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The challege: I am 6'8" (2m.03cm), 19 3/4 -20 stone (127kg or 280lbs)!!!

Hi all, new joiner to the site, but I have lived in Herts for 35+ years (apart from 7 years away in the army) and been biking for a few years now.
I am interested to hear any advice on my next bike and am looking for something that I can throw around a bit more and increase the size of jumps and drops I am doing ( I blame Jedi for increasing my skills and confidence back in Feb this year in a great day of 1 to1 coaching!!).
Currently riding a Marin Attack Trail 01.1 frame which is only really a heavy duty trail frame but with advice from the guys in Marshalls WGC I have gradually upgraded all the kit to more heavy duty and AM standards and it now sports a Lyric fork, DHX 5.0 shock, Hope V2 203 mm vented brakes and so on. I regularly ride at Chicksands, Woburn and trail centres in Wales and the Lakes, as well as currently using it for XC all around the WGC / Tewin area.

I am looking for a bike that is going to be really good for throwing around and off things more, and intending to be hitting more of the big trails (Wales / Scotland and hopefully Alps as well), but which is not a pure DH bike and I could pedal around a bit too when needed. I think therefore i am looking probably a 160 -180 mm travel bike.

From my own research I see options might include: Orange Patriot, Transition Blindside(though this appears to be off the website for the 2013 season) Scott Voltage, Spesh Status. Not in a desperate rush to make a decision and as yet undecided whether to go frame only and buy parts as required and move some kit over or to buy a full bike. I will also convert the Marin into my XC play bike using my parts bin, or anything left after equipping the "new" one if I go frame only. Budget: I am expecting to be in the 2500 - 3500 bracket for completing the two bike projects but want to get it right, rather than scrimp on the spend.

As I said at the beginning, the challege is I am 6'8" and 19 3/4 stone!!!\

Your guidance and experience is appreciated and I hope to see you on a ride somewhere soon.

thanks all

Greg

Take a look at the santa Cruz nomad too - a very very good bike. "Evil" on here is a big lad and rides an xl, and one of the big guys in kiwi land rides an xxl.

I ride a patriot and love it but have been told the voltage is amazing

Thanks guys

The voltage doesn't come up very big tbh you may struggle with the short length.

if you want to trial bigger bikes have you considered looking at an AM 29er ?

Tall boy 29er or a Transition 29er FR/AM

Interesting thought, not considered a 29 before and was thinking on more traditional 26 lines. I'll have a look

If you want to talk to a dealer about the transition it would be worth contacting Dan @ stanleybridge cycles in Waltham abbey
http://www.ridetransitionbikes.co.uk/

+1 for Dan at Waltham Abbey - no "hard sell", just good advice. I often just go in there for a chat.

Another bike worth checking out is the Scott Genius LT. Very versatile and start at a reasonable price. I had the demo one out a while back and it was an awesome all-rounder. Rode it all day. Light enough to ride up the hills, hard hitting enough to rip down. Jumped well too! Check them out!

The big lad round here moved from a nomad to a tall boy 29er and says if you are over 6 foot it is perfect for everything.

I am short so sticking with the nomad and loving it!

if it's good enough for CG it's good enough for us norms

the genius is a cracking bike too

Thanks Charge262, looked at one of these " live" in Marshalls already, the shock only goes to 95kg and I am enough over to easily pop, and because its a special pull shock there is no alternative to fit. Bike was a good size and geometry though

You sure they only go to 95kg? I find that suprising! If you want me to i can phone scott and see what they say.

So I was told- there is apprently a set up guide on the shock for the air pressures in the cans, and the wirght limit only goes to95. But yes if you have other thoughts or can say differently then would be very interested to hear thanks