Singletrack

KILLER
HARDTAILS
Wil and the crew rode the rubber off these three
modern hardtail bikes. And then they took them
to Austria for the photo shoot.
WORDS WIL PHOTOGRAPHY JAMES VINCENT
Traditionally, owning a hardtail signifies a new rider’s official arrival
into the mountain biking universe. Some see it as a rite of passage, an
obligatory stepping stone. And for many riders, riding a hardtail is often
responsible for providing that very first thrill. It’s the two-wheeled vessel
that channels a shot of adrenaline as gravity takes over your body in a
way never before experienced. The hardtail is typically – if you will – the
gateway drug into our addictive avocation.
But while cost is often the reason that riders begin mountain biking
with a hardtail instead of a full suspension bike, it isn’t the only reason to
own one. Far from it in fact.
The most obvious advantage a hardtail presents is, of course, weight.
Pure and simple, a hardtail frame will always weigh less than a frame
with a shock bolted into it – usually at least a kilo or so – which can go a
very long way if your riding involves anything but flat terrain.
Simplicity is another big factor. With no pivots or bearings to wear
out, a hardtail offers a significantly longer service life – particularly for
those who are uninterested in routine servicing in the first place. For this
reason, a hardtail is an ideal choice for all-weather British riders who are
fed up with replacing pivot bolts or listening to the tortured sound of
squeaky bearings.
It isn’t all about practicality though – some choose a hardtail for ride
quality. No, a hardtail isn’t going to be as comfortable to ride on choppy
terrain as those bikes damped with a rear shock. But when it comes to
things like responsiveness, acceleration, cornering, or directional changes,
a hardtail possesses the inherent advantage of unrivalled trail feedback.
Push into the pedals, and the bike pushes back. Feel the terrain through
your contact points, dip into the rollers, pop off the lips, snap out of the
turns. Yes, riding a hardtail can also deliver a helluva lot of yahoos.
Then there’s the skills thing. Without a moving linkage and rear
shock to duly swallow up the thunks and thwacks, a hardtail demands
you to choose the smoother lines. It teaches you to find flow, and to read
the trail ahead. No reckless ploughing like you’re reclined on a couch.
Pessimists see a hardtail as being more difficult to ride on steep, rocky
and rooty terrain. Optimists see it as a precision tool for dissecting trails
to improve riding skills.
There are surely many reasons why one would choose to ride a
hardtail, and simply being a beginner or on a budget is only the start.
To see what today’s hardtails have to offer, we chose three options
that cover multiple wheel sizes, different frame materials, and provide
their own unique take on the mountain biking experience.
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