I'm old, and being old I'm stuck in my ways. My main bike for the last 10 years has been a Patriot. I like it - it fits me well and is robust enough to make up for my ham fisted riding.
It currently has an old Z150 Freeride fork on the front which makes it a bit slack for climbing and isn't really that great when pointing down hill either. It's also on the lardy side.
I've been toying with putting the old boy out to pasture but I keep coming back to the fact I quite enjoy riding the bike.
But, as I'm getting more ancient the thought of a new bike that was easier to propel up hill (and perhaps even be better down the other side) is appealling.
So do I take the cheap(er) and safe(r) option of updating the Patriot or should I plump for something new? Taking into account I'm mainly bridleway and singletrack bashing these days I don't need anything as 'manly' as the Patriot really. A Five or a Stumpjumper would seem to fit (I like FS - it's kinder to the bottom).
