My fitness is a bit, well, crap at the moment. I purchased a gravel bike last year to try and help. Basically riding local bridleways, towpaths, cycleways and road where completely unavoidable. I’ve figured out I don’t like drop bars or the geometry/skinny tyres.
I think a 29er is in order. My heart is saying get a Stooge Dirtbomb to put a smile on my face and get back to what ridings really about. Always liked Klunker bikes too. I have naff all in the way of spare bits so it would be build from scratch with mainly used bits. I had a Speedball for a bit and the best way to describe is it was just such a nice place to be. Cruises along, was capable of going pretty quick and could handle rough stuff better than you’d think.
Sensible head says get something with suspension and more conservative tyres. I’ve looked at the new Fireline, Kona Honzo, a second hand custom made Ti frame based on the 2Souls Quarterhorse geometry, used Sherpa and finally a Stif Squatch. I bloody loved the Morf, it’s one of the few bikes I’ve regretted selling. I’ve never owned a Ti bike and have always been curious.
Basically I can’t make my bloody mind up! Something to bimble about on whilst I regain my fitness that will then be good for progressing to longer days exploring and then dicking about in the woods and around the Peaks. The answer is of course a Swarf Contour but that would involve harvesting body parts.
What would STW do?
I’m a great fan of fundamentally silly bikes. There’s a huge tendency nowadays to focus on “perfectly optimised” bikes but they’re all so good really.
As much as I’m attached to my Levo I think if I had to cut down from two bikes to one, I’d keep my v slack and low but not that long 150mm 27.5 hardtail. It’s pretty good at everything and usually most amusing. I like the big fork but if you like similarly silly rigid bikes then that could work (I presume you have to be more precise/slow on gnarly stuff!)
That’s my problem I’ve only got funds for the one bike. I’ve swapped quite a bit over the last few years and need to choose something that will last and cover a wide range of uses. No second bike on the cards for quite some time. So it’s quite a big decision. First world problems and all that
What about a Pipedream Moxie? Think it’s a bit like a Morf but either 29er or 650b+. And that Pink colour 🥰
Out of budget I think. Lovely looking bike though.
It's not really about the bike is it, it's you that CBA'd?
So just buy what've On One have got in stock - cheapest you'll find and then you've no/less excuses as it'll be ready to ride.
I have naff all in the way of spare bits so it would be build from scratch with mainly used bits.
You've not been following the news have you...
Ignoring the motivation challenge (although as an aside I’d say the best way to deal with this is to make a commitment to riding at a regular day/time/interval until it becomes a habit, and then motivation is irrelevant), I think the key is looking analytically at what you’ve previously owned and what you’ve liked/disliked about each bike.
This is the method I use to advise customers on what bass or guitar cab to buy from my company and it works really well. It’s not really about the music they play, the other gear they have, the band they’re in etc. It’s about the reference points of previous items - and the most important thing is the dislikes, the problems with previous gear. When someone says they love their current gear with no caveats at all, I do actually tell them to keep it and not buy anything new!
So, what are your answers?
It’s about the reference points of previous items – and the most important thing is the dislikes, the problems with previous gear. When someone says they love their current gear with no caveats at all, I do actually tell them to keep it and not buy anything new!
This ^
I'd probably look at a cotic solarismax / BFe if you want longer forks. With a switch of tyres (or a second set of wheels) it can do tame bridleways or really gnarly stuff.
That's what I do with my Soul.
Fwiw (recommending the bike I own) I love the Squatch. The steep seat tube was a bit strange at first but feels normal now, and it means it's the best climbing bike I've ever ridden. The frame is nicely compliant and it feels very composed going down steep stuff, but the best bit is the way it goes around corners. It feels soooo good doing that, even on tarmac. I can also confirm that it is happy to bimble. I went out last weekend and just didn't fancy doing anything scary so just bimbled around the forest instead. I have no regrets in getting one, which is really unusual for me - I normally find something I don't like.
Something fairly light. If you're struggling for motivation you don't want anything heavy or it might sap your motivation further. Sounds like a nice balanced alu hardtail 100-120mm would suit. Clockwork? Chameleon? Scandal?
What would STW do?
Find out what's actually available and go from there.
Possibly something like a Vitus alu hardtail (when they re-stock).
