The World of the Rigid
Feb 04 '02
The Bottom Line Though the days of quality non-suspension mountain bikes are over, they can still offer many benefits.
A non-suspension mountain bike is a bicycle built with a rigid frame with relaxed geometry, tough, rugged components, wide, knobby tires, and a rigid fork.
Unfortunately it is hard to find a mountain bike without suspension these days. Even low-end mountain bikes are being equipped with cheap suspension forks that are unreliable at best. The days of quality non-suspension mountain bikes are just about over.
Most serious riders opt for some sort of suspension either in the fork, frame, seatpost, or stem to dampen the vibrations caused by the rough, demanding conditions of riding off road to create a more comfortable ride. However, a suspensionless bicycle can offer several benefits as well.
When riding on a smooth, level surface or during a climb, suspension can actually absorb some of the energy that you are trying to transfer to the rear wheel. This energy "sap" leads to slower sustained speeds and earlier fatigue. While some of that energy is undoubtedly absorbed into the frame, a bicycle with no suspension will not experience nearly as much energy sap, and will therefore ride and climb more efficiently.
The downside, though, is that a suspensionless bicycle will be far less stable at high speeds or when riding through technical, rocky singletrack. The forces created from the weight of the rider and speed will cause the wheels to disengage from the ground when riding over obstacles.
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Epinions.com ID:
sammy_marvelle
|
|
Location: Eau Claire, WI, USA
Reviews written: 19
Trusted by: 1 member
About Me:
A plethora of bicycle knowledge ready for distribution!
|
|
|
© 1999-2009 Shopping.com, Inc. 