Get Hard Core on your Hardtail
My name’s Will and I ride a hardtail! I often read on social media how people limit their mountain biking, because their mountain bike is ‘just’ a hardtail. Really!?
Back in the 90’s I used to ride down the Peak District test-piece known locally as the Beast on my Marin Bear Valley: and that didn’t even have front fork suspension! I guess there’s a lot to be said for youth, a fearless spirit and a modicum of skill!
So for all of you who feel like the poor relation to the party, riding your hardtails out on the hills, I say to you: ride PROUD! On 95% of UK trails, a hardtail does not need to be a limiting factor to your mountain biking. Keep your head up, keep your head calm, your heels low, choose your line, and ride those hard miles with the biggest of smiles!
(And then there are the ascents … Riding that hard-tail will always out-perform a full sus mountain bike, it’s lighter and with less bounce, it’s more efficient too). Get out there and find your hard core on your hardtail.
Will’s bike
I ride an On One Scandal 29″ hard tail mountain bike and I love it. I bought this bike because I wanted a bike that I could throw around the local trails, that came with a half decent spec, but simultaneously wouldn’t break the bank. As mountain bikes go, it’s not a feather-weight, but it’s lighter than many full sus bikes, the spec on it is brilliant for the price and that lack of rear suspension is one less thing to pay to maintain.
There’s not been one day that I haven’t loved riding my bike, and more than once I have overtaken youths (you know people less than 40) on their full sus bikes carefully making their way down the hill. This is not a post to say that full sus bikes aren’t great (because they are), but to say to all you fellow hard-tailers – get out and ride them trails, because your bike certainly can!
Further reading
- The Bike Garage – Peak District MTB repair and hire
- Mountain Biking Skills Courses
- 10 Ways to Be Better at Map Reading for Mountain Bikers
- Vertebrate Publishing – mountain biking guidebooks
- Peak District MTB – voluntary organisation that aims to preserve, improve and promote mountain biking within the Peak District National Park
