​Thanks for all the input so far.Hardtail w/o front lock out. The bike has a range of 17-100 gear inches. The rider obviously has a little trouble with the high end and is thankful for the bottom end. I've been eyeing an old Fuji American (because those old bikes came in some very large frame sizes) and noted that the top of it's gear range is 101. So its basicaly the same. I can only have one bike because it rides in the sleeper of my tractor/trailer. Its the one toy I take along with me. Drops don't really appeal to me as my seat is quite high and my neck hurts when thebars are so low, havIing added a steerer extender to my current ride already.