best all'round bike

[pfran42]

After owning many, many bikes over the last 25 years, I finally built what I would consider a "best all-around" bike. This is my 3rd Santa Cruz Heckler and I keep coming back to them because of their simplicity.

I'm 6'1" 230lbs so I needed something durable. This build clocks in around 31lbs and is a blast to ride all day on any terrain. The adjustable seat post lets the rider change the personality of the bike according to riding conditions. Up for climbing and slammed for technical downhills.

Enjoy!

 

[Unoman]

The best bike depends on your environment.

My vote is for a Bianchi San Jose. Single speed and simple. Cantilever brakes and cyclocross tires. I can't get enough of mine.

 

[tcb]

My vote would be for a hard tail 29er with a front fork with full lock out. Set of knobbies for off road and a set of Big Apples for commuting.

 

[Radd Cruisers]

My vote would be for a hard tail 29er with a front fork with full lock out. Set of knobbies for off road and a set of Big Apples for commuting.

For my riding style and terrain, its got to have at least 6 inches of travel and be able to suck up anything Whistler has to throw at you.


I went to the North Shore this summer and still really appreciate a longer travel bike for ripping through river beds and small drops.

The guys I rode with are up on the shore all the time and were surprised how I would keep with them through the really rough stuff

 

[tcb]

I'm sure my opinion would differ if I didn't live in the relatively flat south..

 

[zimmie]

Ah. This is a never ending quest. One thing I will say is that anything that has a wheel that is a 700c or 650b is not an all around bike. All around town maybe. Anyone who says SS or something like an epic is all around has never ridden true downhill. Take that to Keystone, Whistler, Deer Valley and tell me how it handles any of the black diamond runs. Anyone who says a Spec. SX has never ridden true XC. I'm by no means the expert on it, but I have raced XC, Super D and DH and the only person who has said the right thing is Scott Parsley. Any good manufactures bike for the right price is good.

For me I perfer a 5.5 to 6 frame with a head tube angle of no more then 68 and no less 67. Anything beyond that is pretty much how the bike fits. I currently have an Enduro and although its nice the FSR is out dated. There are many more suspension out there that perform much better. I love how the Yeti ASR 7 rides. It pumps the terrain and feels like it has a motor once gravity steps in and although it climgs well the Ibis Mojo HD is one of the best bikes if not the best pedaling AM bike I've ridden and it descends like a beast. I've ridden my Demo down some hairry triple black diamond trails with an old guy who use to race BMX not far behind me on a Nomad. Another killer bike. If you can drop $3k on a bike from Specialized, Cannondale, Santa Cruz, Pivot, Trek, Ibis,Yeti.....you will not be disappointed. Unless you consider a cylocross to be a good all around. If you want a really unique but amazing bike check out solstice bikes. The supension was designed by the guy who designed the avid elixer. It hold the record on moads Whole Enchilada. Which by the way if you love a trail that has everything that is it. 26.5 miles. 7000 ft of descent going from tree line to pines to quaky to desert along the rim of a platue. With crazy steep, fast, technical to smooth chill sections. Favorite trail to ride. Oh....sorry getting off track there. Just day dreaming about that one. This is a weekly topic with my ridding buddies. I don't know how we talk about it evey week without getting bored. Oh wait. Yes I do.

 

[ducatiman81211]

Either of these I own will do.

These take me anywhere and everywhere I want to go, and back...
Oh, the BJ74 helps to get there too!
Moots; My Mooto-X YBB, and my Surly Pugsley.

 

[Kent]

mmm moot$

 

[Mr. Toad]

mmm moot$

Buddy of mine has Moots road, mtb, & 29er. Yow$$a