Looking to buy a complete bike rather than build up from parts this time.

120mm (or more) bolt through fork is a must.

From geometry, budget, LBS allegiance options and spec the following two are at the top of my current list –

Whyte 905 vs Genesis Altitude 20

Or push the budget up to a Whyte 19 Trail Steel vs Genesis Altitude 30

Custom Ragley or Cotic etc build are probably out due to cost and LBS options.

I like the option of the dropout on the Whyte 19 steel since I do run a singlespeed on another bike, and hence the option to eventually move this on to that role is nice – but there is a cost to the current spec.

Open to suggestions and comments from the STW massif.

*tumbleweed*

The Reba Maxle 120mm is a great fork, doesn't the Whyte come with this?

I currently have an Genesis Alpitude-slightly different to the Altitude, longer fork etc but a great bike and really good value. I really like the genesis bikes in general, they look good, get good reviews and I think are pretty good value.

Unless I'm mistaken, if you want the fancy drop-out of the Whyte, only the 19 Trail and 19 steel have the adjustable dropouts, not the 905. That's certainly the case in the 2010 range.

I'd like the 19 Trail in Alu but the price tag is a bit stee-eep