Addison: I ride a Niner MCR, which is built from Reynolds 853 steel (quality thin-walled, lively steel that gives a superior ride). The Specialized Crave has an aluminum frame with a carbon fork. I'd venture a guess that this is geared mostly towards MTB racing (light, stiff and no doubt fast). Personally I would stay clear of rigid aluminum and definitely away from carbon. On the other hand if you weigh less than 175 lbs, you might not share the same concerns (about harsh ride and fear of catastrophic failure) as I. But honestly, given the impressive list of steel bikes you've owned, why not stick with steel?... There are some great ones out there (including the Hunq, BTW). The MCR is no longer built, but the Niner SIR9 offers SS and geared configs in a single frame, along with that legendary steel feel.
BB On Thursday, December 5, 2013 3:14:14 PM UTC-5, Addison wrote: > > What kind of fully rigid 29er are you riding? I've been eyeing this: > > http://www.specialized.com/us/en/bikes/mountain/crave/crave-sl-29<http://www.google.com/url?q=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.specialized.com%2Fus%2Fen%2Fbikes%2Fmountain%2Fcrave%2Fcrave-sl-29&sa=D&sntz=1&usg=AFQjCNFOD2B7Bj7TCw98H6r-zn3RJjKSOw> > > Not my usual aesthetic at all! But I like the simplicity of it. I found > that I would get over my head quickly when I had a full suspension. > > Speaking to the overall topic of this thread...I tend to think of a > Mountain Bike as a pretty specific thing anymore. Not because you can't > ride dirt/trails on a host of other rigs...but mountain bikes have a pretty > distinctive feel to them. I say this having regularly ridden my MB-1, Riv > Allrounder, Gunnar Crosshairs, and Gunnar Sport in dirt. Those are all fun > bikes to ride in a multitude of surfaces,..but the MB-1 is distinctly > better for "mountain biking" as was my full suspension bike that I have > since sold. > > Not trying to pick nits though. > > > > Addison Wilhite > Educator - The Academy of Arts, Careers & Technology, Reno, Nevada ( > http://www.washoecountyschools.org/aact/) > Blogger - Reno Rambler (http://reno-rambler.blogspot.com) > Bicycle Advocate - Regional Transportation Commission, Bicycle Pedestrian > Advisory Committee ( > http://www.rtcwashoe.com/public-transportation-22-124.html) > > > On Thu, Dec 5, 2013 at 12:01 PM, Montclair BobbyB > <montcla...@gmail.com<javascript:> > > wrote: > >> After years of riding full-suspension (and suffering countless endos in >> technical terrain), I finally settled back into riding only fully-rigid >> 29ers, which I have been blissfully riding for the past few years... I'll >> never go back. For the slow techie stuff, I simply have better control.. >> just slower and more precise. You get instant feedback, precise control, >> and a better sense of your limitations. I don't do jumps, so don't need the >> suspension. Besides, a steel Niner with tubeless 2.35s isn't completely >> devoid of "give"... The frame, tires, legs and arms provide all the give I >> need. But the responsiveness and snappy feel of steel... BLISSFUL!!! >> >> Not entirely knocking suspension... ALL my friends ride full-suspension, >> most with AMAZING skill... It's just not for me, that's all. >> BB >> >> On Thursday, December 5, 2013 2:30:10 PM UTC-5, cyclot...@gmail.comwrote: >>> >>> Why have sus: You can go the same places, just a LOT faster! :) >>> >>> Climbing or flats are about the same, but you can go much faster >>> downhill with suspension. >>> >>> Especially without having your arms ache at the end of it! >>> >>> >>> On Thursday, December 5, 2013 10:35:01 AM UTC-8, Anne Paulson wrote: >>>> >>>> Good question. A related question is why would someone choose a bike >>>> with a front suspension, or a bike with a full suspension, over a >>>> rigid bike like the Hunq? Assuming that one is a normally skilled Riv >>>> rider (not a crazy stunt rider, but someone who is comfortable on >>>> gravel roads), when if ever would a suspension bike be a better >>>> choice? >>>> >>>> On Thu, Dec 5, 2013 at 5:43 AM, Brian Campbell <bdcamp...@gmail.com> >>>> wrote: >>>> > I was wondering if anyone was using their Hunq as a "true" mountain >>>> bike? By >>>> > which, I mean, no racks, fenders or bags.While it is a very versatile >>>> > frameset, does anyone use theirs only in off road scenarios? If yes, >>>> what >>>> > are your thoughts on what it does well and maybe (shudder) what it >>>> does not >>>> > do well? >>>> > >>>> > -- >>>> > You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google >>>> Groups >>>> > "RBW Owners Bunch" group. >>>> > To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, >>>> send an >>>> > email to rbw-owners-bun...@googlegroups.com. >>>> > To post to this group, send email to rbw-owne...@googlegroups.com. >>>> > Visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/rbw-owners-bunch. >>>> > For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/groups/opt_out. >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> -- >>>> -- Anne Paulson >>>> >>>> It isn't a contest. Enjoy the ride. >>>> >>> -- >> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups >> "RBW Owners Bunch" group. >> To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an >> email to rbw-owners-bun...@googlegroups.com <javascript:>. >> To post to this group, send email to >> rbw-owne...@googlegroups.com<javascript:> >> . >> Visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/rbw-owners-bunch. >> For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/groups/opt_out. >> > > -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "RBW Owners Bunch" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to rbw-owners-bunch+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. To post to this group, send email to rbw-owners-bunch@googlegroups.com. Visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/rbw-owners-bunch. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/groups/opt_out.
