I've been looking at the sale on ragleys and have finally got permission from the other half to get one. So now I need to decide which one to get.
I currently have a cotic bfe 2016ish (which I'll sell) and a cotic rocket (which I'll keep). Given that I've already got enduro/DH covered with the rocket, the sort of riding I'd like the hardtail for is flowy trail centre stuff, pump tracks and dirt jumps and (and this might be a bit too different) bike packing and riding wild trails in Scotland and the Lake District (basically stuff like Torridon).
I was originally going to get a Blue Pig (just because I used to have one about ten years ago which I loved but got stolen) but I think that a) it might overlap in capabilities with my rocket and b) have most of the same flaws that I find the bfe has, in particular that it's not as nimble or light as I would like. People have suggested the Marley or piglet instead which look great but I've read a few negative things about their ability to descend steep stuff. I'm slightly wary of the shorter travel (130mm) but think I would probably be ok. The piglet would be £250 more but come with slightly better components. I'm slightly wary of the shorter travel fork (130mm) when I haven't ridden a hardtail with less than 150 for about a decade. I think I'd quickly get used to it but I'm not sure.
Any thoughts?
<p style="text-align: left;">Mmmbop? Exactly the same as the BP, but aluminium and a bit lighter.</p>
Currently half price on CRC!
Hmm maybe, but I thought that one of the reasons the blue pig might feel a bit cumbersome is the geometry and the long travel fork, and the mmmbop has both of those things.
Honestly ask yourself how often you plan to go bikepacking on this bike. If you’re more likely to do most of its riding on trail centres and Lakeland rocky stuff, buy something best suited for that. They’ll all work for bikepacking but getting something which suits that kind of riding won’t be as good as for the rest of the stuff.
Personally I’d be looking at a Big Al or Big Wig in your situation, both very capable bikes.
Hmm maybe, but I thought that one of the reasons the blue pig might feel a bit cumbersome is the geometry and the long travel fork, and the mmmbop has both of those things.
Maybe, but I have a Blue Pig, and have done all day 'xc' rides on it as well as bashing out techy single-track and DH/Enduro style trails.
Very comfy for all types of riding IMHO.
Maybe, but I have a Blue Pig, and have done all day ‘xc’ rides on it as well as bashing out techy single-track and DH/Enduro style trails.
Very comfy for all types of riding IMHO.
The piece I think might be missing with the blue pig is more the pump track/DJ/free ride stuff. I always felt my bfe wasn't nippy enough for that. Maybe I just need more skills.
Pump track/DJ bikes are a whole different kettle of fish though and they don't generally fetch too much money second hand. They also tend to have fast tyres that are unsuitable for everything else so maybe you could buy one of those as well.
I use my fatbike (Canyon Dude with blutos) for xc and bikepacking, my friend uses his do it all trail hardtail. I don't think occasional bikepacking requires anything special, although plenty of room in the front triangle for a framebag helps.
I think you probably already own the right bike but don't let that stop you buying another, I never do 🙂
I mainly ride hardtails for everything and have found 130mm to 140mm to be the sweet spot and more than enough for most situations. Anything longer gets a bit odd under compression in my opinion. Saying that I’ve not tried anything longer on a more modern LLS bike.
What do you envision doing the most of on this bike? That would affect my overall decision on what to get.
<p style="text-align: left;">What do you envision doing the most of on this bike?</p>
Having fun, mostly flowy trail centre stuff with some freeride. Occasional bikepacking.
I mainly ride hardtails for everything and have found 130mm to 140mm to be the sweet spot and more than enough for most situations. Anything longer gets a bit odd under compression in my opinion. Saying that I’ve not tried anything longer on a more modern LLS bike.
150-160 is fine on more modern geo hardtails.
I tend to run my forks pretty hard though, so as to counteract fork dive.