Full Suspension in Michigan

[ADDam]

Hey Guys, I sold my Piranha and Bought a Trek EX9 a few days ago. I remember last year when we were out riding, My buddies dad mentioned how ridiculous it is to have a FS bike if you live in Michigan. How many of you think this way? And how many of you guys riding FS feel you have benefitted from it?

I still think it is a great investment, even if we don't have the "narliest" of downhills. Riding a hardtail on our trails was enough to make my back sore, so I'm hoping for an improvement and an overall better experience on a FS bike. I think Poto is very FS worthy, as well as quite a few other trails!

[the jekyll]

Riding a full suspension or a hard tail is a personal choice not on dictated by the trail. This has been brought up before and it just amazes me that people think that because we live in a state that does not have large mountains that a hard tail bike is more than adequate. Ask your friend's dad if Michigan trails are not full of rocks, roots, washboard downhills (from people dragging their back tires)or drops. All of these things can be done on a hard tail but can be done on FS much more comfortable and with better control. I have a FS and found that I have more control and can navigate the trails faster and have an overall better ride because the trail doesn't beat the crap out of me.

Enjoy your EX9

[SANTA_CRUZ]

You can get alot of different opinions on this subject, but as you can see from my screen name, I beg to differ. I think full suspension offers a ton more comfort and control on a technical trail. I've been riding full susp bikes since '96 and own several hardtails as well, but I use different bikes for different trails. I couldn't believe the how nice the Superlight smoothed out bumps, roots and rocks when I got it and wouldn't use any other bike on trails like Highland, Poto or Pontiac. You feel much less beat up after a long technical trail ride having 4 inches of cushy travel under you butt !

SC

[bikemerc]

Think of travel as mafia protection, the more you have the safer you are. I was lookin somewhere else and hit a big curb full speed, 5" of travel saved me and roughed up the curb, haha.

Also, if you are over 30, it is easier on your body, and allows me to catch more air than I can on a hardtail ( *beep* things rattle your teeth).

That said, Im looking to ride with more full sussers in royal oak - bham area. I go to poto most weekends during worm season.

[black2003ss]

I owned a Schwinn Hardtail back in the 90's after riding a Giant rigid for a season. I thought having a front sus was unbelievable. Then I ended up on the Schwinn S30 full suspension and that was like night and day. You think people give crap now about full sus bikes, think of how bad it was when they were just becoming popular 10+years ago. It seemed like almost everyone was against it. I didnt care though, it rode great and I wasnt as fatigued or sore like already mentioned. That bike had 3.5" of travel. Also, I personally never noticed any major difference in climbing, but thats probably because I'm not a super pro. I just bought a Giant Trance X2 myself with 5" of trvel. I've riden around the sub and parking lots, but no trails yet. I cant wait to get out there.

[sneakers]

Being in my late 50s and abusing my back in my younger years, fs is about the only way that I can ride the trails. When I rode my hardtail with the drops and roots on the trais by the time I got home I couldnt get out of the car with my back hurting so bad. FS keeps me riding the trails.

[denny]

I use to think that a hard tail was good enough for Michigan until I rode a FS Specialized at the Island Lake Demo. It was so nice to ride over things you'd avoid on a hard tail and it was a lot smoother. My next bike will be a FS. If you still don't get the answer you're looking for, ride a FS, you'll be convinced.

Denny

[chrismaltby]

I rode a scalpel for a couple years. It was the best bike I had ever owned. After 13 years of bike racing I found the perfect bike. Until I rode a hardtail 29-er. I did put a suspension seat post on it. Now both my ss and geared MTB are 29-ers. I'm faster on the downhills on the 29-ers than my full sus 26-er. Your results will vary. This has been my experience. I have yet to ride a full sus 29-er, but I think that would be overkill for Michigan. However, I used to think the same about a full sus 26-er. The scalpel changed my mind. New bikes are ton of fun. Enjoy your Trek. Those look like fun bikes.

Chris

[ADDam]

Good to hear some opinions on the other side of the spectrum! It's just the people that think, "Oh, if my fully rigid single speed can do it, the why the HeII would you need full suspension?! What a waste of money!"

[geardaddy37]

I bought myself a hrdtail, and honestl don't sit much anyway on hills and such so no problemas, but I am jealous of your ex-9 purchase and would probably go there if I needed a bike. I bought my wife a fuel 80 a few years ago and I use it sometimes, but prefer my ht purey because of lightness and feel. I think balance and feel count more than anything else. (BTW I am 53...another old guy testimonial... )

[no0one]

i have a 26" wheel hardtail with 3" of front travel, and a 26" wheel, 5" of front, 4.5" of rear travel FS'er, both have similar components. buying the FS bike turned the hardtail into a garage queen. i love being able to bomb down hill in comfort. call me a wuss but i hate my bike bouncing like mad, also exercise is half the reason i ride so i'm not worried about a few extra lbs on the bike when i'm out trail riding.

[Di_bear]

To say that you have to go out west into the mountains to ride a full suspension mountain bike is actually quite ignorant. I rode Fruita, Kokopelli, and Moab, and found the terrain to be much more forgiving than the stuff I usually ride in Copper Harbor. BIG technical is full of nice, smooth sections of trail. The difficulty comes with the amazing freeriding terrain that is offered out west. Small and tight technical, like what you find on a lot of Michigan trails, is exactly what full suspension bikes are designed for.

I find that 4" of travel is a very nice bike to have for downstate trails such as Highland and Pontiac Lake. It's not necessary, but what is necessary is dictated by the needs of a particular rider, not by what others think. In Copper Harbor, larger travel bikes are much more popular - upwards of 6" of travel. Our trails are built on bedrock and we have some massive root systems. We also have some fun drops. We also like to design some trails for those larger travel bikes. It's just a different style of riding and it can be a lot more fun in the sense that it will allow some people to push themselves farther than they otherwise would.


A view of Brockway Mountain beyond Lake *beep* Hooe, and Copper Harbor from the East Ridge. This is where we ride. Brockway Mountain is 726 feet above lake Superior, and 1,328 feet above sea level. Yes, we now have a Brockway Trail that climbs Brockway. Fun stuff.

[machspeed]

I like both hardtail and fs bikes, and I agree that it is entirely a personal choice. But given the choice, I will ride my fs bike 95% of the time. I started on a rigid 26er, then a low fork 26er, then a fs 26er, and now it's a longer travel fs. I feel that riding the full suspension bikes don't beat me up as much, and I can ride longer and stay stronger, and that is kinda a good thing, right? Plus I like to joke that I can have a brain fart while riding and the bike will save me .

[JonathanGennick]

My buddies dad mentioned how ridiculous it is to have a FS bike if you live in Michigan.

Well, we could all remove the rear-suspension from our cars too, but I'll keep mine, thanks.

Your Trek Fuel EX9 is a really nice bike. Enjoy it. Don't fret over what your friends think.

[ReidRules18]

I believe FS is entirely your choice. I have a hardtail 26er, a hardtail singlespeed 29er, and a full suspension 26er Cannondale Scalpel. Lately I have converted to riding my singlespeed half the time and my Scalpel the other half. The singlespeed is a riot however the scalpel handles excellent and the suspension is nice on my back. I think it is entirely your choice and if your just out to ride and an enjoy it or even race a FS is a great way to go. They are a little extra weight, depending on your bike choice there might be some bob when climbing but they really save your body on the decents and they can allow you to ride over pretty much anything with ease. With that, go ahead and go to a demo day and check out what bike FS you like to get a feel for them and ride them on a trail to compare with your hardtail. In the end you might want one!