You hear about how really stiff, strong hardtails like Bfes, Chameleons etc batter the rider more than more flexible bikes like Souls and, I dunno, Scandals and the like. Makes sense.
Obviously, a hardtail's a hardtail, and when you're sat down you're going to get bounced around. Especially if you've got a wider and stiff seatpost in. So stand up...
But you hear about ankles and knees taking a battering.
As the proud owner of a particularly dodgy pair of knees, I'm a little paranoid about this.
So - how much more of a battering would my knees and ankles get on, for example, a Bfe than a Soul? Any experiences?
I doubt you'd notice any difference at all.
Thought as much...
I think the danger of a beefier bike with a bigger fork is that you'll be hittign stuff harder than you would on something more noodly with a 100mm race fork on so you'll notice the impacts mor ebecause they're bigger rather than because the bike is less forgiving.
um... I'm not an engineeer, so could be way wide of the mark here, but I reckon Jim has it. Yes, there may be some theoretical difference between hardtails, but really the big difference would be between hardtail and suspension at the back. Plus your legs are midway between front and rear wheel (unlike your backside, which is taking a battering from the rear wheel), so should avoid the worst effects. I reckon 🙂
Sweet FA despite what some people would like to believe.
Yep, Doubt if you'd notice between a soul and a BFE, maybe a bit more between a steel and alloy frame but nothing a tyre change might not compensate for. I run a soul with a Thudbuster LT seatpost and skinny 1.8 fire XC pro tyres, and it's really comfy. Doesn't feel harsh when I stand up either.
I dunno - when I went from an alu roadbike to a steel one, I didn't notice any difference. But my new on one summer season definitely feels springier and less harsh at the back than my old Hardrock did. Not a massive difference but it's noticeable.
I have regrettably had to give up riding my hardtail, (admittedly its an old hardrock which feels quite unforgiving) but I was suffering last year with bad knees and lower back pain - which has since gone.
None at all. Sitting down is when it hurts. I had a Pace 303, then a Soul. Soul was like going to a full suss by comparison when sitting. No noticeable effect on the knees / legs. I'm building a cheap SS at the moment. Alloy frame with a 31.6dia seatpost, planning on running a 26.8 carbon post in a shim to take the edge of it.
why do you "have" to get a hardtail?
i have iffy knees and therefore bought a full suss.
i spend more time sitting in comfort rather than standing in discomfort.
I reckon there are those with dodgy knees and those without, I doubt very much what bike you ride would make a difference I and feel the same about SS and dodgy knees. I've been a runner since I was a kid and I've been riding 'stiff' alu hardtails since the mid nineties, my knees are forty years old and fine.
Kev
Normally ride a Curtis FR which I thought compared to my old Hummer and dekerf SL was a bit of a tank but rode a mates alloy hardtail a few weeks ago and felt every bump, root, etc. back onto the Curtis after an hour or so and the same trails on the Curtis were noticably more comfy, both bikes have pretty much the same set up (tyres, etc,) so for me yes there was a difference between those two bikes.
I freaking love riding hardtails so much so that ive ditched the full bounce bikes.
I play indoor football once or twice mid-week. And that really screws up my knees (tendonitis) and ankles (achilles tendonitis). Riding a bike at the weekend is a breeze. And yes. hardtail. And sometimes single-speed.
My back would hurt after long rides on a BeFe, so I swapped it to a Ti456 which has been much better...
I used to get this riding a Planet X Armadillo. Changed [i]back[/i] to a steel frame, Dialled PA to be precise. Back pain is a thing of the past, and its lighter*!!
*only frame changed, all components swapped over.... 😕
I think issues like this only really show themselves if you ride more than 15hours a week. The dodgy knees will probably be caused by something else..
The "give" on hardtails is all to do with the top tube (the longest tube with the least amount of support) It feels like the rear, but it's not. Hardtails designed to be a bit more comfy tend to have a bit of butting in the TT about 3/4 of the way along, just in front of the seat tube. Other hardtails designed to feel a bit more direct tend either to have no butting, or indeed a bit of extra welding at the seat tube junction. Rear triangles have pretty much no influence over how a bike feels, being, after all, two triangulated structures joined together (one of the more stronger structural shapes...).
All of this can be mitigated though with bigger volume tyres, or taller or carbon post, and a saddle with a bit more give in it. For instance I ride a Chameleon with a carbon I-beam post and a Bel Air ST it's probably the flexiest saddle I've ever used, You can see it moving side to side as I pedal, I can ride it al day with no ill effects at all.
God theres some crap talked about hardtails and the materials they r made from.The seatpost,seat,wheelset and tyres have far more influence on the ride than the material.
How does the seatpost and seat affect the ride when you're standing up?
Ive got a Chameleon with Saint cranks on - pretty stiff set up I would think, and have riden some long rocky routes Lakes etc, my feet hurt after 4 ish hours, other than that no knee, back problems- and Ive a dodgy right knee.
You want some BIG tyres on
I have a dodgy left knee Your knees are more likely affected by saddle height and your foot placement on the pedals - the hardtail will hammer your lower back (it does on mine after a few hours) but a full sus will sort that one out. A nice comfy saddle and a carbon frame will make a world of difference. . . . 🙂
