Just took the "new" bike out for it's maiden voyage this evening, and I'm dead chuffed with it
As predicted, a little fettling was required to get going. The front shifter is kaput, so I locked the FD onto the middle ring with the limit adjusters. The chainrings/chain/cassette have all had it as well... but since they're all already knackered I might as well ride it to death before looking for a nice period STX crankset or something similar on
ebay. A quick tune up of the brakes (a nice surprise is that the rear is LX) and a guesstimated 25% sag set on the shock/forks and off I went.
My first impression going up the mile long fire road climb into the woods was that the bike must be a total lemon after all.... after being used to a rigid bike the extra weight and suspension bob is very noticeable! Once I'd got to the top I headed towards one of my favourite sections of singletrack, a rooty staircase descent leading into a nice flowy smooth section with a couple of small jumps.... I think if I'd grinned any wider on the way down the top of my head would have fallen off
It was far more different to riding a rigid than I'd imagined. Instead of picking my way through the roots and planning each little tweak of the front wheel I was bombing over the lot at high speed concentrating on getting a nice line into the next bend to rocket out of. I also suddenly am a lot less awe of other riders I see shooting away from me on the trails - I reckon I might be able to give them a run for my money on this one!
Heading onto the official MTB trails through the wood I was less over-awed. The trails are very smooth and flowy with only the odd isolated steps or bumpy bits - pretty much perfect for my rigid bike, and it seemd to me there wasn't that much advantage to be had with the suspension (though whizzing down the steps was quite fun). On the last red descent I whacked my seatpost down all the way and was amazed how much room I had to move around in - don't know if it's the unusual frame shape or just that it's a size smaller than my rigid bike, but I felt a lot free-er moving, and got a lot closer to popping a proper long manual than I've ever done before.
Finished the ride a bit tireder than usual (flexier heavier bike, plus being stuck in the middle ring) but with my view of what's possible on a MTB totally transformed. I am hooked! Just what I needed to cheer me up after getting a rejection through from a job interview this morning.
Funnily enough I have ridden a few half decent hard-tails before (a Charge Cooker 29er quite regularly on the same routes), and never really felt it, if you know what I mean. Basically felt a lot like my rigid except my hands/arms didn't get as beaten up on long descents and rock gardens were a little bit easier going (to be fair I don't really get on with 29" wheels either - I'll admit they're super capable but they feel a bit less fun too).
The paint job is going to have to change though, I'll admit the bike isn't the best looker at the moment (who thought that yellow stem was a good idea?). I'm thinking of painting the stem, forks, and swing arm black when I get around to replacing the drivetrain. Should be a fun winter project when it's dark and rainy outside.
Off to the trail centre tomorrow after work for more stuck-in-the-middle-ring action until I get a shifter sorted
Rock gardens, braking bumps, and stony/rocky sections - bring them on!!! Also managed easily my biggest air yet on a couple of small jumps. Only downsides were that pedalling up the fireroad climbs was not much fun after being used to whizzing up them on my rigid, and the blue trails felt a bit, well, underwhelming. Once the novelty wears off I guess I'll appreciate the pros and cons of each bike a little better but for now I can't get over how easy it is to rocket down slopes, scoot over a rock garden, and then take that gnarly high line through the corner over all the roots 
