Hardtails - Talk to me!

[AndrewEH1]

Hey all!

I'm looking to build up a hardtail for some trail action and maybe the odd cycle to work, currently have a Five but Rule 12 says I should have another bike and I haven't had a hardtail for 8 years.

I'm after 26", cause 29" are ghey.

I like the look of some of the On-One frames, just something simple and pretty!

Or something slightly unusual!

Looking for something newish, maybe carbon.

Any advice/recommendations?

Edited by AndrewEH1 on Friday 29th March 12:20

[BadgerBenji]

29er Cotic Solaris is top my current wanted list, just fancy something twangy and steel. Run it fully rigid, then you will find true 29er enlightenment

[anonymous-user]

c456:




pretty cheap, reasonably light long and composed.

[anonymous-user]

Wait a minute, you said "pretty" right? Ok, move along, nothing to see here ^^^ then........ ;-)

[anonymous-user]

Depends on budget really but steel is still, imho, the only frame material for a hardtail.

Cotic BFe - I love mine, dont think its a burly freeride thing though, it does xc very well, £300 or thereabouts, even a reasonable priced build will be around 28 lbs which isnt too bad.
Cotic Soul - What I wanted but I got bored of saving the extra £200...
Genesis High Latitude - Always liked these, good value and nice clean lines
Pipedream Sirrus - Reynolds 853 for £400, whats not to like?
Ragley Bluepig - Something between the BFe and the Soul

and if you really want leftfield and have a wallet to punish, have a look at the Pace RC104....

[AndrewEH1]

Max_Torque said:

Wait a minute, you said "pretty" right? Ok, move along, nothing to see here ^^^ then........ ;-)

Yeah I had a look at that, the downtube just doesn't look 'right'.

[FarQue]

Wot you need is another Orange! My Evo 8 has just gone up for sale on BikeRadar...

[Vladimir]

Can't fault my Cotic Soul3. Does everything pretty well.

[robpearson]

Yeti big top? It's not ghey

[.Adam.]

I've got a 5, and it shares riding duties with a Mk1 Ragley Blue Pig, which I would certainly recommend, although it was a toss up between the Pig and a Dialled Bikes Prince Albert when I was deciding what to build. Would also quite like to try an On-One 456 Carbon.

My Pig: