Steel long travel hardtails are ace.

Just got back from my first ride out on new build, DMR Trailstar LT. Love it. Am I at "that certain age" ( 30, er something ) that you turn to a long travel steel hardtail ?

Anyway, lovely ride. A little heavier on the ups than my ali hardtail but **** me its a blast on the downs.

That is all.

I have never owned a steel hardtail

I'm racked with self-loathing, though, so it's OK

scaredypants go and flagellate yourself in the streets of wherever you live 😉

Don't do it if you live in Stepney.

cant say i've known that, but then i've never owned a steel frame since early 90's

My mates bike. awesome thing (exalt)

Nice. Mines a little less burly than that but that looks a blast.

It's over-exaggerated imo, my Stiffee is more fun downhill than the On One 456 I had.

I know my bike is made of metal…

Quite a plush looking saddle for such a gnar bike. Delicate bottom cheeks?

I just picked up a barely used DMR Switchback and am looking forward to thrashing it around some trails.

I think having the right geometry (for your riding styles) and a decent fork up the front will make a bigger difference than the metal a bike is made of… having said that, if you had 2 identical geometry and build kit bikes and one was steel and the other Alu I think you would quickly notice the real differences.

30 something – tick
456 – tick

Shortly to be 40 something – tick
Thinking about 29er and carbon 456 – tick

Am I stereotyped or gullible – tick
Am I grinning when I ride – tick

igm – nice 🙂

50 something – tick
Carbon long travel suspension – tick
Just cos it makes so much sense.

rich, i didnt like the 456's i tried either, both a normal and a summer season one, too sluggish and dead. i much preferred my chameleon for its better handling and sprightly feedback. plenty of people seem to love them though so i just put it down to personal preference.

ive since got a burly steel hardtail and its definitely the most fun bike ive owned despite its 33lb+ weight. i thought it was just that new bike feeling but its not wearing off yet.

Hmmm I didn't realise I fit the stereotype…. Hitting mid-thirties and have recently been thinking how my 140-up-front Dialled Alpine is probably the most fun bike I've ever had. Its heavy and I think of selling it (Carbon 456…?) until I ride it again and I feel bad for such thoughts…

hitting mid thirties, 456 soon! oh my, when'd this happen?!

50 something – tick
Carbon long travel suspension – tick
Just cos it makes so much sense.

+1

Sheep

At what socio-economic point to Sliding dropout Ti Hardtails become de rigour?
😕

Late 30's, retired the steel HT for an FS 3 years ago.

I have a Trailstar LT as well, great bike with 140mm Pikes on it 😀 Seems a little short for climbing (makes my back ache a bit on steeper ones) but great for anything else.

I'm only 21 though, so don't think the middle age thing applies!

get a 18" switchback, same geometry but slightly longer and a bit lighter?

I'm selling mine BTW*………….

*not becasue its crap, it's ace, just had it 4 years, not used it enough and now building the sanderson up.

My Evil Sov was my 40th birthday present to myself and it's bloomin' marvellous!

sold mine.

for me a hardtail is suppost to be nippy and sprightly.

that said i`d have loved to have taken the exalt to the alps.

Must admit that i'm loving my new 130mm Cove Handjob, sick of pedal bob on FS rigs.

35 here and been on a soul for 3 years! saving for my mid life crisis IF ti already.

just got a kinesis decade which is very much like the trailstar and it's a real blast…great for throwing about on trails like Cannock and even ok on the jumps at the local woods, pushing 37 now though so i'm going to make the most of it before the full suss comes back off the peg. Loved the 456 steel but this is better.

You know steel is 4 real…..

(mid 30's RM Hammer with 100mm up front)