Bike Repair/Maintenance in Golden, CO

Vitus sentier has a 29" wheel option.

I would've gotten the 2020 Specialized Fuse had it come out 6 months earlier. Killer deal. Perfectly happy with my SC Chameleon though

Boost Thru axles on that Sentier at 1 k are crazy! That’s in addition to the overall nice specs at that price range. I didn’t want to roll the dice with overseas through CRC/Wiggle, but all recent reports are that it’s completely fine and straightforward. So I am kicking myself a little. If $1300 was my price point I’d probably consider this: https://www.jensonusa.com/Diamondback-Overdrive-Carbon-Comp-29 Might want to check out the Orbea Alma’s on that site too.

Do they have the 27.5" version available? I recently picked up the 27.5 SLX, and it is amazing. You can always switch to 29 at a later date. Just throwing it out there.

Fathom 2 29 er is a good bike for under your 1300. I run the 2018 Fathom 2 27.5. Comes stock tubeless and dropper post. It is also 1 x drivechain for 2019.

I'm also in Western Montana (in the Bitterroot). Timberjacks are really popular around here, i'd call around to the local salsa dealers + REI and see who has one to sell you. I know Red Barn bikes in Hamilton sells a bunch. I'd also strongly consider the 27.5+ option especially for a beginner. You could buy a 29er wheelset/dropouts for it down the road but I really like 27.5+ tires for our terrain. They take the edge off rocky trails, float and grip better over loose dry dust and pine needles in the summer and mud/snow in the shoulder season and on off camber stuff and overall are more forgiving of line choice. Maybe look at a kona honzo too. (I've got a chameleon but those are just a bit more spendy.) Edit: 27.5+ is on sale from rei and local shops may match. Get that and save up for different wheels. Or what i would do is just throw a minnion dhf 27.5x2.8 on the front and call it good, it makes plus tires corner almost as well as 29er tires.

Specialized rockhopper pro 1 x ticks all your boxes. It is not a crap frame, either, though it IS still QR.

Trek xcailber one of the lower end ones checked used too

Any of the Commencal hardtails will be killer.

I might catch some flack for recommending this but look at the Cannondale Cujo 2. You get 27.5+ Wheels and tires, RockShox air fork, dropper post, Shimano brakes, and Shimano 1 x11 drive train. Central Montanan here and also just starting out. This was the route I went with and have enjoyed it so far!

https://www.commencalusa.com/meta-ht-am-ride-29-c2 x29149193 Has 150 mm travel $99 more than your limit. BUT they also have the 27.5 version for $300 less.

Or maybe you could try Denver, Colorado to rent a bike? There is one place that might rent them, Big Kahuna Bicycles. Their phone number is 720-981-5199 (chris@bigkahunabicycles.com). Good luck!

https://spotbrand.com/collections/every-road/products/wazee There you go. If that doesn't do it for you, accept that your specific tastes mean you are going to have to start with a belt drive compatible frame and build it up yourself.

Why do you want an 11 speed hub? The max and min you get in a hub isn't that much different, and otherwise, you're adding a lot of gears to a bike that can't go fast anyway.