Colin’s Shreddy Sklar 27.5+ Hardtail

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Colin’s Shreddy Sklar 27.5+ Hardtail

Are you guys sick of seeing the “+” sign after wheel size standards? Ok, I didn’t think so. While the mountain bike industry tries to re-align itself on the topic of wheel sizes and tire widths, the rest of us are busy experimenting with tire spec, chainstay length, and bottom bracket drop. Out in Montana, Adam Sklar has some opinions about the aforementioned design options. Slacker, lower and longer bikes tend to enjoy going downhill faster and offer more stability at those speeds. All of which is particularly helpful when encountering a rock garden or chunky section of trail. Many of those design points that apply in Montana, apply in Los Angeles, where our trails are rocky, steep and our descents last for well over an hour at times.

Colin got this bike when he lived in Bozeman. Adam built him a pretty standard Sklar 27.5+ hardtail, and Colin spec’d the parts. Lining the beautiful desert tan frame are a slew of purple anodized components, including i9 hubs, Hope rotors, Twenty Six stem and collar. Keeping the front from buckin’ around too much is a 140mm Rock Shox Pike and Maxxis 3″ tires. Those rims? Cheapo Chinese carbon from eBay. Colin’s view on those are if carbon wheels are going to break after a few seasons, why not go with a cheaper alternative? He’s got the front laced to a SON hub for night riding in the mountains and is using SRAM XX1 with one of those trippy Wolf Tooth rings.

This bike is a beast and I can’t wait to shred with its owner and creator next week in Moab before NAHBS engulfs this website. If you’d like to read Colin’s review of it, head over to the Sklar Blog!

Josh from Angry Catfish’s Oddity 27.5+ Hardtail

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Josh from Angry Catfish’s Oddity 27.5+ Hardtail

We’re here in Southern Utah, soaking in all the red dirt we can and riding some of the area’s finest trails. While Kyle and I had a short drive to St. George, Parker and Josh from Minneapolis’ Angry Catfish had a staggering 24 hours of driving on icy, winter roads to reach our meet-up point. The boys finally showed up and Josh unpacked his Oddity Cycles 27.5+ hardtail.

Josh commissioned Sean from Oddity to build it up last year, where it was displayed at NAHBS and he’s had it on display at Angry Catfish ever since. He’s ridden it throughout Minneapolis’ trails but this is the first road trip this bike has seen and man, what a trip it’s been so far.

I love seeing show bikes being shredded, especially against such a wonderful backdrop.

Tom’s Hunter Cycles 27.5+ Hardtail Loaded Up for the Baja Divide

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Tom’s Hunter Cycles 27.5+ Hardtail Loaded Up for the Baja Divide

For the past few months, all I’ve been reading and hearing about is the Baja Divide. Lael and Nicholas created a route last year that would take riders on a 1,700 mile journey from the US-Mexico border down the length of the Baja Penninsula, almost entirely on dirt. Well, dirt and sand. They are two completely different riding substrates. The grand depart took place last week and over 100 cyclists embarked on the journey, two of which being Tom and Sarah Swallow.

In order to prep for their 45-day ride – they’re going out and back on the route – Tom and Sarah rode for two weeks along the Baja Divide route in December. Afterward, they both described their ride as “the hardest thing we’ve ever done.” But at least they now know exactly what they needed in terms of gear. For instance, they left their filter at home, because there is no fresh water on the route, only bottled and filtered water. They’re also confident in their setups, which are very similar, save for Tom is riding a Hunter Cycles 27.5+ hardtail and Sarah is on a carbon S-Works hardtail.

Tom’s bike just looked so damn good all loaded up with Revelate bags the day before they left, so I had to shoot some photos of it. Not only to give Rick props for building such amazing frames, but I rarely get the chance to shoot loaded down hardtails. All of Tom’s little hacks – like those killer King Cage USBs – to make this a proper tourer simply add to the bike’s character.

I want to wish everyone who’s out on the Divide’s course good luck. You can follow Tom and Sarah’s trip on their Instagram.

My 44 Bikes Marauder Hardtail is Steady Shreddin on Ibis 941 Wheels

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My 44 Bikes Marauder Hardtail is Steady Shreddin on Ibis 941 Wheels

Since this bike first showed up at my door here in Los Angeles, I’ve really enjoyed riding it. While the kit that Kris from 44 Bikes delivered for the review interim was more than acceptable, it felt good putting both my old parts on it and new wheels, which made a world of difference. Wheels are like that though. You think everything is peachy-keen one day and the next you’re rolling on new wheels, having your mind blown. Call me naive but I didn’t think a wide rim like the Ibis 941 would make that big of a difference on a hardtail. Truthfully, it didn’t feel like it until I seat the WTB Trail Boss 2.4″ tire on the 41mm outer, 35mm inner width rims.

