I got a Signal last year in XL. I love it and it climbs fantastically, even with me on board! I did look at those RUST bars – nice but I may have to save my pennies…

I bought a Saracen Kili Cromo in 2010 to replace my On One Inbred, basically I wanted a 853 tubed Inbred as the 4130 tubes seemed a bit dead. Unfortunately I couldn’t find one. On paper the Saracen had similar geometry but had the tubeset I wanted plus it looked gorgeous.

When I rode the Saracen it lacked the Inbred’s bomb-proof feel but also lacked any steel “feel”. I guess the CEN regulations had something to do with that. Fast forward to 2019 and I got a Pace RC627. It does feel bomb-proof but also lacks that mythical steel zing. I do love it though, but I think that has something to do with expectations and recent geometry changes.

This started out as a pleasant thread, as is so often the case folk seem to want to unload their bile at every opportunity.

Try Hunt, they’re fairly new to the industry but are getting good reviews. I think they only do boost though, depends what you want.

Fulcrum can often be found with discounts, Shimano XT if you,’re happy with cup and cone maintenance ( in which case, you can keep them going for ages), DT Swiss 1900s, 1700s if you can get a price reduction. Lots of others but I am not sure on prices. Superstar mixed reviews, Hope, their rims seem heavy for the price and seem to get mixed reviews (not so the hubs though)

Do you have a preference for 29er or 27.5?

I am not looking for a bike at the moment but that hasn’t stopped me looking (with all this spare time on my hands) at:

Bird AM9
Canyon Strive
Some of the Vitus bikes on CRC

I do like the look of the Bird out of the above.

Go to Sheldon Brown’s web site. All will become clear…..

I live at the foot of the Malverns, I had my first off road jaunt up the hills today. It was the quietest I’ve known it. There was one other walker and two other riders. I’ve also been taking my son onto the hills after dark on nature watches which has been great. The only numptee I’ve met so far was the mountain biker riding along whilst shouting into his phone at arms length – you know who you are!

I would second the Bird 27.5, never ridden one but they always get good scores for their ride and also their service. You’d get a lot of bike for the money as they let you spec what you want.

The Canyon 27.5 bikes also get good reviews but I am not sure about their service levels.

Try Zefal Doodads.

I have an Evil The Following Mk1, also from 2016. Some magazine articles would have me believe that it’s reach and seat angle are out of date. Frankly I am tired of being told I need to spend my hard earned on the latest big thing. Super-boost hubs are the final straw for me.

I enjoy riding the bike(s) that I have already got and I will stick with time until a really worth while development comes along, I am thinking something akin to the impact that suspension forks or disc brakes had back in the day.

Road bike: 1999 Peugeot Pro Team (get those 12 gears!)

Mountain bike: 1997 Specialized Rockhopper A1 FS

The frequency of bike purchases has increased exponentially since then….

I got a Pace RC627 last summer, size XL. I’m really pleased with it. It has a compliant ride out back but retains it’s stiffness to let you really attack decents. I have 140mm forks on mine and it fits my 6ft 2 frame nicely. This year’s model is slacker in the head angle – if that is what you want.
I nearly got a Soul as I had heard so many good things about them. They’re usually specced with 120mm forks so yours should cause too many issues with geomtery.
Other than that the Sonder Transmitter looks good value, as does the Vitus Sentier.
It also depends on your budget……

DMR Trailstar?

But just look at that bell! Surely that alone makes it worth a punt?

More versatile in that it has 2 bottle cages. The Signal has a small front triangle for its size, with a frame bag of any decent size you might not fit a bottle cage (I should have explained this statement better).

I would echo other comments on here, I am 189cm and run a XL Signal. It fits just fine.
I had narrowed my choice of hardtail down to these 2 and went for titanium, more to scratch a long standing shiny metal itch more than anything else. I suspect that the Signal might be more playful and it certainly is the best climbing bike I have ever had. The Cotic would be more versatile however. It depends what you want.

Just ridden the Malverns slop after work – I’ve ridden mostly hardtails over the last 12 months (wet weather might have had something to do with it).
Couldn’t agree more that hardtails are still the simplest, most accessible fun.

Still like my Evil come the dry months though……

A dinner plate sized cassette would place the rear mech very close to the ground……..I would echo Tomhowards recommendation and fit a small chain ring up front. You can also get reasonably cheap Shimano / Suntour cassettes that go up to 46 teeth. The spacing between cogs is the same as SRAM up to 11 speeds.

