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What are your considerations over distance/time on the bike though? Would you do 6/8h rides on an XC? Genuine interest as I don't own an XC - yet
giofox-
The advantages would be multiplied. 29er tyres and suspension will be more comfortable as well as better rolling. Marathon MTB races are very popular!
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I don't own an XC - yet
This was unexpected
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Depends on the surface, again. The hardtail suspension and tyres are more comfortable, but the hand position is not very ergonomic over long milage. It’s optimal for marathon MTB because you need the bar width and angle for ‘attack position’ for off-road control. But 720+ bars and less than 10deg sweep is not optimal for in-the-saddle mile-munching.
leggy_blonde
BareNecessities
snoops
Almost all the time unless on tarmac or super smooth gravel with average speeds over 25kph. Unless it's a insta-wagon steel gravel bike with a high and wide bars, then a 29er XC race bike will be faster everywhere.
Gravel bikes are a good compromise "one-bike quiver" but if you already have a road bike, especially a modern one with 28mm tyres, an XC bike is definitely the way forward as a 2nd bike.