trek hardtail mountainbike

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Trek Hardtail MTB Buyer's Guide

Trek hardtail mountain bikes boast off-road performance without the extra weight and cost of a full-suspension setup. With so many models available, we’ve put together this helpful guide that walks you through Trek models designed for XC, bikepacking, trail, and eMTB riding.

What are Trek Hardtail Mountain Bikes?

Hardtails are mountain bikes that feature a rigid rear end— hence “hard tail”— and a front suspension fork. The lack of a rear shock means hardtails are lighter, less expensive, and more efficient since there’s no rear suspension that soaks up your pedal-power.

Hardtail MTBs are the bike of choice for cross-country racers who prioritize speed as well as riders who tackle lighter singletrack where a full-suspension setup isn’t necessary. As one of the biggest names in the game, Trek offers a wide variety of hardtail mountain bikes so any rider, no matter their riding style, can find their perfect match.

Still deciding between hardtail and full-sus? Check out Trek’s entire range of hardtail and full-suspension models.

Which Trek Mountain Bikes are Hardtails?

Highlights : 

Style: Entry-level

Fork travel: 75mm

Wheels: 26”

Brakes: Rim

Frame: Steel

Drivetrain: 3x7

The 820 is Trek’s most affordable mountain bike and is a great option for riders looking to start exploring off-road trails. This entry-level MTB is appropriate for light terrain and urban environments filled with curbs and potholes. 

The 820 has been a go-to, multipurpose bike for budget-conscious riders for decades and continues to impress on light singletrack, gravel paths, and city streets.

Durable steel frame The 820 is built around a rugged steel frame with classic MTB geometry for a smooth ride and long-lasting performance.

Useful rack mounts There are integrated bolts so you can easily install a rear rack. Secure accessories or panniers to the bike to make commuting a breeze.

Great-value Shimano drivetrain   Shimano Tourney 3x7-speed groupset proves a wide range of gears so you can pedal comfortably no matter the gradient. Climb hills with ease and show your inner speed demon on the flats.

Trek Marlin

Style: Entry-level/XC

Fork travel: 100mm (80mm on XS frame)

Wheels: 27.5” (XS/S) 29” (M-XXL)

Brakes: Mechanical disc

Frame: Aluminum

Drivetrain: 1x12

The versatile, trail-ready Trek Marlin is one of the most popular MTBs on the market— and for good reason. 

There are several spec versions available so you can customize this bike to your needs and budget, whether its fast singletrack or daily commuting. 

The race-inspired frame feels at home in the forest as well as weaving through traffic— the ultra-capable Marlin is what you make it.

Explore Trek Marlin mountain bikes

Feature-laden aluminum frame Trek’s Alpha Silver Aluminum frame is lightweight and comes with integrated rack and kickstand mounts to easily add accessories. Brake and shift cables are neatly routed inside the frame.

Mechanical disc brakes Upgrade from rim brakes with these dependable Tektro mechanical disc brakes with 160mm rotors that provide plenty of stopping power, even in wet conditions.

Seven frame sizes for the perfect fit   Frame sizes range from XS to XXL so every rider, regardless of height, can pedal comfortably and efficiently. Runs as a Trek hardtail 27.5 on XS and S frames to preserve a balanced geometry.

Trek Roscoe

Style: Trail

Fork travel: 120-140mm

For hardtail riders with a soft spot for rowdy terrain, the Trek Roscoe comes equipped with a longer-travel fork and dropper post. 

It has a snappier ride feel than a full-suspension set up, but still dominates tough terrain thanks to hydraulic disc brakes and a grippy wheelset. 

This Trek hardtail trail bike is available in a few versions and it’s clear that the Roscoe is designed for fun thrills out there on harder-hitting routes.

Progressive geometry   The Aluminum Alpha Gold frame features a long reach, slack 65° head tube, and steep 73° seat tube for better mountain maneuverability. There are compact 430mm chainstays and wide 780mm handlebars for increased control.

Trail-munching rims and rubber   Depending on the model, there are fast-rolling 27.5”+ or 29” wheels matched with knobby tires. The 27.5”+ rims run wide 2.8” tires so the effective diameter is close to a true 29er.

Dropper post for more control   The only Trek hardtail with dropper post, there’s a remote lever to move the saddle out of the way on technical descents and quick corners.

Trek X-Caliber

Fork travel: 100mm

Wheels: 27.5” (S) 29” (M-XXL)

Brakes: Hydraulic disc

The X-Caliber is a purebred XC bike that punches far above its weight class. 

This 100mm travel model is a great value for cross-country racers who like to spice up the route with some additional singletrack or city streets. 

The durable aluminum construction and 1x drivetrain are long-lasting features that’ll stand up to daily use and extended XC rides. 

The X-Caliber looks like a million bucks on the trail while still being wallet-friendly.

1x drivetrain   Each X-Caliber features a simple 1x drivetrain with a wide range cassette for straightforward shifting no matter the gradient. Pedal efficiently up the climbs and get ready to smash the flats.

Plenty of accessories if you want them   There are integrated rack and kickstand mounting points on the frame so you can easy install extra bits and transform the bike into a daily commuter. The frame can fit an internally-routed dropper post, too.

XC-specs at a great price   Fast-rolling 29” hoops, 100mm of front suspension, and grippy tires give this XC model race-winning potential— and the competitive price is worth celebrating, too.

Trek Procaliber

Style: XC race

Wheels: 29”

Frame: Carbon

The fastest XC model of the bunch, the Procaliber is a carbon hardtail that has racing in its DNA. 

Trek’s innovative IsoSpeed decoupler located at the seat tube junction provides extra frame compliance compared to the X-Caliber and takes the sting out of extended XC sessions. 

There’s a ton more tech packed into the lightweight setup to assist you in claiming your rightful spot atop the podium.

Trek hardtail 29” tubeless out of the box All frame sizes run XC-specific 29” rims that are already setup tubeless in order to save precious grams, get better traction, and avoid pesky punctures.

IsoSpeed decoupler This low-profile piece of tech increases vertical compliance and smoothes out terrain while preserving the hardtail efficiency XC racers know and love.

OCLV Mountain Carbon   All Procaliber models are constructed from OCLV Mountain Carbon to keep the weight to a minimum. The Straight Shot downtube injects stiffness while Knock Block technology prevents frame damage in the case of a tumble.

Style: Adventure

Fork: Rigid

The 1120 stands out as a dedicated bikepacking model with plenty of frame mounts and mountain-ready specs. 

This isn’t the traditional touring setup— Trek has gathered up all the latest tech and design ideas to bake in unlimited off-road capability, including the 1x drivetrain and 29”+ tires. 

The rigid frame easily carries all your adventure gear so you can reach even the most remote destinations in the backcountry.

Built for bikepacking Take all the gear you need thanks to the integrated front and rear rack mounts as well as spots for extra water bottles or packs on the fork.

Go big with Trek hardtail 29”+ tires 29+ wheels can fit oversized tires up to 3.0” with tons of air volume that grips the ground and provides much needed cushion on long expeditions.

Customized rear triangle   Special attention to the back end of the frame introduces horizontal sliding dropouts to accommodate single speed setups and the elevated chainstay fits a 29” rim without elongating the wheelbase.

Trek Powerfly

Style: XC eMTB

Fork travel: 120mm (80mm on XS frame)

The Powerfly is Trek’s most affordable electric mountain bike, available in hardtail or full-suspension versions. 

The Trek hardtail ebike features a stiffer frame made of Trek’s Alpha Platinum Aluminum and 120mm of front travel to tackle light terrain or float over city potholes. 

There’s a powerful Bosch motor that flattens out hills so you can enjoy the journey more than ever.

Bosch Performance Line CX motor At the heart of this ebike lies a 250W motor with 85 Nm of torque, pedal-assist up to 20 mph, and intelligent eMTB mode that adapts to the terrain.

Shimano Deore drivetrain Trek hardtail electric mountain bike runs the trail-ready Shimano groupset with a long cage derailleur and 11-46 10-speed cassette.

User-friendly removable battery  Trek’s Removable Integrated Battery (RIB) system tucks the high-capacity battery into the downtube and can be quickly removed— no tools required— for easy transport or charging.

Trek Ticket DJ Frameset

Highlights :

Frameset only

Style:  Dirt Jump

Material: Aluminum

Horizontal sliding dropouts

Threaded BSA BB

The Trek Ticket is available as a lightweight dirt jump frame that riders can build up to their own specifications. 

The Ticket S features a rear shock to handle the big jumps of slopestyle whereas the Ticket DJ is a fully rigid aluminum frame. 

If dirt jumps, skate parks, or pump tracks are your thing, the DJ is the perfect skeleton for your customized bike.

Versatile, trick-ready geometry   DJ frame has a compact rear triangle and spacious top tube area so you can pull off serious tricks and whip this bike around.

Completely customizable 142x12mm horizontal sliding dropouts accommodate single speed or geared builds so you can personalize the frame according to your riding style.

High-quality aluminum frame   Trek’s Alpha Platinum Aluminum material is lightweight and super-durable to stand up to daily use and being thrown around at the skatepark.

Hardtail vs Full-Suspension

What a dilemma!  You're a beginner and you've just started shopping for a new mountain bike.  You're starting realizing there are about a bazillion options out there. Where do you start?  First, ask yourself some questions:

• How much do I want to spend?
• Where do I want to ride?
• What types of trails will I ride on?
• Will I ride with anyone?  What do they ride?
• What are my goals?

You can easily break down mountain bikes into two main categories: hardtail and full-suspension. Depending on how you answer these questions, you may find yourself leaning more toward one way vs another.  There's definitely more to consider when looking to drop a lot of coin on a new sweet ride, but hopefully this helps you get started:

Explore Trek Full Suspension Mountain Bikes

Hardtail vs Full-Suspension Mountain Bike FAQs

Are hardtail bikes good for mountain biking.

Yes!  Hardtails are super fun to ride.  The Trek Marlin, X-Caliber, and Procaliber models are best suited for singletrack XC riding.  Trek Roscoe is beefier, longer, and slacker making it uber capable on rough, techy trails.  Hardtails tend to be lighter, snappier, and more affordable than full-suspension bikes, but you'll definitely start feeling the abuse on your body after a long decent.  

Are hardtail mountain bikes better?

It really depends on the type of trail you’re riding. Hardtails can perform better than full-suspension bikes on smoother terrain where speed and agility is more important than suspension.  Hardtails are definitely more affordable, and you'll get a better component group at any given price point.  But when it comes to versatility, full-suspension rules the day.

Are hardtail mountain bikes good for road use?

You bet.  It can't keep up with or replace a road bike, but hardtails make for excellent commuter and fitness bikes that allow for more terrain versatility than a road or hybrid bike might.  

What is a hardtail best for?

Most hardtail mountain bikes are best suited for smoother cross-country terrain and fast-paced singletrack. Hardtails are also very popular with commuters due to their comfort and versatility improvements over fitness and commuter bikes.  But that's not all!  Many manufacturers are jumping on board a new trend of truly trail-worthy and almost enduro-capable hardtails that are designed to rip!  Trek's Roscoe or Yeti's ARC are two such beasts.

Can you ride black diamond downhill on a hardtail?

Not a good idea.  Keep it smoother.  It’s a better idea to descend downhill routes on a full-suspension setup that can handle large obstacles and provide traction in the steepest sections.  Newer trail-focused hardtails like the Roscoe are super tough bikes, but even a skilled rider would have a rough time ripping down an enduro course without any reservations.

Can you jump hardtail mountain bikes?

Absolutely!  Some of the best dirt jumpers are hardtails.  Just make sure your bike is designed for dirt jumps. DO NOT jump a Marlin, X-Caliber, or Procaliber!  Instead, take a look at the Trek Ticket or Pivot Point. These models are beefed up to handle the stress of big air.  They offer longer top tubes and compact rear ends for improved handling and major style.

What is the best hardtail mountain bike brand?

Trek is definitely at the top of the list.  Trek make great bikes for every rider at nearly every reasonable price point from $600 to over $10,000.  Plus, they're great people to work with.  Their warranty is excellent, and they stand behind their products.  After more than 40 years working with them, we feel confident putting their bikes up against anything else out there. 

Are hardtails better for climbing?

Hardtails are extremely efficient at converting pedal power into forward motion.  However, as the technical difficulty of the trail increases, full-suspension bikes can offer improved traction as the rear wheel can move with the terrain.

What should I look for when buying a hardtail?

Try to find the best value for your money.  Look at the entire bike.  Sometimes manufacturers get sneaky and put better components where they'll be most visible (like the rear derailleur) then seriously cut quality in less-known areas.  Look at the complete drivetrain to see if they maintain the level of quality across the entire group paying close attention to the crank, chain, and cassette.  Shocks matter, so if you can afford it, try to get a suspension fork branded Rock Shox or Fox. There are certainly more good brands out there, but those two are really common.  Wheels are also super important because they take such a beating.  Double-wall rims are a must, and a higher spoke count (32) would be a good idea.  Good luck bike hunting!

Do you really need a full-suspension mountain bike?

Needs are tricky.  No, you don't really need a full-suspension bike, but they are SOOOO nice!  The more time you hope to spend off-road and the more techy the trails, the more appealing a full-suspension bike becomes.  Consider who you'll be riding with.  What types of bikes are they riding?  Think bout where you want to ride.  How difficult are the trails?  Analyze your goals, and get the bike that fits best.

Is a hardtail mountain bike good for beginners?

Yes, hardtail mountain bikes are a great place to start as riders develop their skills.  They're durable, affordable, and simple to maintain.  However, full-suspension bikes tend to be easier to ride off-road because the suspension compensates where skills may be lacking.

Best hardtail mountain bike: classic trail shredding machines

• Alan Muldoon
• January 26, 2024

These are best hardtail mountain bikes out there right now, whether you're looking for a top beginner mountain bike, back-to-basics trail hardtail, or flyweight XC race machine.

Product Overview

From budget hardtails to mid-range models and premium dream bikes, these are the best hardtail mountain bikes we’ve tested – and we’ve ridden a lot! Literally hundreds since we were founded back in 1997. Each of these bikes has been thoroughly tested by our expert team, so we can guarantee that which ever one you go for, it’ll be the best mountain bike for your budget.

Hardtails are a great choice for anyone looking for a budget mountain bike, beginners keen to get started with riding, and even for experienced trail riders looking for back-to-basics simplicity and raw fun.

Pushed for time? Here’s a quick and dirty run down of our recommended hardtails.

Also consider: 

• Best full-suspension mountain bikes: the ultimate trail, XC and enduro bikes
• Best budget electric mountain bikes: power up your ride

Calibre’s Line T3-27 is our latest Hardtail of the Year winner

1. Calibre Line T3-27

Best hardtail mountain bike under £1,000.

Wheel size: 27.5in | Frame sizes: S, M, L, XL | Weight: 14.52kg | Suspension travel: 140mm front | Rating: 10/10

Reasons to buy:

• Modern geometry
• Dropper seatpost
• Large-volume tyres are comfortable and confidence-inspiring

Reasons to avoid:

• Needs a wider gear range
• tall bottom bracket height

Calibre is back in the game after a two-year hiatus, and it’s newest Line T3-27 is straight into the top of our hardtail charts with a perfect 10/10 rating. Built around progressive trail geometry and oversize tyres on 27.5in wheels, the Line T3-27 comes with a clear advantage on rough trails, with more grip and improved comfort.

Getting a dropper post as standard is another impressive feat on this budget bike, and helps the Calibre show a clean pair of heels to the competition on the descents. It’s also more comfortable on the climbs, as you don’t feel every bump travel through your spine. Given inflation over the last few years, the fast that you can get this level of performance for £1k is remarkable.

Listed retail price for the T3-27 is £12,00. However, if you sign up and buy a Go Outdoors membership card for just £5, the bike’s price drops to a great value £999.

Read our full review of the Calibre Line T3-27

Voodoo’s Bizango Pro is an absolute flyer

2. Voodoo Bizango Pro

Best budget mountain bike for racing and long rides.

