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I've had a bit of a hankering for a fast XC bike for a while. Eventually discounted it, because my gravel bike does that job. But the thought is still lingering.
To give a bit of context, I have a 26er Inbred that probably weighs at least 15kg. Mountain biking feels so slow to me. I love the efficiency of a road bike, and I love the efficiency and versatility of a gravel bike. And I long to feel that on a mountain bike, whizzing up mountains, back down, up the next... A bike that's good for 50 milers, 100 milers, bikepacking, something that munches the miles and feels lively.
The obvious choice on paper, to me, would be a pedigree XC racing hardtail.
But is it?
Trail bikes are always described as modern and progressive, whilst XC bikes get branded old technology, how bikes used to be...
And I can't help but be influenced by it. Who wants to spend premium money on old tech?
Also, many people seem to be doing these big days out on trail bikes. Did they succumb to the advertising too, or are they actually more progressive, more comfortable, more fasterer, or at least with minimal compromise for what they gain in other areas?
What's the perfect mountain bike for big days? Not interested in rigid fork options - too close to gravel bike territory me. Preferably with lockout though.
I'd think that an XC racing hardtail would be a bit hard work. They're designed for speed not comfort - see the reviews in the most recent issue of the magazine.
Something like a 29 with bigger tyres or 29+ with 100-120mm forks would be my choice.
My 29+ Krampus feels lively, eats the miles, is good for bike-packing and big days out.
Used to love a big day on my 150mm Soul, Torridon lollipop, WHW, Lakes etc, brilliant bike.
Bfe Max looks a winner.
Have a look at a Sonder Signal
Full on XC race hardtails are designed for 1 1/2hr races on not especially technical terrain. They're quite focussed and not very forgiving for the mostpart. It's why you'll see even most of the pro XC racers on full sus bikes more often than not.
For your requirements, I get the desire to stick with a hardtail, but I'd look more towards something designed to take bigger tyres, probably with a steel or even Ti frame for it to be a bit more forgiving, and look at something with 100-120mm fork maybe and 29er wheels with clearance for decent (rear 2.3-2.4 not just 2.2" XC race treads) sized clearance.
In fact, not ridden one, but Sonder do a model for the exact purpose that you have described, the Broken Road. Might be worth checking it out for ideas.
I was looking for a bike for similar intentions, though not the 100 milers or the bike packing (planning on doing a few MTB Marathons etc. and some big days out though), and decided I was better off sticking with a full sus. Ordered a Rocky Mountain Element in the end, 100mm out back, 120mm up front, XC enough to be fast and involving, not too XC that you can't relax on it.
I'm currently doing my riding on a Parkwood. Thinking about a new bike I was looking for something a bit more racey. I don't ride much really hard stuff. The odd bit of lakeland or moorland XC. Trail centre XC stuff (GT red/Black, Innerliethen, Dalby, Kielder, Hamsterley). But I will do big days.
I had a short list.
Canyon Al SL 9 was probably the front runner.
Some of the Radon offers looked ok. Cragger or Jealous depending on how race orientated. Cube had a few as well.
What I really want is a carbon parkwood. Light 29er 120mm. Swapping tyres makes a big difference. Got fat chunky ones on now but have run slimmer race tyres and it made the world of difference.
Never feels as fast as my CX bike though as the geometry is so relaxed in comparison.
The two longest mtb races I did (K100 back in the day) I did on a Stumpjumper FSR 5" full suss so not race material at the time (also did the national marathon champs on it!). Fast tyres did help.
Orange P7 29er is what I got. Comfy and a hoot!
Sounds like you up need a new short travel 29er FS, rather than a HT.
SC Talboy or Blur
Orbea Occam or Oiz Trail
Etc
Sonder Signal ti is ace I demoed one.
If you're used to a gravel bike, an XC hard tail will be luxury!
I've had a Cube Reaction GTC, currently got an Ibis DV9 and also had a Scott Spark. XC bikes are really good for distance stuff and are very capable.
