Hello folks,

I'm after a bit of advice from y'all regarding my future choice of steed.

I'm a bit of a steel fan, with two Explosif's(1996 653 tubing and 2006 Dedacciai)and a De Kerk Team SL frame in the stable. I currently use the 2006 Explosif in a commuting guise(White Industries rigid carbon fork, M771 XT chainset and Conti Sport Contact slicks)for my daily 50 mile grind.

I'm now looking to build up an "all-mountain" hardtail, that is capable of carrying my carcass(86kg!)around both trail centres and planned enduro events(Manx E2e and Kielder Montane 100).

I'm no stunt-park specialist, and enjoy my climbing probably more than my descending, but still need a robust frame for long hours in the saddle that will put a smile on my face regardless of where I ride. My shortlist of frames so far are:

Genesis Altitude 30
Genesis Alptitude

Cotic Soul
Cotic BeFe

Whtye 19(Steel)

For fear of re-inventing the wheel(groan!),I'd really like to hear from anyone who owns any of these, or who has gone through a similar dilema of choice. Is there anything else that might fit the bill that I should be considering?

Thanks 🙂

Chameleon

Not steel, but better than those 😉

Forget them all, go Rocky Mountain Vertex 70. Light and strong and climbs like a Mountain Goat.

on-one 456
Kinesis Virtue
Ragley Blue Pig
Dialled bikes Prince Albert
thats my list…

climbs like a Mountain Goat

MBR ALERT – MBR ALERT

I always laugh when bikes are decribed like that!

OP – Just get what fits you and stick bigger tyres on it.

Thanks for the nice words soma_rich.

Mmmm,

Chameleon crossed my mind but Alu frame would make for a harsh ride over long distances, not to mention inability to repair crash damage.

Vertex 70 is too head-down arse-up race stylee!

Did consider a Prince Albert Alpine though.

I'd say Soul from your list.

Hi Jimmy,

Tried the Soul at Glentress but did'nt get me too excited.

To be fair it was probably down to the Magura forks and Formula brakes though.

over a long distance offroad, the comfiest bike i rode this year was a 130mm forked blue pig.
rode it for 45 miles on a tough dales route and did not suffer any aches or pains at all.

and they are pretty cheap too.

I've got an Alpitude and it's awesome. I had the new model Chameleon (the one with the EBB) and found the BB too high. That was a reason I chose the Alpitude over the Soul too – I like a lower BB.

Thanks Rickos,

My gut instinct is torn between the Altitude and the Aptitude.

What set-up are you running?

I have a 16" Altitude 30 (853) and it's lovely. Setup is pretty "standard", U-turn revs, XT everything and some fattish tyres (2.35 swampthings at the moment). Comfy and capable of anything I am (not much!). Recommended. 😀

EDIT – I also tried an Alpitude, and didn't really like it too much, felt like I was perched on it a bit, and I found climbing on it a bit of a chore (wandery front end). HTH

From what's on your list, I've got a BFe and owned a Soul and a 19. Had a good close look at a friends Alpitude this weekend.

Also from hearing the type of riding you are thinking of doing (and what you like riding), I'd immediately cross off the BFe, Alpitude and certainly a Chameleon. You can race or do very long epic days on them, but they'll be far from ideal.

I wouldn't write-off a good ali frame though, as the tougher steel frames have a lot less 'spring' than the XC ones. The difference between a Soul and a Bfe is quite marked on a rough descent. Bikes like the BFe and Alpine are much more about getting down the hill, than getting up them fast, although they can also do that.

Altitude gets praise and rave reviews all round too…probably better suited to what I'm after?

Thanks GavinB

Very clinical advice, but much appreciated as that's what I'm after!

Think you've rumbled my brain as I think my heart lies with the Altitude.

I'm not far off your weight (84kg) and have a Ragley Blue Pig – it'll happily do all the stuff you mention if you fit an adjustable work which I assume you would be doing anyway. I went from a Meta5 to the Pig and have not regretted it one bit.

