Hi guys looking to take up mountain biking as some of you will be a where already (just waiting for some money to come to me) i was all set to get a hardcore hardtail like a Ragley or On-one with long travel, but i have a lot of trouble with my back and was thinking maybe a full sus would be better in the long run for my health any advice would be appreciated

as a back sufferer who went through a two year £13K spree of every bike niche going I’d honestly say either go full suss if you want rough and tuff trail rides but if you’re going XC go hardtial BUT make sure it’s steel……

I found it a nightmare getting good riding position on full sussers and I had a cube Stereo Race, then a Gary Fisher (Trek) Rumblefish 29er then a Lapierre 514 and they all wrecked my back, the Niner Air9 hard tail was brutal because it was aluminium/scandium and the two comfiest bikes were a On One Inbred with decent forks and my new rigid genesis fortitude race.

Obviously I couldn’t take it down snowdon but it’s very efficient and doesn’t give me back ache due to the continually changing geometry of a full suss

Im looking to ride at trail centres like Gisburn, Whinlatter, Lee Quarry etc rather than just XC

i was all set to get a hardcore hardtail like a Ragley or On-one with long travel, but i have a lot of trouble with my back and was thinking maybe a full sus would be better in the long run

You are thinking right I reckon.

If you got a bad back then get a bike fit somewhere reputable first, then buy a model/size that fits you well. The thing on a bike most likely to cause pain is whether or not it fits, rather than whether it’s got suspension or not.

I have a slightly iffy back (crushed vertebra an old injury) and I ride a steel hard tail. I have spent quite a while getting my positioning just right and I get very little back pain unless i adjust the saddle height and don’t get it back exactly right.

So I’d go for a good steel frame and spend time getting the position right even if that means getting ‘fitted’ at a LBS.

HTH

Buying the right size bike should be a given though.

Position is quite key, to be comfy.

Plus don’t discount a HT, as one with good quality carbon bars/seatpost may give you the comfort you need.

I’d demo something like an Anthem X though.

Good bike fit and correct technique are going to help your back out a lot more than 5″ of rear suspension travel ever will.

That’s not to say don’t buy a full sus, but it is to say DO buy a bike that fits properly, try before you buy, and get into good habits when riding as quickly as possible (standing when going over the rough stuff being one).

Thanks guys to be honest i do still fancy a Hardtail more than a Full Sus, thinking like an On-one 456 Evo or Ragley Blue Pig or something of those type of hardtails

Giant Anthem, shove a 120mm fork on it – lightweight, very capable, rocket. Job done.

If you want a comfy steel hard tail, I wouldn’t go for a inbred, great bikes for a long travel hard tail but I wouldn’t say they are comfy. That back end is quite stiff. I’ve gone for a Saracen kili flyer. Much more XC than the inbred but far more comfy and actually feels springy. Remember tyres and seat post can add a lot of comfort. Genesis, Charge and Rock Lobster also make some good frames.

Try a Scott Spark, I have a dodgy back, but can ride my Spark for hours with no problems.

I herniated disc in my back a few years ago. I’ve been riding an Ellsworth Truth Full Sus. Really nice and my back has been ok. I’ve recently got an Ellsworth carbon HT and on shorter rides my back is fine. I used to have an aluminium HT which battered me but the carbon bike is way more comfortable.

Yep, as others have said, position may well be more important than type.

Where are you based? Am sure someone here can recommend a good LBS for you. Maybe even me! 🙂

CaptainFlashheart im based in Lancaster

Slipped a disc a few years ago. On balance find a 456 plus a cane creek thudbuster just as easy on the back as my FS 29er. Recommend the thudbuster as on option if you would rather go with a hardtail.

I compressed a vertebrae and broke my coccyx in 2 places 4 years ago. I have only just got back on a bike. I had a lite speed hard tail but it killed me. Just got back in from my first ever go at The Monkey Trail at Cannock. I rode a specialised FSR is picked up last week. Worlds apart doesn’t come close.

Go full sus!!!