Wheel size: 29in | Frame sizes: S, M, L, XL | Weight: 13.2kg | Suspension travel: 130mm front | Rating: 10/10

• Good geometry and superlative spec choices
• Low weight and comfy ride feel
• BB could be a finger’s width lower
• Fatter tyres and more standover clearance would be welcome

The Voodoo Bizango has smashed pretty much any test it’s ever entered, winning our Hardtail of the Year award multiple times, earning regular podium places on our list of the best hardtail mountain bikes , and impressing everyone who rode it. It must have been very tempting for Halfords to stick with the old frame, add a modern colour, fettle the spec and keep mixing up that winning mix.

We’re extremely glad they didn’t then. For Halfords’ sake, standing still in the ultra competitive hardtail market is suicide. And for our sake, the new Bizango Pro is much the superior bike to anything Voodoo has made before, and ultimately more fun to ride. Great brakes mean you can go faster in the happy knowledge you can stop when you need to, while the 12-speed shifting means you can cruise the hills faster than plenty of full-sus bikes out there. And then there’s the fork, it’s hugely superior to anything we’ve tried before on a £1k hardtail: air-sprung so you can set the sag to your weight, effective rebound dial for control, and a really smooth feel.

Read the full Voodoo Bizango Pro review

The Voodoo Bizango is a classic hardtail that still delivers the goods

3. Voodoo Bizango

Best hardtail mountain bike for £750.

Wheel size: 29in | Frame sizes: S, M, L, XL | Weight: 13.1kg | Suspension travel: 120mm front | Rating: 10/10

• Light weight
• Wide gear range
• Stable handling
• Not always in stock

The alloy Bizango simple has no competition. It is simply unbeatable for the money. In fact, given the choice we’d probably opt for this bike over many decent £1,000 mountain bikes (saving a couple of components upgrades for the ensuing seasons). Good brakes, good gearing, plenty of standover, decent fork. Shames many bikes at twice the price.

Read our full review of the Voodoo Bizango

With a single-ring drivetrain, the Polygon Xtrada 5 would be a 10/10 bike

5. Polygon Xtrada 5

Best hardtail under £700 for upgrading.

Wheel size: 29in | Frame sizes: S, M, L, XL | Weight: 14.31kg | Suspension travel: 120mm front | Rating: 9/10

• A top quality frame with up-to-date geometry
• Loads of standover clearance
• Dated 2×10 drivetrain
• Fork tops out

The Polygon Xtrada 5 may well sport a dated 2×10 drivetrain, but this 29er has the slackest steering geometry for stability at speed, along with the lowest top tube and shortest seat tube to give you maximum range of motion on black-level trails.

While the drivetrain is frustrating, the handling is first class. It carries speed easily, and we could really throw it around on fun, technical trails and jumps.

Read our full review of the Polygon Xtrada 5

Voodoo’s Braag is a cracking entry-level mountain bike

6. Voodoo Braag

Best hardtail mountain bike for under £600.

Wheel size: 29in | Frame sizes: S, M, L, XL | Weight: 14.6kg | Suspension travel: 120mm front | Rating: N/A

• Amazing price
• Great geometry and range of sizes
• Spot-on cockpit and component choices
• The fork tops out with a clunk

Using the same frame as the multi award-winning Voodoo Bizango (featured below) the Braag saves money in a few areas to bring the price point under £600. So you get the same confident, fun handling and excellent spread of sizes, along with a wide-range yet simple 9-speed drivetrain and a plush coil-sprung suspension fork. The only fly in the ointment is that the fork can get a bit clunky, but overall this is a killer bike for the money and one you can upgrade as your skills progress.

Read our full review of the Voodoo Braag

Whyte’s 909 X Enduro hardtail, flying the flag for Plus-size tyres.

7. Whyte 909 X

Best trail hardtail for speed and comfort.

Wheel size: 27.5in | Frame sizes: S, M, L, XL | Weight: 13.61kg | Suspension travel: 130mm front | Rating: 9/10

• Superb ride quality
• Dialled geometry
• Neat details
• It’s expensive for a hardtail

Most of the hardtails featured here are 29ers, but we still think there’s a strong case for 27.5in wheels when shod with oversize 2.8in tyres. Why? Well they give more comfort, more grip, and more control, so you can ride them faster for longer. Whyte’s 909 proves that beyond doubt, reminding us why Plus-size tyres were such a big (if you’ll excuse the pun) thing just five years ago.

But the Whyte is more than just some fat rubber. It’s also a thoroughly modern frame that’s been refined over years of developing market-leading hardtails. And there’s a high-end spec with excellent RockShox suspension and wireless shifting.

Read our full review of the Whyte 909X

The Whyte 629 V4 comes from a long lineage of award-winning hardtails

8. Whyte 629 V4

Best trail hardtail with 29in wheels.

Wheel size: 29in | Frame sizes: M, L, XL | Weight: 14.41kg | Suspension travel: 120mm f | Rating: 10/10

• Amazingly composed and stable handling
• Low-profile rear tyre may not suit all conditions.
• No size small – for that you need the 27.5in wheel 901 or 905

Whyte has been on path to build the perfect trail hardtail for many years now, and the 629 V4 is really honing in on that goal. When we tested it we had this to say about it: ‘The Whyte 629 V4 really impressed us, and in many ways it mirrors its stablemate, the 905, in setting new hardtail standards, this time for 29ers. Ultimately it is balanced, composed, stable and precise, and whether you’re a relative beginner, or an experienced trail rider, you’ll instantly become addicted to its ways’.

Read our full review of the Whyte 629 V4

The Merida Big Trail 600 is a low-slung trail weapon

9. Merida Big Trail

Light weight with sharp handling.

Wheel size: 29in | Frame sizes: S, M, L, XL, XXL | Weight: 13.86kg | Suspension travel: 140mm f | Rating: 9/10

• Lighter than most rivals
• Handy tool stashed under the saddle
• Wide size range
• Poor wet weather brake performance, but you’ll need new discs and pads to improve it

Merida is a brand that’s easily overlooked, but it has made great strides in the design of its hardtails in recent years, listening to feedback from UK dealers and press to dial-in its geometry and spec. As such, the latest Big Trail is a well-honed option that impressed us when we tested it.

Indeed, our review was glowing, exclaiming that ‘with its low weight and sweet handling the Big Trail 600 ripped, especially in drier conditions’. Merida has also managed to keep the prices keen, and there’s a comprehensive size range that should suit riders of every height.

Read our full review of the Merida Big Trail 600

Giant’s XTC SLR 29 1 is dressed to impress

10. Giant XTC SLR 29 1

Best budget xc race hardtail.

Frame: ALUXX SLR aluminium | Frame sizes: S, M, L, XL  | Suspension travel: 100mm f  |  Weight: 12.29kg (27.09lb) | Rating: 10/10

• Giant Crest forks adds accuracy
• Needs lock-on grips
• Tall top tube height

A light frame, precise fork, and stellar handling ensured the Giant XTC emerged out in front when we tested four budget XC race hardtails. There’s an obvious pedigree bred from years of racing development, and the result is a bike that we described as “startlingly fast yet totally forgiving”.

Whether you’re planning to dip your toe into XC racing, have a crack at a marathon event, or fancy the challenge of a long-distance trail such as the South Downs Way, the Giant XTC SLR 29 1 is up for the fight.

Read our full test review of the Giant XTC SLR 29 1

The all-new, super-versatile Santa Cruz Chameleon

11. Santa Cruz Chameleon

Best money-no-object trail hardtail.

Frame: Aluminium | Frame sizes: S, M, L, XL  | Suspension travel: 130mm f  |  Weight:  14.19kg (31.28Ib) | Rating: N/A

• Go anywhere, do anything attitude
• Mix-and-match wheel sizes along with adjustable chainstay length makes it very adaptable
• Short seat tube lengths let you upsize frames
• Expensive, given the SRAM NX drivetrain
• BB height could be lower
• No XXL size for really tall riders

While the Santa Cruz Chameleon might be old in years, it remains young at heart, with handling that is full of youthful exuberance and a frame that is totally modern. We love the adjustability, where slotted dropouts let you tune the chainstay length depending on the frame size and wheel diameter. Yes, as you’d expect from a Chameleon, it adapts to both 29in and 27.5in rear wheels depending on your preference.

It runs the perfect fork travel – 130mm – so you get enough control without massive swings in geometry as the fork compresses. It’s expensive, but it looks and feels premium, and the versatility is a cut above most other hardtails on the market.

Read our full test review of the Santa Cruz Chameleon

How we tested

All of the bikes recommended above have been thoroughly tested by the expert bike testers and reviewers at MBR. Many of them have been selected after head-to-head testing as part of our annual comprehensive Hardtail of the Year test. We ride each bike extensively in the terrain it was designed for, on mountain bike trails with a combination of climbing, descending and technical features to get the best possible understanding of the performance, strengths and weaknesses of each bike.

Looks nice… but is it the correct size?

What to look for in the best hardtail mountain bike

What is a hardtail mountain bike.

A hardtail is a mountain bike that has suspension at the front (a suspension fork) but has a rigid un-suspended main frame and rear wheel. The term hardtail differentiates it from full suspension bikes – with suspension at both wheels – as well as fully rigid bikes – which have rigid forks as well as rigid main frames.

What size frame should I buy?

Bike manufacturers use seat tube length to denote frame sizes. These can be in inches, or use descriptive terms like Small, Medium and Large. The problem is, there’s no standardised sizing tool, so one brand’s medium can be the same as another’s large.

Mountain biking is a dynamic sport, and you’ll be moving around the bike a lot when you’re riding. It follows, then, that you want plenty of clearance over the top tube when you’re standing astride the bike (called ‘standover’ height, and around three inches is a good starting point) but enough length between the seat and the handlebars that you don’t feel too cramped when sitting down and climbing.

Most brands will provide an online size guide, that will give you a recommended size based on your height. But be careful with these online size calculators as they’re not always that accurate. If in doubt, we’d recommend you go for the largest size you can get away with that still provides adequate standover clearance.

Read our guide: What mountain bike frame size should I ride?

What’s the best wheel size for a hardtail?

There are two main sizes of wheel on the market. They are 29in and 27.5in. So what are the pros and cons of each?

27.5in – Doesn’t roll as fast as 29in, but easier to turn and accelerate. Generally stronger and lighter than big wheels too. Paired with big volume tyres (2.5in and upwards) you get a more comfortable ride and improved grip.

29in – Rolls fast, more stable at speed and less interrupted by bumps, which makes them great on a hardtail, so long as the geometry is right. Wheels can be weaker and heavier though.

What are the best components – like forks, brakes and tyres – for a hardtail?

At the cheaper end of the market, try and choose a bike with an air-sprung fork. This will let you set adjust it to suit your body weight. Also try and get a fork with adjustable rebound damping at the minimum.

Disc brakes should be hydraulic, with replaceable brake pads. Some disc rotors only work with organic pad compounds, which wear quickly in the wet. A better option is to get a system that accepts sintered metal pads, as these are more durable.

While most new bikes come with inner tubes inside the tyres, a simple upgrade is to go tubeless , using liquid sealant inside the tyre to seal the air and even fix minor punctures without getting your hands dirty. So look for tubeless-ready tyres and wheels, to make the switch easier.

Don’t worry too much about things like grips and saddles , as these can be changed relatively cheaply at a later date to suit your personal preference.

Look for modern geometry

Good geometry (which goes hand-in-hand with frame-sizing) doesn’t increase the bottom line. Therefore quick-thinking smaller bike brands that aren’t asleep at the wheel can get ahead of their big-name rivals, or at the very least get a running start, by designing a frame with capable modern geometry.

Want to know what we mean by bike geometry and why it’s important to how your bike feels to ride? Read our deep dive on why geometry is so important.

Hardtails can be thrashed as hard as any bike

How do I get my new hardtail mountain bike set-up?

1. inflate your tyres.

Ignore the recommended tyre pressures printed on the sidewalls and aim for around 28psi front and 30psi rear – adjusting either way by a few psi if you weigh more or less than 75kg. Wide tyres can be run slightly softer than narrower ones, too – as low as 15psi for a 2.8in model.

Either way, too hard and they’ll be harsh and offer little grip; too soft and you’ll be more prone to pinch flats and you may even roll the tyre clean off the rim.

2. Adjust your handlebar controls

Disc brakes are so powerful you should only need to use one finger to slow down. Loosen the clamps and slide the levers away from the grips until your index finger rests right at the end of the lever blade. This gives you the most leverage and the most secure grip on the bars. Now slide your shifters against the brake clamps to make them accessible.

Your brake levers should be angled in line with your arms as they’re positions when you ride; don’t rotate them to point straight down.

3. Set your saddle position

Firstly, it’s critical you get the saddle height sorted for seated pedalling. As a rule of thumb, your leg should be straight, with your heel on the pedal and the crankarm in line with your extended leg. This allows for a slight bend in the knee when you place the ball of your foot on the pedal at your maximum saddle height.

For technical singletrack climbs, drop your saddle by 1-2cm to make balancing on the bike much easier. Slam the saddle all the way down for descending, and for the next step; setting your suspension…

4. Set-up your suspension fork

Don’t get distracted by handlebar lockouts as they aren’t much use off-road. Instead, focus on setting your sag correctly.

With an air-sprung fork start by using the recommendations printed on the leg. RockShox and Manitou have them, but not Suntour. You’ll need a shock pump to do this. If it has a lock out, check it’s in the open position first.

Now hop on the bike, lean against a wall and adopt the neutral riding position — out of the saddle with arms and legs bent. Bounce up and down on the fork and let it settle to the sagged position. The sag is how much the suspension compresses under your weight. Start with 20 to 25 per cent of the fork’s travel, so if you fork has 100mm of travel, it should compress by 20-25mm. Use the rubber O-ring or a zip tie on the leg to measure this.

Be sure to set the sag in your full riding kit, with backpack and water included.

5. Set your handlebar height

Finally, adjust your stem height. Raising your stem will give you more confidence on the descents, by making it much easier to shift your weight rearward. Too high, however, and you won’t have enough weight on the front tyre for grip on flat corners. It’s worth noting that stem height is closely related to fork set-up, as a combination of both will determine the height of the handlebar.

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Best hardtail mountain bikes in 2024 | Top-rated hardtail MTBs and our buyer's guide

Our pick of the best hardtail mountain bikes over £2,000, under £2,000, under £1,500 and under £1,000

Mick Kirkman

The humble hardtail mountain bike seems to be going through a mini-revival, with a raft of cross-country, downcountry, trail and even radder rigid frames being introduced.

What are the advantages of a hardtail? Where uphill speed matters, the direct connection from crank to axle, without energy-inefficient suspension spoiling the fun, is the quickest way to get up to speed.

Riding rough-and-ready trails on a hardtail might beat you up a little more, but there’s something almost zen-like about being able to pick the smoothest line between the chunder, while pumping through rollers to generate free speed.

Hardtails are often also lighter, easier to maintain and cheaper than full-suspension mountain bikes, because there are fewer moving parts to add weight, service or build in the first place.

Here, we've put together our pick of the best hardtail mountain bikes as ridden, rated and reviewed by the BikeRadar team.

Best hardtail mountain bikes in 2024, as rated by our expert testers

We've organised the list by price, use the links below to skip to the relevant section:

• Best hardtails over £2,000 / $2,300
• Best hardtails under £2,000 / $2,300
• Best hardtails under £1,500 / $1,700
• Best hardtails under £1,000 / $1,200
• Best hardtail frames

Best hardtail mountain bikes over £2,000 / $2,300

Lapierre prorace cf 9.9.

• £5,999 / €6,799 as tested
• Pros: Good value for money; all-round capability; compliance adds speed
• Cons: Press-fit bottom bracket

The Lapierre Prorace CF 9.9 is the French brand's top-end hardtail designed for cross-country racing.

A compliant carbon fibre frame, which uses a triple-triangle design to give lateral flex to the bike's rear end, aids vibration damping over chattery trails, while adding traction on technical climbs.