The Scott was fast an comfy due to being full sus, but The Cube and Ibis weren't much less comfy.
Something like a Scott Scale, Trek Pro Caliber or Specialized Epic/Chisel would be decent.
My missus has a blinged up Pro Caliber 6 and it's her favourite bike. Fitted a dropper recently and is comfortable jumping and using it at trail centres too.
Rebuilding my DV9 into more of trail hard tail, but I'll no doubt end up with another XC bike (possibly a Pro Caliber frame only) in the future.
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Trek Supercalibre? Mmmm…
Needs riser bars adding… as do most XC bikes to turn them into all day machines.
Hardtail for me though. (SolarisMAX)
There's plenty of xc bikes that are pretty progressive nowadays, and are light and fun to ride. Eg, new Cannondale that's on the front page, santa Cruz blur, Norco revolver, ns synonym, intense sniper. Admitadly all full sus, but that is just as that's what I was looking for. I bought a Sniper trail, and absolutely love it. For long rides I'd stick on some cane Creek bar ends or something similar, as they really do help with comfort, even if the fashion police don't like it!
I did the HT550 on a Cotic Mk1 Solaris with rigid forks so that's doable but a set of lockable suspension forks would have made it a bit comfier. I don't know how it compares to the current models.
Plenty have done the HT550, Cairngorm Loop and similar on a Stooge.
For long days bikepacking I tend to stick with the Solaris but also have a Salsa Spearfish (100mm front, 80mm rear) that I've got for rougher stuff. The Solaris is fine for The Dales and mid Wales but the Spearfish is better suited to big days in The Lakes but I've done fast times on the Solaris there as well.
I've been a fan of steel bikes, and at one time I would've jumped on something like a Solaris or P7, but I'm really fancying something with a bit of zing or zip this time. Carbon or alu. I'm just not feeling the steel vibe at the moment.
Titanium.
Signal ti maybe.
I like the look of the Alpkit stuff and it's a brand I can relate to and happily support, but I'm not feeling Ti either to be honest.
Niner Air9 RDO? A bit spendy maybe.
Out of interest, what size are you looking for? I'm looking to get something like a SolarisMAX eventually to replace my DV9 as I don't do much XC anymore (might do again sometime in the future).
As a lot of bikes are sold out at the moment, I'd be tempted to let the DV9 frame and SID Ultimate go if you were interested (it's an XL and the fork is 120mm).
No worries if not, I'll keep it longer as it's a versatile frame 🙂
I've done big days on both my hardtails recently. Solarismax was ok... But by the end I was struggling to keep up with mates on carbon xx. So second ride I used the carbon Highball. Way easier. The lockout for climbing really makes a difference, especially when I'm getting tired. As does the 3-4 kg weight difference.
Spesh Levo SL ebike I reckon 😀
I'd look for a light, xc/trail carbon hardtail - something a bit longer and slacker than a race bike but not much heavier.
Saracen and genesis did bikes that might have fit the bill iirc.
Out of interest, what size are you looking for?
...
I’d be tempted to let the DV9 frame and SID Ultimate go if you were interested (it’s an XL and the fork is 120mm).
Way too big for me. S or M...
Niner Air9 RDO? A bit spendy maybe.
You're not wrong. Yowch. Definitely trying to keep it under 2k if possible.
If Ti or steel are out perhaps an SC Chameleon. Carbon or Alu depending on budget
^ The Santa Cruz I'd be quite tempted by. Just not Santa Cruz prices. It does look to be a happy compromise.
I’ve done big days on both my hardtails recently. Solarismax was ok… But by the end I was struggling to keep up with mates on carbon xx. So second ride I used the carbon Highball. Way easier. The lockout for climbing really makes a difference, especially when I’m getting tired. As does the 3-4 kg weight difference.
What sort of terrain does the Highball cope with?
Highball does everything I'd do on my Cotic, just differently.
Faster on the flat, uphill and in the right stuff. The only place it's slower is gnarly downhill.