Back To Basics: The “New” Way To Mountain Bike
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- čas přidán 28. 08. 2024
- In this video I will be upgrading my new rigid Breezer Thunder Mountain Bike. I will be riding betasso preserve Trail in boulder Colorado.
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My ride is a fully rigid Cotic Solaris Max, Enve carbon fork. Fun wherever I ride. I’m very old , started mid eighties on steel fully rigid and it looks like that’s what I’ll end on. Great work Matty.
Just my opinion here. Whether your jam is full ridged, hard tail or full suspension. Tubeless tires are a gift from heaven.
Nah, i don't think it's a faze dude. Rigid bikes are a certified original classic.....and you can't beat a classic. Your a down to earth and humble kind of guy and its no surprise your drawn to the same in a bike.
I love my rigid steel Norco. My Trek Roscoe 8 with fox 34 up front would definitely be the most used and most loved though.
So long as you have a smile on your face and your having fun. That's the main thing i recon.
Anyways, nice to see your going well Matty. Your uploads always have a serene and chill vibe thats always appreciated.
Glad I found your channel. I mainly ride my gravel and road bikes since the pandemic….but I have now pulled out my mountain bike and looking to explore more of Colorado…thanks for inspiring few riders to get and explore 👍🏿
Ain't no phase there brother, some classics just can't be beat like riding full rigid. That's where all the it came from anyway.
Man, you nailed it again. I choose my rigid bike for the very same feeling you talk about. I like the feeling of figuring out how to get over or around a difficult feature in a trail. It becomes a cerebral thing, kind of. The flow of figuring out problems and making little adjustments on the fly. Sometimes the whole trail is difficult, and it's not easy...and that is good! Using momentum and different movements to get over and through stuff is fun to me. It makes me feel good that I can do it without assistance from suspension, even if I'm not going as fast or hucking off things. Cool. Keep on riding Matty, and everyone else too✌️
I can totally agree 👍🏾 I built myself a steel and fully rigid monster gravel bike and I love using it for everything from commuting to XC riding 😍
Its fast huh!?
I’ve had some really relaxing and fun rides on my 1985 Schwinn Mirada (full rigid of course). Sometimes returning to basics is just what the Dr. ordered.
*Tannus, the best!*
I thought I was just crazy. I love a rigid sometimes. I like to be challenged. lol. good video brother.
I started riding in the late 80's. No suspension, 26" wheels, biopace 3x gearing, and steel frame. I'll keep my slack full squish. Rigid bikes are good for XC trails, and are perfect for gravel and bikepacking though.
I ride a rigid fork MTB,i feel more comfortable riding up hills, i did fit some lovely ENV carbon forks,expensive but worth every penny,the bike feels light and puts a big smile on my face,
That looked like a lot of fun. I can see going fully rigid. There have been quite a few times on easier trails where I've gotten to the bottom and then realized I forgot to unlock the fork on my Ragley Marley - effectively riding down like a rigid - and it still flies.
I recently took back from a family member the old rigid bike I rode in the 90s and am looking forward to taking that one some easier trails too.
To answer your question, I think it's a phase and hope to see you back on the Roscoe soon. FWIW I grew up riding fully rigid department store Huffy bikes which were all steel and weighed 40 pounds - so, no fully rigid and steel frame is not new, it's "retro." Going to an aluminum hardtail was my personal cycling renaissance, with similar epiphanies when I went tubeless, got a dropper post and went to a 1x drivetrain. Unless those inserts are going to keep your tubeless setup from burping out - something that I experienced and landed in the hospital over - then I see you going back to a hardtail.
In my case, I never experienced suspension in my younger days, I rode a rigid MTB as a teenager then didn't touch a MTB until 2019 when I bought a cheap hardtail to get back into it. Found I love DH enough to have moved onto a full sus pretty quickly and over the last 4 years went from a trail bike, to an all mountain bike and am now on an enduro bike since I just like to ride and be comfortable and not have to think too much about every little rock in the trail, but I also like going fast and riding fairly rowdy trails and some bike park, hence the big bike.
Our inserts do help with burping a tire. Great question!
I have the thin but very strong plastic inserts, with the liquid in my tubes, never had a puncture, but it's important to do it with brand new tires.
When I first mountain biked it was in 1992 on department store rigid. Then I got a Mongoose rigid then got a Rockshox suspension fork for it. It got stolen and I got a Raleigh hardtail. I finally ended up putting together a Giant XTC NRS (full suspension). Fun times! I need to get back in shape and introduce my son to mountain biking. Haven't mountain biked since 2007 but played around on the local BMX pump track with my son a few times and I rode a rigid mountain bike I put together. Thank you for this video. BTW I don't miss riding rigid bikes on trails. But it's still a great way to enjoy the sport. Thanks for the video!