The geometry makes the bike agile and engaging on the trail, with the Prorace inspiring confidence on descents where others feel twitchy.

While it's not cheap, the addition of SRAM's X01 AXS groupset, RockShox SID SL Ultimate fork and Lapierre's own XC SL carbon wheelset make this a good value proposition.

• Read our full Lapierre Prorace CF 9.9 review

Mason Raw Deore XT + Hope upgrade pack

• £4,800 as tested
• Pros: High levels of versatility thanks to mounting points; steel feel; nice details
• Cons: Saddle shuffling

Mason excellently balances versatility and capability with the Raw, with plenty of mounts opening up bikepacking and the geometry welcoming technical trails.

The bike feels great when munching up trails, with the steel frame soaking up imperfections with incredible smoothness.

We found we had to adjust our position on the saddle quite a bit when climbing steeper sections of trail.

• Read our full Mason Raw Deore XT + Hope upgrade pack review

Cannondale Scalpel HT Carbon 4

• £2,600 / $2,300 / €2,699 as tested
• Pros: Good value for money; fun and capable on technical trails; strong spec choices
• Cons: Some chain slap; bottle bosses on seat tube limit post insertion

The Scalpel HT Carbon 4 takes a break from traditional XC race bike design, with the slack head angle making the bike feel incredibly capable when pointed down a trail.

Cannondale has given the bike a top spec for the money, with a RockShox SID SL fork supporting the front end and a Shimano Deore 12-speed groupset used for shifting.

The flex zone suspension in the rear triangle gives a controlled feel, with the bike remaining composed and grip plentiful on ascents and descents.

• Read our full Cannondale Scalpel HT Carbon 4 review

Fairlight Holt XT

• £3,709 as tested
• Pros: Impressive ride quality; all-day comfort; tidy fixtures and fittings; custom build options
• Cons: Nervous on technical trails

The Holt doesn't thrive on technical trails, with the steep head angle making it feel more awkward than other downcountry hardtails.

We found the bike covered the ground well, with the steel frame adding a smooth ride quality that makes it a lot of fun.

Plenty of mounts make the bike well-suited to bikepacking, which is where the brand's heritage lies.

• Read our full Fairlight Holt XT review

Merida Big.Nine TR 8000

• £5,000 as tested
• Pros: Direct and fast-reacting frame; well-specced
• Cons: Wheels aren't the most compliant; two-piston brakes and wider tyres are desired

The Big.Nine TR 8000 is a trail version of Merida's hardtail cross-country bike, which sees beefier suspension and components.

We found the bike to be nimble and fast on the trails, easily picking up speed and carrying it up the hills.

The brakes and tyres held it back on the descents, but for those looking for something a notch more capable than a cross-country bike, the Big.Nine TR 8000 is well suited.

• Read our full Merida Big.Nine TR 8000 review

Pivot LES SL 29 Pro XT/XTR

• £6,750 / $6,199 as tested
• Pros: Confidence-inspiring geometry; good grip without sacrificing speed; excellent fork
• Cons: Pricey; press-fit BB isn't ideal for home mechanics

Pivot's LES SL 29 Pro XT/XTR is the brand's carbon fibre cross-country race hardtail, which is hinted at in the pun-based name of the bike.

The lateral compliance in the frame enables you to maintain a high speed over chattery terrain, while the geometry makes the bike nimble through the trees and efficient on hills.

While it's expensive, the bike comes well specced with a combination of Shimano XT and XTR parts used in the groupset, alongside a 100mm Fox 32 Factory StepCast fork, though we'd have liked to have seen carbon wheels featuring at this price point.

• Read our full Pivot LES SL 29 Pro XT/XTR review

Best hardtail mountain bikes under £2,000 / $2,300

Sonder signal st nx.

• £1,599 / $2,297 / €1,799 / AU$2,914
• Pros: Great geometry; decent tyres
• Cons: Short-travel dropper and small discs hold it back

The Sonder Signal ST NX is a steel hardtail that's made to the British company’s principles of value for money and hard-charging, descent-focused bikes.

The Signal ticks all the modern aggressive trail bike boxes with a large reach, 66-degree head tube and 74-degree seat tube. Heading downhill, the bike pulls at the leash and rides across roots with ease.

This bike was never intended to be a fast climber, but it does spin comfortably uphill and is confident over technical inclines.

WTB tyres help the Signal find grip wherever possible and the 130mm RockShox Revelation RC fork is good in most circumstances. It would be nice to have a slightly longer dropper to create enough space to move your weight around in the sketchiest of situations.

Overall, the Signal has a great chassis that wouldn’t look out of place on a much pricier bike, and there is a good level of kit for the money without too much compromise.

• Read our full Sonder Signal ST NX review

Best hardtail mountain bikes under £1,500 / $1,700

Giant fathom 29 2.

• £1,399 / $1,500 / €1,299 as tested
• Pros: Good spec for the money; up-to-date geometry; dropper seatpost
• Cons: Modern geometry may see some riders needing to size down

The Fathom 29 2 impressed us with its well-considered component choices and Giant's suspension fork.

This leads to a bike that feels comfortable and capable, even on trail-centre black routes, with the Maxxis tyres offering plenty of grip.

We found the sizing to be a little bigger than expected, so small riders may want to look into this before purchasing.

• Read our full Giant Fathom 29 2 review

Kona Kahuna

• £1,199 as tested
• Pros: Superb ride quality; well-specced Shimano groupset and brakes
• Cons: No dropper post

Kona’s endearing Kahuna offers a commendable ride quality in its latest guise. With a curvy shape and low-slung top tube, the cross-country frame offers a lively ride with instantaneous acceleration when you crank up the power on the pedals .

The Kahuna features a Shimano Deore 12-speed groupset, which is the best you can get for the asking price, as well as reliable Shimano MT410 hydraulic disc brakes .

What holds the bike back from a full 5-star rating is its more traditional geometry and its quick-release rear axle, which limits wheel-upgrade potential. The Kahuna also lacks a dropper seatpost , although the frame has the possible routing for one, should you wish to upgrade.

• Read our full Kona Kahuna review

Merida Big.Trail 600

• £2,000 / €2,350 as tested
• Pros: Good versatility; reach-based sizing thanks to short seatstays
• Cons: Tyre could be wider; early models have long cranks

Merida's Big.Trail 600 has a progressive frame with a short seat tube enabling you to pick a size that best suits your reach measurement.

We found the bike to be an efficient climber, with the seating position offering good comfort and the tyre choice adding good grip without sacrificing rolling resistance.

We would have liked wider rubber for added grip on the descents, but that's not to say the tyres aren't capable enough.

RockShox's Pike fork impresses, and the Shimano gears and XT brakes make for a good all-round spec.

• Read our full Merida Big.Trail 600 review

• £1,250 as tested
• Pros: Fun ride quality; good components; four-piston brakes
• Cons: Quite stretched-out when climbing

The 529 is a fun-loving hardtail with decent-focused geometry and components.

We found the bike performed well on a variety of trails, with trail-centre black trails within its remit.

A low bottom bracket makes the bike quick to turn, while a slack head angle adds confidence when going down steep shoots.

This hinders climbing performance, with our tester experiencing a stretched-out feeling when going uphill.

• Read our full Whyte 529 review

Best hardtail mountain bikes under £1,000/$1,200

Carrera fury.

• £600 as tested
• Pros: Great value for money; comfortable on the hills; good geometry
• Cons: Front fork holds the bike back; non-Boost hub spacing limits wheel choice

With a dropper post, Shimano Deore drivetrain, WTB Trail Boss tyres and £600 price tag, the Carrera Fury is probably one of the best value-for-money mountain bikes out there.

The Fury can also lay claim to having a more progressive geometry than many of its competitors at this price point. This helps make it comfortable on climbs, and when paired with its 650b wheels it has a solid, stable feel and great descending composure.

We weren’t without quibbles when testing this bike, though. The air-sprung front fork doesn’t offer great small-bump sensitivity, and a fork upgrade isn’t viable at this price. It would be nice to see Boost spacing too.

Despite these points, you do get a lot of performance for the money and the Fury trumps its competitors in multiple ways. A better fork would just elevate this steal of a bike even further.

• Read our full Carrera Fury review

Rockrider AM 100

• £999 as tested
• Pros: Modern geometry; poppy and balanced handling; good value
• Cons: Dropper could be longer; can't be set up tubeless

Rockrider's AM 100 is our Budget Mountain Bike of the Year 2024 .

The AM 100 has an up-to-date frame design that performs well on the downhill, while maintaining good ground-covering performance.

We struggled with rock strikes on our size-small bike with the BB height is a little low because it uses a 27.5in wheel on the rear.

• Read our full Rockrider AM100 review

Voodoo Bizango Pro

• £950 / $1,258 as tested
• Pros: High-quality spec for the price; good upgrade potential; lightweight
• Cons: Poor seat tube tolerance; high stack height

The Voodoo Bizango Pro offers top performance at a bargain price. The quality spec includes a RockShox FS-35 Gold 130mm fork, Shimano Deore 12-speed and Maxxis tyres helping to get the most out of the frame.

The Bizango Pro inspires plenty of confidence, with the bike feeling stable downhill and especially when railing berms thanks to it's progressive geometry and decent tyres. We even felt comfortable to push the it further than trail centre blues and reds, with it continuing to shine on more technical trails.

The 35mm stanchioned fork was easy to set up and performed well, giving the bike a solid feeling at the front end and allowing for open line choice through rockier sections.

Tolerances between the seat tube and seatpost are quite large, which leads to the saddle dropping on occasion, though this was solved with application of some carbon assembly paste.

• Read our full Voodoo Bizango Pro review

Marin Bobcat Trail 5

• £985 / $999 / €1,149 as tested
• Pros: Well-considered spec; progressive geometry; comfortable ride
• Cons: Coil fork is harder to tune

The Bobcat Trail 5 is an excellent hardtail mountain bike that uses the Bobcat Trail frameset, and is built up with a 120mm Suntour XCR 32 fork and 1x11 Shimano Deore drivetrain.

The fork is coil-sprung, which made it difficult initially to set up the suspension. We found it to be less effective than air-sprung forks found on similarly priced bikes.

We were impressed by the bike's handling and the high levels of stability that the long-reach frame provided with its 67.5-degree head angle.

The aggressive geometry provides good confidence beyond the bike's intended use.

• Read our full Marin Bobcat Trail 5 review

Specialized Rockhopper Elite 29

• £949 / $1,150 / €975 / AU$1,300 as tested
• Pros: Fast-rolling and quick up the hills; lightweight and well specced; fast-rolling tyres
• Cons: Short travel limits technical riding

The Rockhopper Elite 29 rolls fast and descends well thanks to 29in wheels and a solid spec choice.

A RockShox Judy Solo Air fork provides good support on the descents, with the short travel, which ranges from 80mm to 100mm depending on size, making for engaging an ride. However, there is more work to be done by the rider compared to other bikes with more suspension.

The 29in wheels help with line choice, and enable the bike to monster over the type technical sections that feature in trail centres.

• Read our full Specialized Rockhopper Elite 29 review

Calibre Rake 29

• £700 (£550 with GO Outdoors membership card) as tested
• Pros: Impressive value for money; playful handling
• Cons: Quick-release wheels limit upgrades

The Calibre Rake 29 is incredibly well specced for the money, featuring components found on bikes twice its price.

A 100mm RockShox FS-Judy TK helps isolate you from rough trails, although there's some flex in the fork on hard compressions.

The Clarks M2 hydraulic disc brakes give the bike a controlled feel that enables you to tackle trail-centre descents with confidence.

A 66-degree head angle also helps in keeping the bike under control at high speed.

While the frame was quite stiff, the WTB Trail Boss tyres provided plenty of comfort and gave enough grip to comfortably push the bike.

• Read our full Calibre Rake 29 review

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Buyer’s guide to hardtail mountain bikes

Hardtail vs full-suspension mountain bike.

Stuck between whether a hardtail or full-suspension mountain bike best suits your requirements?

It all depends on the type of mountain biking you would like to take part in. Hardtails are more capable than you might initially think, but full-suspension mountain bikes come into their own on more technical terrain, especially when the gradients point downwards.

Budget is the biggest factor and (with few exceptions), the entry point to a full-suspension bike is much higher than that for a hardtail. The best mountain bikes under £1,500 see full-suspension start to become available and as you start to spend more, you'll find updates in frame materials , as well as better components and suspension specced.

What is a hardtail mountain bike bike best for?

It is possible to ride any discipline on a hardtail, with cross-country, trail and enduro all catered for by manufacturers.

Hardtail mountain bikes have long been a favourite of cross-country riders for their direct pedalling efficiency and lighter weight when compared to full-suspension bikes.

Hardtails also cover the trail and enduro categories, with some featuring super-slack geometry to accommodate 170mm forks.

Many riders choose to ride hardtails for their mechanical simplicity, which can require a more involved and skilful riding experience

Hardtail mountain bikes usually dominate the lower end of the market and can be a great way of getting onto the trails if you don’t want to splash out for a full-suspension model.

Hardtail mountain bikes vs full-suspension mountain bikes

Hardtail mountain bikes are much simpler than full-suspension bikes, with only a suspension fork and tyres providing any damping from the trail below.

Full-suspension bikes feel more isolated from the trail, which can reduce rider fatigue and enable a more brazen riding style because the suspension will help save you from poor line choices.

While full-suspension bikes are more capable on rough technical descents, they require more moving parts, such as a linkage and rear shock. These cost more and need regular servicing.

This also makes them heavier than hardtails, which can mean they're less fun to pedal. Full-suspenion bikes will give you better traction on rough terrain though.

Some hardtail mountain bikes feature flexible zones in the frame that allow for vertical compliance to reduce vibrations and provide more grip.

What components should I look for on a hardtail mountain bike?

Tyres and wheels.

Because hardtails have less mechanical suspension, tyre and wheel choice is even more important.

Wider mountain bike tyres will enable you to run your tyre pressures lower, especially if you have your bike set up tubeless .

The best mountain bike wheels will feature wide internal rims. These provide tyres with a confidence-boosting wide stance and increased volume.

The fork is also important because it provides your only damped suspension.

Wider stanchions add weight but provide increased rigidity, improving control for trail riding. Lightweight cross-country forks will often feature narrower stanchions that feel more flexible in high-compression corners.

Check out our buyer's guide to mountain bike forks for more information.

Dropper post

A dropper post is always a good addition, especially on a hardtail because it enables you to move your weight more freely over the back wheel to find a grip.

What is the best wheel size for a hardtail mountain bike?

Because hardtail mountain bikes have less suspension than full-suspension bikes, they're affected more by rocks and bumps in the trail.

29in wheels roll over objects easier than 27.5in wheels due to their increased size. This makes them a popular choice for all hardtail riders, from cross-country to enduro.

A smaller wheel size may be desired if you are looking for a more playful bike, but there will be trade-offs in speed and damping.

Hardtail mountain bike geometry

Hardtail mountain bike geometry varies depending on discipline, with bikes designed for more gravity-fed riding featuring long, low and slack geometry just like their full-suspension counterparts.

Hardtails usually feature a sloping top tube, which keeps the weight of the bike lower which helps to keep it more stable.

It also makes it easier to move around the bike, because there’s no horizontal head tube in your way, and improves seated comfort because more seatpost is exposed, which adds compliance.

Without the room needed for a linkage, chainstay lengths can be made much smaller than full-suspension bikes, giving hardtails a more playful and responsive ride.

Cross-country hardtails will usually feature steep seat tube angles to centre your weight over the pedals for uphill efforts, and a long front centre for a more stretched-out riding style.

How much should I spend on a hardtail mountain bike?

Hardtails are known for their affordable price tags – most entry-level mountain bikes worth consideration are hardtails.

However, as our best list shows, there are hardtails in every price range – how much you spend is really determined by how much you’re willing to pay, and what you are looking for.

