Every winter I do the same thing. My riding falls from 3-5 times a week to once or twice if I’m lucky, and of course I pack on the beef and moan about incessantly. Or so my wife tells me. And this year it’s been compounded by my separated shoulder meaning I couldn’t do much of anything from October to January.

I’m currently getting my fitness back but I don’t have a huge amount of enthusiasm for lugging my 160mm bike around bland xc rides. Whether it’ll actually make a difference or not I cannot say, but I’m currently hankering after a short travel trail/xc bike to just get out and do some miles around my local mountainous forested area. The plan is to take my time and build something up cheaply from ebay or similar. A hardtail springs to mind, cheap, and less maintenance but I prefer full sussers.

Something with a long tt, (current bike is 595mm) prefer shorter chain stays. About 68 degree ha with a 120mm fork. Drawn towards spesh cambers. What else should I be looking at?

The other option is just to build up a lighter wheel set for my big bike?

Cotic Soul meets your requirements.

Where’s mountainous foresty?

rickon – Member

Cotic Soul meets your requirements.

Where’s mountainous foresty?

Mostly Cavehill, Belfast. Steep climbs, steeper trails. If not there it’ll be longer flatter xc rides – before my injury I was “enjoying” 40 miles night rides mid week. No lack of enthusiasm or fitness but now I’m just a bit meh.

Looking at the soul I do think the geometry looks good. Has it been like that for several years or constantly evolving? How do they climb?

Building an ebay bike – or from the classifieds here – is lots of fun. Not necessarily most economical, but definitely fun. Especially if you go the second-hand route. Winter bikes don’t last long IME.

I have a pinnacle ramin 1 medium for £300 that could take a 100mm fork, it would be a decent winter bike?

Get a fatbike! 🙂

They’re a lot of fun to ride, so you’ll get out more. They’re great in crap weather, too. And it’ll help you build fitness even faster. Win. Win. Win.

jimjam – Member
Every winter I do the same thing. My riding falls from 3-5 times a week to once or twice if I’m lucky, and of course I pack on the beef and moan about incessantly…

You need a tough wiry dog that likes to run and shit a lot. Then you’ll be out in all weather and keeping fit without any choice in it.

I’m selling my old saracen Mantra. I’m down in Newcastle and looking for £150. The fork is a bit poo, but fine for forresty stuff.
Let me know if you want any more details, or to come have a look.

Buying bits can be expensive and slow. I’d just find a 2nd hand bike. That way you can get out riding sooner and just change bits as you go.

Buying bits it’s the most fun but can take a while. I got all these bits off the classifieds on here for around 180 all in. Despite having a decent bouncer and 29er this frankenbike is what I find myself grabbing for xc blasts.

Buy my scale ht. I want a road bike 🙂

Certainly won’t be buying a fatbike. I’ve built several bikes from scratch in the past so I know it’s not the cheapest way of doing things but it’ll help me spread the cost out over a fairly long period so the wife won’t notice, plus I’ve got some bits anyway, hubs forks, cassettes, rotors etc etc.

Just kind of wondering about what bikes to investigate. As I’ve said, the camber looks good, and I have a fork that would suit (the 26″ version). I’ve never really looked at a Cotic Soul before but it’s kind of on the money too, although they do seem to hold their value.

I’m just musing as to what else is out there that I’m not aware of.

Kinesis Virsa Decade? Can be run SS/hub geared so could be the perfect winter bike. Will take a 130mm fork to.
Cove Stiffee/Handjob. Plenty out there s/hand. Santa Cruz Chameleon.

I have one of these sitting around doing nothing if you’re interested:

http://www.giant-bicycles.com/en-gb/bikes/model/trance.x.frameset/4868/41824/

Size L. Would have to post.