<p style=”text-align: left;”>I prefer 29ers, but I see why some would prefer smaller wheels. I wish they had never pushed 27.5 though, and kept 26 as the smaller option as classic mountain bikes would still be better catered for. Plus there would have been a bit more difference between the main two sizes.

Had mine for 18 months now, and love it. As you say, it’s just a nice light all rounder. Mine was an insurance replacement after my 2016 Stumpjumper was stolen, during the height of the Covid bike boom, so I had to settle for the boring grey as it’s all I could get in an S5. I would have really liked that colour! Get some frame protection around the mech hanger, it seems to allow the mech to hit the frame sometimes – I’m not convinced by the universal mech hanger design personally, but it’s the only weak point as far as I can tell.

I don’t think the Evo is being updated for 2023/4 – the standard one certainly isn’t. Change the region on Specialized’s website and you will probably find the new colours and spec changes. I had a look out of interest and the specs on the standard one I’ve got have moved from shimano to sram and a couple of new colours, but otherwise it’s unchanged – pretty certain the Evo is the same.

Cheers, tried it and looks ok!

Specialized Camber is a good all rounder, usually available reasonably cheap as they were common, but beware the proprietary shock! Think Orange did some short travel 29ers that crop up in the 110-120mm range – gyro or segment maybe?

That’s interesting, I didn’t know that!

Thanks everyone. @tomhoward, yours look great (particularly the purple Pivot!) but probably can’t afford to get it repainted – and also uncertain what this would do to the warranty, which is something I’m keen to preserve. I like the look of the sticker kits but unsure of how good a job I’d do of them! Unless some companies fit them for you and properly prep the frame? So far think I’m most inspired by something like the Santa Cruz linked above – keep the frame subtle but add plenty of a colour that pops.

@tthew – a real shame, didn’t realise that.

Pinnacle for me. Not sure what’s happened to them since the SD takeover of Evans, but in my local store they only have a couple of hybrids. My wife’s Ramin has been great as is my rigid 29er Lithium. For the money I don’t think they can be beaten (or at least that was the case before the takeover)

Another vote for the latest model Stumpy here, love mine. Suits all your requirements well I’d say.

Brilliant, thank you both. I think I’ve seen them on German websites before in the right size, but couldn’t tell if they were absolutely right with the weird yoke connection etc.

Maybe Plush or Tftuned would be better. I’ll speak to him, but budget will be the limiting factor. I’ll also keep an eye out on eBay, but they seem few and far between these days unsurprisingly.

Does sound a shame. I’d never heard of Forme and had even gone down the rabbit hole of looking at their adult trail hardtails for an n+1 itch I’ve currently got!

Sounds like I need to get him to sit on some 14 and 16 inch bikes then, not as clear cut as I had first thought. Thanks for the advice!

Ah ok. Probably not the best then with no warranty (unless I find a second hand bargain like you said).

Any other good recommendations for 16 inch bikes?

Also, just to add – he’s just 3, but tall – I’m guessing he’ll be ok jumping from 12 inch wheels to 16 – anyone got experience in this area? Ideally I’d like to skip past 14 inch wheels for longevity and hoping as he’s tall it might be doable.

Worth noting that the alloy bikes sub £3k are different to the carbon ones now in terms of suspension design – the alloy ones are still Fsr, the carbon ones are a flex stay design. Both review well, but I was referring to the carbon one earlier as that’s what I’ve got experience of – it’s definitely a fair bit different to my 2016 alloy one I had before, but I’m loving it!

@Tracey – why/where have all the trees gone? Not ridden there since last year and a bit shocked!

If you like Stumpjumpers, the new one is very good. I had the same model as you’ve got currently before it was stolen. The new one is considerably more capable but suits the pure trail category better than the evo models. I was also considering a Cotic Jeht and the new Trek Fuel ex, plus loads of others, bit it came down to what Tredz (I needed to use them because of insurance claim) couldn’t source them. I know what you mean about not knowing where to start – the 130-140 mm trail category is one of the most crowded, and most seem to review well these days. In the end sticking to what I know worked out well – Spesh always seem decent and although I’ve never needed it, their warranty and support is supposed to be excellent.

I got an insurance replacement bike through Wheelies / Tredz in 2021. It took months to arrive but that was fine because of COVID. However, after all the months waiting I finally got an email saying it had arrived. Then the next day I got a phone call saying my bike wasn’t in its delivery box from Specialized. They offered no solution, just apologised and said did I want to reorder a different model? I emailed Specialized directly and my bike was discovered by Tredz / wheelies within 2 hours. After that they were good as all the others above suggest. Delivered when they said they would, big box, seemed built ok to me. I still wonder what they did / were going to do with the bike as it was very suspicious that Spesh sorted within hours.

Bluebells starting to come out in Yorkshire. Still muddy and a far cry from my bluebell photos from last year!

