NW Arkansas bike recommendation

You would probably be fine on anything with 135-170 of travel leaning towards the longer travel if you end up riding more in eureka. I’ve been pretty happy with my revel ranger, but I’ve only been riding around bentonville.

I just relocated to Bentonville and I have a Ibis Mojo 3 and I find it perfect. The trails I have been riding are a lot of up and down so you will want a bike that you can peddle up hills.

qbngringo said:

I sold my house and bike in Florida and have been living in Europe for a few months but am moving to NW Arkansas, most likely Bella Vista or Eureka Springs, at the end of December. I want to get a bike that can handle everything the region can throw at it but Florida short travel bikes is all I know. What would be the ideal bike to be able to take advantage of the terrain?? I want something longer travel but don't want to regret getting the wrong bike and have never been to the region. Was thinking the Canyon Spectral 29 or Trek Slash.

Click to expand...

That really depends on your ride fantasy. Bentonville has a bit of everything that could suit about any bike (the longest travel Enduro/DH bikes might be overkill, though there are opportunities there as well).

If you're riding Leatherwood and the bigger stuff at Passion Play a lot, then a longer travel bike is probably going to be preferred. If you like to pile on the miles and do XC, then a shorter travel bike. I know people who send it pretty hard and ride primarily Spurs and Epic Evos. I also know people who put a lot of miles on Stumpy Evos or Ibis Ripmos. I think that something like a Smuggler is a pretty great all-around option if you're planning on just riding in our area and not going out for park days out West. The Stumpy Evo is also pretty great if you want to smash a little harder and will be heading out West as well.

Basically: choose your bike like you would anywhere else, based on the type of riding you'll be doing most and that you like the most.

If I was going to have just one bike for NWA, I'd have a 130-140mm travel frame. Devinci Troy with a 160mm Fox 36, Specialized Stumpjumper with a 140mm Fox 34, Trek Fuel EX with 150mm Lyrik, something like that will be good to ride it all unless you're trying to race XC. Big wheels, big dropper, 4 piston brakes and tires that roll good cause you'll be pedaling.

Or have multiple bikes

Awesome info, I am going to have a trail hardtail just because I love the simplicity and for attachments to take the kids out, but I also want something I can get into the rougher stuff with which is likely beyond my Florida skill level. Sounds like 140-150mm is the way to go. Now just to find stock.

I just ordered the new We Are One, The Arrival with 152mm in travel, they had a cancelation and even hooked it up with a discount. Arrives in February. Thanks everyone

qbngringo said:

Awesome info, I am going to have a trail hardtail just because I love the simplicity and for attachments to take the kids out, but I also want something I can get into the rougher stuff with which is likely beyond my Florida skill level. Sounds like 140-150mm is the way to go. Now just to find stock.

Click to expand...

Bella Vista and Slaughter Pen are pretty smooth and flowy, a HT would be good. I’ve never been it I understand Fayetteville 8s where the chunk is.

You’ll need lungs and quads coming from Florida, only way to develop those is to get pedaling!

qbngringo said:

I just ordered the new We Are One, The Arrival with 152mm in travel, they had a cancelation and even hooked it up with a discount. Arrives in February. Thanks everyone

Click to expand...

Damn…that’s a lot of bike! It’s built to handle BC, it’ll handle NWA easily.

That’s a sweet bike you got, hoping it’s a size large so I can throw a leg over it 🤣

I am excited to ride some real trails and get in better shape. Florida does a lot with what they have (similar to what my wife says about me... JK I hope) but I have always wanted something with actual elevation, rather than the little hills Florida has naturally or made by digging out a lake in a park or from an old mining pit. I ordered what they call SZ2 with is similar to Treks M/L, I usually fall into the upper end of a medium or the lower end of a large but am right in the middle of this size. Luckily I am going to be able to enjoy the smoother trails on my hardtail still so hope I have the best of both worlds. If it arrives in Feb and anyone wants to ride with me and give the bike a try, I would love to be shown around by a local and make some friends.

tkblazer said:

That’s a sweet bike you got, hoping it’s a size large so I can throw a leg over it 🤣

Click to expand...

I was thinking the same thing! How do you like the Ranger for NWA? I am on a Rascal, but split time between NWA and Dallas, so a Ranger would be a better one-bike quiver for me.

qbngringo said:

I am excited to ride some real trails and get in better shape. Florida does a lot with what they have (similar to what my wife says about me... JK I hope) but I have always wanted something with actual elevation, rather than the little hills Florida has naturally or made by digging out a lake in a park or from an old mining pit. I ordered what they call SZ2 with is similar to Treks M/L, I usually fall into the upper end of a medium or the lower end of a large but am right in the middle of this size. Luckily I am going to be able to enjoy the smoother trails on my hardtail still so hope I have the best of both worlds. If it arrives in Feb and anyone wants to ride with me and give the bike a try, I would love to be shown around by a local and make some friends.

Click to expand...

I am not quite a local, but I love showing people around AND that bike is my size. Maybe we can meet up in the Spring sometime. Good luck with the move.

xjbaylor said:

I was thinking the same thing! How do you like the Ranger for NWA? I am on a Rascal, but split time between NWA and Dallas, so a Ranger would be a better one-bike quiver for me.

Click to expand...

I like the ranger a lot as I’ve ridden all sorts of travel bikes and appreciate the snappy acceleration of a shorter travel bike. For some of the faster/chunky trails I think it would be easier on a longer travel bike, but not sure how much more fun it would be. I do have a 130 pike with a slackr headset so it’s a more trail oriented ranger build

tkblazer said:

I like the ranger a lot as I’ve ridden all sorts of travel bikes and appreciate the snappy acceleration of a shorter travel bike. For some of the faster/chunky trails I think it would be easier on a longer travel bike, but not sure how much more fun it would be. I do have a 130 pike with a slackr headset so it’s a more trail oriented ranger build

Click to expand...

That sounds perfect. I came from a V3 Following, and like the "sportiness" better than my Rascal, but love how active the Rascal is. The HA of the Rascal is also just right for NWA as far as I can tell. I have been thinking about a Ranger setup like yours for my next bike, so good to hear you are enjoying it.

I've ridden a Ripmo, Ripley, TB4, 5010 v3, Offering, and various other bikes and a bunch of hardtails there. Ideal imo is a Ripmoish bike + a 130-140 mm hardtail for the various pump tracks/railyard/backup trail bike/jump lines/crusing .

I picked up a '22 Stumpjumper Expert at Highroller. I don't know the area nearly as well as others on this forum (I just recently bought a vacation/future retirement house in Bentonville) but it seems just about ideal for the trails I've ridden so far. But the biggest advantage of this bike is availability. Specialized dealers seem to have reasonable inventory right now.