If you're Stooge curious Valerio, you're welcome to take mine for a decent length test ride. I seem to remember from BB200 that we're similar height. I didn't recommend Stooge at the start as you talked about racing and, while the dirtbomb is an amazing bike, the one thing it's not is a racing machine!

You could combine that with a Cotic test ride too, as they're only just down the road in Chesterfield...

If weight is an important factor, then worth noting stooges aren't light. I'm building up a speedball at the moment, and the frame and truss fork alone is 5+kgs. That's not to say they won't ride nicely (which i hope mine does!), it just might not feel like a whippy xc 29er. However, I know that many have gone far and fast on theirs, including an honourable mention to John above who I think came first in the Dorset Divide ride a while ago on the stooge?

I did also remember a bike that inspired a change of frame and outlook for me: https://www.windoverbikes.co.uk/beacon It has what I can only describe as 'southern downland' / xc geometry, something I do a lot of here. Might also be a flat bar only gravel bike, as it only takes a short rigid or gravel fork. It's an odd seeming mix but I bet it works a treat. It's fairly unique a bit like a Jones/stooge but inspired by something quite different, with a deliberate preference for ATB versatility and off road generalism, which appeals greatly to me. It looks like it'd translate well into a distance/bikepacker bike too. I ended up with a more regular 29er frame partly out of cost, but also for the option of cheaper, 'normal' sus forks of 100mm and 'normal' a/c rigid fork availability.

More of a bike type thought, than a bike recommendation!

https://www.stantonbikes.com/collection ... 4589628702

If you feel like a fancy UK based frame.... this one's on a rather good sale, and looks like it would do everything the cotic does, but lighter and more titaniumy!

faustus wrote: ↑Tue May 13, 2025 3:36 pm I did also remember a bike that inspired a change of frame and outlook for me: https://www.windoverbikes.co.uk/beacon It has what I can only describe as 'southern downland' / xc geometry, something I do a lot of here. Might also be a flat bar only gravel bike, as it only takes a short rigid or gravel fork. It's an odd seeming mix but I bet it works a treat. It's fairly unique a bit like a Jones/stooge but inspired by something quite different, with a deliberate preference for ATB versatility and off road generalism, which appeals greatly to me. It looks like it'd translate well into a distance/bikepacker bike too.

I'd forgotten about that, it looks great. A proper 'gravel plus' sort of ATB, probably a very fast XC endurance bike for the right rider.

Stanton Sherpa Gen4 with 120mm fork. They make size 21'' for tall people

i dont think there is a 'best' option myself. i thought there was, so i bought it. a Ti Fargo. turns out a steel on with some suspension forks would have been more suitable.
currently on a surly krampus. which works fine but no better or worse than the fargo. horses for courses i reckon. one bike is ace on some things, yet pony on others.
currently lusting over a flat bar cotic cascade.

PaulE wrote: ↑Tue May 13, 2025 3:08 pm If you're Stooge curious Valerio, you're welcome to take mine for a decent length test ride. I seem to remember from BB200 that we're similar height. I didn't recommend Stooge at the start as you talked about racing and, while the dirtbomb is an amazing bike, the one thing it's not is a racing machine!

You could combine that with a Cotic test ride too, as they're only just down the road in Chesterfield...

Thanks for the offer Paul!

I admit I haven't looked at Stooge in great detail, they're great looking bikes but i don't think they'd be a huge improvement over the Cutthroat (i might be wrong!).

I definitely need to visit Cotic on one of their demo days!

jameso wrote: ↑Tue May 13, 2025 4:52 pm

faustus wrote: ↑Tue May 13, 2025 3:36 pm I did also remember a bike that inspired a change of frame and outlook for me: https://www.windoverbikes.co.uk/beacon It has what I can only describe as 'southern downland' / xc geometry, something I do a lot of here. Might also be a flat bar only gravel bike, as it only takes a short rigid or gravel fork. It's an odd seeming mix but I bet it works a treat. It's fairly unique a bit like a Jones/stooge but inspired by something quite different, with a deliberate preference for ATB versatility and off road generalism, which appeals greatly to me. It looks like it'd translate well into a distance/bikepacker bike too.

I'd forgotten about that, it looks great. A proper 'gravel plus' sort of ATB, probably a very fast XC endurance bike for the right rider.

I met a rider with one of their bikes (i think it's a custom) at Dales Divide and it looked really good.

godivatrailrider wrote: ↑Tue May 13, 2025 8:00 am My lads' Stooge is superb.
Also BIG shout out for Singular. I loved the Swift and used the Rooster as my absolute go to bikepacking bike for over 10 years.