Well, I suppose cheap and bargains are all relative, but £1700 for a hardtail isn’t cheap to me personally! Your stooge sounds great, I’m always keeping an eye out for steel 29ers second hand – it is 1 of many on my ebay watch list!

Seems it is not just me then! I think i want a cheap 29er hardtail to add to my collection – money no object I’d like a Solaris or Sirius, but I can’t justify the cost on top of my relatively new full suss. Some good inspiration above!

Trek and Specialized carbon also seems to have a good reputation. Or maybe their warranties are just good and the carbon is average. I wonder how the big brand stuff, with all their power in Asia presumably bringing good q/c, compares to the more expensive stuff from Hope etc. Pretty sure Stumpjumper frames are £3k – not sure a Smuggler is worth £1k more.

Looks to me like they’ve stepened the seat angle? Even if specs don’t say it?

I kind of agree about the economics not adding up. But would it really be much more to run than a go karting place which seem to do alright? Or these small urban bike parks?

I think there is a surprising amount of elevation in old mine tunnels 🤣

Looks amazing. I was literally on the Fairlight website the yesterday after hearing about them at bikepacking.com thinking these are fantastic but they need a hardtail / ATB. Wish it was a sign, but can’t afford one sadly.

Those look really good. Might try to get hold of one of those.

I was up riding up cutgate today, feeling smug on my new Stumpjumper (last time I did it I was on a 26 inch Zesty about 8 years ago, and it’s much easier on a modern trail bike!) and a guy came rattling down on a rigid bike, fully loaded. Was hugely impressed, its a very rocky descent in places.

Then, some nutter came down on a gravel bike, but he didn’t look like he was enjoying much. Just shows these kind of bikes really can do pretty much anything. Not sure I’d be fussed for proper trail riding though!

Thanks!

Sadly I can only find the Terrano dry (or any Vittoria gravel tyres) up to either 38 or 40 mm in 700c. All the wider ones seem to be for 650b wheels.

To be honest, under 40mm width won’t cut it. Think I want at least 47mm, ideally 50s. The more I look, I realise I want a 29er xc tyre really – but getting one at about 1.9 to 2.0 wide seems impossible these days, which is why I’m attempting to look at gravel tyres!

Thanks for all the responses. I think I’m definitely leaning towards a sturdier, gripper tyre. I’ll look into the ones above – particularly the Rangers, Riddlers and Raddlers then. Guess if theyre dear i could just get one for the back and stick an existing 2.2 or 2.3 29er tyre on the front!

I had 530s on my old bike for 5 years and no trouble before it was stolen. I like a cage round them on my trail bike, but the 530s have been replaced by me700, so trying them. Seem good so far but not even done 100 miles on them yet. The 520s on my hybrid have lasted nearly 10 years without any servicing!

I must admit I’d like to see the evidence of Scotland ‘subsidising the rest of the UK’. My understanding, as a Northerner from England, is that the South East is the part of the UK that does the subsidising. Or at least that’s the historic trend.

Can you cite it TJ? Genuinely interested.

I think that Scotland should just be allowed to get on with it, then the SNP can start planning for Indyref3 then in 2030. This is never going away. I know there are lots of different polls, but the numbers in things like this don’t change dramatically. So, Indyref2 will be bloody close around the 50% mark each way in reality (give or take 5% like last time). So, about half a chance of leaving – and genuinely good luck to Scotland if so – and about half a chance of keeping it is at is. Which means another couple of terms of the SNP demanding a third ref.

Whatever happens, I hope the terms of the ref are very clearly laid out with the pros and cons of each side and an actual commitment for how long it will be until the next one. The last two referendums in this country haven’t really been very successful in making big political decisions…

Thanks guys. Still waiting for things to come up on Wheelies, quite a few bikes on now but not sure on them – Nukeproof Mega (too heavy for most of normal riding, I don’t get to bike parks that often – unless it’s fine for trail riding too?), Mondraker Foxy (can’t find much love for it) and the new Marin Alpine Trail. Anyone tried one of those?

Thanks. I’m not on those groups but will look into it. Link to what the bike looked like:

Lots of good insights. Good job I can’t afford a new bike or I think I might have been persuaded to demo some! Oh well, very happy on the stumpy!

Cheers all. Some great tips, much appreciated. I hate drop bars, plus as said above I’d have to get new kit to go on them. For how I’ll stick with narrowish flat bar. I’ve added ergon grips which may help with my discomfort. I’ll have a look at the mudguard and pannier options above and definitely get some based on the advice. Cheers!

Cheers guys for some good ideas so fast. Should have given a bit of context. Distance is 5 miles each way, all tarmac cycle path but with option to up it to gravel fireroad (8 miles) some days. Im a teacher so no way to avoid transporting work backwards and forwards, tried a big rucksack today but too heavy/sweaty to be comfy so definitely fancy panniers. Re mudguards I’ll get one of the sets recommended above. I’ll keep bars for now, but after a good few shake down rides I’m finding them uncomfy, probably because I’ve ridden 750mm plus bars for last 5 or 6 years on my mtbs.