 07:42 PM	#3 (permalink)
el_d00der1n0 STR Veteran	Do you think it's a 26er thing? Maybe running rigid on 29" isn't so bad??? Just wondering... __________________ My Blog

12-17-2007, 08:04 PM	#6 (permalink)
2wheel_lee Old School BMXer	I rode a rigid fork on my SS for a couple years. My only real complaint was making turns on bumpy terrain. The bumps made it difficult to control the front, and I often felt like it was going to wash out (and it would have, if I would have pushed it any harder). As Mechman mentioned, rigid forks are usually only desired by a small few...and Steppie (he's not so small). __________________ Speed has never killed anyone, suddenly becoming stationary... that's what gets you. May the air be filled with tires!

12-17-2007, 08:10 PM	#7 (permalink)
Pain Freak Directionally Challenged	If god had wanted us to ride rigid, he wouldn't have let us invent suspension. C'mon now, even Steppie uses suspension. Not an option for me although I tried it about 5 years ago and less then 20 minutes into the ride I gave it up, just to much for these ol broken down wrists of mine. __________________ "The best rides are the ones where you bite off much more than you can chew—and live through it." — Doug Bradbury "When I was a kid I used to pray every night for a new bicycle. Then I realised that the Lord doesn't work that way so I stole one and asked Him to forgive me." — Emo Philips

12-17-2007, 07:43 PM	#4 (permalink)
1FG rider the "G" is for Gear	I'm running rigid forks on my 29 SS and 26 SS. Really boils down to the type of terrain you're on, distance, and comfort level. I can go down just about the same trails suspended bikes go down, only a lot slower and have to be more careful about the lines I choose. Not ideal if you like going fast downhill, but I prefer the efficiency and lighter weight of a rigid fork on the climbs. My 29er is definitely smoother over all than my rigid 26 SS though. Generally I don't ride more than 15 miles at a time and stick mostly to fireroad, XC type of riding so a suspended fork really doesn't benefit me all that much.

12-17-2007, 08:10 PM	#8 (permalink)
cjwally	Get a Reba... I like mine on my Niner.

12-17-2007, 08:13 PM	#9 (permalink)
ODB Team Sting-Ray	I too tried to embrace the rigid SS thing a while back. The first couple rides I even convinced myself i was enjoying the whole minimalism dealio and getting back to basics--the good ol' days when i first started riding on my rigid GT. When my hands began to feel like the claws of an arthritic lobster, however, i knew we were a mismatch. Suspension, i'll never stray from you again. __________________ Hanzo: "My fingers were raw from twisting the nipples." BandMan: "I forgot my pocket pu$$y."

12-17-2007, 08:19 PM	#10 (permalink)
allison Gone ridin'	I think if you aren't into... you probably aren't gonna be into it. __________________

12-17-2007, 08:20 PM	#11 (permalink)
bjammin STR Veteran	i like the feeling of my hammock __________________ Welcome to California. Now shut up and start climbing!

12-17-2007, 08:24 PM	#13 (permalink)
chauvinist_youth gotta catch em all	I actually enjoy riding my cheap murray(I could be wrong, some lady left it in her apartment years ago and it was given to me) hardtail. I would use it much more if it wasn't so small and clunky. I dont feel like Im "one with the trail" like some say about it, but knowing what your bike is going to do no mattter what is kinda cool.

12-17-2007, 08:39 PM	#14 (permalink)
dstepper Over the Hill	If I only had one bike, it would not have a rigid fork. But I don't just have one bike. I like keeping my bikes as diferent from each other as I can. My SS will remain rigid to keep it as light as posible. The only time I really dislike rigid is on fast fireroads decents...I have to slow way down or get punished. __________________ If I'm not lost or getting bushwacked, the trail was too easy. Prescott Valley Houses The Path

12-17-2007, 08:40 PM	#15 (permalink)
0gravity STR Veteran	After a couple years on a pretty squishy dual suspension, I just built up a light geared hardtail with a REBA (with its flick of a switch lock-out) and absolutely love it. But I especially love locking it out, standing up, and hammering up climbs and then opening it up for the downhills. But I definitely noticed, and did not appreciate, when I forgot to flip it open on a downhill. The takeaway is that I don't think the weight penalty of running a good, light suspension fork with lockout is so much it makes running fully rigid a better approach. Afterall, if you're not racing, why would you sacrifice some safety and plushness for saving a couple pounds of weight.

12-17-2007, 09:53 PM	#17 (permalink)
foofighter Duan'er - 29'er remixed	i was talking to neil about his experience w/ that schwinn retro SS that he built. he said that having the Mary bars w/ the swept bars really helped with his wrist and comfort because he didnt feel tired due to what he thinks is the wrist positioning. I'll take his word on it because i like a little squish up front __________________ Pho'd Up: " Heart Rate Monitor + Road miles = fast. Chasing Neil, and Chris (Sar Boats) = Faster." www.coverageispersonal.com Click the Button

12-17-2007, 10:57 PM	#18 (permalink)
dstepper Over the Hill	Doug, I would stick to the rigid a little while before giving up on it. Riding rigid will teach you to ride a bike loose, you will learn to not hold the bars tight and relax and let the bike do its job. I like the solid feel of a rigid bike, feeling all the bumbs and rocks on the trail. I ride most of the same stuff I ride my suspension bike on I just go alot slower and pick my lines better. Then there are some trail that are just better on a rigid SS, most of the ones I like are in Arizona but the local one I think is made for SSing and rigid is SART. __________________ If I'm not lost or getting bushwacked, the trail was too easy. Prescott Valley Houses The Path

12-18-2007, 04:22 AM	#19 (permalink)
kev vincit qui patitur	Didn't catch it but is a 26" or 29er? 29er is better. Steel frame is better yet. I've been riding rigid for the last year. I'm currently out on the East Coast and it is very rocky and tons of tree roots. You have to build up to it. You have to get your shoulders, arms and knees used to the jarring. I ride mine in all kinds of terrain and I acutally like it better in super techincal pick your line rocky stuff. It's perdictable and it's super stiff and responsive. __________________ Present suffering is not enjoyable, but life would be worth little without it. The difference between iron and steel is fire, but steel is worth all it costs. Single Minded Endurance

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