Looking to spend about £1200 and considering the Orange Crush and Marin Nail Trail.

Any7 thoughts, experiences, love stories?

I'm 5ft 9 and a chunky monkey at 17 stone. Latter figure IS coming down.

TiA

You seem to have selected 2 pretty different types of hardtail:

Orange Crush – 140mm forks, more laid back geometry
Marin Nail Trail – 100mm forks, more XC orientated geometry

So it depends on what you want to use the bike for. I have a Cove Stiffee (which is fairly similar to the Crush) and I think it is great fun however it is not a XC whippet type bike. A proper hooligan bike so I'd probably recommend the Crush.

A nice bit of retro steel from Genesis maybe ?

I'll say it…

16" 456 with coil Pikes, SLX kit, Hope Hoops on Flow, Easton bits and tubeless tyres. Should come in on budget.

bullet proof, comfy, fun, robust.

I have a ragley blue pig custom build up for sale in the classifieds, check it out:

http://www.singletrackworld.com/forum/topic/fs-ragley-blue-pig-custom-build-mint

be spot on for your size (im the same) and its steel, what more do you need? Will do it for a straight grand as thats what i need to get the full susser i have my eye on 😉