As it happens I've seen the Pegasus at Bespoked and it looked gorgeous.
I cant tell if the not-so-slack geometry would be a problem

Solaris is my "If I could only have 1 bike" bike. I've done a BB200 on it, survived the Golfy, and reckon it wouldn't be absolutely awful as a flat bar bike with slicks. I'll wave it under your nose if I happen to see you on Saturday.

Bearlegged wrote: ↑Tue May 13, 2025 9:32 pm Solaris is my "If I could only have 1 bike" bike. I've done a BB200 on it, survived the Golfy, and reckon it wouldn't be absolutely awful as a flat bar bike with slicks. I'll wave it under your nose if I happen to see you on Saturday.

I might have to seize it for the safety of the public attending the event

faustus wrote: ↑Tue May 13, 2025 3:36 pm I did also remember a bike that inspired a change of frame and outlook for me: https://www.windoverbikes.co.uk/beacon It has what I can only describe as 'southern downland' / xc geometry, something I do a lot of here. Might also be a flat bar only gravel bike, as it only takes a short rigid or gravel fork. It's an odd seeming mix but I bet it works a treat. It's fairly unique a bit like a Jones/stooge but inspired by something quite different, with a deliberate preference for ATB versatility and off road generalism, which appeals greatly to me. It looks like it'd translate well into a distance/bikepacker bike too. I ended up with a more regular 29er frame partly out of cost, but also for the option of cheaper, 'normal' sus forks of 100mm and 'normal' a/c rigid fork availability.

As someone who thought the Ragley TD1 was a great idea for bikpacking 15 years ago, that Windover is really interesting!

Something to be said for the humble ATB, rigid ideally but with space for big rubber, loads of fixing points for every occasion, aluminium or steel, the new Hudski Dualist looks quite tempting if I didn't already have my Bridgeclub/Wednesday.

Trek made an aluminum touring bike, but it never really sold well .The 920 had drop bars , 37 mm tyres and front and rear racks. Seen some YouTube posts about using the frame for bikepacking as it could take 29 by2.35 tyres . Bought the frame as it was still available and i like it.
Flat bars, some old XT gear and good wheels. . Fork could be better only 2 instead of 3 bosses on fork leg and it's old school steerer tube so no nice carbon fork available. If it was available in carbon or a mtb frame and carbon fork with the same geometry would buy one.

The new Trek Checkpoint is ideal for Scottish tracks as it can take 29 by 50 mm tyres and possibly bigger. A friend had a warranty replacement for the v3 model and decided to upgrade as one of his mates bought the Checkmate. I bought the warranty frame and built it up.

I now have a Ribble CGR for that. 50mm at the front, 45mm at the back, it goes almost everywhere. Especially if there's a lot of tarmac in between.
Still not perfect for offroad (x2, shimano 105, narrow bars with no flares) but it does the job.

I'm mostly looking at a bike for events like Silk Road, Hellenic, HT550, Tour Divide (one can only dream...).
I know a lot of ppl would get a full suspension and probably that's the best choice....but the servicing is already pretty expensive on my hardtail and I wpuldnt want to double that.

Along with Bearlegged, my Solaris (mk1) is my keeper. It’s fully rigid with carbon forks and rides brilliantly. I did the HT550 on it so is more than capable. Like most decent bikes you’d have to be a very good rider to outdo it.

What about a Pipedream sirius? A bit shorter than the (very long) Cotics and with the ability to SS it (if you want to or if you mash your derailleur) otherwise not dissimilar price and spec.

Valerio wrote: ↑Thu May 15, 2025 1:48 pm I'm mostly looking at a bike for events like Silk Road, Hellenic, HT550, Tour Divide (one can only dream...).

Tour Divide? Salsa made the Cutthroat for that. Thought about one of those?

I'm not sure if you're buying new or used Valerio, but for my last handful of n+1 builds I've had a vague idea to what I was looking for (so say a steel hardtail most recently) and then considered near any frame that cropped up on Fleabay or the classifieds, using bikeinsights to compare it to what I knew already so as to make it a considered punt. Again though, I think this comes back to trying whatever you can try to gain an understanding of what you're after ride-wise.

Thanks Hyppy, I definitely need to try a few hardtails as im currently just looking at numbers and have no idea how it feels to ride a MTB.

It might be that I dont like flat bars or that it feels no better than what i have now.

Had a look at so many cool bikes at Tor Divide and it definitely makes more and more flat-bar curious!

Jones h-bar is the way

fatbikephil wrote: ↑Thu May 15, 2025 2:35 pm What about a Pipedream sirius? A bit shorter than the (very long) Cotics and with the ability to SS it (if you want to or if you mash your derailleur) otherwise not dissimilar price and spec.

Ive only head good things about this bike, but:
- it might be too small for me. Im hoping to try Alexinthepeak's one
- it's very slack, which is good for some things...less for tarmac riding.
- tiny triangle = not much bag/bottle space and I tend to drink loads!