Hopefully this is not your typical ‘What bike should I get thread’, but here is what I’m struggling with at the moment. I posted this on another MTB website, so apologies if you're seeing this again.
Situation: I just moved to WA State for a new job. My job is 2.5 miles from work and I’d like to start commuting by bike. The route is all on road, not too busy; half of it is on a shoulder marked as a bike path. There is about +130ft of elevation change from my home to work.
Background: Mid-20s male. Been MTBing for about 5 years now. I already have a great full suspension MTB that I use frequently. I built it up including the wheels and I would consider myself competent at bike repair/tuning. I don’t have too many spare parts floating around besides some 29er tires, since my bike is a 29er.
Purpose: In addition to the aforementioned commuting I’d like to use this as my winter bike in the PNW. I took my FS bike out to Tiger Mtn recently and loved it. The cleaning of my bike after I got back… not so much. The pivots and shock are difficult to clean and I’d rather not deal with that every single time I get out. But there is more. Right by work we have some decent single track that I could get like 7-10 miles on after work. So, I want this to be a commuter, winter bike, and a good trail bike all in one. Ambitious, I know.
My thoughts: I definitely want a hardtail, steel or aluminium. I was thinking of something like a Kona Honzo, Transition TransAM, or a Chromag frame. Oddly enough I’m favoring the 27.5 versions of the TransAM and Chromag just to dabble into the 27.5 stuff (I've only had 29ers). My thinking being that my commute is not super long and that maybe I can suffer a bit to get a little more in the fun department when I’m actually on the trail. Was thinking of putting a 120-130mm fork, an SLX grade drivetrain, rigid seatpost, and probably some 23mm internal aluminum hoops wrapped with Conti Xkings or equivalent (compromise between grip and rolling on pavement).
Another option is to ship out my first MTB, a Trek Mamba 29er, out to WA and using that for the above-mentioned purposes. My only worry is that it’s not really a playful geometry, and the fork, a Rockshox XC32, would probably need an upgrade anyway.
My budget is somewhere around $1500, of course the lower the better. I’m either going to buy a complete bike used, or a new frame and find some new/used components for it.
So I want to hear your thoughts. What do you think is my best option? Am I somewhat reasonable in my wants and reasoning, or am I just completely mad? Other bikes, specs that you would recommend?
Thanks for your help.
Situation: I just moved to WA State for a new job. My job is 2.5 miles from work and I’d like to start commuting by bike. The route is all on road, not too busy; half of it is on a shoulder marked as a bike path. There is about +130ft of elevation change from my home to work.
Background: Mid-20s male. Been MTBing for about 5 years now. I already have a great full suspension MTB that I use frequently. I built it up including the wheels and I would consider myself competent at bike repair/tuning. I don’t have too many spare parts floating around besides some 29er tires, since my bike is a 29er.
Purpose: In addition to the aforementioned commuting I’d like to use this as my winter bike in the PNW. I took my FS bike out to Tiger Mtn recently and loved it. The cleaning of my bike after I got back… not so much. The pivots and shock are difficult to clean and I’d rather not deal with that every single time I get out. But there is more. Right by work we have some decent single track that I could get like 7-10 miles on after work. So, I want this to be a commuter, winter bike, and a good trail bike all in one. Ambitious, I know.
My thoughts: I definitely want a hardtail, steel or aluminium. I was thinking of something like a Kona Honzo, Transition TransAM, or a Chromag frame. Oddly enough I’m favoring the 27.5 versions of the TransAM and Chromag just to dabble into the 27.5 stuff (I've only had 29ers). My thinking being that my commute is not super long and that maybe I can suffer a bit to get a little more in the fun department when I’m actually on the trail. Was thinking of putting a 120-130mm fork, an SLX grade drivetrain, rigid seatpost, and probably some 23mm internal aluminum hoops wrapped with Conti Xkings or equivalent (compromise between grip and rolling on pavement).
Another option is to ship out my first MTB, a Trek Mamba 29er, out to WA and using that for the above-mentioned purposes. My only worry is that it’s not really a playful geometry, and the fork, a Rockshox XC32, would probably need an upgrade anyway.
My budget is somewhere around $1500, of course the lower the better. I’m either going to buy a complete bike used, or a new frame and find some new/used components for it.
So I want to hear your thoughts. What do you think is my best option? Am I somewhat reasonable in my wants and reasoning, or am I just completely mad? Other bikes, specs that you would recommend?
Thanks for your help.
