Posted a while ago about what hybrid for commuting but decided I want a hard tail. Commute is a mixture of road, cycle path, path and then some proper singletrack. None of it really technical but opportunities to throw bike about a bit and want the durability and fun of a mountain bike. SO looking for a fast hard tail. Guessing light (but not carbon), 29 rather than 27.5? Want a bit of slackness on head angle but guessing 67 be ok? 100mm travel? Was looking at trek superfly or the like. Can probs extend to 1.2kish.
Cheers

For that kind of money you could get something with electrics. If I was buying a new commuter bike, I would add to hep with the hills, etc. Hope you have some secure parking as a nice bike is a target.

Boardman Pro 29er…and save the rest of the cash

What else will you use it for? General mtb’in? I commuted on my Scandal for a bit and it was ideal, just had a look on On One and for a wee bit more you could pickup a ti Titus or a bit more again for an On One ti.

Does it have to be new? There are some nice 29ers in the Classifieds section just now, including my own. I was in the position of buying a 29er recently for road use and ended up buying new instead of second hand. I’d have been better off buying a mint second hand bike, as I was not happy with the bike I eventually bought. I liked the frame on the Specialized Hardrock I had, but the components on the version I had were lacking, especially the suspension

That route has cross / gravel bike written all over it. Will sharpen up your handling skills on the singletrack bits.

Personally for that type of riding I’d go more xc and go for a Specialized Chisel or similar.

https://www.evanscycles.com/pinnacle-ramin-3-2018-mountain-bike-EV306262

Hi , I have a specialised stumpjumper hardtail.
It is carbon though?
Really nice light build carbon wheels carbon bars ,carbon seat post.
It is a 29 Large frame

Running 1 x 10 xt gears, xtr cranks ,slx brakes.
Lightweight discs, tubeless

Weight just over 20 lbs without pedals

Very good condition,

Looking for £1100

Look for forks with long service intervals.

Cyclocross bike with a high volume tubeless tyres – my fastest times on my local XC route are on my CX bike. Legs are what make it go fast, but the 4lb weight loss over an MTB that makes it faster – it’ll probably help sharpen up your handling / make you smoother on XC.

Thanks for responses. Not up for cx/gravel – don’t like drop handlebars – negates fun factor I reckon. Will be bike to work with a potential £200 of my own, but your right probably don’t need to spend that much.

Mat_outandabout had it. For the money you don’t get a much better spec than the Boardman.

If OP is doing c2w then secondhand bikes are out, and strictly self build is out as well – you should only be able to use the c2w voucher for a whole bike although some shops do cheat this bit.

As above C2W off the peg alloy – Boardman take some beating.
I used a 26″ SC Chameleon to commute a mix of road/farmtracks/singletrack for years until it developed a crack on the seat/toptube weld 🙁
I bought a cheap Brand X carbon from to transplant all the parts on to & it been ideal for over 5k miles.
I think I’ll buy a cheap carbon Chinese 29er frame in a years time to replace it with.

https://www.on-one.co.uk/i/q/CBTIFLNX1/titus-fireline-evo-sram-nx1-mountain-bike

Orange Clockwork 29er. Use mine for commuting, bike packing and a bit of off roading. I’ve upgraded bits over time and it’s spot on.