I ride both 650b and 29er bikes and like them both. I have (after spending way too much in the past few years) decided that enough is enough. I will continue to enjoy riding my bikes , regardless of the wheel size or standard, until I can’t get spares any more.
New standards be damned!

Saracen Kili Crome 853, hated it and immediately regretted selling the Inbred. I sold it after a handful of rides.

I have only used TF Tuned and they have been brilliant for me.

I felt exactly the same way after becoming a parent at the ripe old age of 36. Looking back it was to do with sleep disturbance and probably a poor diet (too many microwave meals as my life was turned upside down by the new addition to the family). For the most part it was down to sleep disturbance though.
I do sympathise as it is quite dispiriting if you think that your body should be capable of more than it is when doing the thing you enjoy.

My sleep pattern is much better now and I feel that my energy levels are where they should be (for someone with a desk job)

I got mine in the summer and really like it. It climbs extremely well and is a good choice for all day rides with a mix of terrain. It is not super slack like many modern bikes. Personally I think it is all the better for it.

It is also very shiny!

It’s more about clearing space than anything else. They’ve been collecting dust for ages and now I have some wheel sized boxes it’s time to find them a new home.

Kiss Kiss Bang Bang (that’s the title of the film by the way)

I have been using Mudhugger front mudguards but recently moved over to RRP’s version. It has much better coverage and is a bit cheaper. It also feels more sturdy. I also use Crud Catcher rear mudguards as the Mudhugger rear rattled on my frame no matter how I tightened it with zip ties.

Crud catcher front mud guards interfere with bike racks on the car.

I got a cheap Lenovo for this very purpose. It takes an age to download the films but at least, unlike Zwift, I don’t have to pay a subscription to do something that I find incredibly dull.

a 1994 Marin Nail Trail – dripping in early 90’s anodized purple

Early 90s Orange P7 in nickel finish

1994 Kona Lava Dome in green with Marzocchi XC-51 forks (probably rode terribly)

Basically my nostalgia stems from when I was at university and had no money, leaving me the only option of vicariously enjoying other peoples bikes as they rode by……. I did go through a retro-phase and built up 2 x Lava Domes and a Klein Pulse. I stopped when I realised that they handled like a chicken on speed.

it’s not a difficult job but do get proper (but not necessarily expensive) hose cutters to get a nice neat cut.

I can’t help you with a new bike but (due to those new fangled standards and my gullibility) I do have some wheels that no longer fit my bikes. I would happily donate them if you can get parts from elsewhere to build something up. Sounds like you will have some time off the bike. If you can’t ride, tinkering is the next best thing!

Just used my Bontrager Ion Pro. Great light at £88, the handlebar remote is an added cost though.

Zee, Zee and again – Zee

You may all mock. All it takes is one of the big brands marketing departments spotting this thread and they’ll be advertised in the glossy magazines as the next must have category of bikes.

Hypnotic marketing departments is the only way that I can explain to Mrs Stigheed why I need 7 bikes. It’s not my fault

Try Decathlon’s RR900 jacket. No hood but for the money’s it’s surisingly breathable, is light and packs down small.

NS Bike Evo Alu – you can get some decent deals at CRC.

If you want steel – try a DMR Trailstar

If you want more aggressive geometry you may have to shop around a bit more as frames like the Sonder Transmitter are a bit more (but they do occasionally have the old models for sale if they are in your size).

Haven’t looked at On-One but they have some new frames out, try there too.

Other than that try 2nd hand.

Virtually the same frames bar the slight differences mentioned above. I have recently bought a Signal frame to replace my Stanton Sherpa 853 and I am glad I did.
As for which of the Sonder or On One to choose, the respective warranties would have swung it towards the Sonder (the Zestar came out about a month after I Bought the Signal). I have heard plenty of tales about titanium not being a forever material and a longer warranty is preferable. Not that I have ever kept a bike for that long….

I have a Sherpa that I have just stripped the parts from and put them on a Sonder Signal. The Sherpa is a nice bike but not one that I ever loved.
The original options at the top of the thread do seem quite eclectic. If you want an all year, all rounder the Sherpa might be a good choice. The others would allow a greater variety of terrain.