[Closed] Bikes to make mountain biking simple again

So one option is a single bike, the other is a single bike but with a second bike...I'm not sure you have this sorted yet in your head...

This is for a bike that will do it all

Before you hit buy, have another think about what you actually want and need and then see what is out there - if it means more than 1 bike then so be it, but make sure you are buying right as whatever you decide, it is a lot of cash to spend.

If you want to keep it simple, ride long bits of road/non-technical then an FS is off the menu surely? Hardtail all the way, so from your list I'd go with the Stanton. (although personally I'd go full XC hardtail - I do exactly what you describe on my Highball).

5 years ago I had the same desire (one bike to do it all). It was a consuming passion to simplify my cycling life/maintenance schedules and cover all my bases with one ‘all-terrain’ rigid beastie, happy on road, gravel, moorland, tracks and woodland trails.

Then I more by luck than judgement found bought a Genesis Vagabond which once demoed immediately reassured that this was the bike to make my life simple/ATB again. Made it mine, with a vow to self (and to long-suffering ‘hearditallbefore’ Mrs P) that this would be my ‘last bike’. My doitall. My boon companion. Defend, maintain, and fix it to the end. Nomuogrades. Keep it Deore. Keep it stock. Keep it simple, stupid.

Loved it for a year. OK almost loved it. It somewhat made me miss the lighter XC hardtails (Cannondale F500 with Fatty in almost permalockout + Kona Lavadome with 120mm) that it had effectively replaced. And it also felt a bit too short. And quite slow on the road.

Maybe a more MTB ‘ATB’ would work. Back off on the road stuff.

So I traded it for a Longitude. Similar vows made. Soon enough the newitall doitall helped me miss both the Vagabond AND a hardtail.

Cycling is no longer simple. Good luck, is all I can say.

– so that will be 1 bike then, not 2…so looks like the Nukeproof is the winner as the other option requires a second bike.

Yeah, I didn’t articulate that well did I! I meant that the Stanton would do everything I’m ever likely to need, and I’d still have budget left for a ‘budget trail centre full sus’ if I felt one was required which is unlikely, rather than buying a full sus and compromising on all the xc end of things!

If you want to keep it simple, ride long bits of road/non-technical then an FS is off the menu surely?

Basically my thinking. Was tempted by full xc, but it can get pretty rocky up here and usually when tired. Though the stanton would give just a toucj more forgiveness over a hardcore XC bike with limited trade off

What’s the total budget? If it runs to 2 more budget bikes or one premium fancy bike and you’re riding road / gravel / proper off road - then it’s either a fancy middle of the road hardtail (Sherpa) - or a budget full suss and xc ish hardtail.

Sonder Evol / Calibre BBB / Boardman fs / Vitus Escarpe are probably the main contenders for budget full suss.

So many options for a cheaper hardtail - probably a 29er with narrow / fast rolling tyres if it’s going to be mostly road / gravel. Boardman have to be up there again at the cheaper end of things I’d have though - along with Vitus and / Voodoo / Calibre etc

I like hardtails. But I'm not convinced they're faster than FS bikes anymore on anything rougher than a fire road. And on the road, aside from feeling a bit less direct, a FS isn't really any slower there anyway.

I tried the "build one nice expensive bike" philosophy years ago. Spent about £2500 even at 2nd hand prices upgrading a Specialized Pitch to get it how I liked it. It was an absolute hoot, enduro geometry 10 years ahead of its time. But it turned out I only liked it on some very niche occasions. A total of about 6 minutes of a 60 minute lap of Swinley. Or a once only trip to the 7 stanes.

I've also decided I hate "lolipop" shaped rides, where you ride out for over an hour on roads and dull trails, do a fun loop half-arsed because you're already knackered, then ride back home the same way. I'd much rather get the cross bike out and do a propper local loop where the whole thing is the right amount of fun. If you can stomach the long grind out to the trails and back on the hardtail, I don't think the FS will make it any worse.

So based on that experience, I'd whatever money you like on whatever bike actually suits the type of riding you do. Not a hypothetical "if I had X bike I could do more Y". If you're currently riding a DH bike 20 miles on the road, by all means, get a trail hardtail. If you're currently trying to nurse a trail hardtail down enduro tracks, get the nukeproof. IME buying the 'other' bike and expecting it to change your riding doesn't happen.

