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I'm an intermediate rider and am looking to get back into cycling after some time off the bike. I ride XC and Singletrack but don't do drops and anything massively technical. Want to book a trip to the Alps next year and go on some guided Singletrack days, do I really need a full suss or can I stick with my steel 120mm forked steed?
Hardtail is fine
Nah, not really. FS is nice but I had loads of fun in the Chamonix area on a 120-130mm fork hardtail. Good brakes and tyres, shorter stm / wider bar helps but if you'd ride it in the Lakes / Wales it's fine in the Alps.
Usual HT vs FS arguments apply.
i have only ridden chamonix on full suss 3 times out of 12 trips
Hardtail be fine!!
you'll get on fine with a HT....
i ride almost every (other) week in the alps and guide transalp tours in summer. i never feel as though i needed a FS.
fähigkeiten statt federweg
Fine on a hardtail, though watch for arm pump... that said, with steel, you should be a bit more damped.
All the guides seem to use hardtails, I did myself and found it was fine, I had no mechanical woes despite having the cheapest bike by far, whilst everyone else's were falling to pieces!
Hardtail's fine, full sus is a bit less punishing but not much if youre riding it properly 🙂
Thanks guys, I kinda thought as much