We pushed these bikes hard over flow trails, up and down steep climbs and pucker-worthy rocky descents, and through gnarly rock gardens. We built a mountain bike test track with most of the trail elements that you’re likely to encounter and rode back-to-back laps on multiple bikes to tease out subtle and not-so-subtle differences. These bikes have been ridden, and ridden hard, by our team of test editors. Or, it might still be available at a bike shop near you, so check the dealers and retailers listed on the site. If a bike on this list is sold out, you might still have the option to pre-order it or join a waiting list. Because of this, many bike shops and online brands are nearly sold out of bikes. It has also experienced a shortage of bikes due to factory restrictions and delays. Since the beginning of the pandemic, the bike industry has experienced an exponential boom in sales, partially due to public transit restrictions and also because people are looking for a fun, healthy way to get outside. Trevor Raab Why It May Be Harder to Find a Bike Right Now An adjustable dropout also allows you to adjust the length of the wheelbase on geared bikes. If the simplicity of that design appeals to you, look for models that employ adjustable dropouts or eccentric bottom brackets to tension the chain without a derailleur.

Unlike most full-suspension bikes, hardtails can easily be converted to singlespeed setups. Some hardtails are designed to accept several wheel and tire sizes so you can swap out options to suit your ride. You’ll find wheel sizes of 29 or 27.5 inches, standard tire widths (up to 2.6 inches), plus-size offerings (about 2.7 inches wide or more), and fat tires (more than 3 inches wide). Hardtails come in many wheel sizes and gearing options. You’ll find suspension forks with as little as 80mm of travel on some cross-country bikes while trail hardtails, like the Salsa Timberjack NX Eagle 29, may have forks with 130mm of travel or more. Find the Right ForkĪside from the frame, the fork is arguably the most important part of the build. Despite this, there are desirable characteristics in all frame materials. Carbon fiber frames have the best strength-to-weight ratio of any material, but are also the most expensive. For riders who do lots of climbing or spend lots of time in the saddle, the weight saving can make a difference for your rides. Without pivots, linkages, and a shock, a hardtail frame is generally lighter than a comparable full-suspension frame. The simpler design allows manufacturers to either reduce the bike’s overall price or include better components than you would find on a comparably priced full-suspension bike. You can almost always get more bang for your buck with a hardtail.

How hard can a cross country mtb ride