Hi all, I've had several gravel bikes back to back and I'm currently on a Pipedream Alice and its gone full circle and now I just want a hardtail again.
I'm based in East Anglia so Thetford is as hardcore as it gets for me, I'm definitely a wheels on the ground type rider, although I don't mind a bit of tech, either up or down but it's mainly farm tracks and bridleways with the occasional trip to the peaks and lakes thrown in.
I like the Alice and get on well with the geometry but I miss having a flat bar and the option of a suspension fork, having to spoke to Alan at Pipedream this really isn't designed for one.
So that leaves me looking for a new 29er, current musings are a Spesh Chisel and Scott Scale, possibly a Yeti Arc with a Sid 120mm fork. I like the Pipedream Sirius but the stack is way too low for me. I also have a Whisky carbon fork that I'd like to use for local rides and gravelesque bimblings. I'm after am XL frame, any recommendations, real world reviews and suggestions grately appreciated.
SC Chameleon. Plenty of scope to do anything you want with that.
I have a Fairlight holt on order. I've spent a fair bit of time looking at a sour pasta party too, both of which are steel
I’m in a similar spot; Sonder Broken Road is on the short list
Slackline
New focus Raven looks nice
https://www.pinkbike.com/news/2023-focus-raven-carbon-hardtail-with-in-frame-storage.html
Do Sonder still do the Dial? That seemed designed along the lines you mention.
At the other end of the pricing scale the Yeti ARC is amazing. They can be built up in a variety of guises (there is a Facebook page with everything from rigid to trail spec).
On One Scandal. If you time it right the deals can be very good value.
I’m after am XL frame
How tall are you?
I have had my previous generation Yeti ArcC for 10 years and still love it. No idea what I would replace it with when I eventually need to. I think I would move back to metal from carbon, but would add weight. Without trying, my Yeti only weighs 23.5lbs 😃
Sour Pasta Party geometry: XL frame - 120mm head tube.
Next!
Stanton Sherpa. 29" Wheels, takes a 120mm fork, available in V big.
+1 for the SC Chameleon - esp the carbon version from a year ago - great easy to ride bike - not too lss but capable enough.
You could look at the Trek Procaliber
https://www.tritoncycles.co.uk/mountain-bikes-c1/hardtail-c17/procaliber-9-5-cross-country-mountain-bike-2022-p40526/s108141?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_term=trek-procaliber-9-5-cross-country-mountain-bike-2022-sizes-l-colours-sizes-l-colours-lithium-grey-trek-black-1048581&utm_campaign=product%2Blisting%2Bads&cid=GBP&glCurrency=GBP&glCountry=GB&gclid=EAIaIQobChMImZjsqrTb_QIVwdPtCh1LyQDBEAQYAiABEgKPvvD_BwE
Fork would need an upgrade, but its the basis of a super light softtail.
Team Marin 2
Jezkidd
Free Member
I have a Fairlight holt on order. I’ve spent a fair bit of time looking at a sour pasta party too, both of which are steel
Also have a Holt on order. Hopefully be a decent mile muncher of a bike for longer rides.
I own an On One whippet which I love for nice easy xc riding. Can recommend.
Piggy backing on this thread as after fitting a third different set of drops on my gravel bike and still not getting on with them I'm considering going back to flats.
From the above thread the Trek Pro Caliber 9.5 or 9.6 seems closest to what I'm after. Anything else carbon, with suss fork, not a Whippet, not terrible SX gears and around £1500/2000 worth considering?
Thanks all for the replies, lots to consider.
Chesterrockwell, I noticed a few Scott Scales in that price range although not sure what gears they had but certainly a Fox 32 on some of them.
Typical response here of 'recommend what you've got'..
Cotic BFeMax- reasonable price and the bike is fantastic.
Here's a thread on them- https://singletrackmag.com/forum/topic/cotic-bfe-max-120-130-fork/
[url= https://i.ibb.co/1M048VK/cotic.pn g" target="_blank">https://i.ibb.co/1M048VK/cotic.pn g"/> [/img][/url]
Does that mean there is an XL Alice in Suffolk going spare 😉
Thetters (Brandon) is about the only place I ride a non gravel/road bikes these days. I've just built an XL Solaris Max ( that I don't actually think I will use) that I built for what you describe - but I prefer gravalling.......
I didn't like my SC Chameleon for local riding ..... I just found the back end too short* and the riding didn't warrant such a set up.
* I never did lengthen them so left them at 425.
I liked the ride of my Sherpa 853 but I found it too tall for its length - it was an XL and I'm longer in the body than leg.
If I was to have a do over and go for a geared bike I would go Holt with a 100mm form and a big ole chainring.
Chesterrockwell, I noticed a few Scott Scales in that price range although not sure what gears they had but certainly a Fox 32 on some of them.
Cheers mate.
Does that mean there is an XL Alice in Suffolk going spare 😉
Yep and if I could work out how to post pictures I'd show you! I love Thetford and whenever I ride there I just miss having a xc hardtail, in general now I do miss having a xc hardtail. I've had 3 Sherpas now and they're nice but I guess after 3 just not nice enough. I do like the look of the Holt and also the Mason Raw but not sure I want to wait that long for a frame.
The Specialized Chisel is still the one that piques my interest and possibly the Scott Scale. I quite like the Chisel build that Guy Kesteven done, seemed to tick a lot of boxes for me.
Cheers mate.
Pleasure 🙂
Mason Raw.
I've just arranged to buy one. Rolling chassis that I'll add my own drivetrain, brakes and things to.
Can't wait!
