Seeking MTB wisdom and opinions

[mcneese.chad]

Worthwhile reading:

The "do-it-all" trail bike - options and opinions?

I’ve been guilty of hijacking some XC MTB threads to talk about trail bikes, so I’m starting a dedicated thread for trail bikes. I currently own a 2017 Trek Fuel (130mm F/R, 67.7 HTA), and am starting to look for a replacement bike - although if history is any judge (buying my recent gravel bike), it will take me two years to pull the trigger - but window shopping for bikes is fun! To me, the ideal trail bike is something that is suited to 90% of everyday riding (I live in Colorado, so needs t…

Shopping for a "do it all" MTB - recommendations?

Hoping the MTB crew here can help me wrap my head around the best type of MTB bike for my situation. For background, I’m 49 y.o. male that grew up racing BMX, then ran for 20 years (not continuously, I took breaks for work, meals, etc.), and got back into riding about 5 years ago. After test riding a bunch of 29er race bikes about 5 years ago they all felt like school buses to me (I’m 5’8" and 150 lbs) and I couldn’t hardly manual over a curb let alone bunny hop over the Sunday paper. So I ha…