Salsa El Mariachi? Easy to run either geared or singlespeed with the alternator dropout, and goes well with a rigid fork.

Love my Surly Karate Monkey, it just rides “right”

I have an El Mariachi, really pleased with it. Although now everyone seems to be getting one I may need to look elsewhere.

The surly and Singulars are excellent bikes also.

+1 for the El Mariachi
Gears and suss forks

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SS and rigid

Love it both ways. 😀

Personally, I’d go with the better frame. Wheels wear out or can be updated at a later date.

I’ve fairly recently built up an Inbred with a Singular Swift fork and I’m very pleased with it. I put my money into a set of Crests on Hope hubs, which I think was the right decision for me.

The frame was bargaintastic at £100. It’s nicely finished and rides really well. It may not have the zing of a Swift or similar but downhill it’s incredible. Really, really rate the Swift fork too.

Salsa El Mar here with rigid carbon fork, my first 29er and I can’t fault it. Came from an 26 Inbred which I still use however the El Mar is usually my bike of choice now.

Some cracking deals about on the Salsa frameset. I’m sure Charlie had them at about £350.

but he can get them in a day if ison have them in stock, just like every other shop.

Couple of comments here mentioning the good old ‘zing’ of steel frames. Notably the comparison of Swift and inbred. Does the Swift really have more zing than the inbred? And is the inbred really that much better downhill or riding more technical trails?

I didn’t find the Swift zingy. Versatile and adaptable are the words I would use.

But Mr Cheez up there rode both my Swift, my Salsa Selma, and his Inbred so is better placed to give you a comparison.

I gave a Niner MCR9 a good beasting and that was zingy, but it’s double the money and add a bit.

If you come across a Selma 2nd hand give it very serious thought, it’s a rocket ship.

+2 for High Latitude. Building mine soon – they’re lovely.

Best bike I’ve ever ridden, discontinued now and I’m told only 50 were imported. I bought another for stock!

As always a balanced view, no one opinion sticking out more than the others!

Currently loooking to build a rigid 29er with SS and geared option. So looking at frame and fork options. My budget will only cater for inbred or second hand Swift, so trying to decide between the two. After riding a mk1 PA for some time and being a little dissapointed that it didn’t have the steel zing that my 90’s Stumpy had I think i’m looking for some zing….

I don’t think your budget stretches to zing.

Look for a 2nd hand Niner SIR9 (not common), maybe a Ritchey P29er (same).

I’d probably pick a Swift over an Inbred (well, I did!). Inbred is outstanding VFM though and Cheez up there rides it good.

I have a medium Swift (frame fork headset) that needs a good home, but you probably need a large.

Very roughly a zingier bike will have thinner tubes for equivalent strength, which means its made from more expensive material that presumably requires more skill to work with too, so costs rise. But I am no expert.

Will check my mail in the AM.

Cheezpleez – ‘TBH I found the Inbred and Swift a v similar ride’ good to hear – although makes the choice no easier.

‘Not quite as confident on the downs as my Inbred but that may be because it weighs almost nothing‘ This is interesting, as i’ve ridden a couple of lightweight carbon and alu 29ers and felt they were a bit skittish. A slightly ‘better planted’ bike will be better for 90% of the riding I do – after all i’m never going to win any races.

If anyone is in the SW with either inbred or swift I wouldn’t mind trying one out…

I went from Inbred to SIR.9. The Niner is lovely, really does have a suppleness that the Inbred didn’t but I’d happily go back to an Inbred. The Niner certainly isn’t worth 5x the Inbred. The Niner, in terms of feel, reminds me of a Cotic Soul I had once. It’s quite a bit lighter too.

julio YGM

I wouldn’t describe the Selma is skittish, however Cheez does run monster truck tyres on his Inbred, I don’t, so that’s going to change the feel a lot. It is light (with Niner carbon forks on it). Oh yes.