So my Dutch brother-in-law has signed me up for a 100k off road sportif type thing in the south of Holland next spring. Last time I did it 4 years ago I used my Arkose with 650b wheels on but I was a bit underbiked as the route was a bit more than gravel and had to take it easy on the descents and rocky bits. Suprisingly Valkenberg its quite a hilly area and the course really needs a short travel mtb to get the best out of it.
So as I haven't really bought a MTB for a long time (my current bike is a Dialled Alpine!) and gravel whilst fun isn't the same I've decided its time for me to get back to the sport I used to love by way of a fast short travel 29er. Also this type of bike will work well on my local south downs trails.
It needs to be under 2k really but second hand is fine, or I'm happy to build something up. Whats out there? I keep coming back to a Trek Pro-Calibre.....
Sigma sports have some deals on the Procaliber hardtails, I know they have medium not sure about others. Another is the Specialized Chisel that gets rated if you can find one.
I never thought I'd ever ride a rigid bike off road again but my Whippet has proved surpringly comfy even with 38mm tyres.
Was going to say On One Whippet or perhaps something from Sonder (Alpkit)?
https://alpkit.com/collections/sonder-dial-xc-bike
I'm 6ft and like gates so will need at least a L
Will check out the Chisel. Hmm On One you say...my experience there is HEAVY (Il Pompino, Inbred)
Do cannondale still do a fast light one?
Yes, Cannondale do but I think they start about £2600 for the carbon. They do what they call a Trail alloy bike but I know nothing about them.
I never thought I’d ever ride a rigid bike off road again but my Whippet has proved surpringly comfy even with 38mm tyres.
My rigid Whippet got me from Eastbourne to Winchester yesterday with no issues. That was with 2.6/3.35 tyres.My small frame was 1.3kg dead so not heavy.
Scott Scale in whichever model fits your budget.
I wanted a Chisel but lbs wouldn’t even take a deposit from me last October as they didn’t have any lead times at all. I’m not sure that situation has improved much on them.
Specialized concept store seems to have them in stock?
I just wish the procalibre didn't have a press fit BB - the Chisel has a BSA so thats a point in its favour
The Whippet is £1400 - I just can't bring myself to pay that for an On One, especially with their elastic pricing model
Edit ahhh but the Chisel is alloy no?Would prefer carbon
Scott scale in carbon is a nice, nice bike to go fast on.
BMC also good , but a bit pricey. Canyon?
Procaliber here, the press-fit bb put me off , but to be fair 4 years on, and on my second bb it’s been trouble free (shimano bb’s).
light 29er hardtails are so much fun, I predict a resurgence in them as a sizeable chunk of people who bought gravel bikes realise they’re faster and more fun off road (I await the flaming from gravel devotees!)
light 29er hardtails are so much fun
This! I am absolutely loving my new Scalpel HT, unfortunately over budget for the OP. It's an absolute singletrack weapon. The radical (for a race hardtail) geometry works so well, and at 22lbs it just flies.
I dunno - I think they're a middle ground of nothingness. My 120mm xc bike weighs 22lbs, my 43c gravel bike weighs 15lbs. An xc hardtail would be what, 18-19lbs? I have tons of fun on my gravel bike riding trailcentre red/blue trails.
Holland is flat. I say just put some wide tyres on and send it.
The Chisel might be an alloy frame but a medium frame comes in at 1400g just a tad heavier than a medium carbon procaliber frame. All the reviews I watched/read on it all said how comfy it was.
@continuity as I said in my original post, putting some fat tyres on my gravel bike was what I did last time I rode this course - there are plenty of rock strewn trenches and rooty singletrack which whilst perfectly rideable on a gravel bike would have been a lot more fun on something a bit bouncy. Plus I onviously wont just be using it for that one race. To me your argument could equally point to xc hardtails being meh as really once you stsrt needing more than 100-120mm travel Id rather have a full suss?
https://www.wiggle.co.uk/vitus-rapide-29-crs-mountain-bike-2022
I had the 2nd Gen one, it was very good. There are other versions either side of that up/down the range and pricing.
what's wrong with using the Alpine?
I like that Vitus a lot…apart from the colour!
There is also a very nice carbon canyon I just saw but not available till October which is not a deal breaker actually.
Ha the Alpine has tiny tiny tiny 26” wheels and its also pretty knackered. Plus my wife says I deserve a new bike - who is going to argue with that!
ah, actual permission before you buy? The holy grail of bike purchases. No need to even hide the pages on the browser!!
Why not get a light 100mm 29er FS then? You're in the Netherlands, weight is more or less irrelevant! You could probably get away with faster rolling tyres on the FS anyway.
