my steel 29er seems to get ridden more these days and I do like the fact there is less to maintain is great for me . Anyone else only ride unsprung rear ends and happy and where do you ride mainly ?

Yep, XC race carbon hardtail only. Surrey Hills local, but it goes wherever I do!

I rode rigid/ss and nothing else for 8 years.
Everywhere (mainly snowdonia)

I would give up. They’re shite.

Yes, have done in between a couple of great FS bikes. Sub5 was ace and lasted 7 years of hard, hard use. sT4 was luvverly, but kept breaking. I just couldn’t justify costs of new pivots, shock service etc.
We ride all ove Scottish highlands and trail centres, as well as wherever on hols.

Hard tail for hard trails is my mantra

I have been hardtail only, but have decided that forks take too much looking after, so have now gone rigid instead, have got some sus forks just in case I fancy it though..

yep

26 inch Hardtail only here .Cant afford full sus or 700c wheeled mtb and ride for fun off road so see no need to change to a bike with lots of pivots and bearings to fail

Yes, stove pipe on one 456 here. Mostly ride from ‘island’ to ‘island’ of vaguely rocky and sloping woodland via whatever off-road routes exist in my locality, but regular away days in the peaks and long Mynd.

I like it.

26″ hardtail for me too 🙂

dont want to start a wheel debate but since 29er has come along it has made life easier for a hardtail 🙂

At the moment yes. I stripped my Pitch down and built a 456 up and TBH I’m enjoying the HT more.

26er HT is all I’ve ever ridden, for how and what I ride I’ve only ever found “me” to be the limiting factor so not finding any reason to change.

Yep. I’ve had a few full bouncers but never keep them long as I rarely chose one over a decent hardtail. Mine gets ridden mainly in Norfolk/Suffolk, but goes to Wales, Lakes or wherever. Much more capable than I am on the stuff that I trust not to hurt me too badly. Set up trailsy with wide bars and dropper.

Full bouncers mainly for uplift days and some playful trail centres but tend to ride my Cove Stiffee out of preference of all my bikes as its a hoot…..out of all the hardtails I’ve had/have its the best bar none!

Yep have been for 3 years or so after many years of fs. I’m actually now rigid SS.
The increasing techobollox of recent years have left a sour taste in my mouth so felt the need to turn tail.

Cotic Soul. Fairly springy out back so not missing my Orange Five so much – it was too much bike for Surrey Hills.
I may change my mind when I next go to the Lakes tho!

Yep & one is rigid, though had a Giant anthem once & it was an amazing bike.

who else is hardtail only ?

Not me.

Only ever had basic 26 HT but ridden it all over the place. My excuse for falling off in Northern Monkey each time!

Have less time to ride these days so still wondering about longer travel 29 HT versus a FS XC or camber evo. Choices, choices! I am crap at mechanical stuff so obvious appeal of staying with a HT.

There is a 2013 carbon XC HT thoroughbred with over £1.2k off that I have my eye on but could also get a 2013 carbon epic FS for the same price??? And the current camber evo is cheaper than both….Aaargh

I’ve ridden my hardtail in the peaks and wondered if it’s the same as there might be a club ride up there this year ?

Today I wiped some September dust off the FS handlebars then went out on the HT

3 bikes and no suspension. Rigid SS, Grrravel bike and a fatty (i suppose 4″ tyres could class as suspension)

I’ve been riding hardtails for years. I have a reasonably old Cotic Soul, a mk1 Dialled Alpine and a 1990s Kona Explosif. I’ve had full sus in the past (Kona and Giant) but I’m not that bothered about having another.

SS rigid hardtail here, with 29+ front.
Love my hardtail.

Yep, just a Privee Shan, before that a Chameleon, before that a Argon, before that a Howler, before that an Inbred.

Don’t like FS

I love the look on people’s faces when I turn up on a hardtail on a Welsh away day 😉

Me.
And Mrs. Me.

keep thinking about getting or building up a FS. then decide not to bother.
2 HT, 1 roadbike, 1 CX bike here.
and going back to the Alps again HT only.

I love the look on people’s faces when I turn up on a full sus. They’re like; your back is gonna feel great tomorrow. Ours won’t:-(

Only allowed one mtb, so the Soul will soon be 10 years old. In a tiggers broom kind of fashion.

At the moment yes, sold my five and bought a second hand blue pig, cracking bike and I don’t miss the five for most of my riding but do fancy another, but bigger, FS for big stuff.

I’ve ended up building up an inbred as well as i had a load bits that needed putting on a frame, so i use that as a winter commuter and riding with the kids.

29er hardtail (Trek Stache) is my only MTB.

Surrey Hills and the odd trip to a Welsh trail centre.

Yup, 26″ Hard Tails only here..
Looking to rectify that for my birthday..

Only allowed one mtb, so the Soul will soon be 10 years old. In a tiggers broom kind of fashion.

I didn’t know Tigger ‘worked the dust’!

Soul 26 for bumpy stuff in Wales, Scotland.

29er rigid for Southern England.

Yep, only need my 26″ Soul. Less to go wrong and lighter than full sus.

yep, full rigid tourer and full rigid mtb in the post.

Yup, at the moment. 29’er carbon race HT and a 29’er rigid steel mud plugger / local loop basher