Yet another what MTB thread

[woollypigs]

Since we are ending up in Skipton we are thinking about getting some MTBs to explore the great (we hear) singletrack scattered around in Yorkshire. We are not going right into mad downhilling, starting with a ride along some of the easy-medium singletracks.

The main thing is that we need frames that can carry stuff, so at least the ability to add a rack for a rear pannier.

I should probably go for a 29" since I'm 6'4" and atm a tad over 16 stones, though will a 29" wheel be strong enough, since I do tend to work my bicycles rather hard.

Peli tried a 29" and that was just too big for her, so 26" for her.

What length of front suspension travel should we be looking for or does that not matter for a single track bike?

Can you get a decent MTB for £450-650, or where is the bar for a good MTB nowadays?

[PaulF]

Wouldn't worry about the strength of 29er wheels versus 26" wheels, I think if you're getting into a situation where you're going to break a wheel the size difference won't be significant.

For what you want 100mm of travel should be fine, definitely don't go above 120mm! If you can get an air spring rather than a coil it will be lighter and, in my view, smoother.

I think the On One Inbred has rack mounts and they have a good reputation and are often on sale. I think if rack mounts are a must have then you'll be ruling out the major brands like Trek, Specialized etc.. Have you thought of frame bags or seat packs instead? Or even just a rucksack?

[Ham]

My time with a 29er was short and inauspicious - 40 miles of city roads, max - because it wasn't a good 29er (Marin Point Reyes, £1,000 of bike but not a good fork) but such as it was, I would tend to disagree with PaulF.

I was comparing this bike up against my previous Point Reyes, a 26" and it was noticeably less positive and firm, which will translate into greater flex and strain on components. Given your size, if you can find a frame to fit I'd stick with 26" - £ for £ you will likely get better value.

If it helps, I have a 26" front fork (100mm travel) that takes disc or v brakes available for free.

[PhilO]

Both comments above are right, I reckon. A 29" wheel should be stronh enough, but given that I can (much to my surprise) feel the difference between a QR and bolt through fork I would expect the difference in flex between wheel sizes to be noticeable.

For what it's worth, I'm 6' and have never ridden the largest frame size of any MTB. Currently riding an 18" On One 456 and have gone as small as a 17" Gary Fisher in the past.

I'll cast another vote for On One; the inbred is great value, but I'd say the 456 gives a little more scope, as its quite happy with a 100mm fork but can be run with 6" travel if you find yourself fancying something a bit more 'hardcore' at a later date. It's exactly what's happened to mine! I'd go so far as to say that if I was to get a custom frame built, I'd just get the same geometry and add Rohloff-compatible dropouts and ISCG mounts. 

[andrewc]

Some of the Surlys would probably fit the bill as well, the Troll for example.
Check out the gear section on Cass Gilbert's blog Whileoutriding to see how he rigs his for lightweight off road touring.

[TimC]

On-One no longer do the Inbred*, and the 456 has become four - Ti, TiEvo, Carbon (no rack mounts) or the steel Evo. All take 4-6" travel forks. In the family, we have an Inbred (bought in the final sell-off a few months back) and a 456. They are great frames for the price, and compare very favourably to my Genesis Core 40 hardtail - which, like a lot of alloy frames, also has rack mounts.

*Doh! Yes they do, but it's right down the bottom of the list of frames. £139 is a great price for it too.

[woollypigs]

Thanks all the little research I have done showed me the on-one, heard great stuff about them and the Surly because we had three, now only two and we like them.

I used to do backpacks but since I had panniers I'm not going back, less tired, less sweaty and can carry more if needed.

[sojournermike]

I would go Surly or On One.

I've an Old Orange Evo2 that has evolved into a singlespeed rigid, but is rubbish with panniers, and my 26 inch wheeled (58cm) Surly LHT has On One Mary bars and slightly schizophrenic 'groupset'.

I'll post a pic sometime - not a pretty mixture, but works as a shopping, trailing hack sort of thing.

We're just over the hill in Harrogate, so could be up for a pootle sometime if you like. Also on off the northwest rough stuff groups have some nice dales routes posted on their website.

Mike

[tiermat]

Wooly, if you want to have a play on a Inbred 29er, albeit with drop bars and rigid forks, give me a shout.

Mine is great as an all round bike, does light rough stuff with ease but is also happy carting my stuff to work each day.

One quirk of them is that they have rack mounts but no mudguard mounts.

