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I’ve got a major hankering at the moment to get/ride a big bike. By this I mean an enduro style bike rather than a full blown downhill one.
I’ve always bought and owned more trail and xc orientated bikes as they’ve suited the terrain and riding I do 95% of the time and I can’t afford more than 2 or maybe 3 bikes at once. Currently got a 140mm hardtail which I’m loving (and scratched that itch as I’ve only ever had xc ones before!) and a 140/130mm full suss which is ace as an all rounder but obviously gets out of its depth on really technical riding.
I have other itches too, such as a fat bike (how 2016 of me!) and a steel bike (only ever owned alloy and carbon), but it’s the big bike that’s taking up all of my (fruitless as I can’t afford one!) internet time at the moment!
What mtb or even cycling itches do you have?
ps don’t want to hear about anything medical!
I've never had a bike with more than 150mm at the back. I'd love a DH bike but I'd never use it. Next bike will have 160mm min at the back and 170mm min up front!
Yesiiii!
a proper lightweight fatbike.
possibly carbon everything, rims, bars, the whole thing where carbon is possible.
bought a fatbike last year, used it for 6 month and sold it, as it was a lump....... like me
but know a bloke who is also a lump who rides a very light fatbike and it is lovely to ride.
Balance an open bag of chips on the handlebar to eat when heading home after a ride.
Haha @wordnumb - a word of caution - I saw a woman attempt that just last week at the coast and it ended with the f bomb in front of a queue full of kids and the sea gulls getting extra lunch.
Oh dear god
Pinon gearbox.
Titanium in any form.
Modern geometry hardtail.
Modern geomtry full sus.
Full carbon XC full sus.
Fat bike.
Awesome. Need video of that Tom.
Not really any itch bike wise (maybe di2 or an e bike) more a hankering for trips with bikes such as a decent bike pack tour some where in Europe or an Alps/dolomites trip……which all may have me wanting new bikes.
Gearbox for sure.
Another 'wouldn't a really light fatty be fun' one here.
29er version of an ST4 - so shorter travel, strongly built, geometry of a bigger bike, burly enough wheels but light build.... I'm not sure I've got £5k to build it though!
But I'm more interested in doing, not things:
I really want to do the Badger Divide, really want to go tour a bunch of southern Europe, maybe do Te Aotearoa with my brother, tour Japan, the Innradwegg, Norway MTB and gravel, gravel lap of the Baltic, the Hebridean way....
I’m like you op and most of my bikes have fitted in to the ‘trail’ category over the years. Scratched the gravel, modern rigid and xc carbon ht in the last few years so current itches are:
Big bike, not dh, possibly electric.
Properly light carbon full suss.
Maybe a dj for arsing around with my lad.
Mullet & Ti frame, that’s about it.
Trail FS
Full on DH rig
DJ bike - would love to try a FS slopestyle like Trek Ticket, Stitched 720 etc
Most of my past bikes have kind of skirted around these but I've always tended to overbike for trail or go more "freeride" with around 180mm travel and more poppy for DH bikes. My next bike will most likely be a playful 130mm ish trail bike of some kind, maybe a mullet.
Oh and ebike, I'm still yet to try one. I can imagine they get addictive. I'll wait til full power motors are lightweight and more affordable for people on normal incomes.
Thinks I've ticked off
200/200mm dh bike- great in the right place, I wasn't that sad when it got nicked as I had to drive to anywhere to make it worth while.
Titanium hardtail- I can't feel the difference in frame material. I've had alloy frames that felt the same. It's a nice bike, but I think and allow would have felt the same. Now I know.
Full xc bike. Had an original scalpel with a lefty and full xtr. It was light it was fast, then it broke a frame part. I never trusted it after that and sold it.
Carbon road bike- it's a bit lighter than the alloy version. Tha largest difference is it takes 30mm tires which are significantly more comfy for me on longer rides.
