A second time to ask the question, in case I get different answers or something comes up that I have not thought of yet.
I am after a second 29er to join my Swift. Said Swift is currently rigid and in 1 x 9 mode. I enjoy it hugely but have a hankering for another. Swift will probably return to SS mode when new bike hits the shed.
Complete bike budget is about £2,400 (absolute max). I think I want a HT probably carbon but open to other suggestions. There's always an Anthem as an option but I'm not sure there really is a need for a full suss 29er where I ride (Thetford). I have an Alma S50 in mind at the moment.
Any suggestions?
what are you gonna be using it for? If short XC blasts/racing then carbon might be a good option. For longer stuff I'd personally go with Ti, though it seems hard to find a Ti frame that isn't prone to breaking these days.
I'd like to get back into racing but mainly these days it seems to be off road sportives or 12 hour rides. The Swift is pretty much ideal for that sort of thing so maybe, short, fast stuff and of course, trying to stuff my riding mates into the ground! 🙂 (as if.......)
cannondale 29er (looked ace in the ST review)!
I have just got this, comes in just under the £2400 mark with some shopping around (ActionSports groupset, On-One Tapered Rebas etc)
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Not ridden it yet, not even collected it from my mate who has built it up for me, but it will be my only bike to cover Trail Centre days to 100km / 10hour events.
Air9
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if it werent for the fact you have to get it through jungle.
For longer rides (which is mainly my thing), I still swear by Ti....though the Swift is good too (currently riding one myself). Not sure carbon is gonna be much fun on a 12hr ride, but if it's just for the shorter stuff, then definitely the way to go imho. Personally I think a full sus 29er would be total overkill for most riding over here (including Thetford 😉 ).
Those Yeti big tops are lush, i was lucky enough to throw a leg over one recently
I threw my leg over a yeti once, but that's another story..........
Those Yeti big tops are lush, i was lucky enough to throw a leg over one recently
They do look nice - but how do they justify the price??
Big Top, deffo, best bike I've ever owned by a country mile.
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Scott Pro 29er @ £2200 without any discount.
Clink - I did struggle with the price for a while. I found it easier to justify having previously bought an Evil Sovereign it was £600 for 6.6lbs of pig iron, made the Yeti look much better value.
The frame constriction and details are first class onthe Yeti and the carbon rear is really nice. As i said, I am yet to ride it in anger but i have high expectations of the frame and it will be my only bike so it had better be good!
i have a swift in hardtail mode and 1x9..
if i were to get another 29er it would be something like a Salsa Spearfish or a cheaper anthem 29er on import