So after waiting 18 months for the bike to work scheme I’ve been told there are none in small and the line is being discontinued. Any alternatives that the hive can recommend. £1000 budget. I’m getting fed up looking and close to remaining at N bikes

https://www.brothercycles.com/shop/big-bro-stone/

Needs to be complete bike

Marin Pine Mountain, Bombtrack Beyond Plus or Surly Troll would all be good options, not sure if they come in under £1000 though? Shame you can’t get the Longitude though, it’s a smashing bike!

Tarn?
Stooge?

Evans showing as having stock in small.

https://www.evanscycles.com/genesis-longitude-2017-mountain-bike-EV289590

and are in the ride to work scheme

https://www.evanscycles.com/b2b/ride-to-work-employee

2016 models usually at decent prices.

Edit – actually I ended up getting mine new for £800 all,in 2017 model. Prob not much more than you’d end up paying on the bike to work scheme assuming you’re not in the top tax bracket.

Pinnacle Ramin 3+ from Evans has had some glowing reviews

http://bearbonesbikepacking.blogspot.co.uk/2017/01/ramin-3-review.html

That Ramin looks niiice..

That ramin doesn’t look to have all the rack and mudguard mounts that I would expect in an equivalent bike (might not matter to the op). Seems strange to put cage mounts on the forks then leave out all the other usual mounting points on the frame.

One of these perhaps …

Sonder Frontier

Looks like they cover various schemes too …

https://www.alpkit.com/support/stickies/cycle-to-work-schemes

Good shout on Alpkit. Thanks

That Alpkit Frontier looks fantastic, just wish it was steel or carbon! 🙁 Broken Road looks great, but way out of my price budget.

Another recommendation for the ramin, lovely bike to ride

Usual pic 😉

I’d look at the hub/dropout spec on the Frontier before buying one – who else is making the hubs and skewers to go with them? Not sure what the hub spec is on the Ramin but it looks like a good buy.

Not sure what the hub spec is on the Ramin

QR 135/100, SB hubs can be swapped to thru-axle either end if swapping wheelsets between this bike and another or upgrading the forks.

That’d swing it for me over the Frontier.