Why compromise. Just use one bike that shines in the area of riding you like. Sod the rest. Live for that moment, not a compromise on all of it. Life is far too short for compromises.
aka_Gilo - MemberCX bikes can be ridden on most stuff you'd ride a (XC) mountain bike on, albeit a lot slower and in some discomfort
I know- therefore, a big sacrifice of offroad capability and enjoyment, and not for someone that wants an equal split.
I've got an ancient rigid mtb which by modern standards is more or less a hybrid. It's [i]reasonable[/i] on and off road with a tyre swap, and a far better balanced compromise than my cx bike (despite having only cost £300, in 1992, whereas my CX bike was RRP £1200)
Trimix - Member
Why compromise. Just use one bike that shines in the area of riding you like. Sod the rest. Live for that moment, not a compromise on all of it. Life is far too short for compromises.
Yeah, but I love it all - hence a cx bike 😀
ahwiles - MemberIf you are allowed just one bike
i would cry.
plus 1 on above, but.....
..my Surly pugsley.
8)
A 4X frame with adjustable travel forks. You could use it for everything.
The same idea as the Giant STP above^^^.
120mm SS steel HT, maybe on the tough side - BFE, for when I would abuse it.
Why? What Trimix said 😉
Trek Remedy
I've actually been giving this some serious thought recently, and decided that it'd be a steel hardtail, 130mm forks with lockout, and a rohloff. Plus (not mentioned by the OP so I'm including it :-)) a spare rear wheel, SS for when I fancy it.
To use Trimix's definition of mountain biking on the previous page, I'd happily and enjoyably ride that up and down any mountain.
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I think my one of my Whyte 19's would just make it, although, if my CX bike had better brakes (ie ones that stopped me when I wanted to stop, not when they felt like it) I could be persuaded to change my mind.
Peregrine.
Unicycle
If you are allowed just one bike
I'd swap it for something else every couple of months 8)
Oh . . . 😳
It's a horrible thought, but if it really came to it I'd have a cross bike. I've a Tricross at the moment and it's probably the bike that gets ridden most.
Yes. I am. Yes she is. And you need to grow some balls
Not married. Three bikes. No regrets. 😀
By "bike", you really mean Frame n forks, everything else gets swapped out over time anyway. one bike for life? I'd have a cx/toury type bike with all the threads for racks n stuff, but space for decent tyres. like a surly crosscheck, something like that. Something really versatile and steel with some other wheels with different tyres.
I made that choice, gave up a full suss and stuck with my current ride. Hardtail Whyte 19 Steel 120mm fork, does it all so far for me, to be fair its one of the only bikes that felt right straight out the box really.
Perfect jack of all trades bike in my opinion and happy to have only that as my one bike.
Why compromise. Just use one bike that shines in the area of riding you like. Sod the rest. Live for that moment, not a compromise on all of it. Life is far too short for compromises.
I like road, I like fast XC riding, and I like scaring myself on DH bits. Now what do I do?
To answer the OP, probably a longish travel XC/trail bike, 130-140mm on both ends. Which would mean giving up the road rides, I suppose.
My Surly Karate Monkey. Does most things really well and despite any skill on my part seems to regularly handle stuff which some folk tell me I "need" full suspension for.
Easy, my Cotic Solaris, but with a triple so that I could go faster on the road, and a spare pair of wheels with slicks on, and some clip on tri bars 😯
I've only got one bike...
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80mm front suspension. Runs big bouncy 2.4" tyres with ease. Very light. Ran it with wide bars and short stem for a couple of years for trail fun, now with long stem and short bars and bar ends for more distance cycling / road. Having fun with 2.4 supermoto tyres on road and paths. Planing a 10 day tour with it.
It's a hypothetical question innit....(?) therefore forcing an unreal situation.
If it's a real-life situation forced upon someone because of (a) Wifely demands/attitude (b) Inner City living (c) financial stress or something then i'd stringly suggest:
(a) slapping the bitch and telling her who's boss
(b) moving out to somewhere better
(c) getting a better job, or a 2nd job.. or pimping the wife 😀
Bol
How's the Solaris? Thinking of getting one but no xl demo available. Think am convinced though.
How's the Solaris? Thinking of getting one but no xl demo available. Think am convinced though.
I'm loving it. It feels just like my Soda did, so if you've ridden a Soul and liked it, you'll like the Solaris. I went up from a large to an XL and it feels just as chuckable. If you're anywhere near Norfolk you're welcome to come and give it a try.
I get sick and tired of these one bike threads!
It is impossible to only have one bike as the formula below proves.
Minimum number of bikes formula
n+1
n=number of bikes you have
Discussion closed.
