Yup the $2500-$3000 hardtail seems to be where it’s at. My friend got a Fuse with a 34 Rythm and GX which seems like it will be a pretty nice bike. My bare-minimum complete bike would probably be the same. My bare-minimum fork needs to be able to accept a damper upgrade.
An interesting article might be a 1-year follow-up from a mechanic’s perspective on how these bikes held up for the people who bought them over a season of use, what wore out or needed an upgrade, etc.
Feb. 15, 2022, 3:50 a.m. - DC
Yup the $2500-$3000 hardtail seems to be where it’s at. My friend got a Fuse with a 34 Rythm and GX which seems like it will be a pretty nice bike. My bare-minimum complete bike would probably be the same. My bare-minimum fork needs to be able to accept a damper upgrade. An interesting article might be a 1-year follow-up from a mechanic’s perspective on how these bikes held up for the people who bought them over a season of use, what wore out or needed an upgrade, etc.