To say it was like a whole new bike might be over-doing it, or perhaps it captures my enthrallment or excitement. Either way, I do not want to take them, or these tires off my 44 Bikes Marauder anytime soon.

Otso Cycles’ Versatile Voytek Carbon Hardtail is In Stock Now!

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Otso Cycles’ Versatile Voytek Carbon Hardtail is In Stock Now!

Whether you’re a 26″ fat, 27.5″ plus or 29″ chunky rider, the Otso Cycles Voytek hardtail has the geometry for you. These wheel and tire options are made possible by the patent pending Tuning Chip™ system, designed by the team at Wolf Tooth Components, it allows you to modify the chainstay length. The Voytek’s chainstays are adjustable from between 430mm for responsiveness or 450mm for stability in loose ground. All built with many options, starting at $3,899 and in stock now at Otso Cycles.

Bang for Your Buck: the Ritchey Timberwolf 27.5 Hardtail MTB

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Bang for Your Buck: the Ritchey Timberwolf 27.5 Hardtail MTB

When I first saw this frameset, I was in love. Why? Well, when a company like Ritchey makes a hardtail mountain bike that only a few months prior was something you had to order from a framebuilder, you know they’re paying attention. Before the Timberwolf, Ritchey’s mountain bike offerings were built with cross-country geometries. Personally, I like slack front ends and longer travel forks. They still climb great but the difference in descending is noticeable, especially after getting bucked for hours on end while riding our Southern California trails. Yeah, the Timberwolf is a new breed of mountain bikes, from a company founded by one of the forefathers of the sport. The best part is, you can get rowdy on this bike for hundreds less than a custom frame.

At $899, the Timberwolf comes as a frame with bright orange paint and classic Ritchey logos. Or you can buy it complete, as equipped here for $3,499 (minus the dropper post.) When people email me asking what mountain bike frame they should start out with, if buying used isn’t an option, I point them to the Timberwolf. Why? Let me break it down…

Elliot’s Sklar 27.5+ Hardtail – Morgan Taylor

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Elliot’s Sklar 27.5+ Hardtail – Morgan Taylor

One of the highlights of our time in Bozeman with Adam Sklar was being able to see not one, but two complete bikes come back from powdercoat and be delivered to their new owners. I already posted a gallery of Sam’s powder blue 29er, on which he then rode a good chunk of the Colorado Trail in what I take to be quite inclement conditions.

The other bike to be delivered is one that you probably noticed in yesterday’s gallery from Sklar’s shop. This gleaming white 27.5+ hardtail was commissioned by a customer from Sklar’s home state of Colorado. Elliot is a former downhill and 4x racer with what sounded like a fairly big set of dirt jumps in his front yard.

This One Goes to 12: SRAM Eagle and the Stinner Prototype Hardtail MTB

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This One Goes to 12: SRAM Eagle and the Stinner Prototype Hardtail MTB

Who gets the reference? It’s from the following: “These go to 11” – the hilarious excerpt from Spinaltap? Why not just make ten louder?

When SRAM’s new Eagle drivetrain was announced, it received mixed impressions. 12 speed on a mountain bike seems excessive and the pricepoint is pretty alienating. Needless to say, “the internet’s” opinion was divided. Personally, I find new tech when it comes to drivetrains the most interesting and relevant. Anything that can bring more versatility to my current rides is ok by me and hopefully, as we’ve seen in SRAM’s other products over the years, the tech will trickle down into more affordable groups like GX and NX.

So what does it have to do with a Stinner Frameworks mountain bike?

Moots: Farwell 27.5+ or 29’r Hardtail

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Moots: Farwell 27.5+ or 29’r Hardtail

If you were to ask me what one of the most promising “innovations” the industry has moved towards, with regards to mountain bikes, I’d say the 27.5+ to 29’r compatibility found with boost frames. Keeping up with this new design capability, the Moots Farwell is a trail-ready hardtail able to roll on 27.5+ tires or a 29’r xc bike. All backed with Moots’ lifetime warranty and pristine construction. Head over to Moots for more information, or see full specs below.

Standard Byke Co Rudeboy Hardtail 29r

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Standard Byke Co Rudeboy Hardtail 29r

Standard Byke Co has been pushing their offerings over the years. Beginning as a BMX company, they’ve branched into ‘cross bikes and now, rowdy hardtails, built specifically for all-mountain riding. The name of this long-travel 29’r frame is the “Rudeboy” which pays respect to the team that is bringing the party back to racing: Team Rudeboy. The first batch of Rudeboys are for a team of sorts in Colorado, who will be tackling longer distance rides in the front range. They’re built custom for each rider, all with head tube angles of around 67 – 68º, with a 424mm chainstay, 44mm headtube, a 140mm PIKE and with internal dropper routing. If you’d like more specs or photos, you can see them below and if you’d like to order one, holler at Standard! Thanks to Adam for sending this over!

