Full suss vs rigid 29plus

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jameso
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Re: Full suss vs rigid 29plus

Post by jameso »

From memory, the rims I've got are 35mm internal width, so how narrow a tyre do folk reckon I could get away with?
I use 2.0 mud tyres on 30mm rims in winter, they're fine. So a 2.1-2.2 will be ok on 35mm, but I don't see the need to go narrower for any sense of speed or efficiency. If the SDW is dry it's a combo of volume and lower pressures with the right tread and casing that'll make the tyres roll well.

I'd take a 29er XC FS if I had a choice. It wouldn't be my preference to own one vs a simple rigid bike but for 20hrs XC at a decent pace, unloaded, it should be the most efficient ride.
Retiredtester
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Re: Full suss vs rigid 29plus

Post by Retiredtester »

Thanks once again for all the replies. At least I now know why a 20 mile off road ride on the rooster with 30 psi front and back leaves me feeling violated. Good shout re trying something much lower for a few rides and forcing myself to get used to it. And thanks for the advice on tyre width vs rim width.

In common with quite a few of you, it seems, I like the simplicity of a fully rigid bike and am not keen on adding yet more procrastinated maintenence into my life, so maybe I'll leave the full suss for now. I'm planning on doing a lot of training on the sdw in the lead up to midsummer next year, so will have plenty of opportunities to experiment with tyre choice and pressure. And I'll keep an eye out for a reasonably priced set of forks. Thanks all.
Retiredtester
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Re: Full suss vs rigid 29plus

Post by Retiredtester »

PaulB2 wrote: Mon Dec 06, 2021 9:07 pm
lune ranger wrote: Mon Dec 06, 2021 6:48 pm
whitestone wrote: Mon Dec 06, 2021 6:27 pm

Oh, and WTF is 14 stone in proper money? :grin:
196lb. :lol:
89 kg near as makes no difference
Probably closer to 90 if I'm being really honest....
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faustus
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Re: Full suss vs rigid 29plus

Post by faustus »

I'd add another vote for 29er rigid, as that's what is now my only mtb. Definitely experiment with tyre pressures. There's a sweet spot to be found, and if you run 2.8 - 3.0 then it's a much narrower band so requires a bit of testing and checking. I run 2.6 front and rear and there's still a bit of effort to find the right pressure, as I don't like a squirmy or slow tyre, but it can quickly get too hard. Worth spending time finding the right tyre, fast rolling not too knobbly. Otherwise, make sure your contact points are super comfy, perhaps consider a suspension seatpost?
substandard
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Re: Full suss vs rigid 29plus

Post by substandard »

Xr2 tyres are rapid at low psi, I’d just use something like that fully rigid
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Specialist Hoprocker
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Re: Full suss vs rigid 29plus

Post by Specialist Hoprocker »

I consider myself a bit of an expert over SDW bike choice...

I've done it multiple days on a combination of rigid 29, hardtail 29, semi-fat 27.5, full-suss 26, and full-suss 29.

My arse tells me that after many years of mistakenly thinking suspension would simply add to the effort required due to the inefficiency of the frame, I should have gone for the comfort option every time. I'm a slow learner but I can 100% say that for someone like me, riding the SDW during a dryish summer, in the daytime, at a fairly good pace - the full-suss 29er is king.
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Alpinum
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Re: Full suss vs rigid 29plus

Post by Alpinum »

Retiredtester wrote: Tue Dec 07, 2021 10:17 am In common with quite a few of you, it seems, I like the simplicity of a fully rigid bike and am not keen on adding yet more procrastinated maintenence into my life, so maybe I'll leave the full suss for now. I'm planning on doing a lot of training on the sdw in the lead up to midsummer next year, so will have plenty of opportunities to experiment with tyre choice and pressure. And I'll keep an eye out for a reasonably priced set of forks. Thanks all.
Sounds like a good plan. Find what you can squeeze out of the Rooster, I'm sure it holds a few surprises.
Also getting the body conditioned to riding long days in the saddle will make the SDW more enjoyable.

