Bikes - Hardtails

Budget bike geometry, fresh cedar, gnarly trails, rider driven companies, and feedback are reflected on in Andrew's best of NSMB for 2019.

Rocky brings modern hardtail geometry at an entry-level price with the 1000 USD Growler 20.

Owen's passion is clear in his bike builds but leaves you wondering, what about that car?

Rocky brings progressive geometry to entry-level mountain bikes - starting at 1000 USD/1250 CAD...

Some pro bikes, fancy Italian brakes and even a suspension handlebar...

" On my first ride down I hit the same trails I usually ride on test bikes that cost many times its price..."

It isn't fair to call the Carbon Chameleon a 'jack of all trades' because it's also the master of some...

Spring is here. Here are some things to try at home to get your ride dialed.

For the first time in years, there was a buzz about this year's BC Bike Show. Andrew Major took a swing around the aisles to pick out the interesting bits.

Ian Ritz answers the haters and talks about why the Doctahawk is so damn long, why the forks has 180mm of travel and how it all came to be...

The name suggests micro brew transport - but this machine for 1360 USD was built for serious off road escapades...

Does the Chameleon live up to the name now that it's hewn into smooth lines and arcs of carbon fibre?

Even if you have no interest in this bike - a a big wheeled or Plus tired hardtail - come for the wicked video...

The unique bike that saw the beginning of new techniques at the in-house R&D facility…

Merino next to his skin and some bike designs that aren't recycled versions of last year's bikes are a couple of items on Andrew's list...

It's rare for a bike under 2K to catch our eye but the Marin Pine Mountain 1 has much to offer at $700 under that mark...

Carbon utility in three wheel sizes and more bolts than the tin man.

While it's clear the Stache wasn't designed for the nastiest, steepest terrain, for trails where it shines it lights up like a near-sighted goalie...

Kona has done a side run around e-bike opponents - and it's (almost) impossible to be mad...

Not just a wagon-wheeler but a Plus wagon wheeler - Trek's Stache 29+ hardtail getting ready for North Shore testing...

Up For Anything; Down For Anything

Three testers had the chance to ride Kona's hardtail fatbike during the snowiest North Shore winter in years - and on good old dirt as well...

Going back to a hardtail – even one with progressive geometry like the Primer – required patience. The payoff was well worth it.

“Is this some kind of masochistic manifestation of mid-life in crisis, or just the next phase in my infatuation with bikes?”