Ah, OK! Not my area of knowledge, but I hope someone else will chime in shortly!

+1 on the fitting, some places do a long term demo, would definitely be worth checking out.

Have you spoken to your physio or chiropractor to have thier view on which might be best?

Problem is the Hartails im intrested in are things like Ragley blue Pig. On-one 456, Cotic BFe not many local bike shops stock these to try them out for size, and as for Full sus i havent a clue what i would go for (fancied a Canyon Nerve AM 6.0 or 7.0)

I have suffered bad back for years due to the heavy nature of my job. A full suspension bike without a doubt does help as it allows you to ride for longer with less fatigue. But the biggest thing which has helped me is for the last 10 weeks i have been doing weights at the gym using correct form and doing planks etc. my back pain has decreased so much its unreal. Although my back still aches after many hours it is no where near as bad might be worth a try.

Congratulations on your decision to get into mountain biking, a hugely varied and rewarding sport and done right will really help your back.

I have modest back issues caused by over exerting myself at tennis and biking really helps that. I’d strongly suggest you improve your core strength before you do too much biking. As noted bike fit (design, saddle, stem and bar position ..) is hugely important and will make a big difference.

The hardtails you mention are indeed “hardcore” not really “first bikes”. I’d suggest you try put a few different bikes, FS and hardtail to see what suits you best in terms of comfort. If its comfortable you’ll ride, if not it will stay in the shed. I think something more “middle of the road” will suit you best as an intro, if you get the bug you’ll be upgrading/adding to your stable soon enough

Hardtail is fine but you need to be very mobile around the bike and fit tre biggest volume tyres it’ll take. You’d be amazed at tre difference it makes running at lowish volumes.

Chers guys, jambalaya i have miss lead a little i use to mountain bike years ago so i do have a few skills that why i was thinking of the hardtails i have mentioned, im more into trail centres etc than XC

think i will still aim for a long travel hardtail this has been what ive been after from day one

Charge duster aren’t very flexy though still a fine handling bike (and my goto). Nowhere near as much zing as my old kona.

for what it is worth, i have lower back issues. i had a 456, and ditching my gobi saddle for an SDG, and fitting a 2.35 rear tyre helped a lot. i then fitted a thudbuster, and this helped even more. i tried a lot of saddle/bar/height adjustments which helped a little

my problem is i am ok all day long on smooth surfaces, it is the rough stuff which hurts me.

i bought a heckler, and i now find i can go on epic all day rides with no or hardly any lower back pain, whereas before i would be in agony.

good luck sorting something out.

Does anyone know where i can go and demo a Ragley or On-one or other long travel hardtails as i dont know anywhere as i only know online places to buy these bikes

Carbon 456 ticks all the boxes.

Not had any back trouble since I got mine as it really soaks up the bumps and the long top tube stops be being hunched up.

Thanks guys

The steel 456s are pretty harsh according to most owners, so go carbon if you want one and can afford a few quid more.

My old C456 was OK for my slightly iffy back.

Maybe think about buying secondhand (if you weren’t already), unless you can afford to lose a few hundred quid if it turns out you do want full sus.

trail centres are xc.

you will get some advice here that will sway your decision, but ultimately the ht/fs question is down to your back problems and your riding style
A huge amount is down to fit, so plan to take your time on this decision, you dont want to be constantly playing the bars/stem/spacers/saddle game to tweak a frame you like the idea of to fit you better…

various tricks and twists may help, large volume rear tyre, carbon seat post. One of my riding buddies loves his thudbuster, one loves his heckler

If your mostly doing the trail centres you mention a hardtail will be fine. None of them is particulary long and you can spend plenty of time out of the saddle. I find doing a trail centre hammers my hands and feet more than my dodgy back. If you decide to do longer trails like the 7 Stanes or natural trails then a light full suss is ideal to protect your back.

How about a hard tail and a thud buster seat post?

At least you have an option without buying 2 bikes?

Buy a hardtail if you have rocks in your head .Or a good 120mm dual suspension bike if you have the brains you were born with and value an old age lived out of a wheelchair.