If you're anywhere near http://cornwallcyclecentre.co.uk/, I know Mikey from there. He doesn't tell fibs.
@ crotchrocket
this is very true in xc/trail riding and exactly what happened to me and many freinds.
You only have to pick up a magazine to see he's talking poop.
Since when have journalists lived in the real world?
I think some posters have been a bit harsh on the shop. I'd love to fill my shop with one of everything and plenty of demo models but if I did that in my current location I'd have to reclassify myself as a museum in a couple of years.
Hardtails are good, full sussers are good, fully rigid singlespeeds are good. Spend a bit of time finding out what floats your boat before taking the plunge.
I feel like there might be a general theme forming:
1 New rider - gets a hardtail cos it's cheaper and wants to get into the sport
2 Wants to progress - under force of marketing and salesman buys a FS it works for a time as a skills compensator and makes it possible for rider to ride and enjoy tougher longer trails
3 More progression comes - rider gets love back for HT (or SS) to ensure continued enjoyment of easier trails and keep down costs associated with riding a lot.
Maybe, but most riders (not most riders [i]on here[/i]) don't make it to stage three.
And then a lot of the ones who do, keep their FS as well.
soperman a couple of things here.
What the market is very much depend of your location. Here anyone getting serious about mtbing is going to get a FS. HT are not the norm (unless you want to start or and are on a budget) around here. But then what is true here isn't going to be true elsewhere (here being the southern border between France and Italy). Back in soton, the norm was having a SS steel HT. So maybe you have to consider your shop was not liying to you.
Second. If you are coming back I would go down the HT route. It might be your old one, or something a friend let you or a cheapish new one but I would ride HT a year or so to get the skills back and to be sure you'll enjoy MTBing. No need for a ubber expensive bike. Something along the lines of 500£ will get you a very capable mtb.
Hope this helps.
@stiggy,
It pretty much describes me too, I think I'm part of a 'movement' lol
Plus I've been through a couple of HT and FS but only kept one FS and 2 HT (1 SS) 😉
I guess the challenge facing riders like us is to pick the right rig as a long term next purchase. But I don't know what style of riding I will be capable of in the next 5 years...
Crystal ball anyone?
