Rode a 150mm travel Saracen Ariel 650b with 150mm RS Pikes this morning – and was completely blown away by its performance, handling and pedal-ability. Just an incredible bike that seemed good everywhere – swoopy singletrack, climbing and descending.

Having owned various generations of Turner 5 Spots for years (my current model being a 2010) and watched as the industry moved on to 29ers, 650b, and slacker geo’s it all rather passed me by. I bought a 29er a year ago and sold it after 2 months, absolutely hating the ponderously wallowy steering and what I felt was clumsiness of it all.

But I am seriously impressed by the Ariel. Before I go bonkers and buy one, has anyone ridden one back-2-back versus something they thought even better?

Worth looking at a Stumpy in tweenerwheelerflava certainly. The Spesh dropper is a bit average, but bike overall rides very well.

That I’ve ridden?
Rocky Mtn Altitude with the adjustable geometry chip.

The Ariel is a great bike. Wouldn’t want to put you off one at all.

The other option I’d recommend is a Pyga Pascoe – 140mm rear optimised for 150-160mm forks.

Maby a trance 27.5 in any flavor is a very capable bike

Lapierre spicy/zesty, depending what you’re riding focus is. If you can get one with an ei shock, mores the better.

Or a bronson.

My ride focus is fast, pretty aggressive style. Love swoopy single track, rough as hell, and smallish jumps.

Zesty then.

Banshee Spitfire of course

I ride the 26 wheel version of this

http://www.rosebikes.co.uk/products/bikes/mtb/all-mountain–tour/granite-chief/

Brilliant bike.

The Granite Chief 2, full xt plus pikes for £1900 is bargainous

Rose is good, other options on my list for same thing includes
YT Wicked is £1900 with X11 Reverb and Pikes
Canyon Strive Race CF is £3k
Mondraker Dune is all about the frame at £2.5K with Pikes but utter poverty spec with spline cranks and 9 speeds!
Nukeproof Mega is worth a look if you ride hard and heavy – can be had for £2.1K
Whyte G150 is very sprightly at £2.5K with Reverb
Kona Process 153 is a very sweet package at £2.8K

I dismissed all of the above and bought an Enduro 29er…

You know you want an Ariel… It suited you!
The Spesh stumpjumper 650 is a Spesh, and a poor attempt at jumping on the bandwagon that Specialized missed.
Just get an Ariel!

Am loving my Ariel, having built up a 15x frame – comes in at 28.5lb with 1×10 and a dropper so happy with that for a 150mm bike. Got me up some techy climbs in the Peak yesterday, and is a great laugh back down again!

Winstanleys have them down from £2899 to £1999