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Had a few mountain bikes growing up in my teens (DDG Shooter, Specialized P3 etc.). In fact I was rarely off the bike. Decided to re-kindle that love about eight years ago and purchased a mid-range Specialized Hardrock from my LBS. Simply didn’t feel the love any more and didn’t really stick with it. Got into road bikes instead and later cross bikes and have been quite content.
Doing some research recently I have sussed out, perhaps no surprise, that I what I had was relaxed geometry bikes and what I bought years later was more of an ‘old fashioned’ geometry XC bike.
So I set out to try again! Budget of £1,000. Looking for a slacker ‘trail bike’. Had my heart set on a Norco Fluid HT after reading all the good press. Unfortunately I can’t get one in mainland Europe (where I’m based). Distributors can’t get them. Traveling to UK to get one isn’t an option.
Now looking for an alternative. Canyon would be the easy option but I think the Grand Canyon would present me with the same problems. Maybe I should go for a full suss Canyon. Something else?
Realistically I don’t want to spend more than £1,500. I’ll be riding forest singletrack, plenty of climbs, some light downs and drop offs and would generally like to have some fun. Nothing extreme, no downhill. 29 or 27.5 (I’m 6ft3in).
Suggestions please!?
I’m a roadie, just turning MTB (what happened to me!) Done all the road stuff for a few years, getting more and more into it, sportives, then racing, then TT. Got pretty good. But got slowly fed up with all the agro from drivers, the war bikes vs cars etc…yawn! Just stressing me out, and it’s not going to change in the UK ever.
Last year bought a CAADX, to escape, on to the trails and get away from it all. Nice bike. But this didn’t quite do it, it’s really limited to fire roads and gravel.
So just about 6 weeks ago I sold the TT bike and bought my first proper HT. Haven’t ever ridden MTB properly. So joined a local club – Dorset Rough Riders, great guys! Learning loads.
OMG I’m so hooked, this is so much fun!!!
Anyway..
This is the bike I settled on after some research, and my target and budget were the same as yours. The Vitus Sentier VRS+ 2018. Great spec and geometry for the money. I’ve little to compare it to, as I haven’t ridden a MTB since I was a kid, and that wasn’t anything like MTBing really. It’s flippin good fun to ride, and get’s me down everything I’ve tried so far.
http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/vitus-sentier-vrs-hardtail-bike-slx-1x11-2018/rp-prod159772
I'm 6'3" too, and bought the 52 cm. Perfect fit