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Looking at a current model stumpjumper Evo to replace an oldish Santa Cruz 5010. Live on the South downs but go to BPW and other places with more technical riding. And want to do more. I am also doing a week long alps ride later in the year with both pedal up and uplift.
So while the Evo will be better for something will it suck the life out of general riding? No option for a +1. I do have a hard tail for really easy rides etc.
If you've got a hardtail for the milder stuff then go ferret.
I don’t have one but quite a few friends do and we all live by the South Downs. Seems a great choice! I’ve had fun riding my Levo locally with the power off - so that’s basically a very very heavy Stumpy…
Not far off, but I currently ride a 140r 150f trail bike for everything.
I've done the n+1 route and still come back to the same conclusion - the bike I ride most is the bike I will be most comfortable on. From a bimble around the local gravel paths to steep stuff in the peak I do everything on it. I don't find it is too much bike for the tame stuff, but that is because I can choose to ride it differently. Sure, I could just plow through everything at pace, or I could look for the little fun lines, pop off things that the suspension would just absorb etc.
I’ve got a Stumpjumper Evo and a hardcore hardtail and between the two I think they cover most bases. Prior to getting the hardtail I just had the Stumpjumper Evo.
The Stumpjumper Evo is perfect for the Alps and bike parks. It’s fine for the rest of UK riding, and I’ve done long pedally days on it. However these days for those sorts of rides I prefer my hardtail as it makes them slightly more fun.
Couple of sets of wheels with different tyre options will make a bigger difference.
I have a stumpy and two sets of wheels, fast xc for local xc rides, then a slightly tougher set for trail centres.
I've got an Evo, very deliberately bought to cover a broad range of riding. One of the advantages is the ability to easily alter the geometry to suit particular terrain/handling preferences. Combine that with the right tyres and it'll be fine for longer rides in mellower terrain, although, obviously, other bikes would do that better. On fun stuff, it's a delight.
Couple of sets of wheels with different tyre options will make a bigger difference.
I have a stumpy and two sets of wheels, fast xc for local xc rides, then a slightly tougher set for trail centres.
This is what I’d do if I didn’t have my hardtail. My SJE is built quite burly.
I’d think it would be fine. I’ve got a Transition Sentinel which a very similar intentioned bike. It’s happy enough to pop off stuff on mellower trails and still be fun.
Just don’t have it built too burly - stuff like super gravity / DH casing tyres will kill the fun on pedally stuff.
Lyriks or 36s are plenty for that type of bike - adding bigger forks will add to the weight etc.
I find with my bike there’s a big difference between running a poppy air shock like a Fox Float X and running a coil shock. With the coil the bike feels more sucked down and slightly less playful. So I have an air shock and a coil shock and change then depending on the mood I’m in.
Great stuff. Thanks for the comments. Just need to stop procrastinating and buy!
I've an Enduro that I use in the same way you're thinking of using a Stumpy, and TBH, it's absolutely fine. I can do 30km 1000m rides on it, and its grand. Granted in somewhere like the Chiltern f'instance its a bit over-kill, but for the Calderdale/Peaks riding I do on it, it's fine. A stumpy would be equally good IMO
I ride in the Surrey Hills and used to have a Stumpy Evo. I'd say it's the perfect bike for round here and also for trips to BPW etc. I now have an Enduro just because I always wanted one and also because we now go to the Alps every year and it's nice to have a bit more bounce there. For every day riding I'd definitely get another Stumpy....they're great bikes.