realskiers

Learning to ride rough stuff on a hardtail doesnt really build skills for riding a FS. well it kinda of does but hear me out.

I think FS bikes are better in all around performance for anyone who can afford a nice one. FS 29ers are XC/trail destroyer that make everything seem slow. The thing is there are alot of crappy FS bikes out there.

Hey Josh, that makes perfect sense, but at the moment I have no real desire to get a FS 29er, so aren't looking to build skills in preparation for a future FS bike.  The trails around here aren't THAT rough that I really need one.  The big wheels just flow so nicely, that all I need is a bit more practice to up my skill level, and I'll be flying.  FWIW, a lot of the high end bikes sold here are still hardtails - both 26 and 29 - if that says anything.  People are still buying them, and are savvy to the pros and cons of each.

That said, if one day I can afford a REALLY good FS 29er, then I would certainly entertain that idea.  Perhaps when the kids are finished college....     We were actually contemplating, well into the future, traveling with our bikes and doing mtn. bike trips to some "exotic" areas, like Arizona, Utah, British Columbia interior, Colorado, Costa Rica.  Kind of the summer equivalent of a ski trip -- pack the bikes in a hard case, check 'em in at the airport, and away we go.....  Dreams.....but hey, if we ever get to do that, a couple of full suspension bikes would be brilliant   

In the meantime, I am not impressed by what's on the market for FS 29ers.  $3000 seems to be the magic number, and I can't justify that, considering how "buff" the trails are here    and how little need there is for a bike like that.

But one of these days I will have to sneak a ride on a steel frame single speed.  I can imagine that it would be just a blast to ride some flowy fast singletrack on one of those.