OK. I’ve been riding for 6 years. My first proper MTB was a Spesh Rockhopper. I upgraded to a full susser about 6 months after buying the Spesh but never got rid of it and still ride it.

The trouble is whenever I ride my HT more than on the occasional offroad ride I get back trouble. I’ve been working away recently and so have been taking my HT with me to ride to work and for a couple of off road rides in the evenings. I don’t really want to take 2 bikes away with me and certainly wouldn’t be very happy riding my full susser on the daily ride to / from work when away.

It also breaks my heart riding my full suss pride and joy into the ground in the winter mud I have locally.

But the back jip is back and I am trying to justify a cheap long travel steel HT to myself (most likely On-One 456 or Summer Season).

As far as I can tell there are 2 schools of thought. ‘Steel is real’ – nice compliant ride – etc etc. Other friends have tried to talk me out of it. Too flexi, not very responsive etc etc.

One thing – I am certainly a Clydesdale. Fighting weight somewhere around 16.5-18st depending on how much riding I am doing. A quick responsive ride is not important to me. Something comfy, OK on the climbs and fun / confidence inspiring on the downs is.

I don’t want to get in the Full Suss v HT debate. I enjoy riding both for different reasons.

Will steel give me an easier ride? Or should I be looking at forgetting the HT and getting a cheaper full susser as a 2nd ride (or maybe just a bouncy seatpost?!).

Will steel give me an easier ride?

not enough to help your back.

Bigger volume rear tyre + suspension seatpost for the HT.

A hardtail is a hardtail (IMO), if you’re prone to back trouble then the frame material will make next to no difference.

Steel is real’ – nice compliant ride – etc etc. Other friends have tried to talk me out of it. Too flexi, not very responsive etc etc.

Frame material has BUGGER ALL to do with it. A frame can be designed to provide whatever ride you like with any material. Apart from that it’s FIT that matters most. The most punishing HT ive ever had was Titanium, and I’ve had harsh, flexy, comfy, and uncomfy steel bikes….. I now have a carbon HT. It’s quite ‘muted’ feeling at the rear, but otherwise…? It’s just a bike! 🙂

(FWIW tghe cheaper alloy Spesh hardtails seem to have lovely smooth riding frames to me….)

I suspect that frame material is immaterial. You need to resolve the underlying medical issue.

losing some wieght will probably help, i’m the same weight as you roughly and i get lower back trouble too, I’ve pretty much no doubt it would go away if i lost some of the extra weight i carry.

sus post should be your first port of call

couple of the old buggers i ride with swear by them for reducing back pain

Steel built right will give you a smoother ride for sure, but I very much doubt it is a solution for a bad back.

Iwould try a sus post as many have recommended.

losing some wieght will probably help, i’m the same weight as you roughly and i get lower back trouble too, I’ve pretty much no doubt it would go away if i lost some of the extra weight i carry.

+1 I used to get a lot of lower back pains, I’m still overweight at about 14.5 stone but the pains are much less common since getting lighter.

Core strength exercises to sort your back out. Do the plank for 3 x 30 secs every night.

I definitely noticed the difference in smoothness jumping from ally hardtails to my Charge Blender, but as said above, I don’t think it will be enough to help back trouble. Love steel HT’s though…

Where in the world are you?

I’m a bigger lad- 18st, and I ride a steel hardtail, infact, Ive two of them..

1 Singlespeed, and 1 Geared.

If yer anywhere near Cheshire- your more than welcome to try either/ both of them out, and see how they feel.

A compliant frame can remove buzz (ie high frequency low amplitude vibrations) very well but it won’t remove bumps and thumps – you need limbs/suspension with more than a few mm of travel to do that.

+1 on the suspension seatpost.would also highly recommend getting your back trouble seen by a specialist (if you can) as said above,they would be able to pinpoint the problem/give you exercises to do to strengthen the specific area (i will have to take my own advice as well,as i suffer with back problems also)

Bigger volume rear tyre + suspension seatpost for the HT.

That is going to have more effect than any real (or probably imagined) compliant steel frame, which the 456 certainly isn’t BTW.