Hardtail mountain bikes aren’t necessarily cheaper than full-suspension bikes, with high-end cross-country hardtails being priced very similarly to their full-suspension counterparts.

At this end of the market, you can expect to see drool-worthy components on ridiculously light frames.

Decent hardtails start from £500, with bikes at this price point usually featuring trail-ready geometry and components.

What's your budget?

It's no surprise that hardtails dominate our buyer's guides to the best mountain bikes under £500 , best mountain bikes under £750 and best mountain bikes under £1,000 , but they're not always the best option for every rider.

If you're in the market for a full-suspension bike, make sure you check out our guides to the best trail bikes , best downcountry bikes and best enduro mountain bikes.

We've also got a list of the best cross-country bikes , covering both hardtail and full-suspension designs for XC racing . You may also be interested in our round-up of the best electric mountain bikes .

Still unsure? Head to our guide on how to choose the best mountain bike for you, with the pros and cons of each category.

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Bikeradar newsfeed, best mountain bike in 2024 | find the right mtb for your riding and budget, best mountain bikes under £750 2024 | top-rated affordable mountain bikes, best mountain bikes for around £1,000 in 2024 | top-rated bikes for mountain biking on a budget.

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Rigs of the 2024 Silk Road Mountain Race (SRMR)

By Miles Arbour

Associate Editor & Events Manager

1,860 Posts

The sixth edition of the Silk Road Mountain Race follows a 1,938-kilometer off-road route through the rugged mountains of Kyrgyzstan. Just in time for the 2024 grand depart, we rounded up details on nearly 100 rigs that will be on the course for this year’s event. Dig into our mega gallery here, complete with bag and gear highlights for each…

PUBLISHED Aug 16, 2024

Since the inaugural event in 2018, the Silk Road Mountain Race (SRMR) has grown into one of the most anticipated events in the world of ultra-distance bikepacking. Each year, riders from across the globe flock to Kyrgyzstan to tackle the 1,938-kilometer route, following gravel, doubletrack, and old Soviet roads. For the first time since the second grand depart in 2019, the SRMR returns to Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan’s capital, for the start of the race. The first big challenge will be Kegeti Pass at 3,805 meters in the Kyrgyz Ala-Too mountain range, just over 100 kilometers into the race.

The 2024 Silk Road Mountain Race is shaping up to be the biggest yet, with 188 riders lining up at the grand depart. There are 35 nationalities represented, with 148 riders racing solo and another 40 riders in the pairs category. There are 164 men and 24 women racing, with strong fields in both categories. The race takes off tomorrow evening at 10 p.m. local time.

With the help of this year’s participants, we gathered details on nearly 100 rigs that will be taking on the race’s 2024 edition. We included details on each rider’s bike, bags, and other highlights, as well as their age and hometown. Check them out below, and then head to the 2024 Silk Road Mountain Race Tracker to follow along live.

Brian Alder

Age 59 / takaka (new zealand).

BIKE : Once again, I’ll be riding my Santa Cruz Chameleon C, with Fox SC 34 fork, Shimano XT brakes, and drivetrain, Vittoria Mezcal 2.35″ tires, Son dynamo with kLite lights. New for this setup is a Cane Creek eeSilk+ seatpost to try to smooth out the Kyrgyz washboard. BAGS : A suite of trusted Apidura bags that have been with me for nearly a decade, plus a custom frame bag from a mate back home. GEAR HIGHLIGHTS : I’m taking a Terra Nova tent, a Cumulus sleeping bag, a foam pad for sleeping, and a 7Mesh Sky Pilot jacket that is just the bomb. My view of the world will be enhanced by eyewear from Julbo.

Age 32 / London (United Kingdom)

BIKE : Specialized Epic Comp. BAGS : A real mixed bag of Tailfin, Revelate, Ortlieb, and Bike Bag Dude (BBD) from Australia. Surprisingly they all match reasonably well! I’m pretty chuffed that my Tailfin frame bag fits perfectly, albeit upside down. GEAR HIGHLIGHTS : This is my first full sus MTB and I’m hoping it will pay off for this notorious route. Also I’ll be bringing my mascot Cam the Chameleon, who has travelled over 15,000km with me from Townsville, Australia.

Lars Tefre Baade

Age 47 / oslo (norway).

BIKE : Belle GRAR, Handmade custom steel made by Enrico Bellé (Barcelona), it’s the perfect setup for Norwegian woods and mountains summer and winter. G23 ENVE wheels, Easton crank and Shimano GRX (12s), Wahoo ELMNT Computer, Enve parts. BAGS : Full Tailfin set up.

Angel Ballesteros

Age 39 / madrid (spain).

BIKE : I will be riding SRMR 2024 on a Marin Headlands 2 with many upgrades from factory. A single 30T XTR crankset with XT touring pedals, 51T cassette from Garbaruk and modified GRX derailleur with Garbaruk cage and pulleys. XTR M9000 wheel set with front hub replaced for a SON Dynamo powering a Supernova m99 light set and a B+M usb outlet on custom wiring. Tyres are Rene Herse Oracle 48 front and Manastash 44 rear endurance plus casing, running tubeless for the time. The stock fork has been replaced by a FOX 32TC 50mm travel suspension with a 180mm disc. Rear disc remains 160mm, while both are Shimano ice discs with SwissStop brake shoes. BAGS : My setup is a mix of custom and off the shelf bags. The eye catching bags are from a Greek indi manufacturer ENABags. The cockpit area is composed of quick access bags, such as a modded toptube bag with magnetic lid, a feed bag and, (my personal favourite) a roll top stem bag for my camera. The custom framebag is bolted in place and it allows me to optimize the space and fit two big water bottles because I sweat a lot. Last but not least is my Saddlebag Overnight, also from ENABags, with the super stable Carradice Bagman QR support! GEAR HIGHLIGHTS : Camp minima superlight will be my shelter, Therm-a-Rest NeoAir XTherm Sleeping Pad, Rab ascent 700 XL sleeping bag. USWE Outlander Pro for hydration and a Garmin 1040 Solar for navigation. One 20,000 mAh powerbank, a Petzl headlamp, and my light Olympus MJU II with two B&W film cartridges to remember some epic moments.

Martino Basilisco

Age 27 / milano (italy).

BIKE : I’ll be riding a Merida BigNine900, equipped with Shimano XT with a 32T cog, 10-51 cassette, and Pirelli Scorpion XC tires. BAGS : Apidura backcountry frame bag, Apidura Expedition front bag and rear, two Decathlon Buds, Miss Grape Node 2h. GEAR HIGHLIGHTS : Pantani sticker on the front bars. Alé alé alé!

Cristian Batista

Age 32 / cadiz (spain).

BIKE : Canyon Lux CF7 equipped with full XT, 32T chainring, Rene Herse Fleecer Ridge tyres, and a pair of Reynols carbon wheels. BAGS : Apidura saddle, frame and pouch bags, an un-branded front roll, and a light Silva 10L vest for the ‘food’. GEAR HIGHLIGHTS : Exposure light Zenith and Toro for the darkest times. Wahoo Elemnt Roam for navigation. A Sea to Summit sleeping bag to keep me toasty, Alpkit Bivy, and Nemo sleeping pad.

Gokay Biyik

Age 39 / giresun (turkey).

BIKE : I’ll be riding Cinelli Hobootleg Geo, steel frame with a rigid carbon fork, have no suspension to keep a fair level of underbiking. I upgraded 2×10 drivetrain to more capable mullet setup, GRX812 rear derailleur with 11-46T cassette, and a Deore front derailleur with 26-36T chainring. Bike will roll on a pair of 2.25” WTB Ranger tires with stock aluminium wheels. BAGS : All bags are from Turkish brand Pack2Ride, total capacity of almost 35L which gives me plenty of space for food. A dry handlebar bag for sleep system, a saddlebag for clothes and food, two small top tube bags for electronics and hydration, and a frame bag for more food and a power bank. With Rhinowalk saddle mount, I can carry 1L bottles on both sides of my saddlebag. GEAR HIGHLIGHTS : Old and trusted NorthFace Assault bivy, Marmot down sleeping bag, and Forclaz air mattress will be my home for the days on the altitude again. I’ll use 24K Anker 737 power bank, which recharge itself in less than hour, so I can charge my Garmin inReach messenger, Edge 540, and Decathlon FL940 front light.

Sven Bohmert

Age 31 / frankfurt (germany).

BIKE : I’ll be riding the SRMR on a self-made steel frame. The bike features a new pair of Vittoria Mezcal 2.35” tires on custom wheels from Aumer.92 with a SON Dynamo and a modified Shimano GRX 2×11 with GoatLink to run a 11-46T cassette. The resulting gear range is 648% (ratio 0.67-4.36). Handlebar, stem, and seatpost are carbon manufactured by Beast Components in Dresden, Germany. BAGS : It’s a combination of Ortlieb for seat pack, frame bag and handlebar, and Apidura for top tube and food bags. A Seat to Summit dry bag is mounted left and right on the fork for sleeping bag and cooking equipment. GEAR HIGHLIGHTS : A Lupine Blika headlamp to turn night into day. A classic MSR Hubba Hubbs will provide shelter in combination of a Nordisk Balance 600 sleeping bag and a Therm-a-Rest NeoAir mat.

Abhirup Bose

Age 34 / kolkata (india).

BIKE : I will be using a Giant XTC SLR with Hunt Race XC wheelset, Maxxis Rekon Race 2.25″ tires. It runs on a standard Shimano 12-speed drivetrain with 30T chainring up front. I have a Prime Primevera clip on aerobar and a self-made aerobar bridge made out of CPVC pipe. BAGS : I will run a locally-made frame bag. It’s made by Our Slug Life. The rest of the bags are of the Apidura expedition series. Water bottles will be in the handlebar and downtube. GEAR HIGHLIGHTS : I will use a Gipfel bivy tent along with an old down sleeping bag. I will use a Garmin EDGE 540 primarily for navigation.

Benjamin Carrell

Age 61 / christchurch (new zealand).

BIKE : Trek Supercaliber on 2.35″ Maxxis Ardent Race tyres, 1×11, 51-10T, 30T, running a SON dynamo with kLite lighting system. BAGS : Mostly Revelate Designs bags with a custom-made Stealth frame bag. GEAR HIGHLIGHTS : Garmin 1040 Solar, back up with Android phone, Durston tent, Spark 2 sleeping bag and sleeping pad.

Matthieu Caulier

Age 35 / nantes (france).

BIKE : I will ride a Surly Karate Monkey with a RockShox SID Ultimate fork. It has a 1×11 Shimano XT drivetrain with a 32T chaining, Hope Tech 3 brakes, and a Shutter Precision dynamo hub wired to a Plug 6 Plus charger. I’m rolling on Spank rims with Minion SS tires. My lights will be Busch + Müller IQ-100l. This setup was put together will help from a little shop in Nantes, “La Poule Noire”. BAGS : I have custom bags made by Compackt bags, made specifically for this race. The bag under the saddle will rest on a Tumbleweed T-Rack. GEAR HIGHLIGHTS : My bags, a custom saddle made by “My Saddle,” and my sleeping gear; Big Agnes Fly Creek HV UL1, Valandre duvet, and Sea to Summit air mat.

Mathew Cerutty

Age 37 / tasmania (australia).

BIKE : I will be on my ever trusty 2017 Trek Superfly, which has been somewhat completely overhauled for the SRMR by my team mate Adrian. It has a SRAM drivetrain with 10-50/32T, SRAM Stealth brakes, Dt Swiss wheels with dynamo and kLite setup, the ever bombproof Maxxis Icons. BAGS : Tailfin rack and pannier, Revelate Designs framebag, Revelate Designs harness and front pocket. GEAR HIGHLIGHTS : The Tailfin is a standout addition, such a high quality product and the dynamo headlight/charging situation is a game changer for me. I have opted for a Sea to Summit single person tent setup with my Mont -6 sleeping bag to combat the high altitude cold nights. For tools and repairs, I have a team mate who is a bike mechanic by trade.

Almond Edgar David Chismorie

Age 26 / alba iulia (romania).

BIKE : I’ll ride the new released Specialized Chisel full suspension bike that arrived 8 days before the race start. Other components include 2.25″ Maxxis Ikons, Selle Italia Superflow saddle, 32T chainring, and aerobars with a 3D printed mount for front light. BAGS : Apidura 17L saddle bag and top tube bag, too late for a custom frame bag, and an Acepac handlebar bag. Trying to fit everything is a bit hard, I would probably take more bags next time. GEAR HIGHLIGHTS : Mountain Hardware 0-degree sleeping bag and a small Ferrino tent for sleeping out more often, two power banks, a Salomon Hydration Vest, food for three days, and the support of my local community.

Age 22 / Chesterfield, New Jersey (USA)

BIKE : I’ll be riding the Silk Road Mountain Race on a Marin Bobcat Trail 4. The bike has an aluminum frame, SR/Suntour XCM HLO-DS Front fork, and a 32T crankset with a 11-46T cassette. BAGS : All my bags are Amazon finds and been adjusted to fit the bike. GEAR HIGHLIGHTS : Kitchen wash gloves acting as my waterproof gloves and neoprene socks.

Age 39 / Sydney (Australia)

BIKE : For my first race ever, I will be riding a 2023 Canyon Grizl. I have added a Rockshox Rudy 40mm suspension fork, which isn’t much travel but hopefully will help a little. I’ve also got a Redshift ShockStop suspension seatpost. I am running a 1×12 Mechanical Shimano GRX groupset with a 10-51T cassette on the back, but I have changed the crankset to a SRAM to make it easier to get a 30T chainring on the front. A SON 28 Dynamo will power my light and keep my things charged. I have upgraded the stock wheels to a Hunt 35 carbon gravel wheel set and running 2.0″ Maxxis Ikons on both the front and back. This is the max clearance that the bike can take, I would have loved to have a slightly wider tyre but such is life. I have also got some Profile Design aero bars attached for extra comfort. BAGS : Predominantly running Apidura bags with the exception of the Tailfin rear rack and a Revelate Designs Jerry can bag under the saddle. I have also strapped some Sea to Summit bags to the sides of the rear rack. GEAR HIGHLIGHTS : A Hyperlite Mid 1 tent along with a Sea to Summit mat and Mont Sleeping bag should keep me pretty comfy if the weather turns. A Garmin Edge 1040 should hopefully keep me riding in the right direction.

Charlie Coquillard

Age 32 / sydney, nsw (australia).

BIKE : Polygon Tambora G7 with Fox Float AX 32 & GX Mountain bike 12-speed groupset. I much prefer riding drop bars with aerobars on long distances, so I’ve made this gravel bike as “Hadrtaily” as I could. 580mm Spank bars, full SRAM Eagle groupset with a 38T cog, a 50mm travel Fox 32 at the front as well as Maxxis Rambler 45mm/50mm tires to smooth out some of the Kyrgyz roads and add some grip. I’ve also added a Crank Tank to carry water, which is much more practical than a bunch of water bottles, in my experience. BAGS : It’s kitted out with a mixed bag of bags from Restrap, Sea to Summit, and Amazon. The rear bag contains my clothes, the left fork bag has all the camping essentials, the right fork bag has all of my wet weather gear, and the front loader has my sleeping bag, all the meds and misc, as well as dried food and big carbs gel. The frame bag is reserved for daily snacks, tools, and spare parts. GEAR HIGHLIGHTS : The Crank Tank is a game changer from a hydration and space-saving perspective. The 600g, 1 pole tent from Six Moon Design has to be a highlight as it’s an amazing shelter that takes a very limited amount of space.

Jake Cullen

Vancouver, british columbia (canada).

