oops arse. as zangolin says!

i'd look at the fit before looking at what others say on here, no offence to anyone but at 6'3" you're probably going to have to compromise on size.
for my ten penneth i'd look into buying a second hand turner xce or five spot frame in large and the build it up. but that's me. the trek does look nice though.

crc had some on their flood sale a bit ago around the 500 mark. they come and go.
i bought some and love em. they're super smooth and stiffer than a stiff thing, mine are now leaking oil but it's a known problem. hey ho.

ok so not strictly steel, well not steel at all but it does have the absorption you’re after.

my dad was recently looking at the forester which had an awful gearbox. i think he’s going to get a tiguan which may be another option. bit smaller but well built and nice to drive.

advantage is superb but has it’s limits. very very good for the compromise of weight/grip and resistance to snake bikes, also rolls well. i have had one on the rear of my bike for a while now and really get on with it.

another turner, waiting for the chemo to work.

got to be one of these king cobra i have the cobra which doesn’t have the lock built in. bought it from rei and they shipped it within the week. it’s superb as a roof top rack , fit the bike in seconds and it doesn’t matter about the frame shape which attracted me in the first place.

one thing (well two) missing,

what a load of fuss. missus hart does the best traditional flapjack i’ve ever tasted. oats, butter, sugar and golden syrup. a whole load of love, even more if the kids are mixing and then cook.

just found this on 18 bikes site hope it helps.
i have found this thread facinating, partly as i know cy and partly because the only other designer who has as much contact and input with his riders and potential riders is dt over on mtbr.com.
knowing how much anal detail cy puts into his frames, from his steel hardtails to the hemlock and having seen him ride, he won’t blow his own trumpet he’s far too nice for that, is enough evidence for me that a hemlock would be a perfect tool for riding int he peaks, all day every day.
there you go my ten penneth.

i’d second mrmichealwright for the baslow curbar connection. the problem you have is there are so many routes in the peaks that everyone loves but do as a loop.
if you’re in ches-vegas then there are some nice little routes up through the woods to the right of the dronfield by-pass (main route to sheffield)they’re nice and repeatable if that’s your thing. if it’s fun you want then get your backside out to hope and then climb hope cross up to the top and then down jaggers. if you’ve still got light then turn right into edale and then up the road to the bridleway on the right ride that, if you can, to the top, turn left and do rushup edge. that’ll take you to the top of winnats. you can scoot down winnats into castleton and then roadie stylee back to hope or go round the top for the rocky (reet rocky) descent which is cavedale.
or if you just want a smooth training ride for the old heart rate monitor ride the a57 to ladybower and back to sheff.

ok two things spring to the clean side of my mind, she’s your ‘friend’???? and why don’t stw have competitions like that?

vw touran. i know some peeps have had bad experiences on here but i love ours. it’s brill for chucking bikes in and does 55mpg on a run and 45 ish around town (sheffield so hilly).
one of the comfiest cars i’ve ever driven. get second hand ones reasonably cheap now.

the way i suggest you think of ches vegas (chesterfield) is ex mining town. it’s not the worst but it’s not the best and it’ll be much cheaper than sheffield.
i’m n/w of sheffield (hillsborough) and bakewell is roughly 40 mins from the front door.
sheffield is a busy place with two universities and the associated students but the vibe is good and the number of students who come and then stay must say something about the place.
as for riding anywhere on the peak side of sheffield is spoiled by amazing natural trails, awesome road riding and then there’s wharncliffe too for man made gravity trails. (some of the natural stuff is better in my opinion).
sheffield also has some of the best sporting venues for things like climbing/bouldering/ice skating/athletics. i love the place, but hey i’m born and bred, strong int arm thick int ed (as me mother in law used to say)

i can’t comment on the new 5 spot as it’s the new dw link, see http://www.mtbr.com and look for the turner forum, there is nothing they don’t know.
i always wish i’d been able to keep my old turner, i loved that bike. just everything right. having said that i’ve seen first hand how much thought and design good practise goes into the cotics and would be very tempted.
sorry that doesn’t answer the question but there are some turner demo days happening somewhere and i think 18 bikes have a cotic demo so give it a go if you’re anywhere near the peaks.