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

Nah, they've only been making them since 1999: http://www.tiogausa.com/main/products/tires/factory-dh/

Like I said.......

I was born in 1986.

There seems to be very little out there with circa 120 to 130 mm travel front and rear

Bit out of fashion with the whole am / enduro thing going on.

Cannondale Habit will be 120 front and rear and fill the gap in their line up between XC Race and AM.

If I was buying new then it'd be one of these

http://www.santacruzbicycles.com/en/fr/5010

Solo or 5010 depending on marketing guff, 125mm out back with a 68 degree head angle and 130mm forks. Get on it

I think the smile says it all, first proper blast on the new bike on Sunday at Pitmedden Woods in Fife. It soaked up everything I could throw at it... which might not be that much.

Only downside was I flipped head over heels into a burn full of nettles, stingy.

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There are still some Salsa Horsethief split pivot frames available at Bike24. Great 120mm suspension design. I've got the smaller brother (80mm) - the Spearfish which is brilliant.

Fox CTD isn't always great. I have some CTD 100 forks that I hate - no small bump sensitivity so run very low pressures at which point they bob like hell because they have no platform - the T and D are indistinguishable and the C is just a lock out which the gate makes bugger all difference too. Probably about to swap for my beloved SID RCT3 which has a brilliant damper and wonderful threshold setting.

The 100mm Whyte is a cracking bike and more than an XC machine.

I'm not sure of the pricing on the santa cruz, generally they seem expensive. I'd be happy ragging about on a 130mm FS so long as it has a fairly slack geo that gives the feeling of go-anywhere-ability, that's worth a lot more than just long travel IMO (he says, riding a 150mm badboy). I think companies are finally catching onto the fact that riders value fun and confidence-inspiring bikes rather than just bunging a set of 36s up front and hoping you've got the legs and balls to match.

Here's a 120mm from Merida, that's not very cool or desirable, but it looks like the higher end models are a decent spec, well priced and described as 'trail bikes' so slacker and more capable than xc but still quick and nimble. Top of the range one only has 32mm forks, maybe something with more beef is better.

This review says it's ok, which is a good thing, as it was the basic model that was tested.

http://www.bikeradar.com/mtb/gear/category/bikes/mountain-bikes/full-suspension/product/review-merida-one-twenty-7-500-49474/

I love the look on youngsters faces at Cannock when I wheel this old girl out. The alloy welding is a thing of beauty in the box section.

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Everyone in Morzine HATES my hardtail. Weird

Holding everyone up?

Wrong sized wheels?

@Howard

how are the braking bumps?

Certainly quick enough - thanks #cyclocross

@BareNecessities ohhhh yes

@Alkali ok actually - plenty of travel in my leggies

I'm sure everyone has seen this already but it's worth another look or five:

https://youtu.be/5ud5T5I4XcA

Woohoo! Looks sweet dude, this will be the longest week ever

Sweet

In other news, I am still #theonlyhardtailinthevilliage

Why bin the 1x11? Best change I made to my MTB.

Howard, the big bikers may actually be scared of you :)

Howard, the big bikers may actually be scared of you :)

@howard does possess an almighty amount of rad...

It has been mentioned in dispatches by others in the past that going Alpine on a Hardtail does have a strange effect on men on bigger dual suspension bikes, it puts the Hardtailer into the realm of having a fight with Chuck Norris and maybe not losing (to badly)

badassrad :)

How does this HATE manifest itself?

Liberte, egalite, full suss only......

I'm still catching up with the latest "standards" but won't you need a new freehub body when you swap the SRAM 11spd cassette for a Shimano one? Will the wheels on the Trek allow that?

SRAM XD driver & Shimano freehub body

Fair point. I found even on my heavy FSR shimano's clutched 1x10 was more than enough for me. I like it simple as otherwise it hurts my head.

Happy Vibes to lonely Howard, 2 hardtails tackling that world cup DH track in Scotland :)

(wheres some alpine piccys)

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