So, first post. And a long one I’m afraid. Sorry ’bout that.
Being a frequent urban rider, I recently realized that nature is beautiful and, as such, rideable, as well. Without wasting any time, I rapidly cultivated the desire to build up a nice steel hardtail (no point in diverting me to other frame materials; it’s steel or nothing). So I’ve being stalking this forum for a while now, getting to know the British steel mountainbike scene. Quite impressed! Then, knowing NOTHING about mountainbiking I can only ask.
Question 1: riding style
I live in Crete. The weather is dry/warm almost all year round; no perpetual rain/bloomy skies, sorry. The trail structure around here is what you people would probably describe as loose over hardpack: lots of loose rocks and gravel on top of, well, rock solid, uhm, rock. The usual terrain involves repeated climbing and descending cycles, quite often at steep angles, too. So, I’m kind of torn regarding the frame type I should be after.
Should it be a nimble and lighter, steep-angles, low-travel climber or something heavier, stronger and slacker?
Keeping the budget below the 350 GBP limit, in the nimble climber category I’m looking at the Kinesis Decade Virsa, Rock Lobster 853, Charge Duster and Pipedream Scion/Sirrius. In the heavier category I’m considering the Cotic BFe (it’s on sale I think), Dialled Prince Albert (I think I saw an Alpine as well in the classifieds, but will anyone send a frame to Greece?) and the Ragley Blue pig or, more likely, the Piglet.
As I will probably be amateurishly slow and spend the majority of time rubbing my face in the dirt, perhaps all frames above will be absolute overkills for me. Nonetheless, some expert advice regarding both riding style, as well as frame brand/model suggestions I may be overlooking, will be highly appreciated.
Oh, there’s a question 2 coming up in another thread, regarding sizing.