BIKE : After finishing SRMR two years ago on a gravel bike and feeling very beat up, I bought this 2022 BMC Twostroke knowing I wanted to go back and be less beat up. I’ve got it built with a Sid SL Ultimate fork, GX Eagle AXS, and XT Brakes. I’ll be rolling on some We Are One Convergence rims laced to a SP dynamo up front and an I9 hub in the rear, and wrapped in Reneherse Fleecer Ridge Tires with Tannus inserts. To keep comfortable up front I’ve got some Salsa Rustler carbon bars cut down to 620mm, SQlabs Inner barends, and aerobars with Leap Components blip shifters at the ends. BAGS : Mostly Apidura with a well loved Expedition 9L saddle bag, a backcountry long top tube bag, a backcountry rear top tube bag, a backcountry 1L frame bag, and an Expedition Downtube bag for all my spares. Up front I have a Salsa Anything Cradle with a Salsa EXP dry bag and accessory bag. GEAR HIGHLIGHTS : I’m bringing the same two Bivo Duo bottles I raced with in 2022, they’re still going strong and ready for another lap of Kyrgyzstan. I’ll also be using the same Albion Zoa Rain and Insulated jackets I brought last time as they performed flawlessly. I’ll be sleeping in an OR Helium Bivvy with a Sea To Summit Spark II sleeping bag, and a Rab Ultrasphere 4.5 mat. My current favorite piece of gear is my Apidura Backcountry Hydration Backpack that has enough room for many day’s worth of instant noodles and Snickers, 2L of water in the bladder, and two big bottles of Sultan Chai on the sides.

Annie Dunlap

Age 25 / aldie, virginia (usa).

BIKE : I’ll be riding the Silk Road Mountain Race on a Canyon Grand Canyon 7. The bike has most of its original components including the SRAM SX Eagle 1×12 drivetrain and 11-50T cassette. Some modifications include the Redshift quick release aero bars (with risers) and Ergon GP3 touring grips. BAGS : The bike’s bag highlight is a custom frame bag from Straight Cut Designs (thanks, Ross!) along with two feed bags up front. I am running a Cyclelite handlebar roll bag and Old Man Mountain’s Divide rack. Rockgeist’s Microwave Panniers and top tube bags round out my setup. GEAR HIGHLIGHTS : I’ll be using a Garmin 1030 plus for navigation. My sleep setup includes the Eureka one man bivvy/tent, Kelty Cosmic 20 down sleeping bag, and Kymit Static V sleeping pad. My light setup is the Bookman 1500 lumen light, with four rechargeable back up batteries. I’ll be relying on 2x 20mAh power banks supported by a solar panel charger in the back. Nathan 2L hydration, one electrolyte bottle in a feedbag, and a downtube 1.5L Nalgene will keep me moving through heat.

Jade Saskia Simpson-Field

Age 32 / leeds (united kingdom).

BIKE : I’m riding a Cube AMS ONE11 TM full sus. It’s quite a boring grey and green. Set up with a 10-51T cassette and 30T ring, SON dynamo with a KLite ultra V2 light and Alpkit Confucius bars. I’ve gone with Rekon Race tires for better rolling on the gravel, and of course flat pedals for my sandals. BAGS : Restrap custom full frame bag and race top tube bag, plus a hike-a-bike harness (probably to be unused but we shall see!). Wizard Works stem pouches. Revelate Designs Salty Roll and front pouch bags on a Salsa Anything Cradle. Ortleib QR seatpost bag. Tailfin 3L downtube bag. Then I’ve got Salsa Anything Cages on my forks for extra water carrying capacity, and a backpack. GEAR HIGHLIGHTS : I’ll be snug in my pyjamas and Sea to Summit Flame 4 sleeping bag, inside my Nemo Hornet Elite tent every night. Taking a small stove, pillow, and tiny electric pump for my sleeping mat as luxury items. Sawyer mini filter, merino hat, and an extensive first aid kit are essentials.

Jono Freeman

Age 31 / bushwick, new york (usa).

BIKE : If it ain’t broke, fix it ’til it is! A ’23 Santa Cruz Highball running a very similar setup to last year with a couple important changes. 20mm more disc in the front, two more pistons on the calipers, and a sick recycled fender by Trash Gear Co to keep the fork serviceable. BAGS : A full set of Revelate Designs bags and a custom Rogue Panda framebag that will be stuffed to the brim with Tandyr nan and coffee cookies. GEAR HIGHLIGHTS : This year, unlike the last, I’ve brought some actual bikepacking experience for more tangible stressors and I’ve traded a sticker of Erin for the real thing! Instead of bothering her over satellite message, I can yell behind me and get my reply that much faster. Oh, and a Nemo Hornet Osmo 2P tent to fit us both.

Michael Gaffey

Age 49 / boston, massachusetts (usa).

BIKE : Seven Sola S hardtail mostly XTR with Fox 32 step-cast suspension fork, Envy flat bar, Whisky No.9 36w Rims with Mezcal XC trail tires 29 x 2.35″ (2.25″ rear), SON Dynamo hub, rear DT Swiss hub 180, 1×12, 30T chainring, 11-51T cassette, Redshift suspension seat post, Selle Italia SLR Superflow saddle and Exposure Revo light. BAGS : CamelBak Chase 8 Vest (2L bladder), Topeak frontloader handlebar bag, Bontrager top tube bag (Sinewave Revolution charger), Moosetreks stem feed bags, Ortlieb frame 6L (3L bladder, pump) and 16.5L seat bag (sleeping kit). GEAR HIGHLIGHTS : Ti frame.

Raphael Gassmann

Age 34 / lucerne (switzerland).

BIKE : Specialized Epic World Cup, 30T chainring paired with SRAM Eagle 10-52T cassette, carbon crankset, SQlab inner barends, Ergon grips, Zipp Vuka aerobars with Satellite shifters, Supernova front and rear lights, Klite switch paired with Sinewave Cycles USB charger, SON dynamo hub, Vittoria Mezcal tubeless 2.35″. BAGS : Dispersed handlebar roll, Choike Jumbo stem bags, Restrap top tube (long 2L), Bicicaja custom frame bag ‘The Hermit’, Apidura saddle bag 9L and down tube bag 1.2L. Dynafit trail running vest with 2L bladder. GEAR HIGHLIGHTS : A larger titanium spoon to get the last bit of peanut butter out of the bottom of every jar. Pen and paper so I can sketch on every pass, I’ve promised to soak up the pure nature around me.

Gala Giannini

BIKE : I’ll be riding a Lee Cougan Rampage 428 equipped with Shimano XT 32T x 10-51T, Hunt wheels with Pirelli tires. BAGS : All from Miss Grape: il coso + trunk 8L, internode custom frame bag, cluster 7L saddle bag, big node, two buds. GEAR HIGHLIGHTS : A very lightweight tent and a very heavy honey jar.

Stanislav Gorbachevskii

Age 40 / sochi (russia).

BIKE : I’ll be riding a bike made by the new Russian bicycle brand DAUTOV Bros, the model MS-1 29″. The frame is made of TORAYCA HM T800 carbon. The bike features RockShox Reba RL Solo Air OneLoc Suspension Fork, Shimano Deore M6100 Groupset 1×12 speed, Shimano Deore brakes and Specialized Renegade 29 x 2.3″ tires. BAGS : Two types of bags: feed, tank and handlebar bags by VELOHOROSHO, and a custom full frame bag and a saddle bag by Alexander AS_CLOTHES. GEAR HIGHLIGHTS : 3F UL GEAR LanShan 1 pro tent, Kailas Trek 300 down sleeping bag, and Ferrino Air Light mat. Cooking kit consists of Toaks titanium 750ml cup and BRS-3000T titanium gas stove. For navigation, I’ll be using Coros Vertix watches and iPhone 13 pro.

Donato Gugliotta

Age 45 / bologna (italy).

BIKE : I’ll ride the SRMR with the beautiful Surly Karate Monkey hardtail with a suspension fork, steel frame, and 29″ wheels. The bike features 1×12 SRAM Eagle AXS with 30T chainring on the front and 10-52T cassette at the rear, Hunt wheels with a SON Dynamo where Supernova M99 Dy Pro Light and the Sinawave Revolution are connected in parallel, and Pirelli Gravel Mixed terrain tyres. BAGS : Top tube, frame bag, handlebar bag, saddle and fork bags, mixed brands. GEAR HIGHLIGHTS : Six Moon Designs Lunar Solo tent, Sea To Summit Spark Sp III sleeping bag, Therm-a-Rest NeoAir Xlite pad, Garmin Edge 1040 solar.

Ivan Gumbin

Age 27 / moscow (russia).

BIKE : Cannondale Scalpel HT Carbon 3, tested at several events in the UK, Rock Shox SID SL Ultimate 100mm fork, Shimano XT/SLX/Cannondale Hollowgram transmission, 30T х 10-51T, Shimano Deore/XT brakes, custom wheels by Keep Pedaling Manchester with Hope Pro 5/SON28 hubs, Sapim Spokes and DT Swiss XM421 rims. Continental Race King Protection 2.2″ tires with Vittoria XC Light inserts. Sine Wave Beacon light. A special detail of the build is my “Palka” handmade carbon handlebar from Bjorn Cycles. Ergon GS3 grips, Spirgrips, and Deda Elementi aerobars for extra comfort. BAGS : Bespoke frame bag from Restrap, saddle and handlebar bags from Apidura, top tube bag from Tailfin and two food pouches from Apidura. Handlebar bag: Zpacks Hexamid tent, Therm-a-Rest NeoAir NXT Lite sleeping mat, Therm-a-Rest Corus quilt, pillow, liner and SOL emergency bivy. Saddle bag: mainly for closing that mostly consists of Rapha MTB collection items. Frame bag: mainly for food, but also for repair, first aid and hygiene kits. Fuel tank: snacks and electronics. Food pouches: snacks and quick items. GEAR HIGHLIGHTS : Down socks and my Katadyn filter.

Bahadır Gungor

Age 36 / goteborg (sweden).

BIKE : Brother Cycles Big Bro frame, Nordest Kutxo fork, Curve Walmer bars, SRAM AXS Force/X01, E13 Helix 9-50T cassette, Absolute black 28T chainring, Hope RX4+ calipers and rotors, wheels are WTB CZR i30’s (28h) laced with Sapim CX ray’s to a DT350 in the back and a SP Dynamo in the front. Tires are 2.35″ Vittoria Mezcal. kLite kit for lighting and charging. BAGS : Custom THLP framebag, Revelate Designs Spinelock seatbag, Mountain Feedbags, handlebar harness and Mag-Tank top tube bag. GEAR HIGHLIGHTS : This time around, I’m bringing a warm and cozy sleep system consisting of an Enlightened Equipment Apex Revelation quilt, Outdoor Research Alpine bivy, and Rab booties.

Lena Halvari

Age 49 / kalmar (sweden).

BIKE : I ‘ll be riding SRMR on a 2016 S-Works Era, full suspension with SRAM XX1, 30T/10-40T. Roval Control SL back wheel and DT Swiss M462 front wheel with Vittoria Mezcal 2.25″ Tubeless. In the front, I have a SP PD-8x dynamo hub connected to Sinewave Revolution USB outlet for loading my Linocell Solar Powerbank 20,000mAh. I have also an aerobar PRO Missile S-Bend and flat handlebars together with Grip Shift and PRO Anatomic Ergo Bar Ends. BAGS : In the front I have a Blackburn Outpost 14L. On the forks I have two Newboler 7L. In the back I use a Topeak Tetrarack M2 HD together with a Ortlieb Drybag 22L. Other small bags on the bike is a Colombus Dry Bag 1L, Restrap Top Tube 1L, and two Fjällräven/Specialized Snack Bags. GEAR HIGHLIGHTS : For a tent I’m using a MSR Freelite 1 V3 as I’m riding in a pair. I sleep on a Sea To Summit Ultralight pad and Sea To Summit Aeros Ultralight L pillow together with Marmot Trestles Elite sleeping bag. To light up the nights I use a Magicshine MJ902ES together with a Silva Trail Speed 5 headlamp. To navigate I’ll use a Garmin Epic 1040 Solar. For water purification I use a Katadyn Vario. I’m bringing a Primus Lite XL stove and a Salomon XA25 backpack with Camelback water bladder and soft flasks.

Kodi Hodgen

Age 34 / exshaw, alberta (canada).

BIKE : I’ll be racing the SRMR on my Salsa Cutthroat. It’s been set up as a hardtail with 100mm of suspension up front, 1×12 with 30T chainring and a 52T granny gear. Running Maxxis Ikon tires, 2.35” and 2.2”, front and rear. Redshift Endurance seatpost for keeping the bumps at bay, and some aerobars for harpooning my fellow bikepackers. BAGS : Custom Rockgeist frame bag, Tailfin Aeropack and toptube bag, Relevate Designs Pitchfork harness and tool bag. GEAR HIGHLIGHTS : OR Helium Bivy, kLite lighting system, Son 28 dynamo hub.

Age 37 / Leeds (United Kingdom)

BIKE : Fairlight Holt 29er, Rockshox SID 110mm fork, Shimano XT groupset, changed to a 30t chainring for this event Hope Fortus 26 with Vittoria Mezcal 2.35″ tires, Brook Cambium C15, Sonder Confucius handlebars, Ergon GS3 grips, Exposure lights and Restrap bags. BAGS : Restrap Race Range 7L saddle bag, Full custom frame bag, X2 Race stem bags. 14L bar bag/food pouch, Reverse top tube, and Race top tube bag. GEAR HIGHLIGHTS : This is the most gear I’ve taken on a race so it required moving the bottles to the forks using some Tailfin Sus fork mounts. I’ll be taking a tent which I don’t usually do, a Naturehike 1-person. I’m wearing quite a few Albion bits and probably my Decathlon vented shirt for those hotter days.

Charlotte Inman

Age 39 / united kingdom.

BIKE : I’ll be riding a very fun Ghost Lector Hardtail for my first bikepacking race, with SID Ultimate front suspension for the descents and a spinny SRAM Eagle XX drivetrain AXS shifting to help with the climbs. BAGS : A mix of my old faithful Revelate Designs frame bag and front harness, trusty waterproof Ortlieb saddle bag and fork bags to keep the important stuff dry, and lovely custom What Happened Outdoors stem bags and front roll. GEAR HIGHLIGHTS : A cosy Rab Mythic 600 sleeping bag for cold nights, solid 7Mesh waterproofs for wet weather, and an Anker solar charger to keep my Hammerhead Karoo and Exposure lights charged in the sunshine.

Mikolaj Jakubowski

Age 33 / krakow (poland).

BIKE : I’ll be riding an almost stock Canyon Exceed SLX. I mounted a smaller chainring to have 30×10-52T gearing. Cockpit has Ergon GS1 grips and Profile design aerobar. Tires are a must-have Vittoria Mezcal 2.35″. BAGS : I have a mix of what I had lying around. On the front I have Revelate Designs Saltyroll and Polecat with sleeping kit and rain gear. The frame bag was custom made by Capricorn Bags for my gravel bike, but fits this one just fine. Top tube and saddle bag, which I borrowed from my wife, are from Apidura. I have a total capacity of about 45L, so that I can carry plenty of food in between resupplies. GEAR HIGHLIGHTS : I have a combination of what everybody has. Nordisk Lofoten tent, Sea to Summit Spark III sleeping bag and Therm-a-Rest mattress. Inflatable pillow for comfort. I opted for batteries instead of a dynamo hub, I’ll carry 2 powerbanks. BBB Strike Duo 2000 will light my way during the dark.

Marcin Kepka

Age 43 / gdansk (poland).

BIKE : I’ll be riding the Silk Road Mountain Race on an Ibis DV9 with Continental Race King Protection tires and a 1×12 SRAM GX drivetrain. A SON dynamo hub will power my kLite light in front and charge my electronics. BAGS : It’s a mix of everything really. Tailfin Aeropack in the back, Revelate Designs Ranger frame bag, and a Restrap top tube bag. This time I removed everything from the cockpit so we’ll see how aero it will make me. GEAR HIGHLIGHTS : For a shelter I’ll use OR Helium bivy, a Cumulus X-Lite 400 sleeping bag, and a Therm-a-Rest NeoAir Xlite sleeping pad. For navigation I’ll have a Garmin 1040.

Lukas Klement

Age 29 / kourim (czech republic).

