Roadie lost in MTB world. Help me choose a bike for the Gibb
I am a roadie through and through, so I know basically nothing about MTB. However, this time next year I’m planning to ride the Gibb River Road. A very corrugated dirt road between Derby and Kununurra in Western Australia. It’s roughly 1,000km over 5 days (supported).
I’ve been told a dual-suspension bike with aero clip-ons is the way to go, as the ride is basically a very bumpy time trial.
I’m looking to buy a mountain bike in the coming months so I can gradually set it up properly and train on it beforehand. My question is... what are the key things to look for when buying a dualie for this sort of event? e.g.
It doesn’t need to handle huge jumps or technical downhill riding, but I do want suspension that helps with traction, comfort, and reducing fatigue over long corrugated sections.
The Specialized Stumpjumper, Scott Spark or Epic Evo keeps coming up as a highly recommended options, although it’s hard to ignore some of the Chinese direct-to-consumer brands like Polygon or Trifox given the value they offer & spend the extra on good wheels and tyres.
Resale value is also something I’m considering, as I’ll probably sell the bike after the ride.