Does all the riding I ask of it – mile munching, trail centres, DH and larking about in the local woods.

Dialled Prince Albert might be a good compromise bike for your needs.

Just another quick note – the Altitude is pretty much a carbon copy of the Soul, so from that point of view it would be a case of which one you liked the look of most! If comfort is a big deal to you, I would agree with GavB – some of the burlier steel HTs can give you a bit of a kicking!

You've hit the nail on the proverbial head…it's all about compromise regardless of my choice!

I guess some of the obvious 'others' would be:

456 (Ti or steel)
mmmBop or Blue Pig or Ti versions
P7
Dialled PA

Although haven't ridden any of them, so not really placed to comment.

or if you like doing mega-miles and are not after something for 'core descents, then maybe look at something with clown wheels? 😉

I had an alpitude but now have a 2009 chameleon as my HT.

Found the alpitude a little too small – I'm 5 11 and had the 18". It felt like I was perched upon the bike rather than in it (if you catch my drift!)

the chameleon i built weighed 4lbs less than the alpitude, which made a fair amount of difference.

Oh comfort, sounds nice…must be gettin old(no really I am)?

Good point re the stifness of the heavier duty steel frames though, and something I had'nt fully considered.

I've had a Prince Albert, BFe, Chameleon and Pace 303 (among many others in the past few years, and i've got rid of them all apart from the Pace.
Get a 305 (near as dammit the same bike), awesome all-round bike, and providing you pick a saddle that suits you, i found it equally as comfortable as t'others (a lot more so than the Chameleon and the Dialled especially).

(and before anyone says they snap, im close to 100kg, ridden mine for over two years and still going strong.)

Blue pig sounds ideal, but don't write off the chameleon, I've done 42 miles round the peak district on a singlesped chameleon with no major issues

Pipedream Sirius? Cheap and Reynolds 853, I've got one on order so am waiting to see if its as good as its sounds….

Thanks again,

Few more options for me to consider I guess.

Orange P7?

Without wanting to upset anyone, I always thought of the P7 more as a xc race rig than an all day all mountain affair, bit like the Explosif and Blizzard?

P7 a race rig? not really, fairly well built steel frame, 140mm forks and slack angles so not what i would call a race bike.

It is however a demon on the singletrack, climbs well (would be even better with an adjustable fork) and is a real do it all bike. Well, it is in my eyes anyway, i love mine.

Don't consider the Prince Albert if you need/want to buy something before March 2010. That's when the new Reynolds 725 version will be in stock.

Thanks Mike,

Relevant news for everyone I guess.

i have a chameleon, my second in fact, which I love. However, coupled with a Thomson post and Flight saddle it was harsh – after 15 miles I'd hurt (backside and back). Probably because I don't ride enough these days but even so. I now also have a Ti456 with ti post and saddle. Whilst the handling etc is very similar to a Chameleon I can now ride for miles and miles and miles without any pain. Both are ace though.

No probs, dillon.

Obviously, if you can wait until March 2010, then I would love you to consider it!

if i was to buy an AM hardtail, id defo go a Ragley Blue Big, really like the look of them, and everyone who posts anything on here about them says good things, if i could afford another bike id get one, with Revs and set it up as a 1×9, but that wont be happening for a bit……

everyone who posts anything on here about them says good things,

everyone who posts anything about the bike they own says good things.

but thanks for the nice words 🙂

Tried the Soul at Glentress but did'nt get me too excited.

To be fair it was probably down to the Magura forks and Formula brakes though.

This is quite telling I think – Realistically any of the frames mentioned above would work out splendidly assuming they're the right size and setup with kit that you like.

Altitude in 853 although I'm not sure it handles well with anything longer than 100mm fork.

My Altitude 853 handles very well with a 120mm fork.

everyone who posts anything about the bike they own says good things.

but thanks for the nice words

'spose your right, but i only pay attention to a few….

as soon as this cast comes off im going to try and demo one….