Basically my thinking. Was tempted by full xc, but it can get pretty rocky up here and usually when tired.

I'd like the Scott Spark* for your list of duties (although a full suss might be more problematic for bikepacking?)

*other brands available, but this was the first that cam to mind - Thanks to Schurter, Courtney and Dangerholm. 120mm forked, efficient pedaller with or without the lockouts, slack enough to be enjoyable rather than barely survivable, but not fun spongey on the easy stuff.

I've just got a steel framed HT to go with a FS Cannondale Trigger. I figured that in my mid 50s I'd be fine doing long days on it.
I did a decent 3 hour ride on Sunday on the Trigger, 25 miles and 3500ft. Felt fine when I got back. Just done a 2 hr, 20 miles and 1800ft on the HT and feel battered. Age and aching bones catching up but it has made me think I'd be better off doing 50 mile days on the FS than HT. Just a thought

Cairngorms & Lakes?

If you're riding the good trails, you'll really appreciate a bit of rear squish.

Get an Orange or Starling if you want simplicity & rear suspension.

Cycling is no longer simple.

All depends on how much of an over thinker you are and over thinking it big on this forum 🙂
It clearly helps that my approach is to pick a bike and just ride it everywhere and not get bogged down in whether it is the best bike for the scenario.

I have spent the last 10 years riding a fixed gear bike over all the terrain where I live (road, gravel, easy singletrack). Couldn't be much simpler could it?

Fancied a change a few months ago and now ride a rigid SS 29 MTB and while not as simple as fixed gear still simple in MTB perspective and I do enjoy riding it more even though it is slower than the fixed gear 80% of the time.

^

Fancied a change a few months ago and now ride a rigid SS 29 MTB

Which is my imminent plan for the (29er) Longitude this year. Took me a while to make the decision though 😅

even though it is slower than the fixed gear 80% of the time.

Heavier? Different ratio? Or tempting to freewheel?

Yeah, go rigid. Stooge cycles make some very very nice frames.

My setup for what you described would be as above a stooge with a second hand 150 mm or so fullsus for bike parks. It kind of the updated version of what I have now (but higher quality) of an old 29er inbred and a fullsus

Another Stooge vote here, fantastic bikes and certainly made me rethink 'rigid' bikes.

It clearly helps that my approach is to pick a bike and just ride it everywhere and not get bogged down in whether it is the best bike for the scenario

That's my approach. I've got a Longitude on which I've bikepacked, road toured, done gravel rides,trail centres and big natural routes. It's probably only ideal on the first of those things but I still enjoy it on the others and the only terrain I feel it holds me back on is rough, rocky stuff.

Stooge my only mtb currently, have ridden it on Quantocks, Mendips, local rides. Very comfortable place to be, but missed sus forks on ‘official’ Mendips trails today. Repeated (increasingly large) holes between roots and braking bumps take it out of me!
On natural descents, even baby-head rocks, it is fine though.

Lakes rider here and my Stooge Rigid will cope with most stuff big, tyres at the right pressure mind, to go faster I chose my Sonder Signal with cheating suspension .:-)

I like hardtails, but at speed in the height of summer or in sustained rougher terrain they can give you a battering and they can cease to be fun.

Although last year I was considering one as my only bike, some decent riding in 2020 has shown me that they have their limitations.

For big mountain days on techical terrain a full suss that can climb more than fire roads without a power pack makes for a better day out IMO.

Personally I'd get the Stanton and the Sonder FS. You've got a wider range of ride experience covered that way, as well as always having a standby bike if one goes down.

Having read most of this thread I think the OP just needs a Grifter.

Heavier? Different ratio? Or tempting to freewheel?

Mostly the ratio. Fixed gear is faster than SS because the fixed gear bike is lighter, has much faster rolling tyres (for road) and the ratio is higher as it has to be. However it was much slower on anything technical because of the tyres and riding position.
The SS MTB is just more fun to ride even if I do get overtaken by everyone on road sections now!

When there is such a choice of bike these days, whether you can have "1 last bike only" is going to be about your mindset. Even those with 1 bike seem to have to change it now and again to keep things interesting.

