Hello fellow internet cyclists,

I did my fair share of extreme stuff as a teen, but most of my adult cycling has been trips around town on paved or gravel trails. I ride 1200-1500 miles a year. I’ve been wanting to get back into mountain bikes because my main enjoyment in cycling comes from the exploration and discovery aspect of things and I’ve worn out my city’s paved trail network. I live in a mountainous area with good trail access. Also most of the group rides around here tend to be off road.

In general I find that spending money on a lot of things works in the same way. You have to spend a certain amount to get upgraded from Teemu/Wish/Amazon trash to a good reputable product with parts support and consistent quality. You can also keep spending money forever to get increasingly marginal improvements.

What have you found to be the sweet spot for features vs price in a hardtail MTB?

I’ve considered the Trek Fuse Sport, the Salsa Rangefinder Diore 11, Canondale Habit HT3, Trek Rosco 7, but I’m open to hearing other Lemming’s experiences. I’m a thin guy but approx 6’4" (195cm) tall.

Lastly, are any of the bike brands known for being particularly anti right to repair? I’d like to avoid supporting people who want to limit my freedom and I want to be sure I can get a wide range of compatible parts at a good price.