I started on no suspension bikes 34 years ago. Currently riding a full suspension Epic. Not missing the lack of suspension. 😅
Same, I started on a Diamondback rigid bike back in 1993, currently riding a Rocky Mountain Altitude, not missing the lack of suspension either.
Horses for courses. For a smooth trail like the main Betasso loops, a rigid bike can absolutely be a blast. But unless you plan to do nothing but trails like that and gravel paths, a rigid bike wouldn't be much fun as a primary MTB for most people. Like if you turned left towards the end of your loop and rode down the Betasso link trail on that bike, I'm sure your tone would be different.
Or take a rigid bike down Apex or Cub Creek. Or even just over to Heil ranch, I joke that Wapiti is the trail you ride when you want to see which bolts on your bike need loctite.
It's awesome seeing you shred on a Ridgid bike and gravel bike 💪🏾💯
Rigid mtb is an absolute blast!
Love it, buddy you got some real skills much appreciated love watching your stuff always look forward to it. I like your true and honest opinions this day and age hard to find.
Gotta love the simplicity of full rigid, and it's razor sharp accuracy in handling. It's more of a progression than a phase, but you will move on. Next up will be a larger volume front tire and/or a flex stem, then a short travel fork with lockout, that is peak MTB, until of course you get a full susp eMTB. That will become your "mountain bike", and the hard-tail with lockout fork will be more of an all terrain bike.
I think you’re right Ridgid is a really great experience and give you the ability to be in control. You know what to expect and a lot of times Bike even lighter but that’s that’s how we rode back then when I was a kid so ROAD BIKE are rigid road bikes, and I never have any problems. I actually appreciate being, such great contact with my environment you know so I think Bridget is a good thing occasionally great content brother really a fan you are appreciated. Keep up the great work, man.
Great tips...thank you!
I always have a rigid in the quiver. Cushion is from tire choice and pressure. Bars and grips are also meaningful as well.
Aside from the inserts, I would suggest a stronger casing for puncture resistance. In Maxxis terms, an EXO + or Double Down would be perfect. With the new Continental's, the Enduro casimg is a good middle ground for added protection. Not sure which tires you're using, but the sidewall looks very thin and flimsy.
EXO+ is bare minimum for Colorado front range, cushcore out back suggested if you're a heavier rider or just like to get extra sendy, Double Down is the bare minimum for hardtails here. I'm currently switching from EXO+ Maxxis to DH casing Conti Kryptotals, though I've yet to ride the new tires, they are a royal pain to mount.
I’ve just put an insert in my hardtail rear wheel. Can’t wait to try it out!
Looks like a blast. I bet it accelerates and climbs like crazy!
On smooth stuff for sure. suspension is nice on techy climbs for traction. On my bike I only use the rear lockout on gravel roads and super smooth climb trails and unlock it for techy climbs, and I never lock out the fork. The hardtail I used to ride definitely struggled for traction sometimes on techy climbs.
Yep, it's probably a phase and you're loving it. There's a reason most mountain bikes have a suspension fork at least, it's way more comfortable and allows you to ride faster (safely) over rough terrain. That thing will wear you out, you'll have days where your wrists or forearms will just be sore and you won't want to ride it. A lot of highly spec'd bikes have way TOO many features on them that the average rider doesn't need, and you lose any feel for what you're doing, so you can go too far in the other direction. Rigid bikes are what we all rode back in the day, they're awesome in their own way, but I'm glad to have an air fork on my bike now. Nothing wrong with loving it, though, it's basically a big BMX!
I run cush core inserts on my salsa cutthroat, 15 psi in front and 20psi in the back with 2.35 tires
I'm right there with you on the rigid bike. Something about the simplicity that makes it so appealing to me. I have a Chromag hardttail with a really plush fork, and I will tend to grab my Karate Monkey full rigid almost all the time. I run a 29 x 2.8 on the front for my extra cushion. I also have my cockpit configured in an upright position so I'm not leaning too much weight on the handlebars. This will help take the edge off the bumps as well. Looks like your bars are higher than the saddle, so you're in good shape. The extra fun could be because of under biking. Increasing the challenge makes it more exciting. Try riding a gravel bike on an easy mtb trail and you will have a blast.
