What second bike would you buy for fitness? (gravel vs hardtail)

[Ride 2d@y]

I've done this a few times and always end up trying to turn it into a trail bike over time...
So for me, I'd go short travel trail, or full suspension XC.

Aluminum XC bike with carbon wheel set-up for me

 

[Fangs2k]

This old clunker for me, although it does have a nice rear shock!

Lightweight for what it is though, and a proper slim downtube as that’s what seems to get people going these days!

 

[mm1985]

Hello,

My local riding is incredibly flat. It's a mixture of farm byways, some forest trails, fields, etc.

It's incredibly boring if you're looking for actual mountain biking in the local vicinity. Having an ebike makes it more fun/tolerable if your hammering it the whole way around in trail - but honestly having the Amflow here you're so overbiked its comical.

I've had this idea of getting a second bike more suited for this terrain, and approaching it from a 'fitness' perspective. I've tried riding around in Eco but you're then in the worst of all worlds - a heavy, lumbering ebike with lots of suspension and big grippy tyres. It's just not fun.

In my head, a lighter bike with faster rolling tyres, less suspension etc - and no motor - will be much more fun and help my fitness.

So, what would you buy?

A fun, nippy hardtail like this? Or perhaps a super light weight, fast gravel bike like this?

Or something else entirely?

I ride a stump jumper comp for peddle action.

 

[simonali19]

Personally, I don't need any more bikes right now, but I guess the choice comes down to how fast you want to go and whether you want assistance or go it alone? I have two manual bikes, a CX bike with fatter tyres fitted 700x38 and a short travel XC bike (110 + 75, I think). The former is much faster, especially on road sections, the latter is better for bumpier stuff, although it's still super stiff and feels like a hardtail a lot of the time (as it was designed to). Now I have a second MTB I think I may convert the XC bike to drop bars, increase the gearing a little and make the CX bike more or less redundant.

If I was going pedal assist for a second time, I'd be looking for a lightweight, low torque dropbar with decent tyre clearance. May even do that one day, as I'm not getting any younger!

 

[scrufy]

Already have a nice MTB to go with my EMTB so this time around I went different.
I got a Zwift Ride. Works with Zwift, Rouvy, and MyWhoosh, among others.
I’ve never looked back and have a ball on it.

 

[ozzybmx]

I have so many bikes, 3 x eebs, 3 x XC, CX , roadie, lets call it downcountry (Transition Spur) single speed, adventure bike, 3 x enduro and DH bikes.

If you want to max the HR and feel alive, ride a Singlespeed on hills.

 

[ValActionT 750]

I chose an egravel which rides very much gravel bike when ridden with power off. I also ride my emtb in lower to minimum assist when ascending at lest part of my rides. I usually try to balance exercise and a higher assist levels. I’m 74 with asthma. I firmly believe my physical fitness from MTBing and hiking, has helped me survived injuries and sickness.

 

[ValActionT 750]

I chose an egravel which rides very much gravel bike when ridden with power off. I also ride my emtb in lower to minimum assist when ascending at lest part of my rides. I usually try to balance exercise and a higher assist levels. I’m 74 with asthma. I firmly believe my physical fitness from MTBing and hiking, has helped me better survived injuries and sickness.

 

[Plyphon]

This old clunker for me, although it does have a nice rear shock!

Lightweight for what it is though, and a proper slim downtube as that’s what seems to get people going these days! View attachment 185063

I actually have a 2021 Canyon Spectral in the garage. It's not seen use since I got my Amflow.

I could use that for this task, but in my head that has too much suspension to be really what i'm after. But maybe I should give it a go first. I could always put it on trail tyres. Currently has a DHR on the front which is draggy for sure.

I was planning on selling that for about £1k and buying a hardtail for similar. Hmmm.

 

[Fangs2k]

I actually have a 2021 Canyon Spectral in the garage. It's not seen use since I got my Amflow.

I could use that for this task, but in my head that has too much suspension to be really what i'm after. But maybe I should give it a go first. I could always put it on trail tyres. Currently has a DHR on the front which is draggy for sure.

I was planning on selling that for about £1k and buying a hardtail for similar. Hmmm.

Always worth giving it a go, you can always over inflate the shock/forks to make it less compliant?

The Ardents I have on the bike I pictured are a good compromise I think, relatively light and fast rolling.

It’s nice to have kicking around the place, it feels like one of the family, and is a great bike for when I’m just out with my young daughter where I don’t need (nor want) an e-bike.