Show/talk to me about fully rigid MTBs. Think I want to take the step and get one but not sure.

They roool

Voodoo D Jab:

Kona 69er Experiment:

Currently being rebuilt – Clark Kent:

I like them as its how I started off riding BITD.

Big volume tubless run at low pressures tyres help immenseley.As do 29″ wheels.Good line choice is a necissity not an option.It takes a while to re-learn the technique of riding rigid..after 5 years of it riding with suspension feels SO wrong!There is some terrain that while rideable is just plain hard work.

slicked up for commuting, with single ring 40t in middle ring position. i’m pretty sure you wouldn’t fit a 42 in there. thudbuster for my back. i might put sb8’s on so i can hit the bridleways on the way home.

they do indeed rock. 24 hours of racing, no problem.
comfier with a big tubeless tyre up front though…

Me too, want a super light rigid for XC and commute, here’s my post:

http://www.singletrackworld.com/forum/topic/thoughts-on-rigid-carbon-forks

Tried it, hated it, never ever again! Could be okay around north/south downs, but everywhere I ride was just too rocky and I guess I’m just not skilled/hardcore enough.

This is quite fun to ride. Can get a bit hard going with the on-one cro-mo forks, but it climbs really well.
I’ve upgraded the brakes to M595s with 203/180mm discs, but the rest is as shown.
Plus I can JUST about squeeze my Float RLC’s on there too. Considering doing some of the SDW with them on it and some light / fast tyres on it.

Works significantly better on a 29er.
Failing that, IMO (from experimenting different set-ups), order of importance:

Big tyres.
Steel frame.
Carbon forks.
Wide carbon bars.
Thick grips. (Eg:LizardSkins NorthShore).
Non-O/S dia stem & bars.

If running a 26″ frame, try a 29er fork. For me, it did improve things till the 29er came along. I felt I had a lot of weight on my hands, even with a high rise stem. Running it as 69er didnt make much difference tbh.
Thats said, I’m not daft enough to think that a rigid fork will work everywhere, so sourcing a sus fork for the odd day out in Wales etc.

I miss it 😥

I love my niner, 853 frame, niner carbon fork, 2.4″ racing ralph, did clic 12hr on it 2 weeks ago, now doing erlestoke 12 on it this weekend. all about tyre pressures…

They are nice to ride on smooth stuff but horrible on bumpy stuff IMO 😀

Horses for courses? At one time we all rode rigid. For the majority of my riding my SS rigid (Pace RC30) Voodoo Wanga is fine. Am thinking of a return to gears and maybe a sus fork for occaisional fitting. Eventually I hope to have a geared HT alongside my SS rigid Wanga.

just too rocky and I guess I’m just not skilled/hardcore enough

You’re not doing yourself any favours posting that next to a picture of llandegla of all places 😉 . You’ll be ok soon as they’re ‘tarmac’ing’ the section you can see as we speak!!

Probably a bit of a dumb question but…

…how easy is it to swap forks over, I’d like to alternate on a regular basis.

Bear in mind I’ve shyed away from most bike maintenance over the past 30 years due to incompetence – just being honest.

Used for dog walking and general exploring. S’alright.
Like riding a bike, innit.

The carbon forks have a bit of give, but a fat tyre is cheaper and better.

Hmm flickr no linky. You’ll just have to imagine it 🙂

rewski – Member
Probably a bit of a dumb question but…

…how easy is it to swap forks over, I’d like to alternate on a regular basis.

To some extent it will depend on your headset (particularly the crown race) but usually it’s very easy – takes about 5 mins for me. If you’re going to do it, try to get a headset with a split crownrace as they’re easy to take off the fork. Otherwise, get a second crownrace for the other fork or finally, you can actually cut a slot in most crown races without affecting the way they work.

Process:
– undo brake caliper from fork (assuming you’re using disc brakes)
– undo stem and take off
– take fork out (should just slide out)
– swap crown race over (as necessary)
– put other fork into frame
– reattach stem
– reattach brake caliper

For me, rigid = good for winter but I much prefer the bike with suspension forks as soon as things dry out.

Switching forks is helped considerably if you have a crown race for each fork or a split crown race that pops on and off easily such as hope.

Edit: Doh Clobber beaten to it by Clubber…

clubber – splendid, very helpful thank you.

