No good title
 

So my boss and the guys around the shop have been begging me to buy a MB finally and come out. I've had the chance to run around on some older Specialized, the new Cannondale F7, F5 and the Raleigh XXIX-G but I just can't seem to find that sweet spot, so I turn to you. I've contemplated a SS but think it's too much of a limiting factor. I hate the lefty, I don't know why - but then the headshox is just as terribad imho. Being in the shop part time wrenching, I have a pretty good idea of what I want, but am limited to what I've seen in the valley.

Must have X7 or better
Hardtail
29er

Most of the riding is XC or firetrail. I cbf if it has disc or Vs. What I'm interested in is bang for buck. Hell, I'm tempted to cough up the Benjamins for a Lightspeed but I seriously want to stick to what I can use my discount for in the shop, and I don't think we can order them and get them shipped in.

What do you guys sell?

Why a 29er? You wrote you want to ride fireroad and XC-trails. One of the apparent benefits of a 29er is that you can roll over obstacles easily but have a harder time accelerating and turning. I don't see how a 29er can benefit you.

No experience with 29ers here, but I was led to believe that bigger/taller folks are able to take certain advantages of the 29inch wheel size in larger frames. In other words, that you can build a bigger bike around this size wheelset.

OP= Big guy, maybe?

Sorry for taking so long getting back:

29er because at 6' I typically weigh in around 200. While not a lot of technical terrain around here there's enough to enjoy the rollover ability offered by a 29er, imho. Maybe I'm wrong though.

I've looked at the Rush and Caffeine F-series too.

In the shop, after talking with my boss, I've been told we can get a hold of just about anything - but we stock Raleigh/Redline/Cannondale religiously.

Frankly, I've only been turning a wrench 'professionally' for a few months now, but at 36 with close to 30 on bikes, I'm seriously pissed off at myself for not being able to just look at the problem (find a mountain bike I'll like, won't feel like it's a piece of crap in a week and can grow into Master's level crapola) and see the easy solution.

I'd say a bigger 200# dude like yourself...maybe you should go 26'er. I've always been scared to go 29" b/c I may destroy even more wheels than my 200# butt has already bashed. Smooth trails would be really 26" friendly b/c they are really snappy accelerators.

I'm about 6' and just over 200 lbs and ride a 26er... a hardtail with x.7 derailleurs actually. I got all my parts seperately and built from the ground up, but I haven't had any problems with 26" wheel rolleover ability. Especially with a larger frame, the handling of smaller wheels (and closer wheel centers) could really help (I've got a trail I go on almost every day with a nasty turn I'm not sure a 29er could comfortably make... I have my own troubles especially in bad weather).

I'd say get nice tires and and a good fork, should smooth out the ride and give you plenty of performance in a bike. You also get the benefit of more wheel strength, which you may not really need at your weight, but which can come in handy in a crash.

Found it.

Ordering a Salsa Ala Carte. Yeah, the 26er seems like a better bet with the snappier acceleration in the dry dirt here.