[woollypigs]

Thanks, I might do that but it still all depends on what the doctor/specialist/consultant says on Friday. We are just thinking ahead to if I get the all clear.

The Surly LHT can be butchered in to a trail bike. Ours did very well fully loaded on rough single tracks in the USA and in NZ along with South America. This is the reason why we want to do more because it was so fun and somewhat easy to do.

It would be nice to ride with someone who knows the area, Peli has played around up here but Skipton way is a little outside of her domain.

[fuaran]

I think the On One Inbred has rack mounts and they have a good reputation and are often on sale. I think if rack mounts are a must have then you'll be ruling out the major brands like Trek, Specialized etc.. Have you thought of frame bags or seat packs instead? Or even just a rucksack?

Not really, I think most mid-range hardtails have rack mounts. Its mostly just the expensive carbon XC ones that don't.
eg Specialized Rockhopper or Carve or Trek 4900 do have rack mounts. It seems most of the big brands have similar things.

[bikenrrd]

The Salsa Fargo would be an excellent bike for what you want to do.  It lacks rack mounts but there are better ways to carry stuff on a MTB, such as big frame bags.

[fuaran]

The Fargo does have rack mounts, and mudguard mounts and loads of bottle mounts etc. It is designed for drop bars, so depends on if you want that for off-road.

[bikenrrd]

The Fargo does have rack mounts, and mudguard mounts and loads of bottle mounts etc. It is designed for drop bars, so depends on if you want that for off-road.

Ah yes, I got my models mixed up.  I meant the El Mariachi!

[BrianI]

I've got an B'Twin Rockrider 5.3 in size XL.  Possibly a touch too big for my 6'2" size for gnarly technical off roading, but for gentle pootling around trails / tracks etc, an ideal fit.
CUrrently fitted with pannier rack & rack pack

[perpetual dan]

I think the On One Inbred has rack mounts and they have a good reputation and are often on sale. I think if rack mounts are a must have then you'll be ruling out the major brands like Trek, Specialized etc.. Have you thought of frame bags or seat packs instead? Or even just a rucksack?

Not really, I think most mid-range hardtails have rack mounts. Its mostly just the expensive carbon XC ones that don't.
eg Specialized Rockhopper or Carve or Trek 4900 do have rack mounts. It seems most of the big brands have similar things.

When I got my inbred a couple of years back it was one of very few that had its solution to rack mounts and disc brakes: which is to mount the brake on the chainstay. That does rule out some bigger brakes as it has to squeeze between chain and seat stay. The usual approach means (I think) a load of spacers to get round the brake, which doesn't inspire confidence if the rack is going to carry a load.

I like my inbred, fwiw.

[sojournermike]

Or topeak do a disc specific rack. I've got one that works fine. Something like the tourist DX disc.

Mike

I think the On One Inbred has rack mounts and they have a good reputation and are often on sale. I think if rack mounts are a must have then you'll be ruling out the major brands like Trek, Specialized etc.. Have you thought of frame bags or seat packs instead? Or even just a rucksack?

Not really, I think most mid-range hardtails have rack mounts. Its mostly just the expensive carbon XC ones that don't.
eg Specialized Rockhopper or Carve or Trek 4900 do have rack mounts. It seems most of the big brands have similar things.

When I got my inbred a couple of years back it was one of very few that had its solution to rack mounts and disc brakes: which is to mount the brake on the chainstay. That does rule out some bigger brakes as it has to squeeze between chain and seat stay. The usual approach means (I think) a load of spacers to get round the brake, which doesn't inspire confidence if the rack is going to carry a load.

I like my inbred, fwiw.

[Robbo]

Another vote for the inbred, mine gets used for everything from commuting to trail centre riding its my most used bike as it does everything well.

[vorsprung]

I like my Karate Monkey.  It's got horizontal rear facing trackend-esque dropouts for single speeding but it works well with an Alfine on it.  It is good on not very rough off road stuff with the tyres I have (40mm == 1.6").  If I wanted to be able to ride over bigger rocks I'd fit 2.5" tyres. Mounted a normal rack on it, just used a V brake nut as a spacer on one side

[mike]

I swapped from an 29er inbred to a scandal (the same, but alloy rather than steel) and much prefer it - much stiffer (in a good way) and rides a lot lighter.  I then took off all the dangly bits and fitted an alfine wheel and it's much better - nothing to get clogged up in the winter mud...