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Talk me out of this. When Cotic release the new Flare, assuming it's the ideal Do It All bike, sell my 26er Rocket and Solaris mk whatever came before Max, and buy a Flare with the proceeds.
Enough bike for the big hills considering I do *not* ride the Rocket to it's limits, but almost as pedalable as the Solaris.
Not really talking you out of it, but if you're happy to ride a 29er or 650b plus, the flare max currently has £300 off in the blue colour.
Your plan sounds fairly sensible to me, assuming you're happy to go down to one bike. I'm not sure the sale of those two bikes will be enough to fully fund the new bike though.
Yes I saw that. I'm not entirely sold on 29er, I do find the Solaris a lot more cumbersome than the Rocket, so I'm thinking I'd prefer "normal" 650b if forced to go up a wheel size.
Might be worth trying to demo one and seeing what you think. Has the new Flare been released yet?
Not yet. Was hoping that Sam's trip down to the south west would coincide with the Flare delivery, but it looks like that isn't going to happen.
I always rode hardtails, then got my first FS about 7 or 8 years ago, and thought I *needed* both. A work horse for longer days out and local stuff, a FS for steep fun stuff.
Then I got the Bronson, and realised that modern FS bikes pedal so well that needing both was bollocks.
Pretty much my thinking. I got the Solaris for 'long winter xc' but literally never got around to putting the winter tyres on it, as I always rode the Rocket instead...
I did this earlier on one year
sold my 2013 26” Orange 5 FS and 650b Ragley blue pig frame
bought a 2016 transition patrol frame and fitted the parts I had built the blue pig up with
Great bike, does everything I need and is capable of much more
i think I ended up coming out of it slightly better off as well (not that that was the point of the exercise)
If I could only have one bike the FlareMax would be an acceptable candidiate, so I'm sure the new Flare will prove likewise for those who've not seen the light re. 29in.
But be under no illusions, it will be a fair bit slower than your Solaris.
Doing N-1 with MTBs myself actually - though I'll be left with a LT 29er and new SolarisMax.
I put such big tyres on my soda that my nomad rolls faster 🙂
Therefore I will keep the nomad for long winter rides and take my soda up Cadair Idris this weekend...
^ 😂
I’m in the process of a huge general cutdown to one HT and one 700c bike as it had got silly and I have less space now. I’m resisting a temptation to add a second HT. I expect there will be a FS at some point next year, see how it goes. I have an on-off relationship with bouncy bikes. I appreciate their abilities but I generally prefer HT’s.
I pretty much did what you’re doing. Always had hardtails, but was feeling more battered after rides due to stupid ageing. Found a used Flare at a good price and haven’t looked back since. It’s a great bike, pedals brilliantly, the smaller wheels don’t feel much different and I can use it for everything. I’ll be keeping it for years to come.
The only downside is getting the suspension setup properly. I’m still fiddling with it six months after getting it. Other than that it’s hands down the nicest bike I’ve owned.