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Yeah sorry, by do-it-all I should have said do-all-i-can-manage.
Sterling suggestions, every one (well, maybe except the Blizzard).
Am erring towards a Chameleon, but that could all change…
...And before jokes start its about as heavy as the gate it lies against ,) was a great ride though..
Reminds me of my 30 seconds of passion in the field with IR_Baboon's Mum.
😳
Genesis Alpitude?
853, strong enough for fun and games in the woods but light enough for a decent epic in t'hills... (James did both while designing it)
I think I'd go for a Soul. Which is weird as I've just sold mine but I decided to go for something that was less of an allrounder and got an Mmmbop 😉 But as a balanced, capable, allround frame for pretty much everything bar serious jumping and DH I can't fault it.
Ti456 or Ragley Ti.
I wish my Ti456 had ISCG mounts, other than that, it's brilliant 🙂
depends on your definition of 'all'
my 'all' involves dirt jumps, bit of downhill, some riding singletrack, some trail centers etc. So a NS Bikes Surge was perfect. If your 'all' is more trails, less jumps, I expect a 456 or a ragley is closer to home
Looking at the Chumba Racing's new 2011 HX1, looks quite nice, EBB for single speed etc.
Looks like progressive-bikes.co.uk will be stocking soon.
Hope that helps.
I had a Pace 303, was better(ish) with a carbon post, but I had to admit defeat in the end, much as I loved its ride it was harsh as hell after a few hours. Each to their own though.
What about the Sanderson Blitz ?
I've got a 456C and a Transition TransAM. Both are brilliant, 456C a bit longer, probably climbs quicker, TransAM feels better on descents. But both are built very differently, so it's difficult to really pin the differences down to the frame rather than other stuff. Both I'd highly recommend.
But, most people would say the same about a lot of frames, I don't think there are many bad options out there. Just buy whatever you think looks best, that's what I did. Sorted.
I've had a chameleon for 4 years. no problems with my back, though it did start to hurt calf/ankle muscles on very long very rocky alpine descents. never had a problem in the UK despite some 8 hour long rides!
Not sure how a stiff frame would hurt your back unless you're sat down the whole time?? Sounds like a bike forum myth to me. If your backs hurting its more likely a wrong size frame.
Pretty much any hardtail will be fine though, so long as you don't go too lightweight/burly and pick something in the middle.
messiah - Member
Everytime I see that Brodie Holeshot I require new pants
I too need new pants 😳
I made the same decision to cut down to one mountain bike about a year ago. My definition of 'do it all' was like yours - everything I've got the skill and balls for, which is largely xc and trailcentres. I ended up with a Cotic Soda (tart's Soul) and have been delighted with it. Great fun in the Lakes and Wales (if not as fast downwards as say a Ragley Ti), and very quick cross country. I tried (and owned) all sorts before coming to a Cotic, including a chameleon and an mmmbop, and would certainly recommend you give one a try.
comfort will be the most important factor for sure & that is obviously very personal! test ride & test ride some more!
Whyte 19 carbon HT = Big Grins for hours on end!
Brodie Ti Holeshot, frames due soon ish £1099 for the frame.
[url= http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4111/5202199390_dbea55e054.jp g" target="_blank">
[url= http://www.flickr.com/photos/93388219@N00/5202199390/ ]Brodie Ti Holeshot[/url] by [url= http://www.flickr.com/people/93388219@N00/ ]srbwilson[/url], on Flickr
Ragley all the way for me, you have choice of steel alloy or Ti or 29er
Tyey are the do it all weapons of choice, or maybe look at the Cotics they have diffrent frames for diffrent fork lengths
Im of the same opinion as someone above.
My version of "do it all" is day rides, downhill, pumptrack, jumps, trail.
I get by just fine on my NS surge which would ruin a lot of people. It weighs 32lbs and i can sprint up climbs some people will walk. Long gradual climbs kill me though. But on fun stuff, it makes that grin, that bit wider.
If you're on lighter side of things, cotic soul, P7, duster etc.
If you're on the more aggressive side of things, blue pig, prince albert, BFe or even NS surge.
Ragley all the way for me, you have choice of steel alloy or Ti or 29er
Tyey are the do it all weapons of choice,
The TD-1 is a great 29er, but very specific - wouldn't call it a 'do-it-all weapon of choice' as it's rigid only?
+1 for the Ti456... 😛
orange crush. good spec and good kit. not the lightest but a good do it all bike and a touch over £1k new so a bargain. fox forks and mavic rims. race face finishing kit. all a nice little package imo. personally liked the 2009 orange colour and its back for 2011.