BIKE : I’m riding a custom-made bike with drop bars and Equator wheels. Fenix lights. BAGS : Apidura bags, saddle bag for sleeping set. Custom frame bag by AZ. Top tube bag for electronics. Apidura backpack for water and food. Bottle on handlebar. Down tube bag for repair and first aid. GEAR HIGHLIGHTS : Edgar Power for energy supplement.

Moritz Kneuer

Age 24 / germany.

BIKE : I’ll be riding a Canyon Exceed CF 6. I’m using a SON Dynamo to power my light and navigation devices. I’ve also attached Profile Design Aero Bars for extra comfort. BAGS : In terms of bags I’ve got a bit of everything. I’m using an Ortlieb seat post bag, Apidura frame and handle bar bag, and a Tailfin top tube bag. GEAR HIGHLIGHTS : I can’t wait for the extra comfort I’ll get while sleeping from my travel pillow.

Maxim Lapchuk

Age 42 / moscow (russia).

BIKE : My second SRMR will be ridden on a Trek Procaliber 9.6. A lightweight carbon hardtail with the unique advantage of a trail-smoothing IsoSpeed decoupler. The bike features Mavic Crossmax Elite wheels and Vittoria Mezcal 2.1” tires, an 11-46T cassette with 26/36T chainrings. My modified cockpit has three hand positions and a Profile Design Airstrike II aerobar. BAGS : My Zefal aerobar bag holds my tent and a mat. The top and down tube bags from Apidura for electronics and cables, my food supplements, and spare parts. A Rapha 2.5L frame bag for everyday items and an Apidura saddle bag for my sleeping bag and dry clothes. GEAR HIGHLIGHTS : This time, I was mainly thinking about how to reduce the weight of the equipment. I’m using a new Six Moon Designs Lunar solo tent (700g) and waterproof Giro gloves, shoe covers, and socks with a membrane.

Marika Latsone

Age 38 / liepaja (latvia).

BIKE : This is my trusty blue Canyon Grand Canyon 7 with a pretty basic setup, mostly stock components, Maxxis Rekon Race 29 x 2.25” tires, a Shutter Precision dynamo up front. My hands very likely wouldn’t survive those rocky roads without Ergon grips. BAGS : Most of my bags are from the excellent Revelate Designs. I also have a couple of Restrap bags and two Alpkit drybags. Since I don’t quite like saddle bags, I got an Ortlieb Quick rack to carry a dry bag with my sleep kit and some extra packs of noodles. GEAR HIGHLIGHTS : A seagull t-shirt, cinnamon toothpaste, my favourite Finnish jelly candies and a little, green extraterrestrial specimen I found on the road in Morocco that (hopefully) won’t let me sleep too much. Oh, and a small notebook with a master plan and for writing down some notes on the way.

Age 44 / Edinburgh (Scotland)

BIKE : I’m riding my titanium Titus El Viajero, which has taken me to every ultra I’ve participated in so far. I upgraded my wheels this year, and the bling bronze Hope Pro 5 hubs make me happy just to look at them! BAGS : Big thanks to my coach for loaning me some swish Tailfin goods to complement my Aeropack. I’ve also got Restrap stem and top-tube bags and an Ortlieb frame bag, front roll and accessory pack to stuff with food. GEAR HIGHLIGHTS : 7mesh Horizon Jersey for the boiling hot afternoons; Pedaled Alpha jacket for the frosty mountain passes; and 7Mesh Skypilot waterproof jacket for the thunderstorms. Snuggling up at night in my cozy Rab Neutrino 400 sleeping bag and hoping it doesn’t drop to -10C or I might have to sleep in my waterproofs (a tried and tested way to stay warm…).

Patrick Majerle

Age 37 / ravensburg (germany).

BIKE : For the Silk Road Mountain Race, I will ride a SCOTT Scale RC Team Issue with a SRAM X01 AXS EAGLE 1×12 Drivetrain (32T chainring and a 10-52T cassette). The front tire is a Maxxis Rekon Race and back tire is a Maxxis Rekon with a bit more grip for the loose terrain as a tubeless set-up on DT Swiss wheels. The SON Dynamo Hub supplies me with electricity for my front light Edelux II and the Busch + Müller e-werk helps me charge my electronic devices while pedalling. ZIPP Vuka Aerobars will get me through tough headwinds. BAGS : I use a AGU Seat-Pack for my OR bivy, the Sea to Summit Spark sleeping bag and the Therm-a-Rest air mattress. The other bags are from Apidura. In the bar roll I carry my clothes and all the rest is stored in the frame bags. I also wear a Apidura Hydration Vest with a 2L capacity for water as well as two bottles for extra water and a water filter. GEAR HIGHLIGHTS : My highlight is the Wahoo Elemnt Bolt V2 which will guide me through the route and give me (hopefully) good data about my riding.

Dmitriy Makarov

Age 33 / stepnogorsk (kazakhstan).

BIKE : Canyon Exceed CFR LTD. Unlike SRMR 2023, the handlebar has been replaced with a Ritchey drop bar and the brakes/shifters have been changed to SRAM Rival AXS. The stock MAXXIS tires already finished SRMR 2023 I believe they can cross the finish line one more time. BAGS : Old and jammed bags from Apidura. Everything is good, except for the zippers, which require regular maintenance and lubrication. Otherwise everything will jam at the most inopportune moment. Nevertheless, they are lightweight and waterproof, as well as resistance to damage. This year, I gave up the downtube bag for a more comfortable grip during hike a bike moments. This will be the fourth SRMR for these five year old bags. GEAR HIGHLIGHTS : If my frame breaks in half, I have a Tailfin strap.

Kevin Massicotte

Age 33 / toronto, ontario (canada).

BIKE : Revel Ranger with a Shimano XT/XTR 12-speed build. 34T front chainring with a 10-51T cassette. I built the wheels myself with a SON 28 dynamo hub and DT Swiss 240 rear hub, Sapim CX-Ray spokes, and Revel RW27 carbon rims. Both wheels have Hope 6-bolt rotors (180/160mm) which can be easily removed to replace a broken spoke. Fresh Vittoria Mezcal 2.4″ tires with Tubolight inserts and lots of Stan’s race sealant. Supernova DY Pro front light and E3 tail light. Wahoo Elemnt Bolt for navigation mounted to Vision Trimax carbon clip-on aerobars. BAGS : Miss Grape custom frame bag, Big Node top tube bag and a pair of Bud stem bags. Apidura backcountry rear top tube bag and backcountry backpack with a 2L bladder. Ortlieb seat bag and handlebar-mounted accessory pack. GEAR HIGHLIGHTS : Custom Cululus X Lite 300 sleeping bag, Big Agnes Zoom UL mat. Taking a bivy instead of a tent to not miss out on the beautiful stars at night. Kodak Ektar H35 film camera with a roll of Portra 400 and Superia X-Tra 400 for the memories.

Sergei Mazurin

Age 47 / ridder (kazakhstan).

BIKE : Giant XTC Advanced 29, DT Swiss XM 481, SQlab 610 Ergolux active 2.0 saddle, DT Swiss 350 Classic MTB Boost wheels, Shutter Precision Dynamo, modified 1×12 drivetrain with a 32T Shimano SLX crank. BAGS : ACEPAC frame bag, ACEPAC seat bag. GEAR HIGHLIGHTS : The Naturehike tent serves as my shelter along with a Naturehike sleeping bag and air mat. I will also carry a Garmin eTrex 22 for navigation.

Daniel Meyes

Age 46 / zurich (switzerland).

BIKE : I will be riding the SRMR on a Salsa El Mariachi TI equipped with a Shimano XT 2×12 drivetrain (36/26T with an 11-45T cassette) and XTR disc brakes. The bike features Roval Control SL carbon rims paired with Specialized Ground Control 29 x 2.35″ tires. It also includes a Thomson seat post, stem, and handlebar, a Chris King bottom bracket and headset, and XTR pedals with cleats. For additional comfort and control, I’ve added an aerobar from Syntace and some bar ends, as well as a Chromag saddle. BAGS : Primarily from Revelate Designs. GEAR HIGHLIGHTS : I’m particularly fond of my Cumulus X-Lite 300 sleeping bag. My lighting system is from Lupine, which turns night into day. I’ll also be carrying a SOL emergency bivy and a Nordisk Ven 2.5 sleeping pad. As I am riding with a partner, we will also bring a Zpacks Triplex Classic tent.

Adrian Mcculloch

Age 48 / forth, tasmania (australia).

BIKE : What remains of a Bombtrack Cale. It has a Shimano 1×12 drivetrain and brakes in a mix of SLX and XT. The wheelset I built, (luckily I work in a bike shop!) is a custom 27.5″ DT Swiss with 2.6″ Maxxis Rekon tyres on 40mm wide rims. A son dynamo hub charges everything and powers my Klite. Up front is a set of Pro missile bars and those beautiful blue SID ultimate with 120mm of travel. BAGS : The frame bag and front roll are Revelate Designs, top tube and down tube bags are Apidura, and a couple of Sea to Summit dry bags to keep everything together. There is a carryall cage mounted both sides of the rear rack so I can carry an extra 4 liters of water if needed. GEAR HIGHLIGHTS : I’ll be sleeping under the fly of a Nemo Hornet tent and using a lightweight bivvy bag in combination for more warmth. A -5° One Planet sleeping bag and a down jacket and vest will keep me warm on the cold nights. I’m taking a Jetboil stove on this trip so I can hopefully cook some decent food. Wet weather gear will be a Patagonia GoreTex coat and lightweight waterproof trousers, which I hope not to use.

Age 35 / Bavaria (Germany)

BIKE : Pivot Mach 4 SL with Fox 34 Fork/Float DPS Damper, DT Swiss XRC 1200 wheelset, Vitorria Mezcal 2.35″ tires, Shimano XT M8100 groupset. BAGS : A mix of bags from Revelate Designs, Rogue Panda, and Tailfin. GEAR HIGHLIGHTS : Wahoo Roam for navigation, Bolt as backup.

Matt Mihelcic

Age 22 / gold coast, queensland (australia).

BIKE : The gravel bike that could. A yellow wrapped Lauf Seigla rolling on 29 x 2.2″ Race Kings with plenty of clearance. It’s nicknamed ‘Banana Peel’ because the wrap is coming off, but thankfully that’s hidden by the accessories. Up front, the cockpit consists of Lauf’s carbon Smoothie bars with Zipp Vuka armchairs. A Profile Design TT bottle cage and an AliExpress head unit mount integrate a bottle, Quad Lock, Wahoo, and KLite right where you need them. The KLite runs off a SON dynamo hub, with custom wiring to incorporate a SON rear light. I found a fastener called Well Nuts, which allowed me to mount the tail light into the end of the Tailfin rack. I swapped the cranks for shorter 165mm MTB cranks, which widened the Q-factor but provided an easy way to mount a 32T chainring. The rest of the groupset is Apex AXS with a 10-44T cassette. BAGS : The bags are centred around my favourite piece, the custom frame bag. Built in my home country by the Bike Bag Dude, it continues to impress me with its durability and waterproofing. Even after a pressure wash. I also love the Restrap Race collection, supporting their top tube and TT-bar bags. I’m also experimenting with a unique mounting position of the Tailfin rack under my top tube. This is intended to bring the weight forward and help eliminate any wobbles in the frame. GEAR HIGHLIGHTS : There are two Dawn to Dusk Bear Hug cage mounts strapped to the down tube with Looney Bins from Arundel screwed in. In combination with the spare bottle cages mounted to the forks, they work great for holding storage bottles or bulky food such as cans or even oranges. Although my custom 3D-printed fork mounts have held up to the test, I try to keep these empty when I can, as they noticeably affect the handling. Hidden in the bags is my Big Sky Revolution bikepacking-specific 1.5P tent and a Sea to Summit Ascent 1 sleeping bag.

Tim Millikin

Age 39 / reading (united kingdom).

BIKE : I’m riding my first ever ultra aboard my trusty 2020 Salsa Fargo. I have swapped the traditional drop bars for a Richey Kyote flat bar to give me better stability on the long descents. The shifting is done by Shimano XT 2×11 with a 24/34T crank set and an 11-42T cassette. Hunt wheels and 29 x 2.25″ Vittoria Mezcal tyres keep the bike moving. BAGS : Apidura front roll, saddle pack, frame bag, and tool roll hold everything to the bike along with two Blackburn Outpost feed bags for snacks. My sleeping bag and tent are mounted to the forks using Salsa Anything Cages. GEAR HIGHLIGHTS : My left hand 2x shifter is a Shimano Deore Thumb shifter which has accompanied me on a three year around the world bike tour, the Kenya Bike Odyssey route and has survived being hit by a car in El Salvador. It’s a lucky omen and indestructible. Sleeping kit is made up of Therm-a-Rest Parsec -6 bag and Nano air mat all inside a lightweight and comfortable Big Agnes Copper Spur Tent.

Krzysztof Milosz

Age 34 / gdansk (poland).

BIKE : 2023 Giant Anthem Adv 2. BAGS : Tailfin Aerobag, Topeak Frontloader, JackPack top tube bag and frame bag, Pedaled hydration vest. GEAR HIGHLIGHTS : SLX 32/10-51T, Evanlite Carbon wheels with SON28 hub, Pirelli Scorpion 2.2″ TLR, SUPERNOVA M99 DY Pro, B&M e-werk charger.

Emma Missale

Age 27 / copenhagen (denmark).

BIKE : My baby digital Lavander Orbea Alma H30 with FOX 32 suspension fork. Self-laced Wizard Wheels carbon rims with Hope Pro5 rear hub and Son Dynamo front hub connected to Son front light, Supernova rear light and Sinewave junction box. Tire choice is Maxxis Rekon Race 2.4″. Brakes are Hope Tech4x2 and Transmission a mix of SRAM AXS XO 12-speed 11-52T and SRAM XX1 crankset. This time running Aarn 32T black chainring. Other small bits are Thomson seat post and stem, Brooks C13 (158mm) carved saddle, and SQLab grips and bar ends. BAGS : Bags are mainly Brooks scape; saddle bag, handlebar bag, top tube and two feed pouches. The frame bag is a custom handmade one from THLP, so that it fits my tiny frame. GEAR HIGHLIGHTS : Pretty stoked about the Aeon Li Tarptent, Sea to Summit Spark II sleeping bag and half size mat. Accessories wise my Radar EV with photochromic lenses and Looseendapparel fingerless gloves.

Graham Muir

Age 53 / steamboat springs, colorado (usa).

BIKE : Titus TI Silk road frame, Hope V4 brakes, Enve 730 rims with Hope rear hub SON 28 dynamo front. Vittoria Mezcals 2.35″ tires, Fox 34 front fork 100mm with bar remote, Redshift seat post, Selle SMP saddle, Race face 165mm cranks, XT spd/flat pedals, kLite adventure front light and charging system. BAGS : Frame bag and top tube from JPAKS, rear Tailfin rack with 1 litre bottles and loaded with Jay Petervary-designed top bag. Front Revelate Designs harness and Salty roll with two feed bags. Tailfin down tube bag. GEAR HIGHLIGHTS : Sleep system includes a MSR advance pro tent and Big Agnes Sleeping bag.

Age 34 / Christchurch (New Zealand)

BIKE : This is a test frame for Fara, DT Swiss wheels, Son Dynamo, KLite front and rear, Redshift Suspension Seatpost, Ritchey Dropbars, 100mm RockShox SID, SRAM XX derailleur, 165mm Raceface Cranks, Sigeyi powermeter, 32T Chainring, Maxxis Ikon 2.35″ tyres, Profile design aero bars and Prologo saddle. BAGS : Carbon Tailfin aeropack, Restrap toptube bag, frame bag, aerobar mount with Sea To Summit dry bag, also carrying an ultra vest. GEAR HIGHLIGHTS : Wide high volume tyres and Redshift seatpost for removing that washboard vibration.

David Nicholls

Age 37 / london (united kingdom).

