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Hi all! Been a while since I've posted (busy being self employed).
Me and the missus are in the middle of sorting/selling some bikes etc due to both going to ebikes as our main bikes.
I've discovered that I've got plenty of kit to build myself a hardtail for some local rides when I don't have time for a day trip.
I was going to cobble together a gravel bike or something, but I don't see the point if all I need is a hardtail frame.
Apart from the Nukeproof Scout 290 at £350 and the Ragley Marley at £209, have I missed any others around a similar price?
Sixe L/XL, 29er wheels and around 130-140mm travel.
ta 🙂
Planet X jack flash 29er - £95 delivered with code BFBEST20
https://www.planetx.co.uk/i/q/FRPXJF29/planet-x-jack-flash-29er-frame
Oh yeah, I always forget about Planet X!
That's a cracking price! Do you know if it's boost rear? I can't seem to see the info.
yeah it's boost
Nice one, thanks 🙂
I’d go for the big Al, great price that and very sorted geometry
I bought this https://www.chainreactioncycles.com/commencal-meta-ht-am-frame-2022/rp-prod207256
I wish I could get the thing built but its taking sodding ages!
Commencal is cool, but I don't need anything near its capabilities 🙂
The Big Al is really tempting, but I can only see XL frames and I think I'd rather have a L in that one.
I like my hardtails sized smaller than my full sus. I'm just comparing all the suggestions to my last hardtail that was a really nice fit (Large Cotic Solarismax).
The other one is a Kenevo SL in S5 size and it feels huge!
Something like a Stanton Sherpa would have been a good shout, but they are too pricey and everything's a bit up in the air at the moment for them unfortunately 🙁
Just stay away from anything with the word gravel in it as you will pay about 3 times the price for it. This gravel bike craze, I'm seeing sora specced out bikes that would have cost £300-400 for near on a grand and they weigh as much nearly as hardtail too. That Jack flash looks OK for the price of you have a set of wheels and forks etc already knocking around. I see they even do it in a 26 but I'm after a steel 26 really. The old xc hardtails make great bikes still I think and are much better value than the new gravel bike. A lot don't include hydro brakes unless you want to pay about £300 extra for what would cost £80 if it was a flat bar and not drop bar.
Piglet frames are 350 at CRC right now. I paid 600 for mine this time last year. It's absolutely 600's worth of frame, so 350 is an absolute steal.
The Big Al is really tempting, but I can only see XL frames and I think I’d rather have a L in that one.
The Big Al frame is more of a small Al! I am 6:2ft (189cm), 32inch leg and 87kgs, started off on a large big Al and it was way too small, now on an XL and it's near perfect but close to being small. I read another forum member bought a XL and it was too small for him at 6:ft. If you are over 5:11ft then go for an XL. Brilliant bike and so much bike for the price.
@coconut I'm a very similar proportion to you, so XL would probably be fine I reckon.
I'll have a think this weekend and decide, but it looks like the Big Al might be the leader so far.
I always wanted an older Piglet years ago but they're 27.5 wheels though 🙁
The Big Al is (I think) the same geometry as the Big Wig, which is a really sorted bike running a 140mm fork. I bought mine stock but for the price of the Big Al frame I’d be going for that. The red frame looks really nice too. Post up some photos when built OP if you go for it.
I bought a lightly used stock big al back in February, it's been a brilliant bike, I'd recommend one. I'd had steel HTs before that but don't notice any difference in terms of 'steel is real' versus ally tbh. I've got nice big 2.6 tyres on which helps, but that's probably true of any HT. I'm just under 6ft and mine's a large - I've never felt it's too small, it feels just right.
That Merlin looks quite nice, but it was a tad over budget.
Ultimately it was a flip of a coin between the Scout and Big Al, the Yellow Scout 290 won and the order has been placed.
Thanks all for the suggestions 🙂
Just pushed the button on a large grey Blue Pig.
£329 is a bit of steal, so I added a Hope headset onto the order, as it's basically free 😆
Everything (bar the headset) will swap over directly from my current Hardtail, a 2016 DMR Trailstar.
It's not too dissimilar, 63.75 v 66 HA and 74 v 72 SA, a bit longer and a bit slacker.
The DMR's looking a bit tired after 6/7 years abuse, quite a bit of rust under the top tube, and I've never liked the cable routing. Great frame though, but time for a new toy!
Ah nice, sounds like a good'un! Get some pics up when it's built.
Frame arrived. Build started 😁
