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Looking for a upgrade to replace my Marin Bobcat trail 5.
More XC oriented than long travel Hardtail but I’d consider one. Mainly ride along Canals and light woodland trails but I don’t want a Gravel bike. Preferably a 29er.
Only options I’ve found in stock is.
Trek X-caliber 7 and 8
Cube Acid
Cannondale Trail SE 3
And the slightly burlier Cube Reaction TM.
£1k, available late April?
Edit- not a 29er, depends how bothered you are.
On one Whippet.
I’m open to other wheel sizes. Those Sonders look smart. £999 looks a bargain to be honest.
The best value out there is from the folks at Sonder and On-One
The whippet and the Frontier or Dial offer incredible value for money.
Any one of the three will out a smile on your face
On one Whippet
This. Full carbon rigid XC 29er for a grand. Add suspension fork of your choice if required.
Mine hopefully arrives tomorrow - can't wait!
Another vote for the Sonder Dial here
Trek X-caliber 7 and 8
Aren't these more XC race bike?
Why do all the budget hardtail frames seem to have “XC race” geometry? Nothing against that geometry but it’s not the most confidence inspiring for the beginner who would be a big part of the market I’d assume. Just curious.
I get what you mean RP. Although I would say it is nice to see bikes like the Sonder which fit that XC / off-road mile munching type riding. There aren’t many bikes on the market like that now without going carbon race rocket. It might be a smaller demand but there have been a few threads on here recently asking for bikes like it.
Gravel bikes killed them off a lot? Maybe. Although, flat bars and a suspension fork make them feel very different.
On a side note, RP I hope you and yours are all well 😎
Why do all the budget hardtail frames seem to have “XC race” geometry?
Because for the average rider who is just riding on gravel roads, bridleways and tame single track it is the best sort of geometry (especially as today's XC geometry is nothing like XC geometry of 20 years ago)
If you need/want something more specialist i.e. for blasting downhills as fast as possible then not likely to be after a beginners budget bike.
There is something very refreshing about riding a xc orientated bike after the modern trail / LLS focused bikes.
Unfortunately there is limited choice this year though, with the preserve of available pure xc bikes starting around the £1.5k-£2k+ bracket.
Sonder Dial and On One Whippet look to be the best options although the Whippet is pretty heavy given it's frame and fork.
The Giant XTC SLR 1 is looking nice if you can find one in size.
Thanks NM. We’re all doing good. Hope the same is true for you and yours.
I guess the argument is that beginners will be riding tamer trails and this geometry is best for those trails. I guess I can see the logic although I’m a bit concerned about saying that you have to spend a lot more if you want to ride tougher trails. I’m probably just not looking hard enough though. I’m sure there are cheaper hard tails with more trail geometry too. Anyway, it’s all a bit off topic as the OP wanted an XC bike and I have to say that Dial looks very nice.
Thanks RP
Another option is the Spesh Chisel
Although for similar money you get a more rowdy bike in the Merida 600 or whatever the name is (mental block lol)
As much as people seem to baulk against the name / term, I think the ‘downcountry’ style of bikes would suit many riders and hope that type of bike continues to appear even if the tag doesn’t stick.
Canyon Grand Canyon ?
Several models below £1500 for Men & Women
Actually according to a Specialised staffer the reason entry level bikes have XC geometry is due to long and mid travel forks of a reasonable quality costing too much to get the bikes into that price point.
And it's twaddle to say XC bikes are better suited to mild trails. It's all they are suited to. My present Scandel is good on mild trails and as an all day bike everywhere I care to go. Sure there'll be bikes better suited to downhill hooning, but then they will give way a bit uphill. If you have no intention of racing then why buy a race bike?
If you have no intention of racing then why buy a race bike?
Because they are not XC race bikes, they are just XC bikes which are better suited to mild trails than a 64 degree bike with 140mm forks.
These from Merlin look good :
https://www.merlincycles.com/sensa-merano-evo-race-mountain-bike-2021-217010.html
I think I bought the last 19 inch one earlier today though...
Yes but unlikely to have the broad set of applications that a 65-67HA 120/130 fork bike will have
^^^^^ err, I was responding to the set of applications referenced by the OP in his opening post...
More XC oriented than long travel Hardtail but I’d consider one. Mainly ride along Canals and light woodland trails but I don’t want a Gravel bike. Preferably a 29er.
I thought about the X-Caliber, especially once I realised it shared a frame with the Roscoe and could be adapted to something in the middle over time.
In the end decided to go the other way and got a Kona Unit X with no suspension but big tyres - think it might work well for the OP's riding requirements and can always have suspension added later.
