Originally Posted by
Jeff Neese
Funny how people used to be able to ride bicycles without their arms hurting, before suspensions were developed. I guess it's like indexed shifting - it definitely got more newbies into cycling, and that's a good thing. But there's a lot to be said for a nice, responsive fully rigid steel frame and fork, coupled with decent riding skills. Loads more fun.
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When I started riding, I and most of my peers were riding rigid. And we ALL had aching forearms at the bottom of a long rocky rooty down hill. It was one common way that rough downhills were described.
Of course it may have has as much to do with the canti brakes and rock hard 2.0" tires as it did with lack of suspension. I ride a modern rigid Fat bike now and it does not beat me up anywhere near as much.