Or any decent secondhand 29er HT really. No need to get too niche if you don't know what you want really.
you can not buy fitness........... trust me i have spent far more than anyone trying to do so.
just ride what you have got if it is comfy. some bits will be slower, some bits will be quicker.
use the cash for a nice riding holiday once we can travel.
Saw a Pipedream Moxie earlier - https://www.pinkbike.com/buysell/2991359/
It’s not really about the bike is it, it’s you that CBA’d?
What does that even mean? If it’s can’t be arsed at least I can be arsed to type a sentence!
Everyone else, cheers for the advice especially chief. Looking at previous bikes I loved the Morf and the Speedball. Other ones I had issues with. Sold the Morf to give full sus another go in the form of a Cotic Flare and regretted it. Sold the Speedball as needed the cash for boring grown up stuff.
Not really bothered by what is or isn’t currently available new as there are always plenty of decent used options if you have the time and patience. Luckily I have both and if I do go for frame only I’ll build cheap and then replace with nice bits as they wear. That, or blow the budget!
The fitness aspect is because I’ve been knocked on my arse by Covid twice in a year. I started a different thread regarding this and I’m hopefully selling a Genesis Fugio 30 today to put funds toward whatever it is I decide to buy next. Shouldn’t have bought a drop bar gravel thing really. I fell for the paint job when I should’ve got a 29er or kept the Speedball that preceded it.
That Moxie that Dez linked to does look nice and I’ve found a Squatch too. If it’s even remotely like the Morf it’ll be ace! Then again, Dirtbomb 🤪
Motivation is tricky when you’re knackered and have a bike you think is a bit shit. Having a bike that I like riding will make me want to get out and ride. Even if that’s a quick bimble followed by a six hour nap for the first few months. **** you Covid!
I think the key is looking analytically at what you’ve previously owned and what you’ve liked/disliked about each bike.
I have kept on and on trying to like hardtails, they just don't suit me! Doesn't stop me lusting after "the one" though, but a realisation that I just prefer a bit of squish at the back (it's a "balance" thing rather than comfort, I just don't like bikes where one end moves up and down significantly more than the other, thus altering the geometry constantly!) led me to finally purchase a short travel 29er full sus bike early last summer, and it has been a revelation for my riding. It's the right bike, more often than not, which is something I could never say about any hardtail I've owned for some time now...
It’s about the reference points of previous items – and the most important thing is the dislikes, the problems with previous gear. When someone says they love their current gear with no caveats at all, I do actually tell them to keep it and not buy anything new!
When the answer is "well nothing really, I just fancied a change", ANY replacement is likely to end up as an expensive mistake!
Take the time to find out what you do and don't like first... Really whittle it down, become anal about things like geometry, suspension travel, all the little things that might not matter to some but can make or break a bike for others...
Then realise you've got a cat in hells chance of finding the right bike right now, especially if you're planning to build it from component parts, and just find something close that's in stock in the right size and buy it! 😉
For those who think the problem is bad now, that ship in the Suez canal is potentially going to take weeks to move, and reports are coming in that it's holding up almost $10Bn worth of goods per day from travelling through to Europe! Forget Bitcoin, buy Shimano parts right now, trust me! 😂
Cheers mboy. Out of curiosity what did you end up with as a short travel 29er? I love a nice HT and think the sweet spot for me is 130mm travel. Just seems right for a HT. I’ve tried full sus twice before in the form of a Trek Fuel Ex9 and a Cotic Flare.
The Trek was an early(ish) 29er, a bit steep and just dull to ride. Killed the fun for me to some degree. The Flare was an odd duck. I just couldn’t get comfy on it no matter how much I messed about with setup. I do like the look of the Banshee Phantom and if I had the cash I’d buy a Swarf Contour just to look at it 😀
Just bagged a boot zipper frame and fork from the Planet X eBay shop. Looks ideal for general riding - I’m going to use it to commute
Think I’ve narrowed it down to the Squatch or building a Dirtbomb.
The only concern with the Squatch is the BB drop and my local routes (Peak, Macc and Marple having some pretty rocky bits).
Dirtbomb frames are still available and in mustard. Scarcity of parts is the only minor stumbling block. Then again hunting for parts, both new and used, is all part of the fun!
Hmmm....🧐