Geometon- it is ace all the time.
Single speed- my knees say no.
Fat bike- it's not needed round here.
Bromton- id love one, but I really have no use.
The only maybe is a DJ bike/ bmx. I don't need one I'm 45 I will hurt buuuut. Maybe it would be cool?
Or a transition clunker. I don't need one but it just seems so easy.
Most of mine have been scratched, both bike and riding destinations. Would like to spend some time in NZ
Another big tour - maybe New Zealand this winter. Hebridean beaches with my fatty- been wanting to do it for a few years but life keeps getting in the way
Short travel FS. A Stooge or similar.
Traws Eryri, Great North Trail, La Grave.
Clean a black jump line. Do the rock garden on Ace Of Spades in St Foy.
I'm quite content and those things I want to do are well within my means and reach.
As far as Ebikes go.... I've got an eBullit cargo bike that I've not ridden for over two years (not very compatible with living in a van) that I'm looking forward to swinging a leg over soon. Going to pick it up at a mate's place and ride it 350km through half of Germany back to Munich (on one charge) at the end of September..... All other ebike incarnations can do one.
Got my (2017) Strive and that's still more than enough bike. Figure if I can keep up with mates riding the latest and greatest then what's the point of changing.
Ti gravel bike. Thinking maybe chunkier tyres to better cope with the strada bianchi here in Italy, but really, the 40mm G-Ones gave been pretty good. The rear is getting thin, mind.
Basically I've ****ed off the idea of buying more to make myself happy and am content with my lot.
The list of locations I want to go to is so long I don’t think I’ll ever scratch many of them. Although now it’s got me drawing up in my head a list of attainable UK and maybe Northern European rides/locations that maybe I can realistically tick off. Probably a thread for another day…
A modern XC/light trail bike. All my MTBs end up burlier and burlier.
Location wise, loads of places as long as it’s not the MTB equivalent of a bmx track.
Events, I’d like to have a go at a 24hr type race
Easy, Tour Divide for me. On my Stooge MK4.
Otherwise, I'd like a Spaceframe Jones at some point too.
I haven't owned an Orange 5.
If we're talking locations I'd love to go back to Whistler. Never done the Alps either, Morzine looks fun. Plenty of UK locations I'm yet to ride too. It's just finding the time and money to do it all!
The only maybe is a DJ bike/ bmx. I don’t need one I’m 45 I will hurt buuuut. Maybe it would be cool?
I have similar thoughts! Hence why I keep looking at the Specialized P4 27.5 as a halfway house between DJ and trail bike. It'd probably be really fun on a lot of the trails I ride and a bit more stable than a full on DJ. Depending on the headset type it could possibly fit an angleset too to slack it out a bit and have a fun little play bike for groomed jump trails.
I think I could find a P.Slope/Bolt itch to scratch.
Similarly a modern Tora built mini link.
I'd like a go on a proper DH bike, but really wouldn't want to own one. Suppose I should just book myself an uplift day and a hire bike....
Want to swap my commute bike for a compact cargo bike.
And really would like to rescratch a Genesis DayOne, desperately regret selling that.
That's this week's list. May change early September. 🙂
Titanium will be my next itch scratched. Probably a FS - either Kingdom or Stanton
I think I've done my locations. I've been lucky enough to ride in Moab, Whistler, all over Europe and Islands. Pretty much all those itches have been scratched. Bike-wise I'd really like a fast XC/race full suss, just to see how fast they are, and how much I could hurt myself.
Money and time constraints have meant that I've always been Mr N+0. I used to race XC (very unseriously) and do endurance events on my trail bike, changing little more than the tyres. As a result, I've always had an itch for a properly light, fun XC full-suss.
For similar reasons I've also never done a dedicated overseas MTB holiday. However, I think next year will finally be my year (Currently swithering between White Room and Basque MTB).
