Santa Cruz Tallboy 3cc or Hightower

[Tomik]

Throw in the Pyga Stage Max...140mm Pike and a 126mm rear travel.

 

I live in CT too - in Sea Point - so do the same trails. The Pyga is amazing for all of it - climbs really well too. Very composed on the downhills with that short stem and slack-ish front end.

 

And was a pleasure to ride the Darling Brew Extreme 70km race. Regularly do the big 80km Table Mountain loop and the bike is very comfortable. 

 

I'm sure East City Cycles will lend you a bike for a test ride. 

[Pieterlab1]

After my second weekend on my TB3, I can confirm I do not want to ride any other bike ever again.

[Calculus Bikes]

We need an equation for the variable shortlist.
 

After lots of discussion, soul searching, more reading, more discussion, i have adjusted my previous list.

 

I am now looking at:

SC Tallboy 3

Ibis Ripley LS

Evil Following MB

 

I think the Hightower is a bit too much travel for me, but looks like an amazing bike.

 

Now to find people that will let me ride their bikes......