Experienced roadie considering 1st MTB…advice needed

[out_spokin']

Hi all,
I'll post details once I get a couple more rides in and some pictures taken, but wanted to thank everyone for the advice here and elsewhere in the forum. Some thoughts to summarize for future reference:

FS: I really did learn to appreciate FS bikes and if I could have stretched my budget or ridden one that was truly my size I might have gone that direction. I decided to go lower budget in a hard tail which leaves me a bit of breathing room for upgrades and/or a start for the FS bike fund if I really get into MTB. The main trouble for me was not enough options in getting to try a WSD in a demo ride and not just short pavement test rides. I plan on paying much more attention to when travelling demo programs are in and around town over the spring/summer so I have a better chance of riding in real conditions. If anyone has insight on how to be sure to find out about them please post!

29ers: Just too much fun, and yeah, more confidence! There are a bunch of WSD's now showing up in showrooms for 2011. I rode the Specialized Myka 29er (nice, good price/value on the upper level one), the Giant Rainier 29er (good entry level package but felt too cheap for my experience), and a few other non-WSD bikes. Cannondale doesn't indicate anything on their website, but I spoke to an LBS owner friend and it seems they might have a WSD 29er coming, and the specs we looked at made it my favorite concept (geometry/value/components). But didn't want to wait!

Geometry - there didn't seem to be a ton of differences in geometry, at least not as much of a range as with the road bike companies I'm familiar with. The rule seems to be Looooong top tubes. What saved me in my purchase was the seat tube and head tube angles, which got me into the realm of being able to use stem length and angle to get my reach doable. In the long run I can see either going with the shortest WSD top tube possible if they go tall enough, or even going custom again. (more than a few local builders moving to a high percentage of 29ers!)

Learning - In two short-ish rides I'm already seeing the consequences of picking a good line vs. attempting to rely on suspension. I've already lowered the tire pressure and think eventually going tubeless to go lower will make a difference in my confidence/skills/comfort level in a sort of in-between FS and hardtail kind of way. I'm definitely looking forward to skills clinics in the spring and soaking up whatever I can in between now and then.

So....sometime after Christmas I'll post an introduction to my new bike.

[MyRubyE]

That's great that you chose the 29er and nothing wrong with a hardtail. That's how I started. Let me warn you though, trail riding becomes obsessive, and if you do decide on FS down the road; it does make a world of difference. Not so much when you first start out, but after you have been riding it for a while and you go back to a hard tail - you definitely will notice the difference.

Best of Luck and look forward to reading about your adventures.

[bcipam]

To bad you live in Colorado... my SO is finally getting around to thinking about selling his Santa Cruz Superlight. Would be a perfect bike for you... the frame is large. The bike is practically brand new (barely ridden at all). I love my Superlight - perfect bike for singletrack and flowy trails - ie - an ideal cross-country bike.

Will be interesting to see what you think of the 29er... not my cup of tea but is very fashionable right now.