The Vitus rapide fs would be ideal!
I am considering a short travel full sus yes but im not sure a carbon one will fit my budget and an alloy one might be a bit lardy
Also I dont live in holland (yet) but I do go there a lot. My uk riding us based around Brighton area
Well in that case…. https://www.wiggle.co.uk/vitus-rapide-fs-crs-mountain-bike-2022
there are plenty of rock strewn trenches and rooty singletrack
Redshift stem makes a massive difference - 20mm of travel but it feels like more. Quite an impressive bit of kit, and at £150, much cheaper than a new bike.
Another one for the carbon Scott Scale. Got one. Its super fast. Best bike ive ever owned in fact...
Whippet has my vote. Fantastic bike. Maybe not at the current price though. Or colour for that matter.
Oh, and it's perfect for the southdowns/ stanmer park. I'm just over the hill in Hassocks and thats where I ride mostly.
Whippet with suss fork, mine is pretty good, would see plenty of change from 2k as well
Stealth Ad Alert- I do have a 2021 Stanton Ti Sherpa frame (21"), never ridden (long story), which I really ought to move on. I'd be flexible on price if it was going to a good home. If you're interested, drop me a PM
My mate in Devon is selling a Chisel,he's about 6ft. PM me if interested and I can put you I touch. No idea of spec or price (it's red and pretty new)
How about an Orbea Alma?
Only a few around currently, but these guys have a Medium M50 (carbon).
Really impressed with the Alma (both ally and carbon). But, similar to the Procaliber, it has a PF BB I’m afraid.
Redshift stem makes a massive difference – 20mm of travel but it feels like more.
Definitely this. Probably the best upgrade I’ve ever put on a bike (except maybe a dropper post)
Hire a racy hardtail when you're there. Seems like a fair outlay without even trying a modern 29er mountain bike.
I think pretty much any of the main manufacturers shorter travel 29er hardtails would be perfect for what you describe, you just need to try some out.
Happy bike shopping! The best kind of shopping.
Says it includes all taxes. Under £2k as well.
Lovely and despite my ramblings I'd love another xc hardtail, but 2 grand for alu, sx/nx plastic shite and no dropper is criminal!
Secondhand is where it's at - always - especially with the price jumps recently.
https://m.pinkbike.com/buysell/3254242/ - for £850?
Or if you're short buy my partners on one Maccatuskil 29er!
Agree that bike prices are crazy these days but availability is also quite limited.
I've seen the Chisel frameset for sale at about £1k so a £2k build doesn't seem so bad in context.
I must say you really don't seem to get much for 2k do you? Surely a nice alu frame with lower mid- range forks and base groupset should be £1200 territory in my mind at most
they’re faster and more fun off road (I await the flaming from gravel devotees!)
But slower on it. Isn't that the point?
I have a Whippet and it's nice enough in a white goods kind of way. Certainly worth considering if it's sensibly priced but I can also understand why you wouldn't.
How are prices for equivalent bikes in Holland 😉
EVERYTHING in Holland is more expensive than the UK if you are living in the UK.
However the Dutch standard of living is much higher than ours so for a Dutchy the bikes don't feel as expensive. They generally have higher wages, more disposable income due to more progressive government policy and more time to use their toys due to shorter working hours.
And that is before we get to the cycling infrastructure.
(can you tell I'm a fan!)
I’d avoid SX, but there is nothing wrong with the NX stuff. I’ve come from X9, XO and SLX/XT in the past and had no problems with the NX on my current bike for the last year or so (130 slack 29er hardtail).
My brother has a really nice carbon Merida xc race bike in large I reckon he would be willing to sell. I can get details if interested.
Thanks for all the offers of secondhand opportunities that people are posting/DM but I'm going to stick to looking at new for now till I can't get anything I want.
What I will be doing in the meantime is ordering a redshift stem for my gravel bike though - I remember when they came out a few years ago thinking they looked great but could have sworn they were a lot more than £150,. Good shout on those.
I’d love to see this 15lb 43c gravel bike……is it powered by fairy wings or just the usual STW bike scales
I just took delivery of a trek procaliber 9.6. After some scrotum broke into the house and stole my giant.
Third ride out today and it’s an absolute beast for fast riding. So much nicer to ride than my giant. A dropper post would make it the perfect fast xc bike
One of the advantages of the procaliber is they are warranted up to a 120mm fork, obviously Axel to Crown taken into account.
I’ve had an Orbea alma for a year now with no bb issues in fact no issues at all its got the omx carbon frame with rigid forks. Some of the other alma frames have differ geometry. Near impossible to get hold of now though, great bike..