Love this ride man, proper flexy bars and some comfy grips and would be perfect 🙌
Mini vibe check.. Need more of those reminders. While the ride is cool it's still all about the journey. 🤙 Nice video Matty
I started riding MTB in the early '90s on a rigid frame and fork. I remember well how achy and tired my arms got when trying to ride fast downhill. I was young then. 30 years older, that achy feeling would only be worse. Sure, it's easier going up hill, but I like to enjoy the down, so no thanks for me.
Great bike, great dood and insane speeds for a rigid! I also mainly ride a 90’s rigid Trek Singletrack MTB after starting riding them in the 90’s. I’m tired of suspension sagging, maintenance, lack of servicing kits for my older forks and I’m having non of the newer overpriced bikes that are probably going to be obsolete in a few years. Steel is the way to go on the long term for me I guess… now I’m drooling over your bike since mine has an older MTB geometry and not really suited for the trails. I was thinking of Breezer vs Surly frames or maybe even Kona Kahuna X.
Great video as usual.
Yeah! Great video. It’s been a while, I should take my Karate Monkey up to Betasso. I love riding rigid for all the reasons you mention. It’s harder, but also more natural, and tests your basic skills. You also reminded me I need to get some inserts!
This is probably only few channel actively reviewing rigid fork bikes on mtb trail and do it so well. I am not sure if I will be able to ride one on trail, but it looks like a great bikepacking rig too.
I run tannus on my trek Rail ebike for last 3 years with zero problems. 👍
Wait till you step up to Single Speed Life! It is amazing how liberating it can be.
Those tire inserts work wonderfully as I do have them in my hardtail on the rear wheel, but just be warned that you can still get pinch flats if you're still using tubes.
I used to race steel fully rigid 30 years ago and it was a blast because the bikes were so light. My ride was 18 pounds with spd pedals. But I was young then and my body could endure the constant rock bashing. I ride steel hardtails to this day but would ride a fully rigid bike again if I could find a super light build.
I saw a review of some new hardtails and was shocked how porky they are. Even most mid level hatdtails in the 90s were 25 lbs. or less.
@@johndef5075 I think my esker Hayduke is about 28 lbs. that’s quite porky to me. But oh well. It’s steel and a hardtail. 😂
@@johndef5075 A lot of that is in the wheels, 29in wheels are a lot heavier than 26in wheels. Also disc brakes are heavier than cantis or V brakes. dropper posts also add weight (but are the single best invention for MTB since the suspension fork) bikes are also generally burlier than they used to be as riding has shifted more towards DH and enduro even on hardtails and trail bikes. Ultralight builds still exist, you can buy a 19lb full sus XC race bike right from Trek, the top build of the Supercaliber is 19lbs, with some more weight weenie work you could get it down even more.
I find I use my dropper more for getting on and off my bike👴😆 Being the best invention doesn't really make sense to me, I always had a QR, and in the 80's I had a hite rite. Many of the younger riders seem to like it because of jumping and dropping I still haven't found x-country boring enough to be stimulated by the needs to look death in the face👹💀👻
I just got back into biking after maybe 20 years. And I really dislike all the suspension stuff on bikes now. I got a used full suspension bike because it was cheap but I’m going back to rigid or at least hardtail asap. I also just think they look better.
Great video ✌️😁 Welcome to the dark side 😎 It's been a minute since I've ridden a rigid bike (except for gravel of course), but I rode rigid singlespeeds primarily for a decade 😊 (back when the Redline Monocog and Surly 1x1 were brand new bikes...I'm old 🤦😆)
On the right trail I can see the appeal, Betasso might be one of those trails since it's extremely smooth by front range standards. Rutabaga is also fairly smooth for a front range trail. On the other hand a rigid is the last thing I'd want on something like Apex or Cub Creek, both super rocky and in the case of Apex quite gnarly. Those are trails you can bring a big bike to and not feel like it's completely overkill. I have run cushcore on the back of my bike for most of the last year, it definitely protects your rim and reduces flats, but it also adds a noticeable amount of weight and rolling resistance when pedaling. I'm actually switching to DH casing tires and might leave the cushcore out for a bit, also trying out non-Maxxis tires.
I buy or receive for free 90s rigid MTBs. I restomod and "flip" for at least a small profit. Always get to ride them for a week or more while waiting to be sold. Nothing more fun than a newly restored/modded 90s. MTB! There ate some other choices to what you're riding: Surly Krampus and KM, Kona Unit X......
I learned mountain biking on rigid mountain bikes for years and I'm glad I did but I love suspension, not going to lie.
I started MTB in the 90s on a rigid bike, back then most riding was what we would call gravel biking now, though I think a modern gravel bike might be more capable than an early 90s MTB. When I picked it back up in 2019 I basically was starting from scratch, that's how much things have changed. I like my big travel, comfy bike, being able to enjoy the trail and not get beat up is nice.
