Hi guys,

I am new here and new at this sort of net activity too so excuse me if I ask stupid questions or  break some etiquette rules unintentionally.

I would appreciate suggestions on which frame should I get. Just asking for subjective opinions, won't hold anyone responsible if I'm not satisfied with my own final decision.

I am a life-long roadie, still very competitive even if far and long past my prime. Got to mountain biking through commuting on some gravel roads first and single tracks more recently, managed to earn a few Strava KOMs in the process and got bitten by the bug. I don't think of myself  as a mountain biker though, my downhill skills are rudimentary at the best and at my age they are quite unlikely to improve much. However, I really like the climbing part of the deal so that should be taken in consideration when choosing the right frame. Currently I dont even own a real mtb. I am using my Specialized Crosstrail commuter for riding trails and I like the geometry of that bike for that purpose quite a lot (did I mention I was a roadie?). However, that thing weights a tone.

So here I am. I'll appreciate any suggestions and opinions on what may be the best frame for me.

Thanks in advance!