BIKE : A 2021 Trek Supercaliber with 100mm of travel on the front and 60mm on the back. Shifting is Eagle AXS, with 30T on the front and 10-50T on the back to deal with all the climbs. A SON dynamo hub will power my Sinewave Beacon light and plethora of electronics. I’ll be rolling on stock Bontrager rims and the ubiquitous Mezcals 29 x 2.25″, though the Trail version with super strong sidewalls after issues in previous races. BAGS : Apidura saddle pack and excellent long top tube bag. Revelate feed bags and Alpkit dry bag outfront strapped to the immense Mission Control deck from Drj0n, which also mounts my Garmin and light. GEAR HIGHLIGHTS : Tried and tested RAB 200 Neutrino bag with a Therm-a-Rest NeoAir Xlite in a RAB storm bivi bag hopefully keeping out the rain. Navigation will come from the Garmin Edge 1030+ and I will carry 1.5L bladder, waterproofs and more snacks in my trusty Pedaled Odyssey Hydration Vest. Waxed chain (using Silca Secret Chain Blend) topped up with Silca Super Secret Wax. Exposure Diablo headlight for the helmet.

Filip Ondrich

Age 23 / borek, jihocesky kraj (czech republic).

BIKE : I’ll be riding my Canyon Exceed CF 7 with a Jones H Bar handlebars and SON dynamo hub. BAGS : I am going with full Tailfin bags, except for my custom frame bag which is from Witslingers. GEAR HIGHLIGHTS : My sleeping system includes a Durston lightweight tent, Alpkit sleeping bag and Big Agnes sleeping pad. I love this setup because it all fits into my front loader and is really easy to set up and pack up.

Maria Orlova

Age 30 / moscow (russia).

BIKE : Superior XP929, carbon frame hardtail. Slightly modified for the race with a Neutrino 30T chainring, Shimano Deore XT brakes and rear derailleur, Pirelli Scorpion Trail M 2.4″ tires, Van Rysel aerobar. I bought the bike specifically for this race, but while I was riding it, I fell in love with mountain biking. BAGS : I love my Sarmatian frame bag, made of Dyneema Ultra with taped seams. Columbus saddle bag, Acepac handlebar, Sacra feed bags, Velohorosho top tube, won at my last gravel race. GEAR HIGHLIGHTS : I’m bringing a lot of warm clothes, a waterproof jacket and pants, three pairs of gloves. I’m sharing a sleep kit with my racing partner. Naturehike VIK 2, Naturehike Ultralight 5.8 R mat, Naturehike CW400 sleeping bag. I’m taking a tent because we are traveling in pairs, and its weight and volume are not so significant when split between two people. I’m also bringing a Fire Maple FMS X1 cook system.

Kasimir Orlowski

Age 33 / laveno, varese (italy).

BIKE : I will ride my Mosaic MT-2 with SRAM XX T-Type (30/52T) and Beast XC dynamo wheels with Vittoria Mezcal 2.35″ tires. To brighten up the dark hours I will run a klite Bikepacker 2. BAGS : To carry all the gear and food I will use bags from Tailfin. My sleeping system is in the handlebar bag from Miss Grape. GEAR HIGHLIGHTS : Redshift suspension seatpost and a Reform custom molded saddle to smooth the ride and save my butt (hopefully!).

Yuji Otsuka

Kanagawa (japan).

BIKE : Monoral Bikes GR, DEORE XT M8050 Di2 3x drivetrain. BAGS : Ortlieb fork pack and back roller, Ride On bar bag. GEAR HIGHLIGHTS : Redshift ShockStop Stem and Seatpost, SON dynamo hub and Busch + Muller light.

Age 43 / Seoul (South Korea)

BIKE : Alpha bike RAPTOR SL 29, Hutchinson Taipan 29 × 2.25” tires, Shimano XT 1×12 (10-51T), 32T chainring, XT hydraulic disc brake 4P, front SON Dynamo H28 Spoke 32H hub, DT SWISS XR 391 29″ front, Mavic Crossmax 29″ rear, Sinewave Cycles Beacon 2 light. BAGS : ORTLIEB Frame-Pack RC 4L, Ortlieb Seat-Pack QR 13L, Ortlieb Toptube-bag 1.5L, Salsa EXP Series Anything Cradle system, Starus Optima Dome Single Tent 1.5. GEAR HIGHLIGHTS : Therm-a-Rest NeoAir xLite, Montane Alps 300 (800fp) sleeping bag, Wahoo Elemnt Roam 2 for navigation.

Lars Pedersen

Age 54 / kalmar (sweden).

BIKE : I’ll be riding SRMR on a 2015 S-Works Epic, full suspension with Shimano XTR 36/26T/11-40T. Roval Control SL rear wheel and DT Swiss M462 front wheel with Vittoria Mezcal 2.25″ Tubeless. In the front I have a SP PD-8x dynamo hub connected to Sinewave Revolution USB outlet for loading my Linocell Solar Powerbank 20,000 mAh. I have also an aerobar PRO Missile S-Bend and Contec Grip Tour Deluxe handlebars together with CloseTheGap Ergo my Ride. BAGS : In the front I have a Blackburn Outpost 14L. On the forks I have two Newboler 7L. In the back I’m using a Topeak Tetrarack M2 HD together with a Ortlieb Drybag 22L. Other small bags on the bike include a Colombus Dry Bag 1L, Restrap Top Tube 1L, Topeck Aero Wedge, and two Fjällräven/Specialized Snack Bags. GEAR HIGHLIGHTS : For my tent I’m using a MSR Freelite 1 V3 as I ride in a pair. I sleep on a Sea To Summit Ultralight sleeping pad and Sea To Summit Aeros Ultralight L pillow together with Marmot Trestles Elite sleeping bag. To light up the nights I use a Magicshine MJ902ES together with a headlamp Silva Trail Speed 5. To navigate I’ll use a Garmin Epic 1040 Solar. For water purification I use a Katadyn Vario. I’m bringing a Primus Lite XL stove and a Salomon XA35 backpack with Camelback water bladder and soft flasks.

Neza Peterca

Age 36 / slovenia.

BIKE : Ghost Lector World Cup 30. Together with the guys from Loose Cycles, we made some changes to the factory build. The main thing was tuning up the “dashboard” with aero bars and SQLab innerbarends and saddle, with some custom carbo bridge to hold my light and Garmin. We also opted to go old school with mechanical shifting since you never know what happens in the high plateaus of Kyrgyzstan. I named the bike Saiga – the weird-looking high steppe antelope that is known for traveling large distances during their migrations. BAGS : What Happened GEAR HIGHLIGHTS : I never found aerobars on MTB handlebars aesthetically appealing, but I think in combination with What Happened top tube bag, everything is at hand and in the right place.

Erin Poland

Age 33 / bushwick, new york (usa).

BIKE : I’ll be riding my trusted Dr Pepper, a 2023 Cannondale Scalpel! She’s got a women’s specific power saddle and a shiny new pair of Mezcal shoes! BAGS : The centerpiece of my bike is a Revelate Designs framebag that I’ve used on every tour and that my husband Jono took last year on SRMR. I got a Tailfin downtube pack to add some much needed storage for the long stretches with little re-supply. I also have my Rogue Panda top tube and saddle bags, and two snack bags from Blue Lug and Roadrunner to keep the snacking going all ride long! GEAR HIGHLIGHTS : My pink and blue dynamo light!

Jan Pollers

Age 56 / leuven (belgium).

BIKE : Niner Air 9 RDO, a Jones H bar, and Mezcal 2.25″ tires. Duke wheels with a SON dynamo hub and Klite light. BAGS : Mix of Ortlieb and Apidura.

Bart Pombreu

Age 44 / antwerp (belgium).

BIKE : I will be riding the SRMR on a 2024 Orbea Oiz M-Pro, nicknamed ‘El burro morado con un poco de oro’ or ‘buro’ in short. Featuring Vittoria Mezcals, 2.25″ rear, 2.35″ front tyre. I will be relying on a 20k powerbank and charging when opportunity arises, as I decided not to install a dynamo. BAGS : Tailfin Aeropack and top tube bag, custom made framebag from Miss Grape, four cages for Salsa drybags plus extra water bottles, 15L backpack with 2L Camelbak. GEAR HIGHLIGHTS : Nemo Hornet Osmo 1-person tent and a bunch of the usual stuff that will hopefully get me to the finish beers!

Andrew Poynter

Age 35 / launceston, tasmania (australia).

BIKE : Curve Kevin of Steel with Ritchey Beacon bars and Fox 32 Factory 50mm forks for some softness up front. Rolling on Curve carbon rims with 47mm Pirelli Cinturato tires. Combining this beautiful bike with a mongrel mix of Shimano GRX, SRAM Eagle and Campagnolo Ekar. A Cane Creek Thudbuster seat post is supporting a well travelled Brooks B17. BAGS : Revelate Terrapin down back and Revelate Harness/Saltyroll up front, a Rockgeist 52Hz frame bag to be filled with snacks, a Bike Bag Dude top tube bag, and Sea to Summit dry bags on Salsa Carry Anything cages. GEAR HIGHLIGHTS : kLite with Son dynamo to keep the path ahead well lit. However, hoping to avoid too much darkness; I’m going to Kyrgyzstan to see the mountains! Will be sleeping comfortably on a Nemo Tensor mat, beneath a Neve Gear Warratah quilt, inside an MSR Hubba Hubba 1.

Alexander Price

Age 43 / mons (belgium).

BIKE : Cube C62 Reaction Race, bought specifically for the SRMR. Components are mostly stock, including the Shimano XT Deore 1×12 drivetrain, 32T chainring and 11-52T cassette. I changed to a Brooks C17 saddle and went with Rene Herse Fleecer Ridge endurance tyres for durability and smooth rolling. Ergon GS3 grips and Selco clip on aero bars also added. BAGS : My focus has been on having the capacity to carry the bulky items required for SRMR, such as sleeping bag, but keeping weight off the handlebars. Aeroe Spider rear rack with two Decathlon Riverside bags, bespoke frame bag made in the UK by Alpkit, Ortlieb top tube bag with magnetic closure, a couple of stem bags to carry food through the remote sections, and Restrap Aero Race handlebar bag also made in the UK. GEAR HIGHLIGHTS : I’m using plenty of my ski mountaineering kit, including a MSR Access 2 tent, Snugpak Softie 6 sleeping bag, Alpkit Hukka bivvy bag, Big Agnes Rapide SL sleeping mat. Norrona Goretex jacket and trousers to cover any conditions. Garmin Edge 1040 solar for navigation, Fenix front light, MSR Pocket Rocket for hot drinks and freeze dried meals, Apidura frame pack hydration bladder for extra water capacity, Nitecore and Anker power banks.

Olmighti Quillao

Age 43 / squamish, british columbia (canada).

BIKE : I’ll be going old school riding a 2004 Cannondale F700 CAAD4 with Shimano XT 12-speed drivetrain with a 30T chainring and 10-51T cassette, handbuilt (by me) Stans Crest MK3 wheels on a DT Swiss 240 rear hub and a SON28 Dynamo front with Sapim CX-Ray spokes, Maxxis 26 x 2.25″ Ardent tires and a Thomson Titanium 12° handlebar. The setup weighs 55.6lbs fully loaded. BAGS : Revelate 16L Spinelock saddle bag, Apidura Racing 1L Top Tube Bag, Backcountry 1L Rear Top Tube and 6L Full Frame Bag and a Salsa Anything Cradle with a 12L Top Loading Bag + 2.5 Accessory Pouch. GEAR HIGHLIGHTS : Western Mountaineering Ultralite -7°C sleeping bag, Therm-a-Rest Uberlite sleeping pad, Big Agnes Copper Spur HV UL1 tent, Sinewave Beacon 2 for light and charging duties, 10,000mAh Iniu battery pack, Wahoo Elemnt Bolt V1 and Gamin Fenix 5X for navigation and pacing, MSR Trailshot Filter and Pristine Water Treatment to quench thirst anytime, anywhere!

Eloi Renaudin

Age 32 / le pré-saint-gervais, paris (france).

BIKE : Breezer Lightning, SID fork, Hunt wheels, Maxxis Ardent tires. BAGS : Ortlieb, Riverside, Apidura, Tailfin suspension fork mounts. GEAR HIGHLIGHTS : Nothing special, maybe that front bag net, to put food or stuff away very fast.

Pierre Lorin de Reure

Age 31 / paris (france).

BIKE : Canyon Neuron CF 9, full carbon with DT Swiss carbon wheels and full XT group set. Equipped with a Fox 34 Performance Elite fork offering 140mm travel. Tires are Schwalbe Racing Ralph and Racing Ray, both 29 x 2.25″, mounted tubeless. I chose this full-suspension setup to tackle the tough terrain with maximum comfort and safety. I’m using Crankbrothers Mallet E pedals paired with Specialized Rime 2.0 shoes, and my saddle is a Brooks c17 carved. BAGS : Decathlon saddle and handlebar bags, with an extra pocket added to the handlebar bag for additional storage, and finally two small Decathlon frame bags. GEAR HIGHLIGHTS : As you can see, as a proud Frenchman, I’m sticking with Decathlon gear, hence a Decathlon sleeping bag rated for 0°C and Decathlon sleeping mat with an R-value of 5.4 for warmth and comfort. The only exception is the Naturehike Cloud Wing 2 tent, because I think this brand is the best value for money you can find.

Age 60 / South Wales

BIKE : I’ll be riding the #SRMR2024 on my titanium Sonder Broken Road. The bike has a pair of tubeless Maxxis Ikon 2.35” tyres and a SRAM GX Eagle 12-speed (10-50T) groupset fitted with a 30T chainring. There’s a SON Dynamo up front and a Hope hub on the rear. I also have Jones H-Bars fitted for comfort as well as to give me more cockpit space. BAGS : I have a Tailfin AeroPack to the rear and have an Alpkit Bar Bag out front as well as a mixture of Top Tube bags that I’ve picked up over time. Additionally, I’ve a pair of Tailfin cargo cages fitted to the forks and a tool bottle fitted under the downtube. GEAR HIGHLIGHTS : My Brooks C17 saddle along with my kLite powered by the dynamo that’s complimented by a helmet mounted Fenix HM61R. I’ll also have my eTrex 32x as backup for my Garmin Edge 1040.

Peter Rosewall

Age 36 / dubai, uae (uk).

BIKE : I’ll be riding the SRMR 2024 on my Canyon Lux Trail CF9, The bike features Hunt wheels shod with Rene Herse Fleecer Ridge tyres and a SON dynamo hub up front. To light my way, I have fitted K-lite front and rear. Other than that, it’s pretty standard. BAGS : All off the shelf and nothing fancy, Zefal all over with a Zefal Z Adenture R saddle bag, Zefal Z Adventure F10 handle bar bag and Zefal top tube bag. I bought them just for training as they were cheap but they have turned out to be very good quality and reliable so stuck with them. GEAR HIGHLIGHTS : Outdoor Research Helium bivy, Sea to Summit Spark SPIII sleeping bag. Specialized Rime 2.0 MTB shoes which have proven themselves very reliable in the Dubai Sand but how well they will cope in the cooler climates of Kyrgyzstan we shall see. For Navigation I’ll be using my Garmin Edge 1040 Solar.

Age 30 / Charles Town, West Virginia (USA)

BIKE : I’m riding a 2022 Specialized Fuse 27.5″ Hardtail. I upgraded the tires to 2.2″ Umtanum Ridge Endurance Pluses from René Herse, swapped the stock flat bar for the Surly Corner Bar and added aero bars, and switched to mechanical disc brakes after the stock hydraulic brakes started to fail. I upgraded the stock 1×9 drivetrain with the Box Two Prime 11-50T cassette and upgraded the dropper post with an E13 Vario Infinite 180mm. I also added a Velogical Rim Dynamo generator to power my electronics. BAGS : My favorite part of my bag setup is the Spider Rear Rack from Aeroe, where I have two 8L bags and one 11L bag. I’m used to having big panniers at the back of the bike, so I much prefer this set up from Aeroe than having a big saddle bag. I have an Apidura full frame bag, large top tube bag and two fork packs, Bedrock Bags water bottle storage on the downtube, and the Revelate aero bar bag. I have two feed bags from Fish-Ski Designs, as well as their 6-pack Bevvy Carrier. I’m really concerned about carrying enough liquids during the long stretches without resupply, and I think the Bevvy Carrier is gonna be perfect to avoid dehydration. GEAR HIGHLIGHTS : From my short lived triathlon career, I have more bottle cages mounted to my seat to top off my liquid storage. I’ve got an Insta 360 mounted to my aerobars for easy filming and a Quadlock wireless charger to keep my phone topped off. I have a Lunar Solo tent from Six Moon Designs and a Nemo inflatable sleeping pad.

