Steel 29er choices

[Jamesh]

I'm counting the days til November as have a Ritchey Ultra on order. Ticks a lot of your boxes geo wise, looks lovely too. Downside is boost only

It does indeed. I know you can space hubs etc. But that's just annoying.

I also got excited about it being designed for a 120mm fork, but the specs say a-c 507mm which is standard for a 27.5 a-c rockshox reba.
A RS pike at 120mm slackens everything by a degree and reduces the reach 12mm too.

Fox 34's are a similar story
27.5 boost is 525mm
29 is 530mm

ah well, probably makes sod all difference in the end

Will let you know how it turns out. I'm hoping to match it with a Pike 130 (29") fingers crossed that doesn't throw it completely off kilter.. don't mind it being slacker at least. Almost purchased the new KM frame but XL sizes aren't available til February.. so that shifted my thinking