MTB choice for the South Downs

[Daveyraveygravey]

So, I do a lot of riding in the South Downs, and to me a cross bike isn't quite up to it. There are several rocky descents I go down regularly that I think I would have to take a lot more carefully on a crosser than I do on my current hard tail with 2.25" knobbly tyres. This is a proper old school HT, a Hard Rock 26 er which must be 15 years old, if not 20. The gears work fine, the brakes could do with a tune up, the bike wheel has a huge buckle, and the forks don't do a lot, but it is all I have.

I know a lot of people think a full susser is over kill for the South Downs; too much weight and complexity for the terrain. I have ridden a good full sus bike but it was in the hills above Manchester so I have nothing to compare on my local trails. I tried a 29er hard tail locally, but it felt heavier and less agile; the only plus I could detect was it smashed the downhills, it felt like nothing could stop it. Trouble is, I don't want to go any faster down hill, had too many crashes and I don't want to put my old body through any more of them. For this reason I think a 27.5er is probably the best compromise for my riding. I don't do bike parks, and I don't go looking for jumps and drop offs either. I like climbing, but I am not desperate for a really light bike.

Would a titanium hard tail be a better ride than a full susser for my use? Do any of you have both and can offer advice?

[TACottle]

How much you got to play with?

Sounds like you just need a decent trail bike.

27.5/29er argument continues, but just pick what fits you well and what you enjoyed riding.

Modern bikes are all generally pretty good these days.

[MarcelM6]

I have only ridden the chalky bits - in the rain - not pleasant. But am planning on riding the SDW next year after just getting back into mountain biking following 10 years of almost exclusively riding road bikes. My old mountain bikes are 26inch (one titanium HT, one aluminium FS)

Having recently bought a 27.5 wheeled FS MTB from a friend of mine, I'd say the biggest difference is the modern geometry. I've ridden by 26 HT and the 27.5 back to back over the same trail and the latter is far more confidence inspiring and easy to ride, I doubt it's the wheel size that makes the difference though.

[lufbramatt]

I'd look for a medium travel full sus trail bike- around 120-140mm travel. Will pedal nicely and feel so much more comfortable for long days in the saddle. Also full sus bikes can generate so much more traction going up technical climbs. Even on my 26" Trek Fuel EX I'll often clean climbs that will have my riding buddies on 29er hardtails walking and I'm not the greatest technical rider. Get whatever wheel size you feel most comfortable on.

I'm on the North downs, similar chalky terrain, and was thinking about possible new mountain bikes recently. The Scott Spark, new Orbea Occam, Trek Fuel EX and Whyte T130 were on the shortlist.

[andykid77]

I've ridden the south downs a few times myself and find my current mtb is the best suited to all that the downs has to offer. Its a 2016 Kona Hei Hei, so full sus and a 29er. However its setup as more a do all xc bike, so 100mm travel front and back, I've set it up as a 1x11 and it just sails over everything.
If you want to also go to bike parks and get some big air, then you really need something with more travel, but for me having moved from a fully rigid Marin to a hardtail 26" Scott...this is my cycling nirvana!