I find I can find a reason to like most bikes, but every now and then there’s one which doesn’t gel no matter how many adjustments.

Often it’s not something I realise when riding, but then one day I realise there’s a bike in the shed that hasn’t been ridden for a year. It’s more likely to get stripped down to recycle its parts than sold though. 🙂

Niner EMD with Nine carbon fork – nice frame and fork, light but just didn’t feel the love – all traded for a Swift and all is right.

Trek remedy. Hated it. Hardly used it. Sold it. The type of bike that is usually my thing. Just not that one.

FF29: fast everywhere, great climber, fun in tight twisty stuff, but I just couldn’t get comfortable on steep rocky descents. Swapped the frame for a Solaris, which suits me much better. The FF29 frame is still in the shed as I can’t decide whether to sell it or turn it into a (rough) road bike.

Ellsworth I.D

On one 456

Specialized stumpjumper fsr 2006. I really hated that dull & lifeless pile of poo.
Giant sl with integrated seatpost – the only road bike I’ve ever had that I’d happily take an axe to . So uncomfortable and transmitted so many harsh vibrations though the frame.

Only one that really sticks out for me was a 1999 GT XCR4000 that I bought to get back in to MTB’s after a few years out. Hateful thing, never got on with it and it put me off riding for another 4 years.

Commencal meta AM1. Lusted after it for ages. The spindly 32mm forks put me off for a while but i eventually pulled the trigger when it got cheap enough. Gears were rubbish, ride was harsh. Dont think I enjoyed a single ride. Cost me £15/mile in depreciation when I sold it on 😯
Replaced it with a meta AM1 29 which I prefer, although to be honest I regret selling the GT sanction that both these bikes replaced.

KHS 650 superb bike. Hated it. Probably because I bought it complete and didn’t build it from scratch as is my usual m.o. Flogged it on without any guilt.