Looked into a Kona as I have a Nostalgic feeling for them after owning a Stuff in 2001. Was the last thing my late Step dad bought me before he died of Lung Cancer and Brain mets.
So I’m actually really keen to get one.
Looked at the Kahuna, Mahuna and Blast but no availability till at least June at Wheelbase. 🙁
Yes but unlikely to have the broad set of applications that a 65-67HA 120/130 fork bike will have
But if you are not riding a broad set of applications then why have a bike that can ride them but doesn't ride quite as well for the narrow set of applications you actually ride?
I ride tame XC natural trails where I live and I have owned a 65HTA 120mm bike and it felt sluggish and slow compared to my rigid 68HTA bike I now ride. In reality it was probably no slower overall as it is just a bike riding on terrain that is easy for an MTB but it didn't feel as responsive and as nice to ride for the situation.
On One:
Scandal - Alloy 65deg SRAM GX 130mm £1399
Big Dog - Steel 65deg SRAM GX 130mm £1399
Bootzipper - Steel 70deg SRAM SX rigid £899
PX Jack Flash - Alloy 65deg SRAM SX 130mm £799
All 29er, all showing as in stock. If you want something sooner than later it's a good starting place.
Whippet - Carbon 69.5deg SRAM SX rigid £999
29er, in stock from 26th March. Mine arrived yesterday and it looks great - OH ordered hers last week and has an allocated build date of the 27th.
On that basis Kerley I would ride my 29er Inbred rather than the Dog or Scandel. After the first week the Inbred has been shedded waiting on Gravel bike conversion; er once it's been to Chorley to have it's thudbuster removed..... I have a really dubious spine and the new bigger tyres go a long way to obviating the need for such a device.
On that basis Kerley I would ride my 29er Inbred rather than the Dog or Scandel
Ride what you want, you can ride around on a downhill bike if that what takes your fancy. I was just offering an opinion on why an XC oriented bike is actually a very good choice of bike for XC riding.
Hey!
Trying to revive this post because I'm also after a hardtail in the same price range an for similar use to the OP. I will mostly use it for leisure rides, long days out, bikecamping and the odd day on easy trails. I know that these days it's less about what you want and more about what's available. From what I can find available in my size (6'2") I have narrowed it down to the following but I'm also open to suggestions for alternatives.
Cube Reaction Pro
https://www.cube.eu/en/2021/bikes/mountainbike/hardtail/reaction/cube-reaction-pro-greynyellow/
Pros: Good brakes, good brand?, decent tyres
Cons: overpriced for the specs?, press fit BB, narrow handlebar, no boost
Trek X-caliber 9
https://www.trekbikes.com/gb/en_GB/bikes/mountain-bikes/cross-country-mountain-bikes/x-caliber/x-caliber-9/p/29760/
Pros: Good drivetrain, threaded BB
Cons: crap tyres, entry level brakes, small chainring, boost141 (not148)
Giant XTC SLR 1
https://www.giant-bicycles.com/gb/xtc-slr-29-1-2021
Pros: Good specs, boost
Cons: press fit BB, fork any good?, dearer than the other two
I'm all ears to hear your thoughts about the geometries and other specs of the bikes. I'm quite new to this so some of the things I have listed as pros and cons might not be that way! I'm not going to use the bike for racing but I don't want a trail oriented bike either (I think, and this is based on reading that they can feel sluggish and not nice to climb on them or do long rides), somewhere in between would be nice. Just after a good capable all rounder.
Thanks!
See my post above. We've had our rigid Whippets for a month now and they're great. Would recommend either that or the Scandal. Can't see much else that's better value tbh.
At the moment if you want a bike now it’s more about what’s in stock.
Of the suggestions already made above the Sounder Dial looks a good shout, alpkit are good to deal with, there are spec and color options to choose from and the video makes it look fun!
May be an idea to look second hand. Expect there are some bikes bought last year that have very little use. Thinking voodoo bizango. Failing that go for whatever is in stock and available.
Thinking the Sonder Dial is probably a great buy. Vitus Sentier slightly more trail but still efficient and nowhere near a hardcore hardtail. I reckon the On One Scandal is in a similar category / it’s still an efficient alloy hardtail but capable on more tricky stuff.
Unless you get really long travel / slack / heavy most hardtail are going to do what you need. Just depends what’s in stock.
Just get the Transmitter and stop worrying about wheel size. Lad at work commutes on one ('cause he wanted an awesomes looking bike) loves it but it's a bit underused for such a great bike, I keep threatening to take him round some Enduro level trails after work which it's more than capable of, maybe not the rider though!
Canyon Grand Canyon, excellent hard tail, just depends on delivery dates