I'd love a lightweight full sus xc/downcountry bike, it would probably be the most sensible bike for me to own for local riding but my local riding isn't the best so I own burlier bikes for trips away.
I'd also love a high end DH bike but having owned a DH bike years ago, I know there's just no need for it. I have just built a 180/180 travel full sus bike which hopefully scratches enough of that itch!
Would like to try the Fort William DH track.
I'd also like to go France for a world cup as they look nuts!
I'd love to be able to approach a jump without bricking it
Been pondering over an Orange Five for years, not a fan of the modern versions they don't look right, I am very impulsive and have been in to buy one twice now and got home with something else, as my size wasn't in stock. One day I'll pick one up second hand.
I'd love to do the tour divide, but my health isn't great at the moment and my fitness is worse.
Break a frame doing something gnar.
Preferably walking away but I accept a price may need to be paid.
Also i would like it to be photographed, with me flying through the air, preferably doing something comical* like still covering the brakes on a set of handlebars no longer attached to the rest of the bike.
* Whilst obviously still looking rad as ****
Getting to ride Entraunes/Guillaumes. Once again this year I've driven past the Terres Grises without being able to actually get on the bike and have an explore. Then there's the Stone King route on Komoot... that makes me rather itchy. A weekend based around the Queyras or venturing into Italy is definitely on the cards next year.
I wouldn't say no to a DH bike as I've been spending too much time in bike parks of late. I pinched one off a mate for a day last month and could've quite happily kept it for the remainder of my summer hols.
Really want to try a high pivot bike to see what all the hype is about. Oh, - and coil suspension, never tried that before
Always want to ride somewhere I've never been
A big travel monster. (Biggest I’ve ever had is 160f/140r, currently I’m on 140/130).
while I could go buy one right now (especially a S/H one), somewhere to ride it to do it justice is the sticking point.
Probably fat biking in the snow. Hopefully next winter.
Done dh, proper light xc etc.
I just want to travel to go riding more now. Åre in sweden looks good, back to the alps too
I've never had a "trail" full sus. They've all been racing ones, one of the original S-Works FSR then onto an S-Works Epic (the weird one with the shock sitting inside the rear triangle) and after that I kind of stopped MTB competitively and just rode HTs.
I've ridden a few trail FS and I remember leading a shop ride on a lap of the Borrowdale Bash where I'd "appropriated" the shop's demo Cove G-Spot for the day. That was an eye-opener in terms of capability, it absolutely steam-rollered it down the Castle Crag descent. But I never actually bought it, in spite of being very very tempted.
I haven’t owned an Orange 5.
You're not missing anything. It was one of the trail FS bikes I tried out and it was shit.
At the OP; I built up the very type of bike you mentioned, with the hope that my skill level would grow and develop into it's capabilities! (Spoilers, it hasn't yet..). But that said, it's my daily driver and I love it. So I still want to cross feeling confident on drops and jumps off my mtb list.
And then a trip to the Alps or Whistler.
Never owned a light carbon trail bike. Always had more enduro-y bikes. Might fix that.
@honourablegeorge - definitely worth trying. My full suss is the previous gen carbon Stumpjumper (the 14 going by Specialized’s latest nomenclature) and it’s probably the perfect UK trail bike unless you live in some of the rarer more extreme environs of the country like northern Scotland or the Lake District. Really light frame that can be moved closer to the Epic Evo with a 130mm fork and light wheels or closer to the Stumpy Evo with a 150mm fork and burly wheels / tyres. I wouldn’t get rid as it’s perfect for most of my rides and love its adjustability. Shame the Evo stole a lot of its limelight really and has pretty much replaced it for the 15 generation.
I just need a metal 170mm bike to sit alongside it now….
Still not taken a bike to North America. I mean the continent, not the bit of track near Cut Gate.
So much legendary riding out there that I'd like to try. Whistler, Moab, Colorado.
Bikewise, the only thing I lust after is a skinniest of skinny tubed steel frame, either touring or bikepacking 29er - comfort and distance.