My only caution is Stanton lead times. I’ve had an 853 Sherpa on order since August which I really hope will be here soon ish. There has been some specific issues including paint problems with my specific frame, and the shim fell down the seat tube blocking the dropper routing meaning they have had to start a new frame! And the Reynolds closure in lockdown 1 caused a massive backlog. So take the quoted lead times for UK made frames with a pinch of salt (situation is similar for many on the FB owners group). They seem to be better on delivering Taiwanese frames largely on schedule.

I have considered walking away, as their comms is pretty awful, though they are very friendly and reply quickly if you chase them. However, like you I think it’s the right frame for bikepacking, long XC loops in the Dales and apparently they ride downhill way better than you’d expect an XC bike to do so (should be noted I do also have a full sus though for big mountain days etc). Plus there are so few frames/bikes around I’d be waiting whatever.

Given the potential spend for one of the bikes you listed, are two bikes not an option OP?

This is for a bike that will do it all, from gravel bike-esq bike packing, long xc loops in the Cairngorms/Lakes with long road sections,

Why not just get an affordable gravel bike then? An Al framed Boardman or something, it need not be blingy, that would be your simple tool for munching on/off road miles and bike packing, if you're not a fan of drop bars you could opt for flat bars...

and heading out on my local trails but having to pedal there.

Again go a wee bit down market from you current choices? An Evol or a Bossnut or similar would be fine for pissing about in local woods and would be ok for the odd uplift should you want...

You'll always be compromising somewhere with a pricey MTB.

All of that assumes you don't want to look at 2nd hand for either bike...

The problem with mountain biking is the terrain is so varied. Its not like road riding.

So whatever bike you buy, it will be a compromise somewhere some of the time.
I tired having just one bike, but ended up with two. As I got fitter and better I realised the compromise was holding back my enjoyment. So got two good but different bikes.

Either pick where you want your compromise, or restrict your riding to one type, or buy two bikes.

Yep, for me it's case of compromise on what riding I can do or comprising on owning more bicycles than I strictly speaking need.

My MTB doesn't get used half as much as it could because my gravel bike "stands in" for it on longer trudges and when the route is going to have more road miles, and pretty much all through winter so riding the bouncer is now a bit of a treat in an odd way...

So in classic STW style, you don't need a new bike... You need two.

All depends on how much of an over thinker you are and over thinking it big on this forum

Yes and yes 😬

Longitude **should** cover 90% of my typical riding. Typically rare big days out with riding friends could be covered a couple of times a year by day-hiring a bouncy ebike or something. Would probably work out less expensive than buying and maintaining a full suss, and couldn’t afford an emtb anyway.

I try and close my eyes and think of floating clouds which suddenly clear, leaving a shining object that is my revealed 1 x BIKE 4EVA n EVRYFINK.

The rays of light glimmer and I think I see it, and yes the Gravelbeast is already in my possession...if I just accept it! But then the shifting light becomes a kaleidoscope of but-ifs and renewed P7 vs different gravelbike + two wheelsets etc etc before the cloud cover returns.

You need to fit your bike to where you mostly ride don’t you. I moved to the new forest from Wales and have moved from a full suss that I’d bought to suit my riding then, to moving here and buying a hard tail, replacing that with a rigid mtb (longitude - which I thought perfect for here) but now I’ve got a carbon 2” tyred gravel bike that I’m convinced is the best bike for local riding. I wouldn’t buy a full suss on the off chance I might go to a trail centre or a holiday in the lakes for a week, I’d rent one when I got there or just ride forest tracks on my gravel bike. I’ll keep the longitude though as it’s simple and comfy and now has racks etc for hanging off the back of our motorhome for shopping kids trailer towing and sightseeing trips. It’s also nice on the odd trip to the purbecks on the 3” tyres!

got my five 29 just how i like it for "proper rides" and in the past, days at BPW. a bit on the porky side as fives go perhaps, but thats the build.

Didn't sit well with me taking it out on 80% road rides, dragging magic marys around the lanes in order to take on 200-300m runs of single track through FC woodlands.

Got myself a bootzipper and its just the ticket. Need to have the tyres just right to compensate for the very rigid fork, but surprised how capable it actually is.

