Dave Gantt needs an up-right position for his riding position and he wants front and rear suspension, but it all has to be light as he wants better performance than his old bike and if that’s not enough he also wants to be aerodynamic and the bike has to be sturdy enough for street riding, a tall order, but we will try

Question: I am 62 years old and have been an avid bike freak my entire life. I bought a Kettler, City Shopper with dual suspension. This gave me the upright seating and softened cushioning that I needed due to back problems. But it’s a heavy beast and not very fast. I’m ready for a new bike.

Cost is not a problem since I still bike a couple thousand miles a year. But I’m looking for light weight and the dual ability to ride while seated upright (so I can view the architecture and trees) and also the ability to bend down when forced to ride into the wind in the windy city.

My back pain has been dramatically reduced since I started weight lifting and generally working out. But I’m not getting any younger and this next bike needs to last a long time. I’m 200 lbs. 5′9″ tall with a 31″ inseam.

I do both road and trail biking and hit city streets with lots of broken glass- going through industrial areas during the ’round the lake (Michigan)tour.

I plan to bike ’til I die.

Hi Dave,
You are asking for the lot, are you not you? Well we have read your request and have put our heads together and think that probably the best answer would be a light weight full suspension cross country bike.

This would be light and have the comfort of the suspension and the position can be adapted to give you a more up right position by using either a shorter stem with a steeper angle or with the use of handle bars with a rise to them. We have looked at a few bikes that may fit the bill and here they are.

Trek Top Fuel 9.9 SSL

You did say that price wasn’t a problem; well this baby comes in at over $6,000, so it isn’t cheep. You don’t have to be quite so lavish with your money and look at the Trek offerings that are cheaper, but you want the best.

The Top Fuel is based on the OCLV Red Carbon frame with tuned suspension front and rear with every adjustment that you could imagine from Rock Shox and Fox. The wheels are from Bontrager as are the cranks the gears and disc brakes are Shimano XTR, so it’s all the best kit. The handle bars are straight, so you should change them for some with a rise, I’m sure if you are spending this much money a good bike shop would do this for no charge or you should go somewhere else. This is the top of the range, but would be a dream!

Scott Spark 10

Scott Spark 10

When looking at the Scott Spark range I was going to recommend the Spark Ltd edition, but as it’s nearly $10,000 I thought maybe that was taking things a bit far, so I suggest the Spark 10 which is nearer $7,000 and every bit as top drawer material. Full suspension built onto a carbon frame, this is the lightest suspension frame in the world, so this is the best. Suspension is from Fox and Scott and all the other parts are Shimano XTR as you would expect. The handle bars have a 15 degree rise so you would probably want a little more for your back, but apart from that this can’t be beaten, maybe!

Trek Top Fuel 9.9 SSL

Specialized S-Works Epic

We like the Specialized S-works Epic and it’s about the same price as the others, so this is cutting edge bike technology. Carbon main frame with alloy rear end, Fox suspension forks and Specialized rear shock makes this light and durable and very comfortable. The equipment is a mixture of Shimano XTR, SRAM and the disc brakes are from Magura, the wheels are from Roval which is amongst some of the best available. The Specialized is a good mix of materials and equipment and the S-Works know how. The handle bars have a slight rise so they would need changing again for your comfort.

S-Works Epic

Our Conclusion

We have listed some of the most expensive Off-Road bikes you can get. You don’t need to spend this much money to get a similar ride from your bike. We think you need to look for lightness and full suspension, with a few little changes to get the bike position to suit you, the other thing you might consider changing would be the tires, if you are not going to be riding on trails very much, then look for a road tire with a bit of grip and puncture protection for the glass you mentioned.

Good luck Dave, you’ll be riding for a long time yet.