I still reckon the carbon 456 can take what this lot can.
But what about a Blue Pig X?
How about a Pace 325
http://www.pacecycles.com/?page_id=171
I have a pace 305, lots of fun, does xc and all mountain well...
I'll 2nd a Cove Stiffee. Did a 5 hour Peaks ride on Saturday with no adverse effects.
I was looking at a sanderson soloist the other day and thinking that with an alfine 11, uppy/downy post, 4-5" fork of some sort would would make a reasonable "all rounder" or maybe a love/hate... I'm getting more into the idea of a robust EBB frame with hub gears and a sensible build...
I suppose it all comes down to what "all rounder" means to you, everyone will have different bias of course.
whoops double post...
Looking at the Chumba Racing's new 2011 HX1, looks quite nice, EBB for single speed etc.
Looks like progressive-bikes.co.uk will be stocking soon.
New HX1 frames to land next week. £399 with EBB
[url= http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5100/5512911700_81715cbcd8.jp g" target="_blank">
[url= http://www.flickr.com/photos/93388219@N00/5512911700/ ]hx1[/url] by [url= http://www.flickr.com/people/93388219@N00/ ]srbwilson[/url], on Flickr
In my experience the best all rounder has to be the Cotic Soul. I run my 2008 model with a 130mm revelation. It has enough give to be comfortable for all day rides but is still nice and responsive and I was keeping up with a mate riding a Prophet on some very rocky/ rooty downhills last night.
I also have a 456ti with a Pike and big tyres which is an awesome hardcore hardtail but much harsher on the small stuff than the Soul.
I had a P7 which was very comfy but heavy and unresponsive and happier with 115mm fork.
The Cove HJ would also be a good choice and works well with a 120mm fork.
Pace hardtails are very harsh and have steep head angles, I didn't get on with my RC303 at all and paint quality was shocking.
I have a 456 SS which is great fun but for me it's too heavy and harsh for long rides.
If you can find one of 200, the limited edition Orange Clockwork is a sweet bike and I run a 125mm Magura Phaon. Paint chips easily though.
Chameleons are absolutely bloody brilliant! I got rid of mine as I did find it left me feeling, after a full days riding, like i imagine some of the 'actresses' must feel in some of the more adventurous adult films. I got a full suss instead
I've gone back to a Pace RC305 though. Which is much the same, but with a slightly less brutal feel to it
Fatbike? Surly Pugsley etc
456 Summer Season with Pikes. Did the Puffer on it and get down anything on it. Rarely ride anything else nowadays.
456SS with adjustable forks, Surly Pugsley or Marin B17.
I'd love to try a SC Chameleon, Soul or P. Albert but haven't.
How tall are you?
ragleyrider - Member
Ragley all the way for me
For those who read his more recent thread, LOLOLOLOLOL. Confirmed idiot.
I've had a fair few what I'd class as 'do-it-all' hardtails and by do-it-all I mean good enough to ride all day (5 or 6 hours) but fun when you want to shove the seat down a little and just go for a thrash.
Chameleon - owned two and for the seat down/thrashing bit, they're awesome. But there was no getting away from it, on long rides (with a Thomson post) they got pretty uncomfortable. Maybe a carbon post would have made things a bit better but carbon posts don't tend to take too kindly to much up/down action for the fun stuff.
Soul - good at the areas which let the Chameleon down, not as good as the areas in which the Chameleon excelled. A very good bike but certainly one that liked all day rides better than techno stuff and more downhill orientated stuff.
Suppose a BFe might be a good halfway house? Not sure, never ridden one.
However for my type of riding (mostly short rides filled with as much fun stuff as possible with the odd full day around Calderdale/Peaks/trail centres thrown in) I'd be looking at something like an Evil Sov (if I could be bothered to compare the angles and make sure it was long enough/slack enough), 456Ti or a Ragley Ti.
Oh, FWIW, my 'second' bike is a 456SS and its flippin brilliant. Just built up with a right mess of spares which has gradually evolved into a better build as I realised how much potential there is for it. Had a spin on a Ragley Ti which I'm guessing is evolution 2 steps on from the SS (with the Blue Pig sat inbetween) and loved that to bits but in terms of pure fun + value, the SS must beat anything?! Only downside is its weight and lack of steel 'feel'. But for a bike that gets treated like sh*t, you just can't complain.
Whyte 19.
For the win.