Dammit’s adventures in mountain biking

She'd like a Starling Swoop after riding one at Swinley, however £$£$

#becauseshesworthit

Well the Trigger is a similarly burly thing

She's also determined to have a hard tail, as otherwise she'd not be mountain biking properly.

I'm mountain biking improperly, it would seem.

Get the Trigger so I don't have to replace my Habit with one

Everything’s possible to ride on a hard tail, if you’re tough enough

Counter offer: buy the Trigger and then sell me the Habit?

Then you have to deal with a stupid 'fork'

Everything’s possible to ride on a hard tail, if you’re skilled enough

Yeah I used to think this but then I got old and frail

I was trying to act cool, I just can’t afford full suspension bikes

The correct rack is still on the roof.

Genesis Tarn?

27+ is silly

Same price, more squish

https://www.paulscycles.co.uk/643/products/cannondale-habit-carbon-3-full-suspension-mountain-bike-2018-blue.aspx

no silly single sided struts or funny dished wheels

She just pulled a face.

When she's riding it she won't have to look at it!

Every time she goes over a bump in comfort she'll complain

She could just ride it for 600km or something overnight?

1,200 next.

Are there any desirable softtails on the market at the moment?

Anything in Ti.

1,200 next.

SDW there and back four times? Easy.

This seems like an appropriate thread for this question:

The last time I owned a mountain bike was probably 1991, I was 10 and it was from Halfords. I think I want one now, for casual pootling around local woods (Bristol - Leigh woods and similar), nothing too technical.
There’s a decent looking Inbred 26” for sale near me - would that be a good start? It’s set up single speed at the moment. It has a dropper - is that a good thing? Also, at 5’8”, will an 18” be on the large side?

Unless you're an absolute beast I think you'll struggle with single speed around there. It's not the hilliest, granted, but it's not flat either. 16" would likely be a better fit.

I think this is kinda Dammit's projects thread. Search for the MTB thread.

Oh yeah, sorry Dammit! Will relocate myself 🤗

I was going to potentially add some gears, but yeah I think you’re right about 16” being a better fit, looking at the on one sizing charts. Cheers.

As you were