This is on behalf of a mate
He wants the fully rigid 29er for bikepacking and the odd bit of trail center foolery. But his budget is £500
Any suggestions?
Thanks
Ben

Here you go ... there's £300 change for some rigid forks too!

http://www.fieldandtrek.com/bigfoot-29e ... ike-932241

http://www.evanscycles.com/products/spe ... 3#features

http://www.westbrookcycles.co.uk/cannon ... 13-p209092

http://www.westbrookcycles.co.uk/cannon ... 13-p210895

http://www.westbrookcycles.co.uk/scott- ... 13-p207806

Blowing the budget I know but I love the look of this
http://www.wiggle.co.uk/charge-cooker-29er-2013/

I built my first 29er up out of second hand bits. It was a Singular Swift and the whole lot cost me less than £500. Worth a look if you mate fancies a bit of fun sourcing and then building his own bike.

If you know what you're doing and are prepared to take the risk, buy second hand. Do a search on ebay for "29er" but limit it to your location. When something turns up message the seller to ask if they are ok with going to look at it and haggling face to face and check that it's not stolen, proper receipts, serviced etc. etc. Some won't agree to it because of ebay scaremongering but never mind, you would't want to buy from them anyway. There are some nice bikes turning up at this time of year, particularly the barely used ones bought on the bike2work scheme. Never buy sight unseen but do feel a healthy ethical glow about recycling bikes.

Blowing the budget by £100 but:

Boardman 29er is £849 with 10% off at the moment= £765

Get 10% off for being a member of British Cycling = £689

Get 10% off for joint SELOC Lotus club =£620

3 for 2 on accessories too, grab a cheap garmin or three while you're at it, sell what you don't need to pay for the third.

Sticking to your original request (ok rigid forks, ahem):

Charge Faucet under £500

http://www.tritoncycles.co.uk/mountain- ... -2013-p181


Is he short/enough of a hardpan to handle a small single speed?

http://www.tritoncycles.co.uk/mountain- ... 2013-p1346

Only takes up to 2" tyres, but the Islabikes Beinn 29 is a versatile and upgradable bike which will take rack, mudguards and disc brakes:

http://www.islabikes.co.uk/bike_pages/beinn29.html

£500 RRP at Evans. 9spd Shimano + Shimano discs. (edit, it's a Pinnacle Ramin 1, logos are a bit more 'subtle' than intended!)

Ooh. That looks good.....

it really does dosnt it, nice work.

That Pinnacle looks pretty damn good for the cash. I've been pondering building up an Alfine rear wheel for my Inbred SS for longer, hillier trips but it wouldn't cost that much more to just buy one of these. Hmmm...

Resurrecting this thread....

Did anyone pick up a Pinnacle Ramin...any good?
Am tempted to try one as my first foray into 29er-land.

Ta

Adman got one, it's very nice imo, I've pointed him to this thread so he can give you his thoughts :)

Don't isla Cycles do one? Think it's with v brakes

voodoo_simon wrote:Don't isla Cycles do one? Think it's with v brakes

This one:
http://www.islabikes.co.uk/bike_pages/p ... einn29.pdf



max 2" tyres...looks more like a "hybrid" to me. (But I'm clueless )

That's the one, it got a positive review in singletrack a few months ago

voodoo_simon wrote: it got a positive review in singletrack a few months ago

It also got a very positive review in "what bike" on it's release a few years ago.

These look good value for money:

http://www.merlincycles.com/beone-crd-c ... 65305.html

http://www.merlincycles.com/sensa-sella ... 59325.html

rocklobstercat wrote:These look good value for money:

http://www.merlincycles.com/sensa-sella ... 59325.html

The 23" frame on this one is tempting (I'm 6'4")...but the rigid fork and 1x9 simplicity of the Ramin appealed.

Oh for simpler times...too much choice!

For me the ramin edges it as forks at this price range are like pogo sticks and 1x9 seems like a good idea as i keep mashing front mechs for some reason.

Really liking the look of that ramin.