FWIW the most comfortable frame I’ve ever had is my old Coyote ali, probably because it fits and I can stick a large volume tyre in the back.

Core strength exercises to sort your back out. Do the plank for 3 x 30 secs every night.

This. My missus bought a ‘tummy workout’ type DVD that was essentially core exercises of various kinds, and bloody painful to start with. 2 weeks of it and the bike issue was solved.

Big tyre and suss post will also do lot quickly too though if you can throw some money at it.

I’m 103kg and do suffer on occaision from lower back problems though much better than they were. I have to say in my case my back protests more from having to grind climbs, which is why when I have the cash I will be getting a broader range cassette for my road bike. I can get up nearly every climb locally but on some even in 34/25 I’m grinding and risk spasms in my back. Spinning is the answer (for me). Have you looked at position on both bikes, are they the same? If not maybe you need to get your HT to match your FS if that is not causing you pain? As others have said a change of material will make naff all diff. I use a suss post on my rigid SS. While I beleive it aids comfort overall I don’t think it helps my back at all. Again as said above, core strength training could well be the best solution.

I wonder how much of the back problems are due to the racy geometry of the rockhopper. I think a more sit up and beg style such as a 456 is likely to improve things.

If you put the full susser next to the rockhopper is there a discernable difference in shape?

EDIT: I had that open a long time as I have given a similar answer to the post above.

Back issues: yoga, osteopath, sports physio should help out a lot. Yoga really helps me release the muscles that prevent my back from it’s full range of motion (I’m only 26!).

I have a Dialled Prince Albert, it’s immense. I had a Meta 5.5 but was paranoid about the frame so sold it on. My technique has had to catch up a little as I was spoiled by the Meta, but now prefer the ride. It’s more direct and feels more compliant, but can be less forgiving.

Where you ride has a big part in the choice of frame I feel. Sizing is going to play big part in the effect on your body too.

Thanks for all the comments. In summary:

Lose some weight and improve core strength by exercises to try and sort my back out.

And get a hardtail that has a much upright sitting position (like my Heckler). Nice. I was worried you all might talk me out of a new frame 🙂

Thanks for the offers of a try out. Wrong end of the country tho 🙁

Come on boys- all those responses and no mention of going to a 29er???
May help as the extra rubber do give a feel of a bit of squidge

Nice spindly steel 29er would suit you. Nice ride. Ideal for the comute. Don’t knock it till you’ve tried one.

Agree with fixing the root cause – strength of your back. Personal trainer or physio should be your first post of call IMO. Will pay dividends with power on the bike too.
But obviously riding lots will help with weight loss, have you considered a road bike for more aerobic training?

29ers look completely ridiculous dont they though?

just raise the bars on your existing bike – buy a cheap high stem to try it out. makes all the difference to me

I might have to agree with tj here. Raise your cockpit. Also do some core exercises, I’m 150kg and don’t get lower back pain, even on my 50mile road rides

Another thing to consider in relieving back pain is to get weight off your back. You could try switching from camelbak to bottles and that will remove a couple of kilos just with the water. Saddle bags are very cool, but if you could put your tools in one and have less pain, then it could be worth it.

29ers look completely ridiculous dont they though?

🙄 🙂

As above though first. Sort your cockpit. I used to get the odd twinge on my 26er Inbred, so I fitted some 29er forks & a higher rise stem & bars. I also went back to a non O/S stem & carbon bars. Coupled with some nice big tyres run a few psi lower it made a big difference.
I’m guessing being a few years older your HT is probably a bit head-down-rse-up in layout anyway. Also try some flat pedals for a while (if not already)….not sure if a badly adjusted set of spuds could necessarily cause a bad back, but it cant help right ?
What about getting your butt measured at a Specialized concept store for one of their Body Geometry saddles ?

And while steel does (in theory) give a more resilient ride, its only part of the story. I find my Wifes alloy Spesh HT’s is fine. As comfy as my old 26er Inbred anyway. But if you get the chance try a 29er. You might be surprised.

Try stretching too, I used to get lower back pains and started doing lots of stretching – does help a hell of alot, along with core strength exercises.