I ride a gravel bike on a lot of green and blue trails so I guess I can relate. It’s is my favorite bike to ride at Brown’s Ranch in Scottsdale. I did ride a rigid Superfly single speed for a year and dug it. Good to have in the quiver, but probably not for black diamond trails.
Hows the bike on a rock garden? Or a techinical trail?
Rigid bikes are an excellent choice, especially in the age of 29 in wheels and tubeless tires
I’ve had Tannus and CushCore and for me personally I prefer the CushCore because I feel like they hold up better cornering at high speeds, especially running lower tire pressure. I also feel like CushCore protects the wheel better. I would say that the Tannus is a better ride quality because it’s a softer product so if it’s cushioning you’re looking for it’s a win for Tannus. With that said, the Tannus is definitely a great upgrade and I think you’ll like it.
You definitely notice Cushcore when pedaling uphill haha. I've run it for about a year and might take it out as I just went from EXO+ casings to DH casings on new tires. I also notice the back end of the bike tends to ping off rocks and slide around a bit more with cushcore, even with a MaxTerra DHR out back.
Suspension bikes were invented for a reason. Take advantage of it.
You know how indian people will ride anything and still be faster than anyone 😂
It's two different animals. Like if you go off roading, do you like baja or rock crawling? It's nice to have both.
I prefer rigid on technical singletrack.
You should be able to go around 3 psi lower. Thou your best approach is start on a section you can repeat easily keep lowering by 1/2 psi until you get to the point were the tires start feeling to draggy, then go back up a tad. Then do a full hard run and see if all is good. When you find that sweet spot it makes a crazy difference in the ride.
The Tannus tubeless inserts are great.
I like riding bikes but I can't ride like you.Bro, but I love you channel.
I'm 57 years old.I've should started earlier in life Can't afford a broken bone😅😅❤❤
I love the rigid bikes and hard tails but could never use one as my main trail bike .. Stump jumper as my everyday trail bike..
Somenone needs to make a softtail! No suspension on the front but suspension in the back!
I started out with a rigid and it was an awesome bike if the trails are fairly flat but I'm buying a full suspension next week as the trails I go on have large roots and jumps & using a rigid on those trails is too uncomfortable
Hate to say this Matty but the suspension is making you safer on rough terrain. That said I love my rigid gravel bike for the ability to go long distances and ride pretty rough double track with descent safety and comfort.
It comes down to trail choice. Betasso is a perfectly fine trail for a rigid bike, it's one of the smoothest trails on the front range, you could legitimately ride it on a gravel bike and likely have a good time. Rutabaga Ride is probably pushing it for a rigid bike, but is doable, though you will not be able to carry the speed through some sections for the trail to flow properly.
Nice video Matty. 28k very cool
My Kona Unit is pure bliss.
Picked up a fully rigid 1992 Bridgestone MB-6 at the local Salvation Army the other day. $15.00. Two inter tubes $20.00. Going back in time for $35.00...Priceless. Steel is real.
I still ride my rigid Bridgestone. Steel rocks.
What a steal! Nice
I hope your arm is ok man!
looking at the frame, im guessing it's a steel frame/ chromolee? at least its a nice one so you could always just keep it and put a light trail fork like a fox 34 step cast. that's if you just get tired of the rigid fork but still like the ride style of it
Yes it’s a steel frame
One look at that chatter coming through the bars....its a big no dog from me, but if you are having fun thats all that matters.
I had never thought about putting milk in my tires. Perfect for pulling over for a quick snack. Just one question, where do you store the cookies?
A ridged is very fun I have a rigid fatty I love to ride around on feels like a giant slow bmx , reminds me of when I was a kid 😂 but I tried riding a rigid gravel bike (ozark explorer )on a trail and my bum was sore for two days lol waiting on my trek top fuel ( my sit bones are praying they hurry) 😅I don’t want a 150 travel trail bike or nothing but a lil cushion on a trail is nice in my book 🤷♂️
Try a fully rigid single speed it will teach you how to be a better rider
Funny as I just converted my fully rigid single speed to 11speed and rode it for rhe first time in probably 7yrs. And honestly I hated it😂 I am 48 now,so there is that.
What I noticed is as I'm riding so much faster than ever before, the rigid bike was painfully slow.
Was wondering how I used to ride it single speed?
I used to absolutely love it though.
Riding is awsome whatever bike.