TINAS has it.

Even those with 1 bike seem to have to change it now and again to keep things interesting.

I only ever have one bike at a time but I never pretend to myself that it will be the last bike I buy. I changed stuff all the time on that one bike and sometimes change the whole bike to another bike.

The type of riding I do will always need a compromised bike as I cover road, gravel and off road all in the same ride on pretty much every ride. Based on that I just pick the type of bike I enjoy riding the most and just get on with it.

I whittled my collection down to 3 bikes.

1) Stooge mk4 with big but not too aggressive tyres, gets used for road to bridleway and trail centre type riding, can handle steeps and rowdy stuff too but rock gardens can take it out of you, I just slow down a little.

2) 150mm enduro if i'm driving to mountains and there will be lots of winch and plummmet and very rough stuff all ride

3) gravel bike for mainly road rides, but I always try and chuck in a bit of bridleway/singletrack into my road rides.

If I only had room for one bike it would be the Stooge. It's zero faff and goes anywhere the others go.

I ride on too varied terrain for N = 1 mostly due to where i live. I can boil it down to N = 2 (Local: Gravel; Peaks: Full Suss). But I'd have to live somewhere decent like the peaks or lakes to even consider just one bike.

@bjhedley If full suspension then it may be worth looking at a Giant Anthem, Scott Spark, Cannondale Scalpel, Specialized Epic etc

I too hunger for this.

The hassle, the extra maintenance and all the endless upgrades. It's wearing, like fashion, or tech.

Opting out of the consumer rat-race definitely appeals.

But... As above, if you have quite varied riding, it will be a compromise, so YMMV.

My current plan is kind of the opposite - to transition from..

Steel road bike + Steel All mountain hardtail...

to an Alloy full sus, keep the road bike and then replace the hardtail with a winter mud bike, maybe a cheap Canyon Stoic, or GT.

I'd bloody love a custom 3 speed 29er steel/ti hardtail as an everything bike and that's what I'll probably get when I'm into my 50s or 60s.

Sick of mud.

Cheers for the responses all. I thought about a gravel bike, but I had one and didn't ride it that much because a) my road bike was much faster on the road, and b) although gravel/fireroads/modest singletrack was a blast, it was limiting on all the rocky stuff so prevented me going further into the hills. So the mountain bike requirement sits at the more capable than gravel, less capable but faster than trail - i.e. and xc bike!

I'm a big fan of lollipop rides, and I think the key reason I've taken to the road so much, no faffing with driving, roof racks or anything, just open the door and go. Especially relevant this year when you can't drive anywhere anyway.

I thought about the 2 budget bikes rather than one premium bike, but I'm fortunate to be in a position where a premium is an option. I've also noted from other bikes, that if it's something I love, then I'll ride it. For example, I sold my winter road bike as it was harsher and less enjoyable than my best bike, so I rode it about 5 times a year in Dec - Jan then switched to the summer bike as soon as possible. There nothing I'd change about my road bike, no niggling upgrade wants, so why not just ride it all year and deal with the fact that stuff will wear out eventually as opposed to having something you love, but having it sat in the shed while your ride something less fun. With this in mind, I was keen on a hardtail since there's not pivots/less bearings to trash riding through the winter.

@Sync - looked at the Scalpel (Love Cannondales - road bike is a super six), but was put off by the unique real wheel dishing, which will make repairs/upgrades/replacements a pain. The Scott looks great but out of stock everywhere.

Interesting take on the Stooge and Longitude, I had briefly considered rigid - plus the Barny castle article in the last ST mag made me smile about a fit northerner showing everyone on full susses a clear pair of heals on a jones rigid. One of the bikes that made me go misty eyed as a kid was a Green fade Klein attitude with pace rigid forks and full XTR, Think it was in mbr in the early 2000's being riden around Skidaw - looked mint. Most of the things I ride, I used to ride on a steel 26in wheeled GT with 63mm of travel. Yes I'm older, but the trails I ride haven't changed. Was a hoot as well, even though it wasn't overly fast. Fell off less too! I test rode a Surly Karate Monkey which would have fitted the bill with the extra rigid forks, but it was a bit short and too much I'd want to change. - i.e. bin everything made by Sram! Hence again, circle back to the Stanton.