Ah, that is the same formula I use for guitars!
Q. How many guitars do you have?
A. Not enough!
Unfortunately you can only generally apply this rule to one hobby, and for me the guitars win.
Surely the discussion is pointless without establishing where you are living, and the type of riding you get to do (accounting for other commitments, travel etc). e.g. if you happen to live in torridon then you probably want a reasonable travel full bouncer; but if you live in norfolk and can only ride locally then you might be better with something "fast". Afterall you can always hire (or pay to demo) a bike for the one weekend a year when you go to do something more extreme.
Its probably also pointless without establishing why this restriction exists. e.g. if it is financially driven, then you need to add a budget (if you can afford a £3k "dream" bike, you can afford 2 £1.5k very good bikes or 3 quite impressive £1k bikes).
If there were one perfect bike for all situations, there wouldn't be so many different bikes on the market.
@poly relax ... It's just a theoretical discussion.
I'd have an all round full suss trail bike, just as per all the marketing. Lots of frame choices.
this one, one frame many guises
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[url= http://www.flickr.com/photos/rocketdog/4632946744/ ]365/143 23/5/10[/url] by [url= http://www.flickr.com/people/rocketdog/ ]rOcKeTdOgUk[/url], on Flickr
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[url= http://www.flickr.com/photos/rocketdog/4838057432/ ]swift+gull[/url] by [url= http://www.flickr.com/people/rocketdog/ ]rOcKeTdOgUk[/url], on Flickr
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[url= http://www.flickr.com/photos/rocketdog/6204013937/ ]day touring lite Swift[/url] by [url= http://www.flickr.com/people/rocketdog/ ]rOcKeTdOgUk[/url], on Flickr
one that could be ridden straight out of my front door and which would be at home riding on the road or my local trails. CX?
Bol cheers.
In south yorks so but far! Not ridden a soul as no xl but I think it's just what am after.
Currently have old full sus and an io rigid single speed. Of the two find the io more fun and want something closer to that but bit more flexible.
What build did you go for?
Apologies for thread hijack!
My Singular Swift. Most fun bike I've ridden.
Run it rigid with slicks as a commuter or with a suspension fork off road. Alfine or single-speed
I'm building one of these:
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It could become my one-bike (mountain bike)
^ rocketdog's on the right track I think..
Now I shouldn't say this since I work in the bike industry, but that n+1 formula... Hmm. I had more a dozen bikes at one point, I've also had just one for long periods. Looking for specialism is just one way of buying bikes. It's fine, but a bike can be such an adaptable thing. Adapting to varying demands, to me, is as interesting as 'what bike for x?' thoughts. I guess I just get more familiar with and enjoy a one-for-all approach since I grew up riding ATBs that were the do-all bike back then.
I rode my CX bike the last few mornings just for a change and (IMO) have realised that compared to other 700c rigid bikes, they're actually rubbish for XC terrain. Lack of braking grip, deflection of the wheels + steering over the slightest bump, no tyre volume, just sketchy. Fun for sure, but there are better all-rounders if off-road is a significant part of your riding. If it's 50% and a lot of that is towpaths and smooth tracks they're ace. But I reckon a 29er handles tarmac better than a CX bike handles dirt.
Just ramble-typing over a coffee.. The ideal all-rounder is just such an interesting concept for a bike design product geek. I think I'll always admire a great all-rounder more than a specialist since all-rounders have more variables to try to balance and a wider design brief - a tricky problem to solve, only a few have done it well imo so far.
@poly relax ... It's just a theoretical discussion.
That's how I meant it yes. I was just interested to see if a trend appeared. So far not really, apart from it seems to be a hardtail, or surprisingly big travel full sussers.
Personally I like to ride a big mix, though the majority is firly smooth stuff, so ideally I would have 2 bikes. Currently that is not an option and Hardtails are now too rough on my spine so have to go for a "do-it-all" full suss bike - which of course doesn't really exist.
Currently I have a 2004 Stumpjumper with a 120mm fork.
A lightweight carbon 160mm bike with a Bos Deville, Reverb, carbon wheels and XTR. 66deg-ish HA. 26 to 27lbs in weight? Maybe a Spesh Enduro or a Nomad, I'd need to ride all the candidates.
I don't have to pay for it do I?
The one i have got. Cube Fritzz the One, 31Lb 160mm do it all AM bike.
Just sold my Lapierre Spicy to buy it.
Intense tracer and 2 pairs of forks 160 36s and 140 32s
Not likely to be necessary as my girlfriend has more bikes than the 3 I. Have 🙂
If I was only allowed one bike I would change my circumstances. I once had only one bike and I have no idea how I coped.