I quite like the Vittoria Mezcals for easy offroad touring/everyday offroad use. I've ridden them in 2.25", 2.35" and 2.6", always on i30 mm rims and quite like the overall feel, hellish fast rolling yet not too weak under cornering for such a fast roller. TNT sidewall is a nice blend of weight and durability. Kind of a sweet spot for me and above use. Also used them to cycle twice across Iceland's interior (sharp lava rocks, sand etc.) with absolutely no issue. Hold air well, also when in everyday use (about 6 months before OKO sealant asks for 50 - 100 mL of water). 2.6 is true to size and has a lovely shape on a i30 mm rim.
I've just had (another) 3 months on a Maxxis Ikon Exo 2.6" on the rear and it's in pieces. I counted 13 punctures/cuts when I swapped it with a more winter capable tyre. Yet I keep coming back to Ikons... this for my short travel trail bike. Not quite true to size. And whilst fast too, not nearly as grippy under cornering like a Mezcal. About 50 g ligther but also way flimsier. Flint, SDW, 200 miles... I'd probably finish the ride with an Ikon filled with Maxalamis :lol:
When a bit muddy, greasy, grassy, some snow - Maxxis Forekaster. Fun tread, okay tyre construction (bit on the flimsy side for my likes).
Maxxis Minion DHF and DHR plus (29 x 3) are monsters. Best way to turn your Rooster into a dead slug. It'll really glue you to the ground. Last ages, super heavy and sturdy and MaxxTerra becomes super sub standard at anything colder than about 5 °C. Go with Dual Compound when you plan to ride Maxxis tyres in the cold.
Schwalbe has some beefy, but durable and dependable (sidewalls) plus tyres. Nothing really that's plus sized and fairly fast rolling. But if you need a grip monster without the chunk of a 29 x 3" Minion, check Magic Mary. It's indeed magic. And slow.
Vittoria Barzo 2.6" have a really stupid shape on i30 rims. No idea what happened to them (I tried a total of 4). Rideable, but shoulder knobs are tucked away in the sidewall. Like a pear. Might be better on i40 or wider rims.
And so on and so worth...
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TheBrownDog
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Re: Full suss vs rigid 29plus

Post by TheBrownDog »

SDW in summer is like riding over corrugated iron. It's bumnpittibumpittibumpity You can do it on a rigid bike, but if you have the option of a short travel 29er full sus that's what I'd take if I was doing it again. Winter, it's a really different story. Grinding misery are the words that come to mind, and I'd go for a rigid 27.5+ bike with a reasonably deep tread tyre.
I'm just going outside ...
Retiredtester
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Re: Full suss vs rigid 29plus

Post by Retiredtester »

Bugger. There was me hoping for some consensus! Two strong votes for full suss there. Thanks again for all the advice.
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sean_iow
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Re: Full suss vs rigid 29plus

Post by sean_iow »

If the question was 'rigid or full suss' and money was no object then it would be a full suss. My mate has a Scott that would be ideal, only cost him £10k :lol:

But with the £1.5k budget to buy a full suss, and given the shortage of bikes at the moment, new or second hand, then I still think a hardtail is the answer - or cheaper still let some air out of the tyres of you current bike.

I have a choice of Salsa Spearfish full suss 1x11 (27.5lb) or Salsa Selma hardtail singlespeed (25lb) and I think I'd still take the Selma.
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Retiredtester
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Re: Full suss vs rigid 29plus

Post by Retiredtester »

Thanks Sean. Fairly sure my budget won't stretch to 10k (!) and I really don't fancy dragging a load of extra weight up all 7000m. I'll be doing it in the summer and only when the trails are dry (albeit inevitably training when it's muddy), so considering my fiscal limitations, the rooster is going to have to do. Any suggestions for suspension forks in terms of recommended travel and models to look out for? Again, I can't afford to splurge, so would be looking 2nd hand and am aware that the market for used suspension can be a bit of a minefield. Pretty certain the rooster has a tapered head tube.

Oh and re the point made earlier recommending a dropper post - I've never used one or found myself wishing I had one, so I guess that in itself suggests I'm not very good at off road riding! Rooster takes a 27.2 seatpost, so that seems to limit options and I'm not massively keen on adding weight.
lune ranger
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Re: Full suss vs rigid 29plus

Post by lune ranger »

I just got a PNW Coast dropper. It doubles as a suspension post. Comes in a 27.2 external routed variety and is most excellent on my 29+ bike.
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Retiredtester
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Re: Full suss vs rigid 29plus

Post by Retiredtester »

They look very nice! Will add one to the wish list.
Lazarus
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Re: Full suss vs rigid 29plus

Post by Lazarus »

Any suggestions for suspension forks in terms of recommended travel and models to look out for?
Your fork will have an Axle to crown measurement so you need a fork near to this and any possible offset ( it's not a straight line down from your steerer to axle.) Find a fork that matches and 100mm travel is probably about right and what will fit

IMHO Reba's are the best balance of price and weight as cheaper models are too heavy and sids too spendy
Manitou do 29+ suspension forks and this will take all sizes ( 29 + , 29, 650b &+) 29 will take 650b but only boost will do 650+ ( not 100% certain on that last point ). It's a decent fork asni have one but it's not for the weight weenie (2kg +fork)
650 forks will not for 29 wheels well 4oxkshok ones won't even if boost )
Rockshok say on them what they fit
DickieH
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Re: Full suss vs rigid 29plus

Post by DickieH »

Dropper post is worth it for the (what, 200?) gates alone!

Descending out of the saddle with your knees as suspension will save your ass!
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