My first real mtb was a 1989 Raleigh Peak. 28 lbs. 26" wheels. No suspension. My new Epic build. 25.2 lbs. 29" wheels and full suspension. It would be damn near impossible to ride that Raleigh anywhere near as fast as my Specialized. 😅
This is why is still use my 1991 fully rigid 21 speeder (with '89 Deore II thumbies) this is how I learnt MTB back in the day as a teen (I am 48 now)
Well some things haven't changed too much, Shimano shifters work the same way now as they did back in 1991
@@mrvwbug4423 Yep, I remember & had the first ever set of Deore DX STI undershifters, with long 4 finger brake levers! which were v prone to failure (lasted me a year), and were near impossible to strip down and fix, but this was pretty quickly solved
My hardtail beats me up if I go more than 12 miles so i cant imagine getting a full rigid bike. I mostly use the hardrail on easier trails or to ride around on surface streets.
i wonder if there are any good full rigid trail bikes that are more on the budget side, and even cheaper than a budget hardtail?
It just occurred to me that for me, possibly the perfect bike would be this one but with carbon fork and bars, no other changes. I bet that would be a blast.
My take is that if you're paying for your bike you should all ride them like rigid bikes except when it's race day 😅
If a person was looking to get into mountain biking for the first time, would you recommend a rigid?
Got any suggestions of some nice flowy trails in or near the Front Range? I want to take my 9 year old with me. Any suggestions would be great, thank you!
Erie singletrack, Valmont bike park XC trails, betasso, are a few!
Now let's find a budget rigid mtb
-any second hand me down bike guaranteed
Is this a good do everything bike? I was looking at the radar x but I like the comfort of the flat bar, I was thinking this is a good solution. My budget is $2k and was thinking of getting this and putting all terrain tires on it. Lmk what you think.
Watch, next you'll be going single speed on this bike.
I think you're having a great time, but I'll bet in a year you'll mostly be riding something with at least a front shock.
He changes bikes all the time like a lot of reviewers do, the bike he always comes back to is his Roscoe.
I've been riding a Stooge Scrambler for just over a year. It comes out more than the suspended bikes.
For a real kick in the @ss >> see if you can find a used Niner Air 9 RDO or similar. Run it single speed with a carbon fork. Should weigh ~18 lbs. The ability to nearly levitate cannot be overstated!
You kinda destroyed your own argument for rigid forks in the first 2 minutes of the video by saying you were looking for a way to cushion you from the roughness by using tyre inserts.
Well yes and no. I think it's in the spirit of what he's looking for to find all the products that cushion roughness that don't have the service interval of a suspension fork. For example maybe RevGrips. Not to mention being more flat resistant allows you to ride more and wrench less. PS I still think a grippy 3.0" front tire is a great way to cushion roughness.
Tire inserts don't actually make the ride smoother, they protect your rim and allow you to run lower pressures, though that only gets you so far without suspension, or a fat bike where the tires are surprisingly good suspension (until a rock kills your super expensive fatbike tires).
@@mrvwbug4423 They change the response of a tire when you hit a bump hard enough to hit the liner, loosely like adding a volume spacer in a fork.
Does it hurt your shoulders on a rockgarden????
Might as well go single speed while you’re at it!
Why not just lock your roscoe fork out???
18psi
26” fully rigid with v-brakes or GTFO.
Riding a rigid mountain bike is what happens when somebody's dopamine receptors are so fried that they need constant novelty to feel something. This is a ridiculous video and fad.
Or you don't have the money to buy one with suspension or you just got a second hand rust bike. It doesn't matter though, because you don't need suspension to do things. It just makes the ride comfortable.
@-aid4084 ok, so then limit yourself to green trails because your upper body gets beat to death. Sounds like a good time. 🤣
Or you want to try new things that most people don't do to keep your channel content interesting.
I think if flowy trail is more your thing, a rigid has a lot of upside. Looking at a Stooge for my next bike.
I'm thinking you have more money than you know what to do with, so if you feel the need to spend more, you can donate a cool boutique bike to this retired 66 year old on a fixed income😉👴 Anyways, getting to my point. Since you seem to want to go back in time, and start at the beginning of Mountain biking. Maybe start with the book Fat Tire Flyer by Charley Kelly. I think these other two books by William (not Bill) Wealey, the mountain bike way of knowledge and Mountain Bike, are probably no longer in print. But they are great in pointing out how us mtb'ers survived. But in the next few months or years, you will be complaining about how you joints hurt. So a Red Shift Suspension stem may be in you future. I rode with a Soft Ride (Allsope stem for a few year's), I really liked it, but I don't think their available anymore. And if you really want a blast from the past. Cane Creek still produces Thud-Busters suspension seatposts. I think there were a good majority of us old farts who started with those🚵👴