mountain/touring bike, is it a myth?

[psyclopath]

Can anyone out there tell me what would be a good all-round frame for touring and thrashing through the bush at stoopid speeds?
Ideally I would like a steel frame because I intend to travel for a few years through all types of terrain and weather.
I have been tempted by Thylacine and Surly so far, but I'm open to suggestion.I had been preparing my Specialised Epic for the task but that would just be crazy (wouldn't it??).
Any suggestions for wheels and components that refuse to die, I'm thinking Fox Float forks so hopefully that's a good start
All opinions are valued.
Cheers, ride unsafely,
Dave

[Kalgrm]

It occurs to me that "thrashing through the bush" and touring are mutually exclusive pursuits. Thrashing along single track is best done on an unloaded frame, jumping logs and bouncing off rocks. Touring implies smoother riding with panniers, moving from camp to camp at a sedate pace - no jumping allowed.

Frame geometries also vary to get the most from each form of riding too.

Can you give us more a detailed description of what you are intending to do?

[MountGower]

G

[zapata]

so how much do these thylacine frames cost??

the steel frame road bikes look good.

http://www.thylacinecycles.com/gallery/ ... G_Tephra02

[alchemist]

If you're asking you cant afford S

Expect to start from at least $2500 for frame only

[zapata]

If you're asking you cant afford S

Expect to start from at least $2500 for frame only

ouch.

[alchemist]

ouch.

It was a bit of a suprise to see Thylacine & Surly mentioned in the same sentence in the original post.

I think a Surly Karate Monkey or Soma Juice with the new Fox 29er fork when it comes out in a couple of months will do the job nicely. A cheaper option would the the KHS Tucson.

[europa]

I reckon the Surly Crosscheck sounds a bit like what you're after.

How about defining what it is you need. Drop bars? What sized wheels? Two stroke or four stroke ?

My Trek520 is an excellent dirt track machine, but I'm not sure I'd like to take her on true mountain bike territory, yet on a smoothish dirt track, you can average over 30km/hr on her (btdt). My mtb is great when the track can't work out where it wants to go and is littered with boulders and rocks, but I haven't found a cliff that would get her up to 30km/hr.

Dunno. Perhaps it's too late in a day where I've been on the computer for too long

Richard