• The Roscoe is nice, but 27.5+ wheels are a bit marmite and don't really suit the typical mud you'll find around Epping

    Something in that price bracket and bike type seems a sensible place to start though, and a 120mm hardtail won't leave you overbiked for local riding and will still be capable of doing bigger days out

    Otherwise, get a SC Highball, Specialize Epic, Scott Scale, Trek Procaliber etc, to scratch that XC race itch. XC bikes are far more capable than they used to be

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