Before there was full suspension there was hardtail. Now, while a full-susp machine has a lot going for it, there’s still something incredibly rewarding about riding hardtailed machines. Maybe it’s the fact they’re tricky to handle, or maybe it’s just the fact they’re old school.
British MTB hero Dave Wardell said it best, “Basically, if you can’t ride a hardtail smoothly, then riding a full suspension bike is going to be a waste of time. On a full suspension bike you can get lazy. Hardtails teach you everything about riding mountain bikes.â€
So what are you waiting for? Check out our recommendations below.
With 650B tyres, the Giant XTC Advanced has all the nimble manoeuvrability you need to ride technical trails with confidence. Where 29ers can be a little on the unwieldy side and 26-inch wheels give a rougher overall ride – the 27.5-inch 650b sits right in the sweet spot between the two. The XTC’s front fork is a Fox 32 Float Performance model, with 100mm of cushy, forgiving travel. Just what you need when you’re tackling those tricky rock gardens and obstacle-laden downhill sections. The fork also has remote lockout, for when you need a stiffer front-end.
The Superfly from Trek has been around for we don’t know how long. Long enough to make us feel pretty old, at least! It’s a seasoned hardtail that’s a familiar sight in the podium places of cross country races. The bike is packed with features that make it great for XC: the carbon frame is fast and light; the frame geometry gives you a lower, more controlled position on the bike; and the Shimano Deore drivetrain is absolutely top of the line.
The Superfly can roll with either 27.5 or 29er tyres, so give us a call or drop in to one of our shops to have a chat about what’s best for your needs and riding style.
{Cannondale Trail 1:36234}
The Cannondale Trail 1 is, as you may have guessed from the name, a bike with trail riding at the very heart of its design. This machine is all about making the step up to competitive riding, with an incredibly light overall weight and some superb componentry. Shimano Deore makes another appearance in this list, while the RockShox front fork promises 100mm of travel and decent climbing performance thanks to its PopLoc remote lockout function. Fast, fun and good looking– for the money this bike is extremely hard to beat.
We love the Rockhopper Sport from Specialized and think it’s a brilliant first mountain bike to really master riding hardtail on. The aluminium frame is extremely tough and surprisingly light – so you needn’t worry about taking the odd fall and wrecking the frame, but it also won’t hold you back too much on the climbs. Its 29er wheels are great for riding in trail centres and on cross country expeditions – helping to smooth out smaller obstacles in the way, or just rolling over them like they’re not even there. The best thing about the Rockhopper Sport is it’s one tough cookie, with excellent tyres and good ride stability – so you can confidently take on the trails in even the foulest weather. Great news given there’s another ‘British Summer’ on the way!
