When Viral Bikes founder Steve Domahidy said he had a one-piece carbon/stem combo in the works I wasn’t quite sure what to think. When I saw it in person though, it generated quite a few thoughts. It has a unique aesthetic that you can’t help but look at, and in my case, jump on the […]
Marin Bikes San Quentin 27.5″ Hardtail
Marin Bikes San Quentin was developed as a do-it-all hardtail. The alloy frame, suitable for trail riding or playing at the skills park with modern geometry making it an ideal starter bike for riders looking to get into the sport. Dirt jump frame inspired with tons of stand over height to take advantage of the […]
Mondraker Vantage RR
Mondraker bikes are known for progressive, cutting edge geometry, with long front centers and slack front ends that bring the DH feel to the trail. Coming soon to a bike shop near you in the US, like many riders we’re super intrigued and looking forward to throwing a leg over one to see how it […]
Trek Roscoe 8 Hardtrail
In 2009 we both spent a good part of the season riding the Fisher Roscoe on trails throughout the west, and it was the best Fisher model we had ridden until that point. Since then Trek absorbed the Fisher line; it could be we’re a bit nostalgic about the Roscoe, but we’re glad to see […]
BMC TeamElite 29″ Hardtail Featuring Micro Travel Technology
When Bermstyle Fashonista Inga Beck was looking for a light weight cross country race whip, the 29″ wheeled BMC Teamelite was on a short list of contenders. Like the others on our list, it features 429mm chain stays. (For us Americans 429mm translates to under 16.89″) In our book, anything sub 17″ qualifies as “short”, especially when 29ers with […]
Review: Transition TransAM 27.5
After a few months obsessed with the notion of rocking a 27.5″ hardtail, it was time to pull the trigger and build one up to try. The frame I chose was the Transition TransAM. It had practically everything on my list: short 418mm chain stays, a steep seat tube angle great for climbing, long reach, […]
Traitor Cycles Slot Steel 29er
I’ve had a more than a few people ask what we’d recommend as the ideal San Francisco starter bike, and I’ve always thought a geared steel 29″ hardtail with a rigid fork was it — except I couldn’t think of anyone that offered a production bike with those specs. When I saw the Traitor Cycles Slot, my […]
Diamondback Sync’r
We’ve been hearing a lot about the rising costs of high end bikes, and while it’s possible to spend a small fortune to get a dream ride, the actual cost of admission to the sport isn’t anywhere as daunting as one might expect. Take the Diamondback Sync’R for example. $1350 gets you a complete all mountain capable alloy hardtail […]
Transition TransAM 650b Trail Hardtail
Our local trails provide a fix when we have a craving for dirt, but our favorite trail bikes are often overkill for the tame terrain. Sometimes a hard tail is the best, or more importantly, the most fun tool for the job. We have a 29″ XC set up that’s great for hammering, but the […]
Building up the Wolfhound Retrosled 29″ Mountain Cruiser
It has been a while since I’ve spent time on a hardtail. A few buddies and myself put in a number of rides last winter on the NW Oregon coast rolling fully rigid single speeds, and it was a pretty good time. Sandy trails with short climbs and zero bike maintenance equals lots of fun […]