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

If I wasn't shitting myself I'd probably have let it roll but who knows what you're gonna hit around the next corner?

I'm sure technique / skill plays a big part but there's a slippery bit of rock up 13% climb that I just spin the 47mm back tyre on when trying to pick lines through it. Now, I could hammer at it but then I tend to bounce the front wheel into some edge and ping off into the bushes. So, fatter tyres would help make up for my shit line choice and front suspension maybe would help me get over the ridgey bits. I think mostly it's just knowing how to approach it. Maybe I should skip the new bike and just get a XC coach :)

I'm not riding bridleways.

tell him to tell them to Hurry TFU with my Bomber CR1 shock.

(in fairness it's not their fault, it's a Brexit issue whereby the crate containing the shock is held up at whatever port they arrive at)...

I'm not riding bridleways.

No that was just for the sake of a point.

I still think you need to be leaning towards XC geometry but with bigger tyres

I liked that guys videos with the Pinion but don't like not being able to shift while pedaling.
I didn't know Nukeproof made bikes so they're out. Same for Bird. Spesh is only alu or carbon right? So you're pretty on target with Cotic, Salsa and Surly. I always like Santa Cruz though and forgot about them. You forgot Pivot - I almost bought one of them before going for the much cheaper Kinesis.

Surly it is!

Why though?

Oh, also I love a second-hand bike so be wary of what's on ebay, etc.

and a Planet-X Stealth.

I want more than a gravel bike though. For slightly shittier terrain than I can comfortably ride now. No sick jumps or bike part shenanigans but rocky, rooty, mountains, deserts, mmm desserts and shit. Is it possible to be overbiked on a 120mm front hardtail? I mean, people ride that shit on the road.

I want a bouncy front end. Otherwise I'd just use my Kinesis.

There's gravel suss forks? Where do I sign?

I mean, people ride that shit on the road.

They also race em like this

Hahaha

I told you it's fun. You fuckers wouldn't be on here if you didn't already like talking shit about bikes and let's face it with lockdowns and shit you got nothing better to do. :P

I want a bouncy front end

Good shout. I did have a boner for fatbikes for quite a while. The Inbred balloonbike was my methadone for that craving.

How steep is that? I rode worse looking shit than that on the gravel bike already.

Just a lot slower and not at all in control.

Do get a dropper though.

Yeah getting hit in the arse all the time on steep stuff with the gravel bike I'd definitely want a dropper and might use a different saddle to stop hooking my shorts up like the Adamos tend to.

120mm fork
Boost
12spd Shimano 1x
dropper
29x2.4 min.
steel preferred

Thing is the Merida Devils Corner is probably quite hardcore on an XC bike but it's a fun feature on a trail bike, and my impression is that Hippy would quite like the bike to help him out - especially if he is descending a mountain in the dark festooned with achingly fashionable bike-packing accoutrements.

but it's a fun feature on a trail bike

This wouldn't be though. Which is closer to Hippo's intended terrain

120mm fork
Boost
12spd Shimano 1x
dropper
29x2.4 min.
steel preferred
NOT AN ADAMO FFS

Two TABRs and the Romanian edition of TCR and still not seen any bears. I reckon they're more scared of me.

2022 XC bikes will basically be 2020 trail bikes

Nah, that's gravel bike, all day.

I'm thinking more 'arse behind the saddle' stuff.