Lead time isn't really an issue, I'd happily wait for the right bike than rush. As you've guessed, I ride on the road a lot, so not like I'll be bike less while waiting!

Cycling is no longer simple.

It can be. Get bike, ride bike. It does not need to be any more complicated than that.

I have a rigid 29er. It can ride off road*, it can ride on road, it's comfy, it gets me places, job done. If I only had one bike that'd be it.

* much better than a slack angled suspension MTB, in my view. Not entirely sure why. But even sus with lockout does move around a bit. I made it for the same purposes you describe.

I have a sherpa, built to complement my bigger bike and for winter. I love it, it is surprisingly comfy, and would be even more so fitted with wider rims and wide tyres (2.3 on arch ex at the moment).

It has had a lot of lockdown use, pedalling the 40 minutes of road and fire road to trails without issue. It isn't a road bike, but with the right attitude gets the job done without fuss and I don't feel beaten from the ride out.

I wouldn't have it as my only bike where I live (between Dundee and Dunkeld), given the range of mtb terrain on offer, but I'm surprised at how fast and versatile it is even on trails that I wouldn't have initially considered sensible to attempt. It really is the little bike that can!

If you have decent trails that you would prefer a mtb on I wouldn't get a gravel bike, too much of a compromise imo. But then I think that road bikes are purgatory anyway so I'm not sold on their tubby cousins as a real off road solution. They are good for Scottish b roads though!

I have a Sherpa and love it, totally recommend it. It's one of the new Gen 3 ones. It does everything I want it too. For even simpler rides I have a Specialized Diverge which I also love.

I asked a question a couple of weeks back about a similar position i.e something can go up and down and the long way round. I ended up getting a few recommendations for either the Sonder Cortex or the Signal. The signal is definitely a good looking bike, more so than the Cortex but think FS would probably triumph. I've not ridden one of these modern slack hardtails though and only have a 69 degree 26er to reference. Im set on going for a 29, I've just got to decide which one fits best. I'm already well served for gravel and road.

Niner Sir 9. Does it all - well as much as is possible for one bike in my opinion.

I think it is more about the person that can make mountain biking simple again.
It is as simple or complicated as you make it, don't blame the bikes.
I don't do complicated in any aspect of my life or work so for me it comes naturally and even though I am slower on a rigid SS MTB I don't actually care as to me it is a simple decision to be slower rather than need to bother with gears and suspension.

I think you're right there @kerley

I've got things like my riding gear all in the same place, I literally grab a water bottle and pick up a bag and I'm about ready to go.
For big days out via car, we use blue IKEA bags to fling things in, one mucky, one clean kit.
I'm on HT. I rarely change my tyres. I maintain, not upgrade.
I clean basically every ride, but it's not some polished jewel, it's a bike that gets a wet brush and quick hose down.

Simple MTB is nothing to do with the bike, it's how to approach your riding.

My Jeffsy isn't a simple bike, but I can use it for pretty much any riding. A hardtail isn't significantly easier to manage. It's not like you need to service shock bushes weekly. My SS with an EBB was a pain in the arse in comparison

Don't worry about Strava, cameras and other accessories.

Don't carry enough tools and spares to furnish a medium sized bike shop.

Don't fret about vagaries of tyre pressure or shock pressures/settings, just set em up and forget about them.

Don't worry about having to do X miles or burn X calories

Not riding at night means less faffing with lights and no worry about getting caught out.

Get out early on a weekend for a couple of hours.. back and showered by mid morning and crack on with the day.

Fretting about what bike you have got is the antithesis of simple MTB 🙂

Wise words there, Tim. Just ride

I don’t think either of my MTBs is simple - they both have lots of gears, hydraulic brakes, dropper posts and fancy forks. But I know I enjoy riding anything anywhere on them (up to the limit of my skills/bravery/fitness) so that makes riding simple. One is a super slack big forked hardtail, the other is an electric full-sus! Flat bridleway to DH track, they work. Road commutes too.

(Getting out early in the light would be nice but sadly the three children won’t look after themselves. But Exposure lights make night-riding simple).

Oh yeah there are no hard and fasts, but just making life easier makes riding easier.

Basically, avoid anything that stops you going out the door.