Hey guys just looking for some advice really. I mainly ride single track (afan/cwmcarn)but also do a fair bit of jumping and dropping at my local trails and am looking for a hardtail bike to suit. Not sure whether to go for the cove stiffee or santa cruz chameleon, or orange subzero? I have also been recommended the cove handjob as it is a compliant ride but not sure if its tough enough, although I am only 10 stone!!!! Any suggestions?
Cheers

Cove Stiffee for sure! one of the sweetest singletrackers I have ridden. The handjob is also a sweet machine, but the stiffee has the toughness factor. As for the santa cruz? the box section rear end really puts me off, you are going to feel everything through that. Subzero? no thanks.

All I can say is that I love my Cove. I know I am biased and my advice is hardly helpfull, but it is lively, has great geometry, hard as nails and adaptable as hell.

Not having ridden any of the bikes in question but I do sort of the same riding as you and I would buy the Cove.

I bought a Handjob for similar riding and have now got a Hustler -- very much a Cove fan. Saying that, I also like Oranges but have no experience on a Sub Zero.

I have seen a couple and heard of even more cracked Chameleons -- admittedly they were earlier models, but personally I would go for one or the previous two. They (Chameleons) are reputed to have a very harsh rear end -- great for 4x but not so great for 30 mile Welsh epics.

As ever, try and get some rides in on each of them!

cheers for the advice guys. managed to ride a chameleon and a handjob this afternoon. loved the cove it was awesome. thought the chameleon was a nice ride as well but really harsh so ain't gonna get one of these.

the 2007 sub-zero has rounded seat stays for a more compliant rear end.

i ride an orange crush (perhaps another option) which has square section seat and chain stays. to take the sting out i use a titanium seat post and a titanium railed seat, which makes a differance.

can hightly recommend both bikes, loads of hooligan hardtail fun, and a good confidence booster too.