Not a Review*
Knolly Tyaughton Titanium Hardtail
"A feature set and price point that any competent product manager would have rejected immediately."
EDITORIAL
Parked Projects: GeoShift -2° Vs. Budget Hardtails
Andrew's scheme to test a bunch of budget hardtails, in the 1-2K CAD range, both stock and with an angleset installed...
EDITORIAL
Three Tears For The Too-Fresh Retro Rigs
Some love for old mountain bicycles that have been well-cycled and a moment of sorrow for those that have stayed showroom sweet in stasis.
EDITORIAL | REVIEW PART III
MB-1 And The Santa Cruz Chameleon MX
Andrew's third and final look at the latest aluminum Chameleon frame from the perspective of owning one mountain bike to do it all.
EDITORIAL
What's Your Bare Minimum Mountain Bike?
Is it "XTR or bust" or could you happily pedal a complete that costs less than some of your friends' wheelsets?
First Impressions Review
2022 Kona Honzo DL
Kona’s venerable Swiss Army Knife hardtail weathers the test of time
SECOND IMPRESSIONS
The 2022 Santa Cruz Chameleon MX Part II (Finally a Great Ride)
After some struggle, Andrew and the Chameleon MX are speaking the same language - if not the same dialect...
EDITORIAL
Dual Squish vs Hardtail: Service Spending
Anyone who recommends a dual suspension bike over a hardtail – without first calculating the difference in the cost of ownership – may need some schooling...
FIRST IMPRESSIONS
Santa Cruz Chameleon MX
Santa Cruz is back with an updated version of their aluminum do-anything-and-everything hardtail.
THE WEIGHT IS OVER - TWO
But Weight
On dropping pounds of weight off my bike with narrow rims, lighter tires and inserts, a Manitou R7 XC fork, and aluminum chainrings instead of stainless steel.
Review
Knolly Tyaughton Steel (Hardtail!)
Steeps and Lips aboard the Knolly's latest release
First Impressions
Knolly Tyaughton Steel & Titanium Hardtails
Knolly's entry into the Aggressive Hardtail Game is Strong Contender...
Hardtail Review
2021 Canyon Stoic 4
"The Stoic is built with geometry meant for aggressive riding, spec’d to take a beating, go back to do it all again tomorrow..."
DREAM BUILDS
Dream Builds - Reader Submission Winner
We've been getting some great submissions from readers - here's our first winner of a Tailored Frame Protection package from RideWrap.
Dream Builds
Phil Szczepaniak's Mix-Wheeled Chromag Surface Ti
Ti bling is the heart of this working horse build which has a very specific cockpit setup…
Long Term Steel Time
2021 Kona Honzo ESD - Full Review
It's one thing riding a hardtail occasionally - but committing to it with riders and trails that are better than you are...
First Impressions REVIEW
2021 Kona Honzo ESD
Lots of surprises riding this modern, long, slack, 29er hardtail with a 150mm fork - plus Cam's Top Ten Reasons for riding a hardtail...
EDITORIAL
Personal Rides: Andrew's Custom Waltworks V2
Setup with a rigid fork or with 120mm of suspension up front, Andrew's custom Waltworks V2 single speed was built specifically for riding on the North Shore.
Pistons & Pivots - THE GRUNDLE DOWN UNDER
Thomas Lindup’s 1988 Volvo and Chromag Doctahawk
"The Chromag Doctahawk is a bike for dickheads. And I mean that in the most affectionate way possible..."
Wrapping Up 2019
Best Of 2019 - Andrew's List
Budget bike geometry, fresh cedar, gnarly trails, rider driven companies, and feedback are reflected on in Andrew's best of NSMB for 2019.
REVIEW
2020 Rocky Mountain Growler 20
Rocky brings modern hardtail geometry at an entry-level price with the 1000 USD Growler 20.
PISTONS & PIVOTS
Owen Foster's Character Rich Toyota 4Runner & Chromag Surface
Owen's passion is clear in his bike builds but leaves you wondering, what about that car?
RELEASE | EDITORIAL
The 2020 Rocky Mountain Growler Series
Rocky brings progressive geometry to entry-level mountain bikes - starting at 1000 USD/1250 CAD...
EDITORIAL
Sweating The Small Stuff At Crankworx 2019: Part 3
Some pro bikes, fancy Italian brakes and even a suspension handlebar...