Lightest HT frame for xc racing?

Next year I’ll be looking at doing quite a lot of xc stuff so looking now to start building up a nice light hard tail to throw around,I’m a bit in the dark as regards to Hardtails these days and there seems to be a good choice.
Probably only looking for a 100 mm travel on the front,any recommendations apreciated.

BUDGET?!!!!

If you want a really light XC hardtail and you have no budget limit then maybe an Open frame at a little over £2k? Alternatively a Planet X Scandal for 200 quid.

Lovely yes but a smaller budget I’m afraid,sorry for the lack of information there,probably about £300

I’ve test ridden the new Cannondale FSi, their top of range one, light, agile, very XC.

That should be on your list, available as a frame only option, but at a crippling price I’d imagine.

You got parts to put on it? That could limit the choice a bit. 26/650B/29?

Assuming 29er, Dirty Harry would fit the budget (under 300 quid but it would be pink.) Alternatively some Chinese carbon?

Dirty Harry is great, but I am sure it’s a rebranded Chinese frame. Lots of choice from the Chinese direct sellers, or go for a 2nd hand Scott Scale if you can find one.

The frame is not where most of the weight is – if you start stalking the classifieds now though you’ll be able to build a 9kg hardtail for £1-1.5k with some nice bits on.

I have a Dirty Harry 18″ SS it’s OK.

Are you race weight and race fit – to the point of podiums in reach? If not buy a decent frame that’s not stupidly expensive and concentrate on improving yourself first, you’ll get much more out of that than wacking £1000’s on a bling frame for the sake of 100gms first time up.

Don’t know iff to go 650b or not,I was thinking 26″.
Thanks for the advice kryton,I haven’t got loads to spend really so would like to get it right first time,although with my past ventures I’ve always ended up with a totally different bike to what I thought I would end up with.

26″ is dead in XC circles if you’re bothered by such things. I’m gonna say it… IMO 29ers are faster.

For £300 you won’t get anything really light, I’d get a Chinese carbon frame and have done with it.

If you’re looking to race you may as well go 29er, everyone else is. Have a look at this thread. Loads of recommendations there.

Thanks for the advice kryton

It’s not mine, it was passed to me by other kind folk on here. Put it this way, I dropped 16lbs from the weight of my racing “rig” and saved money. How? By reducing the size of my belly by eating better and riding more/better.

Scott scale 29er. Second hand or new depending on budget.

mrblobby – Member
If you’re looking to race you may as well go 29er, everyone else is. Have a look at this thread. Loads of recommendations there.

Eh? You’ve led him to a place that advises keeping a 26. Or have I missed a point?

Ah yes, I’d forgotten where that thread ended up 😕

Hmm how about this one instead. Maybe time for a new “show me your XC race bike” thread for a bit of inspiration.

Swedish chef: any more info on the FSI please? How did it compare to an F29? – thanks