And of course to do some trips on that; Danube and Germany / Austria / Scandinavian touring, or any of Europe provided not too hot!
Would also like a return to Les Arcs trails before I'm over the hill enough not to enjoy it.
Still not taken a bike to North America. I mean the continent, not the bit of track near Cut Gate
Ooh, that reminds me. Really want to clean Cut Gate north side. Have got pretty close ( two stops) but TBH "pretty close" is actually miles away from actually doing it
My chances of doing it are getting slimmer each year....
I have always wanted a super light weight weenie xc hardtail, something like a top end cannondale - just to feel the sense of progress and efficiency. Alas that itch started best part of 3 stone ago so the sensation probably wouldn't be so obvious now I think.
Also an Orange.
Torridon trip.
HT550 group start
Land's End to John o' Groats off-road.
Want to swap my commute bike for a compact cargo bike.
Seriously.... So this. Essentially replaces the car for 80% of uses.
Break a frame doing something gnar.
Preferably walking away but I accept a price may need to be paid.
Buy a Cannondale?
Snapped three of their frames without dying. Fortunately they weren't mine... I was guiding at the time and was given bikes to ride. Ended up using my DB Alpine hardtail for most of the tours as it was a little more robust.
Fairly mundane but I'd like to do a proper 3-4 day bike packing trip in Scotland with wild camping/bivying with a road trip up/back through some of England's riding spots on the way. I've never been but whenever I see pictures North of the border it just looks big and beautiful country. I love travelling by bike and lightweight camping but I'm loathe to lug kit between continents for environmental/hassle reasons. .
Kit wise these are probably my next ten years of bike buying:
A modern geo, lightweight (ish) hardtail for bike packing and general trail use (with the ability to switch between XC and bikepack).
A 140/150 travel trail 29r. Just a bit burlier than what I have and is probably as much bike as my skill and mass will ever need.
I suspect that I am headed into my last 15 years or so of riding proper rough stuff (sad face) before I have to start reigning it in to more xc / bridleway bashing so I just want to make the best of that riding window.
Bigger bike with a coil shock.
Overkill for more than half what I do, but the other half it will probably be a hoot.
Can always put an air shock on if I need to, right?
Ticked most of mine, DH Racing, Alps trips in France, Italy, Switzerland, Heli-biking and touring in NZ, bikepacking in Nepal, riding and bikepacking all over UK, lots of enduro in Southern Spain.
I'd like a made to measure frame for me in a gravel bike but will stick with off the shelf ones and do more trips.
Oh a tour of Japan and buy those Orange 5's brilliant fun bikes I regret selling mine to my mate who takes it out every time we go out for stupid fast downhill days.
Got big travel bikes, niche bikes, ti bikes, weightweenie bikes, can get custom made as and when I need, still fancy a ti 36er gravel bike for a laugh, so that's the next project, as 29+ gallops past folk as it is, so a mad contraption with monster hoops would be a giggle and create a suitable and sufficient attention vortex, to keep me amused
A superlight responsive xc full sus bike,
I think this will be the next trend ..... as its so great for gravel riding too!
Wouldn't mind trying a DH race some time if I can ever get myself back up to how I used to ride at my peak. Something like Steel City DH looks fun and not too serious. I'd probably be shit but it looks like it could be fun at least.
electronic shifting and an upside down fork like an Intend and maybe an Onyx rear hub to go really stealth
I’d like to try a Stooge Scrambler and a Swift and a Sunliner… to carry on addiction to rigid bikes. Or maybe a Pinion Clandestine…
A Brompton… I had one and sold when I worked abroad and I want to buy a new one with more gears… or get one of Ben’s conversions.
I have Tern cargo bike but I’d love a front loader box bike… I don’t need one but I really want one.
lastly, one day I will overcome my Luddite tendencies and properly try a full sus bike.