Breadwinner’s Goodwater 27.5+ Hardtail Has Landed

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Breadwinner’s Goodwater 27.5+ Hardtail Has Landed

One of my favorite bikes from NAHBS is now available as a custom model within Breadwinner’s extensive bicycle lineup. The Goodwater is a 27.5+ hardtail that can also take a 29’r wheelset. It’s got internal routing, Di2-ready integration and thru-axles. This bike is high on my list of hardtails and honestly, I’m really pumped for Tony and Ira. Check out the Goodwater at Breadwinner!

2016 NAHBS: Black Cat Holy Mountain 27.5+ Hardtail

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2016 NAHBS: Black Cat Holy Mountain 27.5+ Hardtail

Part one of the Black Cat Holy Mountain referenced one of my all-time favorite bands, Sleep. Part two takes a brighter approach with a eye-bleeding, bright orange paint job, with some of Todd’s signature artwork on the downtube. These trippy designs may not reference a stoner doom band, but I can’t help but think there’s a correlation between them and the movie the stoner doom band was referencing… Oh and fuck yeah, another 27.5+ hardtail!

2016 NAHBS: Breadwinner Cafe Racer and Bad Otis Hardtail

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2016 NAHBS: Breadwinner Cafe Racer and Bad Otis Hardtail

Man oh man. Tony from Breadwinner Cycles found this Yamaha in a junk yard years ago and has been tinkering with it ever since. Working on his café racer is a hobby of his. Everyone needs a break from bikes once and a while, so for him, working on this machine brings a much-needed distraction from working on Breadwinner.

A while ago, he built a rack for his Bad Otis, enabling him to drive his moto to the trails, versus his pickup. The rack is completely secure and while in transport, the rear wheel of the MTB comes off and is strapped on the side but for NAHBS, he left it on for display purposes. Then, to top it off, he resprayed his Bad Otis to match!

2016 NAHBS: Breadwinner Goodwater 27.5+ Hardtail

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2016 NAHBS: Breadwinner Goodwater 27.5+ Hardtail

For those of you who read the CommUTAH story late last summer here on the Radavist, this is the bike that photographer James Adamson was riding, with a little bit of an update. James’ bike utilized a chainstay yoke to ensure the big, fat 27.5+ tires would fit without rub. After a bit of PR&D at the Breadwinner Cycles shop, they determined they could keep the cost down by using stock stays and still get ample clearances. After a few other geometry tweaks, and the Goodwater was ready for release at the 2016 NAHBS…

2016 NAHBS: Retrotec 27.5+ Hardtail

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2016 NAHBS: Retrotec 27.5+ Hardtail

Continuing with the domination of the 27.5+ wheel platform, this Retrotec hardtail brings everything in we’re accustomed to from Curtis Inglis, and then some. This year, Curtis has switched that new White Industries Narrow Wide 1x crankset on most of his mountain bikes at the show. There’s something special coming (for me) to the site later on, but for now let’s drool over this big, fat and beautiful hardtail.

2016 NAHBS: Black Cat Holy Mountain Hardtail

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2016 NAHBS: Black Cat Holy Mountain Hardtail

Slumber killed by rays of the new red sun arising
Dreamer wakens to spectral gaze of light rays shining
Black steed carries him across the astral sand
Rides alone is the man from the magic caravan…

Leave it to Todd at Black Cat to name his new mountain bike model after Sleep’s magnum opus, Holy Mountain. Then, to top it off, he rendered his logo in the Dopesmoker typeface. As I stated earlier, this year at NAHBS, the 27.5+ hardtail is reigning supreme.

Todd built this bike up with Shimano XTR, RaceFace cranks and a Fox Fork. Oh and check out the dropper lever! You’ll have to mind the mis-matched wheels on this one, Todd must have been riding the dragon toward the crimson eye…

2016 NAHBS: Soulcraft 27.5+ / 29r Hardtail

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2016 NAHBS: Soulcraft 27.5+ / 29r Hardtail

NAHBS is here and already on setup day, it’s evident what bike has dominated the show: the 27.5+ hardtail. While this bike isn’t currently built as one, it can be. Thanks to a new project… Sean from Soulcraft, Cameron from Falconer and a machine shop called E13 have developed a yoke that gives ample clearance for a 27.5+ tire, while still accommodating various crank setups. While you can run a frame such as this as a dedicated 27.5+ bike, Sean wanted people to be able to throw their 29r wheels on it as well.

This detail, along with a stealth dropper, curved seat tube, slack n low geometry provide more than enough opportunities for a highly shredable bike.

Oh and those White Industries cranks… More on those later!