Let's offroad / mountain bike / mtb / ride dirt

I think a modern XCish frame if it'll take bigger tyres with 100-120mm fork would be ideal for everything that isn't "trails"

Not trolling but he's already got a capable big-tyred gravel bike. May as well get something with less usage overlap and enjoy a bigger bike's capabilities in the areas a gravel bike wouldn't go

Depends. 42-47c gravel tyres are not the same as a 2.4" MTB tyre. A 120mm suspension fork isn't a rigid carbon one.
Suggesting a 150mm trail bike just because it's furthest from his gravel bike is a bit silly if he plans on riding it on 1000km ultra races where speed, efficiency are key and there's a distinct lack of jumps and hucks to flat.

^Agree, an XC bike is going to be half-arsing this I think, it won't add enough capability over the gravel bike to justify itself. Get something that with some XC tyres will be perfectly able to shoot along bridleways and so on, but with some proper tyres can handle bike park life (and therefore everything in between).

My 295 is a lightweight trail bike (135/150) that handled two weeks in an Alpine downhill park, but is still a lot of fun (with less aggressive tyres) back here in the UK on near-London stuff.

And, tbf, with the DHR II's on it's fun for Peaslake when it's pissing down.

Suggesting a 150mm trail bike just because it's furthest form his gravel bike is a bit silly if he plans on riding it on 1000km ultra races where speed, efficiency are key and there's a distinct lack of jumps and hucks to flat.

But think how it'd look, with a Zeb and aerobars.

I'm with @PhilDAS on this one. @hippy seems to be after a more capable long distance 'crossing country' type bike, not a trail plaything

Hence asking for usage really.
I'm highly unlikely to ever take a bike to the alps or do any DH riding. I've ridden in Swinley with mates who are on XC bikes and they managed fine vs me on trail bike but for bridleway etc, the XC bike would be better.
If Bridleway is going to be the majority of usage, why buy a bike that's more geared towards trails that would do ok with XC tyres rather than an XC bike that will do well on bridleways and single track that would do ok on trails if those are the minority use?
I wouldn't want to take a 150mm trail bike to ride across a continent which knowing Hippy, may well be his intended use.

FWIW I ride my 100mm XC bike a lot even though it has obvious cross over with my Arkose and the 130/120 FS bike I have. Largely because it's fast and fast is fun. And I enjoy doing stuff I shouldn't on it. And few of the trails easily accessible to me really need a big slack bike.

I think 120/130mm travel would be the sweetspot but not on an arse-up,face down XC bike.

If Bridleway is going to be the majority of usage, why buy a bike that's more geared towards trails

cos he has a gravel bike which are perfect for bridleways?

cos he has a gravel bike which are prefect for bridleways?

But if he's going to carry on riding bridleways and not suddenly start rocking up at bike park Wales. What would he have achieved by buying a slack trail bike?

What would he have achieved by buying a slack trail bike?

Sick PRs on Barry Knows Best obvs.

I think 120/130mm travel would be the sweetspot but not on an arse-up,face down XC bike.

If I could only have one MTB this is what I would have. Probably a Spark in the non-RS guise.

Yeah I ride my CX bike a lot even though I have a relatively LLS HT and a 160mm FS. Nothing beats a capable MTB on MTB trails for fun though. If someone said I could only have one bike for the rest of my life (instead of 8...) it would be a trail MTB, no question.

There are plenty of bloody good MTB trails close to London. If he wants to just bridleway bimble/smash, I question the need for an MTB at all

No I get that and if he wants something to just have a laugh on, then you and Dammit are right. But as I say, knowing Hippy, he may well fancy riding it across an entire country or continent in one go and not Peaslake.
In which case speed and comfort would be better than chuckability and radness

In which case speed and comfort would be better than chuckability and radness

Agreed!

I don't think you'll be able to share wheels as switching between Boost/non-Boost is a bit of a pain in the arse and your tyres won't fit in the gravel bike. Unless you're getting a new gravel bike.

I've just bought a Pipedream, they're a real brand. I think you will find that a) lots is out of stock and b) importing from EU is now difficult/expensive. So that makes a UK-based company like Pipedream/Stanton convenient and/or cheaper.

(this is not a recommendation to buy the Pipedream/Stanton/whatever, just saying you might not have as many options as you think)

Lets reverse this game; lets take bets on what Hippy will end up buying; odds:

Surly 1/10
Salsa 1/30
Bird 1/40
Cotic 1/50
Specialized 1/100
Nukeproof 1/200
Santa Cruz 1/300
Something with Pinion 1/1000

I've got £20 on a Specialized.

I would go £10 on Bird as its the ugliest in that list

Something with Pinion 1/1000

BRB, just off to buy hippo some beer

I would go £10 on Bird as its the ugliest in that list

I 100% bought Bird as they had stock and absolutely no one else did.

I also like the bike, but I had to buy from what was available, and that was a choice of 1 at that time.

I will rage smash if he buys a surly

Can I have some odds for On One? He's got an Inbred already...

Depends. 42-47c gravel tyres are not the same as a 2.4" MTB tyre. A 120mm suspension fork isn't a rigid carbon one.

Boom. There is fuck all in common with hippys piece of shit kensis and a 120mm XC bike with 2.4s.
He is not going to bike parks, or riding gnarly single track. He just wants a comfy gravel bike for slightly shitty terrain. No @hippy?

I mean this is the question we all want answering.

So he should probably just buy a surly.