Wouldn’t mind trying a DH race some time if I can ever get myself back up to how I used to ride at my peak. Something like Steel City DH looks fun and not too serious. I’d probably be shit but it looks like it could be fun at least.
The Northern Downhill guys put on great grassroots events. Not serious and you be smoked by 12year olds, but good fun. Doable on a trail bike too.
Off the top of my head:
-Down Hill bike
-Gearbox bike
-Titanium frame
-Steel frame
Mullet & Ti frame, that’s about it.
I have a lovely ti HT frame for sale. As good as new ... but a long way from you.
a fat bike
An mtb Cargo eBike with most of the cargo as spare batteries for big range luxury bike packing.
So for those talking fat bikes. Has this gone too far?
https://surlybikes.com/bikes/moonlander-v2 It is as far to the other side of my Pugsley as my Pusley is to my 29er…
I've never owned a full suspension bike.
I had a shot of one once. Hardtails my whole life so hopefully when I can't manage anymore a leccy full suspension thing I reckon that would be pretty good.
Mmmm, for me it's a Pinion gearbox - there's a Ti one for sale currently that I can't really afford but.....
A proper single speed frame so no need for a chain tensioner. Ideally carbon, not steel.
Bike wise:
1 - A Surly 1x1 (An early one) to build up like this:
2 - A nice slack mid 80's 531 lugged MTB - I've had a couple but late 80's
3 - A proper XC full squish bike
To be able to pull a manual at will then hold it.
Feel like I've got all the bikes I'll need - I'm the limiting factor. OK, maybe a proper XC hardtail, although I've got a light XC FS, which would probably be quicker.
All my itches are route-based. I want to do an imperial Lakes century off-road, Great North Trail, Southern Way maybe.
I've owned/done DH bikes don't want another now and 'Big' Enduro bikes 150mm+ travel don't really appeal anymore. Currently I have a 130mm trail bike (Stumpy) and a basic rigid MTB which cover lots of bases. I would like to do some Enduro racing, for which the Stumpy or similar would suffice, I know I wouldn't be that competitive now.
The one thing I've never really owned is a proper racey XC bike (HT or FS), but then I don't know that I'd enter many/any XC races with such a thing so is it really an 'itch' I need to scratch? Especially when I've gotten more and more into curly bars and have a CX and Gravel bike for head-down, arse-up type action...
Dunno, maybe a really light-weight HT as more of an efficient Trail bike? than an XC race bike, either an AL or Carbon frame with some ~5" forks and Carbon wheels, just to see what such a bling machine is like to live with... but otherwise I think my days of lusting after various different MTBs are maybe trailing off now.
Torridon trip and stuff around Aviemore and the Derry Cairngorm.
A Deviate Highlander 2 .its been on my mind for a while rather than my 170 x170 bigger bike
Tour du Mont Blanc weeks riding .. wait out
If I pulled my finger out and commited all are do-able in the next few weeks ....
Bikes - never ridden a DH bike (but it would need to be somewhere worth it, like Whistler). Never ridden a super fast/light XC race effort. Don't have a desire to own either, just want to see what the fuss is all about. Pace RC200. It'll be scary/shit, but it feels like it should be cool, fast, scary shit.
Riding. Current big ticket item is Torino-Nice, also loads of Scottish bits and pieces inc. Torridon and Heartbreak Ridge. Plus as much riding bikes in big mountains as I possibly can. Be fun to go back to BC too, before I get too much older and less crashable.
A Cannondale Fat CAAD. I've been kicking myself for not buying the one I saw in Evans at a huge discount after they decided to stop selling them here.
A Cannondale Fat CAAD
That would be ace with a motor
Oh, that’s a point, I’d like a go with a lefty, but not so much to actually buy one.
scratched a itch this week.
after owning 10 various Surly models over the years, i managed to source a rather nice XL Krampus.
which is 1 i have not owned. seems nice too.