You’re not doing yourself any favours posting that next to a picture of llandegla of all places . You’ll be ok soon as they’re ‘tarmac’ing’ the section you can see as we speak!!

Was at Llandegla because it’s the smoothest place to ride up these ways, tried other places but there was no pleasure to be had. I sold it a week after the photo was taken…

Rigid is an ace way of making those “easy” trails that you’ve effectively ironed smooth with a suspension into something fun again. I have had both and, if it was either/or, I’d want suspension. I LOVED my rigid tho’

Rigid is an ace way of making those “easy” trails that you’ve effectively ironed smooth with a suspension into something fun again

That’s what CX bikes are for 🙂 Can of worms opened!

Got a carbon fork last year for another bike, ended up swapping it with the Reba-Races on my HT for a few winter rides

Really enjoyed the more considered approach needed, instead of just battering through everything. Also surprised me how much I rely on pre-loading the sus-fork before manualling. Have stayed off the proper rough stuff with it but do most of the usual bits round the Pentlands, just a little slower.

And Rewski, if I can swap forks over without immediate fatal fail, anyone can!

no, CX bikes are for when the rigid has made things too easy. It’s a natural progression regression until eventually you’re trying to ride down Nevis Range on a tandem

Rigid is an ace way of making those “easy” trails that you’ve effectively ironed smooth with a suspension into something fun again

Zactly. In a similar way that night riding makes the same old loops different/interesting, rigid freshens things up. And it’s great for winter too.
+1 for stuffing the biggest front tyre you can fit on and runnign the lowest pressure you can get away with.

I’ve had 2, an io and a love/hate both singlespeeds. I’ve used them all around the lakes, peaks and dales and I’m not a brilliant rider by any means so they’re not just for easy terrain. They’re actually a lot easier to ride off road than most people seem to think.

Buy a cheapish one 2nd hand to see if you like it, you’d prob not lose much, if anything; if you sold it on.

no, CX bikes are for when the rigid has made things too easy. It’s a natural progression regression until eventually you’re trying to ride down Nevis Range on a tandem

😆 so,so very true.

A good point well made 🙂

People are mentioning big volume tubeless tyres, what sort of size? 2.3 and up maybe?

A couple of years ago I had a spare fork with crown race, bar, stem, grips & front brake attached. A split clamp rear brake made swapping a doddle. I picked up a front wheel eventually & used to leave the stem clamped to the forks. The kids used to push it around the garden pretending.

Big volume tyres you say?

3.8 should see you right. 😆

2010_1211kosride0006 by singlespeedstu, on Flickr

gurnytittylip by singlespeedstu, on Flickr

I started out on rigid and i’ve never been totally convinced by adding tech to my bike – seems that you add ability, add expense, add maintenance needs, add down-time – but don’t always add fun.

I’m happy on 2.2 / 2.4 rubber queens up front, on a rigid cr-mo fork and a ti frame. 26″. I like it enough to have stuck with it for 80% of my MTB riding and spent more on a new rigid bike fairly recently than any other bike i’v eever owned – because when there’s nothing to service or get outdated, it’s better long term VFM.

Rigid makes normal XC fun again. It made me stop looking for tech to ride my susser on – i had micro-tech on my doorstep if i rode rigid on rooty but basically mellow xc trails. fun, involving and challenging where before it was ‘i miss the alps’ all the time.

Try it – it’s not for everyone on every trail, but if you start to like it you’ll be glad you gave it a go.

fun, involving and challenging where before it was ‘i miss the alps’ all the time

perfect summation

Here’s mine, it’s a ‘do it all’ (at least for the type of riding I do) on/off road and commuter bike for having fun on. I love it. It’s an 853 Pipedream Sirius with Orange F8 rigid forks.

I’m riding S/S rigid 29er now and really enjoying it. This is great for solo or riding with other S/S riders, but I find that when I’m playing out with my mates, the gears have to come out!
Great feeling bike though!

It’s certainly a skill honer!

Pure and simple

My commuter cum lightweight xc fitness compensator comes in many flavours. Regularly ride in the Yorkshire Dales with the carbon rigids and it’s good fun. Swapping forks is easy if you have a split crown race. In it’s lightest guise it weighs under 20lbs.