Chumba Slackr Hardtail Review: Re-Centering Hardtail Geometry

Reportage

Chumba Slackr Hardtail Review: Re-Centering Hardtail Geometry

John took a Chumba Slackr hardtail home from the 2024 MADE Bike Show to review. Since then, he’s squeezed every bit of riding potential on the bike before winter set in early in Santa Fe, putting it and himself through a multitude of rides in the Southern Rockies. Find out what epiphanies he’s had while riding this Austin, Texas-welded titanium hardtail below…

Radar

The Hardtail Holdout

Locals in Bellingham, WA know him as “the guy on the Chromag hardtail,” and as the humble hardtail holdout, Robbie Kane is one of those few who have not only embraced a minimalist mountain bike mindset but have made a soulful connection with, pun intended, the roots of mountain biking. Despite riding for 20 years, Robbie has never owned a full suspension bike, opting to be content with one basic bike to rule them all…

Jay from You Bet! and His Meriwether Steel 140 mm Hardtail 29er

Reportage

Jay from You Bet! and His Meriwether Steel 140 mm Hardtail 29er

While John was in NorCal, working with Whit from Meriwether Cycles on the Ponderosa project and Shop Visit article, he managed to document Jay from Nevada City-based You Bet! Bicycle Sales and Service‘s custom steel 140 mm hardtail 29er. We reached out to Jay to see if he’d be willing to pen the story of how this bike came about and he delivered one great write-up. Let’s check it out, along with some stunning photos below…

Whit’s Meriwether Cycles Luddite Silk-Ti Flex Pivot Hardtail

Reportage

Whit’s Meriwether Cycles Luddite Silk-Ti Flex Pivot Hardtail

While John was hanging with Whit from Meriwether Cycles in the Nevada City area, he shot his Silk-Ti Flex Pivot bike. Whit calls this bike the Luddite. While we already featured this bike and the following write-up as a Readers’ Rides, John and his mindful eye have cataloged and fully documented it. Read on for the full story on the Luddite, along with some stellar photos of this titanium dream sled!

Sanitas Tap Root Ti Hardtail Review: Silver Surfin’ Daily Driver

Reportage

Sanitas Tap Root Ti Hardtail Review: Silver Surfin’ Daily Driver

What is titanium anyway? And where does it come from? Maybe from outer space? Who knows? We’re not really sure, but the folks over at Sanitas Cycles in Durango, Colorado, probably know. The Sanitas Tap Root is a trail-ready titanium hardtail with so much to offer. Today, in his review, Sean T. Randolph explains why this silver surfer is a great value and so much fun to ride!

Otso Cycles Hoot Ti Review: Titanium Hardtail Gets the Last Laugh

Reportage

Otso Cycles Hoot Ti Review: Titanium Hardtail Gets the Last Laugh

Launching today, the Hoot Ti from Otso Cycles is the brand’s first foray into designing a truly modern and progressive hardtail mountain bike. Built around 140 mm of front suspension with short 425mm chainstays across all sizes, the Hoot is meant for demanding trail riding yet is playful enough for riders who like to get airborne. It’s an evolution of where the brand, which has been innovating since day one, is going while also showcasing its ability to deploy new technologies to solve challenging design problems.

Josh has put considerable mileage on the new Hoot over the past few weeks, both in his usual testing grounds of southern Arizona and a big week in the steep mountains of northern New Mexico. Continue reading below for Josh’s review of the Hoot and a peek inside Otso’s Minneapolis, MN-based operations.