....I've moved to the darkside, with a 2nd hand santa cruz superlight.

On the plus side, its great for old bones (spines, actually)....but I was wondering if anyone was using something of that ilk and if so what the experience was like and what you'd had to change....

Salsa have just covered this topic
http://salsacycles.com/culture/e_freds_ ... e_any_time

I guess it depends where you're riding, if it's gravel roads etc, then a rigid makes sense but if it's 'big mountains' over a few days, the extra weight penalty of a full suspension bike could make sense.

I've only ever used a rigid or hardtail though, as my old full sus weighed close to 35 lbs. If it was a Giant Anthem or similar, then I'd happily use a full sus

Edit
I've actually done a bothy overnighter on the 35lbs full sus, bit slow and heavy at the start of the day but made the descents nice and easy with a loaded pack. I just let the bike day all the work

I did the west highland way on my trek fuel ex. Medium camelback with bike stuff & food in it, bivvy + sleeping bag etc in drybag strapped to rear post.

https://flic.kr/p/dXeaWm

I will on my Anthem 29er . Its very nice when you get a little pooped, as you don't have to stand up as much
Weight wise ,its not much difference maybe lighter than my Mariachi .

thanks, useful links & piccies.

my bouncer weighs the same as my hardtail (old rockhopper)... but then i figure the weight saving matters more above the saddle

I bounce around all the time.
But I don't like gravel roads and hate, deeply detest tarmac.

Bring on technical and rough single tracks!

At the moment it's a BMC Speedfox SF29. Loved it on the multi day trips in the UK.
Only thing I should have changed long time ago is the front travel, from 100 to 120 mm, would've improved the geo for my likings
A Trek Fuel EX 29 would be a decent weapon too. The Superlight looks very decent aswell.
My BMC, with mod'ed 1x10 gears weighs in at 11.5 kg with rather healthy tires.

With a flick of two switches the suspension goes hard for those ugly road sections. That's the true dark side.

My only rigid bike is one with 4.8 " tires on 83 mm rims which I only use in snow.

Yet I would fancy a steel frame from Ollie W... but don't tell him...

Edit: http://bearbonesbikepacking.co.uk/phpBB ... 7&start=75 for some piccies how I mostly set my susser up

I started out on an anthem as it was the bike I had at the time. It worked well

I'll be using my Anthem 29er for the BB200. I usually take a hardtail as I've got a nice, big framebag for it but I'm not planning on taking much on the BB200. I've test ridden the Anthem with a small drybag up front, a feedbag on the crossbar and a drybag saddlebag. I'm thinking I'll appreciate the extra comfort as the miles mount up