NBD – Aren’t hardtails brilliant?!

Bike looks great, even the mudguards don’t ruin it (like the enormous rear one does on my full-sus). But…

“First properly muddy ride update.”

That is barely “slightly muddy”! 😉

Ha. Photos were 1/3 into the ride. It got much worse, but the guards did their job.

A hardtail certainly makes sliding through mud easier. There’s enough going on beneath you without the added squish of the bike to contend with. And washing it at the end was so much easier.

Love my Bronson, but I can’t see me riding it before the Spring unless we have a prolonged unseasonably dry spell. That doesn’t look likely any time soon!

Sola,

Can I ask if you get much mud build up behind that rear guard or does it clear quite easily ?

@nickc – what fork are you running?

I’m really enjoying my Ragley Marley

I love the fact that it make my local loop a bit more challenging especially with wet leaves and mud everywhere, and also makes longer more XC rides much more fun.

And then with chain waxing, at the end of the day just hose it off and job’s a good ‘un.

I love my Stumpjumper Evo, but for anything that’s less technical it’s too much bike, and it’s a PITA to clean.

Yeah having the HT certainly makes it easier when the weather’s turned shitty again. I can make an otherwise dullish river-side XC around Manchester and Stockport into something a bit more interesting on the ARC. Also means I can do a winter service on the FS and take my time on it to sort all the little niggles out. 

@johnny63

No build up at all to speak of. By the time the wheel has rotated to the ‘start’ of the mudguard it has already done half a rotation since leaving the ground, so there isn’t too much splashing off by then. I am pleased with it. The weekend was properly soaking and whilst I can’t pretend I came home dry and clean, it made the ride far more enjoyable and the clean up was much easier. The ride quality is so good that I think going back to the Bronson in the Spring is going to feel weird and heavy.

The guard does a really good job. Probably not as good as a Mudhugger, but you have to draw the aesthetic line somewhere!

Cheers for the info, Sola

For those of you riding an ARC, what’s the sizing like on them?

I’ve got my eye on one but not sure if a medium will be a bit small for me at 5’11”

As mentioned at the time, I’m 6’2” an XL in everything and XL in ARC.  I’d have had 10mm more length in the top tube if I was offered it, others think differently.

@crossed pretty much the same height as you and happy on a large. Not sure I’d want a medium although I’ve long arms and I guess it depends on the type of riding you do.

Thanks for that.
Sounds like it may be a bit on the small side so I’ll give it a miss.

@crossed I’m 5’8″ on a Medium ARC and it’s just right (I normally ride Small on longer bikes like my Cotic, Medium on less ‘Modern’ geo bikes).

I’d think a Medium would be too small for you.

The thread title is factually correct , hardtails are indeed brilliant!

I’ve had mine all of a week now and echo the comments above. I went RRP pro front but SKS rear and it is much longer and prevents brown stripe on my back.

Moved all components from previous bike so just frame and a stupid deal on fork, so factory for me, and hence  few blue anodised bits from previous bike.

Will try and get a pick up with mudguards so you can see the difference over the weekend, post ride, post clean 🙂

James

I completely agree – having ridden a few gravel events this year and last, I realised that in actual fact the only proper tool for UK gravel was in fact a hardtail MTB – who knew, eh?

My tool of choice is my Shand Bahookie with Rohloff and Gates belt, but last week I got lured into buying this, as a bit more of a “fast gravel” machine!

It’s a Trek Pro Caliber Project One (custom colour) – it flies along – and on the majority of UK trails (inc “gravel”) I reckon it’ll be quicker than any gravel bike I could have acquired……

Had a very very wet and muddy ride on my mmmbop yesterday. Always a fun ride, although my legs were screaming at times. They’re perfect for winter, a much easier cleaning job and less maintenance required.

I’m currently debating a 29 Scandal (amongst others)… Don’t know if i want something lighter/faster though instead. It’ll be more an XC/local thing rather than taking anywhere Tech.