Age 50 / North Vancouver, BC (Canada)

BIKE : I will be riding the Silk Road Mountain Race on a 2019 Salsa Timberjack with a pair of Vittoria Mezacal 2.25″ tires and a 1×12 drivetrain with a 34T chainring. I attached a Fred Bar to help fit my Redshift aero bars. BAGS : Pretty much all of my bags are Revelate Designs. Over the years, their stuff has just been so reliable and I keep going back to them time and time again. No gimmicks, it just works. Only additions were the Tailfin downtube pack for all the miscellaneous I hope I don’t need. GEAR HIGHLIGHTS : My most important kit was supplied by my 6 year old Oliver, which includes a “fixer” hot wheels car with miniature wrench tool, a ghost white, iron-on decorative beads spare tire (not to scale), friendship bracelet and the request for “stunts” along the course. As for clothing, Ollie’s wouldn’t fit me so I opted for the next best thing… 7Mesh! Love their kit. For navigation I’m stick with the old faithful, the Garmin eTrex along with the back up of two iPhones not to mention the route etched in my brain (less reliable).

Marie-Pierre Savard

Age 39 / montréal, québec (canada).

BIKE : I’m racing the SRMR on a Panorama Cycle Taïga hardtail, a steel bike that offers the fun and performance of a hardtail with long-distance off-road adventure capabilities. The drivetrain is Shimano 1×12, with a 32T chainring (10-51T) and SRAM LEVEL hydraulic brakes. I also opted for comfort with a Fox 34 SC front suspension, Jones H-Loop handlebars and Ergon grips. To get me rolling I worked closely with Station 210 – Atelier de Roues in Quebec, who hand-built me a set of wheels tailored for the SRMR with Astral rims, a SON dynamo hub at the front and a HOPE hub in back. They also fitted us with a Klite lighting and charging system and a set of Rene Herse Fleecer Ridge endurance tires. BAGS : It’s impossible not to love the custom frame bag made by Atwater Atelier. For me, it was non-negotiable to have a custom bag that maximizes all available space in the frame for my electronics, first aid, toiletry and sundry items. My mechanical kit is housed in the Atwater top tube bag. My tent and rain clothes tuck into the 15L Arkel Rollerpack handlebar bag, doted with the Memento Cycles decaleur instead of the original Arkel aluminum hanger. And hanging from my saddle, a 15L Arkel Seatpacker will hold my sleeping bag and mat. On the fork, because of the Old Mountain Axle Pack, I can fit two Dom 5L dry bags for cookware, food and clothes. On my back, I’ll have a Decathlon 10 L running bag with a 2L water capacity. GEAR HIGHLIGHTS : I am proud to say that most of the elements on my bike come from Canadian companies: the Panorama Cycle bike, the Arkel and Atwater bags and technical clothing from Brava Endurance and 7mesh. For my sleep kit, I use a MEC Delphinus 0C sleeping bag with liner and a head-to-toe merino outfit to keep me warm and dry at night. The tent is a Naturehike Cloud Up 1 and the sleeping pad, a Klymit Static V Lite. And so as not to get lost, I’ll have my Garmin 530, which is old but reliable, just like me!

Andreas Tvedt Segrov

Age 43 / oslo (norway).

BIKE : Scott Scale 920, SRAM GX Eagle 12s-peed drivetrain, FOX 32 100mm fork, Ergon SM Pro seat on a Cane Creek eeSilk suspension post. Ergon GP2 handlebars and Profile Design aerobars on risers. BAGS : Mostly Tailfin apart from an Ortlib frame bag and a Topeak handlebar bag. Drinking water in my Arcteryx Norvan 14 drinking vest containing a 3L bladder. I added an extra 1.5L bladder in there for longer stretches. Swapped one of the chest bottles with a Karadyn Befree 0.6L water purifying filter. GEAR HIGHLIGHTS : A lightweight Lifesystems wind shelter to protect me from really bad weather and the elements during breaks. Heat patches for hands and feet.

Benedikt Stratmann

Age 33 / dortmund, nrw (germany).

BIKE : I will be riding the SRMR on my Trek Procaliber 9.8. I modified it some places to be more suitable for the event. Among the changes I made are: a 1×12 drivetrain with 30T in the front and 10-51T in the back, a SON dynamo hub with a kLite lighting/charging system and a SQlab saddle as well as a riser bar with aero bars and Ergon grips for comfort. The tires are 2.25″ Vittoria Mezcals. BAGS : The two main bags are an Ortlieb seat pack and an Ortlieb handlebar pack. Additionally I have a Blackburn frame bag and an Apidura top tube bag. I will also carry a small running vest for additional water and snacks. GEAR HIGHLIGHTS : For my sleeping kit I will use a light MSR tent, an Exped mat, and a Robens sleeping bag with a -9 degree comfort temperature. In case of bad weather I will use a full rain kit including a Mammut rain jacket and waterproof socks as well as warm clothes mostly by Adidas Terrex. In general I packed a little extra. Better be safe than sorry.

Claire Stevens

Age 49 / wadawurrung country, geelong (australia).

BIKE : Curve Cycling GMX+ with 29″ Curve Dirt Hoops and 2.35″ Mezcals. Curve Walmer drop bars. SRAM Mullet set-up: Eagle AXS with 2024 Red levers and brakes. SP dynamo and kLite system. BAGS : My frame bag was custom made by Terra Rosa Designs in Naarm/Melbourne. I have Ortlieb fork packs fitted to the latest edition of the Curve Seek 430 fork. The Revelate Designs Terrapin 14L saddle bag was chosen because a detachable dry bag is easier to throw my sleep kit into. No bar bag because I need all that wide Walmer bar room for activities! GEAR HIGHLIGHTS : Outdoor Research Helium bivy, sleeping bag rated to -10C, and Therm-a-Rest NXT mat.

Age 22 / London (United Kingdom)

BIKE : I’ll be riding the Specialized Epic Comp Hardtail with Specialized Renegade and Fast Trak 29 x 2.35″ tyres, 34T chainring and 10-52T cassette. Lastly, I’ll be using Ergon GP3 grips with TT bars. BAGS : For bags, I’ll be using an awesome Tailfin setup, starting with the Aeropack combined with carbon arches, as well as their 1.9L wedge frame bag and 1.7L downtube bag for spares and repairs, 1.1L top tube bag for essentials, 10L fork bags for tent and cook kit / food and the Apidura Handlebar bag for sleep system and food pouches for all my snacks! As you can see, I’m taking enough to be comfortable and more focused riding the route, instead of racing it. GEAR HIGHLIGHTS : I’ll be using the Big Agnes Copper Spur bikepacking tent for my shelter, along with a -6 degree Enlightened Equipment quilt, and Therm-a-Rest Neoair Mat. The main highlight is a lot of chocolate!

Evgeny Shekhirev

Age 41 / moscow (russia).

BIKE : I’ll be riding my GT Zaskar Pro bike. My bike is equipped with new Schwalbe NOBBY NIC 26 x 2.25″ tires, a Suntuor fork, and a new SRAM 3×9 drivetrain (44/22T in front and 12/36T cassette). BAGS : A Topeak fame bag, a seat bag and handlebar bag, a smartphone bag on the frame, two 750ml bottles. An inflatable mat and part of the tent will be attached to the fork. I also plan to take a 2L hydration bladder in a backpack. GEAR HIGHLIGHTS : A single-person Freetime RAID LITE 1 DLS tent, a Freetime sleeping bag, and an inflatable Sea To Summit mat. I’ll navigate with a Garmin 840.

Hannah Simon

Age 26 / austin, texas (usa).

BIKE : I’ll be ripping my fabulous custom Ti Chumba Sendero for the Silk Road Mountain Race. It’s decked out with a Cane Creek HELM fork (set up at 120mm, adjustable to 160mm) and suspension seat post for all them bumpy roads. Wheels equipped with a SON28 front hub, Industry Nine SOLiX rear hub, Industry Nine carbon rims and 2.2″ Durable Teravail Rutland tires. I added an Old Man Mountain rack to get the weight off the front end for this race. Rear Racks are IN. 1×12 GX AXS with a 32T chainring and 50T cassette. She Stout. BAGS : All over, all-time South City Stitchworks handmade, super tough, absolutely gorgeous bags. I am a full-length-top-tube-bag believer. There’s nothing handy-er. These bags were flawless throughout the Atlas Mountain Race, with a couple tweaks we are DIALED for this one. Re: tweaks: one-hand closure on the feed bags and internal routing for the kLite dynamo wiring. GEAR HIGHLIGHTS : I am totally jazzed about my kLite Adventure dynamo light and charging set up. I’ve got the front and rear light rigged as well as a USB charging port. The kit comes with a switch to prioritize either a brighter light or a faster charge. It all fits nicely together on my super light out-front mount from Jefe.bike.

Sorachi Sakai

Age 22 / hokkaido (japan).

BIKE : My bike is a Singular Peregrine. I like the 29 x 2.3″ tires, the SON hub dynamo, and the Sinewave Beacon. This is my first real gravel bike and touring machine. I use Microshift and Shimano XT for the derailleurs. BAGS : My setup is Fairweather from Blue Lug bike shop in Tokyo. Four stem bags on the DH bars, a full frame bag in a custom color and size, a 6L seat bag, and a Mont-Bell top tube bag. The cargo cages on the front forks hold water while riding. GEAR HIGHLIGHTS : My home is a Naturehike freestanding tent, a closed cell mat, and a down sleeping bag from the Japanese brand “Takemo”. My goal is to be the first Japanese person to complete the course (probably) while enjoying the mountains and scenery of Kyrgyzstan.

Max-Robert Salzer

Age 31 / stuttgart, baden-wuerttemberg (germany).

BIKE : Cube Reaction GTC Eagle 2017, Shimano-Sram-Budget-Performance-Mix, 1×12 with 30T steel chainring. Newmen/Acros Backwheel, Carbon Frontwheel with Shutter Precision dynamo, SON front light, Busch & Müller rear light, Continental Race King 2.2″ tires, SQLab 612 saddle. BAGS : Tailfin AeroRack Alu, Ortlieb fork bags, Caspsuled Framebag, tent and sleeping bag under the barsso I can use the standard bottle cages in the frame and one on the Tailfin system. GEAR HIGHLIGHTS : I like the cockpit with the ability to mount a tent and sleeping bag under the bars. One fork bag at the front, the other on the Tailfin system for weight compensation. The lighting system is also a mix of SON, Shutter precision and Busch & Müller parts. Sea to Summit Spark Sleeping Bag, Nemo Bikepacking Tent, and Exped Hyper 1R sleeping mat for the night. The bike is normally used for marathon races without bags, so everything is designed with racing in mind.

Patrick Staubach

Age 30 / weimar (germany).

BIKE : A Canyon Exceed CF SLX with SRAM GX Eagle AXS, Maxxis Ikon Exo 2.35″ in the back and 2.2″ Continental Race King in the front. Together with the flexible seat post and a Brooks Cambium C15, I hope it provides a reasonably comfortable ride. BAGS : Ortlieb, from back to front. GEAR HIGHLIGHTS : A power meter, which I hope will allow me to maintain a more consistent and efficient pace.

Mona Stockhecke

Age 40 / zurich (switzerland).

BIKE : I’ll be racing the Silk Road Mountain Race (SRMR) on a 2023 Specialized Epic Evo Pro with Syntace handlebars. BAGS : I use several Revelate Design bags and three water bottles will be mounted in the frame and downtube. GEAR HIGHLIGHTS : A Cumulus X-Lite 400 is my absolute favorite piece on this trip—a sleeping bag that never leaves you cold. Additionally, I’ll take a Sol emergency bivy and a Sea to Summit Uberlite air mattress. As I am riding as pair, we also take a Zpacks Triplex Classic tent.

Claude Stutz

Age 60 / cernay, alsace (france).

BIKE : Will be riding SRMR on a 2022 Cube C:620 hardtail with 2.2″ Continental Race King, 1×11 drivetrain with 30T chainring, classic SON dynamo. BAGS : Bags are all Ortlieb, an Apidura 3L bladder fits in the frame bag. GEAR HIGHLIGHTS : A Nordisk Lofoten tent, Sea to Summit air mat and sleeping bag, and MSR UL stove.

Jan Erik Svendsen

BIKE : I’ll be riding SRMR on a F/Gravel, Fara is a Norwegian brand who makes beautiful and great adventure bikes. It has a carbon frame and wheels, with a 50mm Maxxis Rambler TL tire in the front and 45mm out back. Pro Discover handlebar with a 30° flare, Redshift drop bar grips and suspension stem for more comfortable riding, and aerobars which includes extra mounts for my GoPro and a 1500 Bookman front light. BAGS : Tailfin AeroPack and two 10l pannier bags, also down tube and top tube bags from Tailfin. Apidura frame bag, and Restrap aerobag for sleeping bag. Will use a hydration vest for the drinking system and to carry extra food when resupplying. GEAR HIGHLIGHTS : Overall, I’m very happy with my Fara gravel bike, Tailfin system and handlebar set up, to make my ride as comfortable as it`s possible in Kyrgyzstan mountains. I’m riding in a pair, and we will bring a Jetboil and some Drytech food to be sure we have a hot meal when needed. Maybe we have brought some extra unnecessary kilos, but better safe than sorry.

John Paul Lopez Taberdo

Age 41 / geelong, victoria (australia).

BIKE : I’m going for the award for the ‘ultimate party pace rig’ at the SRMR! To keep up my record for the last rider to finish, I’m riding an old-school Merida Big Nine alloy hardtail 29er with e-Thirteen trail wheels, Maxxis Recon Race 2.35″ tyres, 120mm Manitou forks, a Shimano drivetrain, and Pro aero bars and bar ends. It’s nothing special, but the bike has ridden enough ultra-endurance bikepacking events in Australia to be reliable enough for the Silk Road…I hope! BAGS : A mixed-bag-of-bags… Ortlieb frame bag, Apidura top tube bag, Restrap feed bags, Topeak front roll bag, Old Man Mountain Elkhorn rack, Apidura Expedition fork bags, Restrap dry bag, Pro tool canister, and Lezyne Powercages and a Minoura Jetboil carrier mounted on Zefal Gizmo cage adaptors. GEAR HIGHLIGHTS : With up to 7 litres of water storage, I should be the least dehydrated rider in the race! Also, with at 30T chainring and a 50T lowest sprocket, it’s going to be party pace up all the big mountains!

Nick Tapsell

Age 53 / brighton (united kingdom).

BIKE : No-name hardtail, SID 120mm fork, USE suspension post. Son Hub and Sinewave Beacon 2. BAGS : Tailfinn Aeropack, Restrap frame bag, Revalate Designs handlebar roll, Miss Grape Ilcoso front bar rack. GEAR HIGHLIGHTS : Zpacks Plex solo tent, Rab sleeping bag, Rab Down jacket and waterproof gear.

Jeff Taylor

Age 60 / haute cabin, vermont (usa).

BIKE : Blacksheep Hightlight, Mountain Tourer. BAGS : Mix of Dispersed, JPaks, Porcelain Rocket, and Tailfin. GEAR HIGHLIGHTS : Sleep system consists of an MSR Pro Bivy and Western Mountaineering Flylite bag. Shimano XT PD T-8000 touring pedals, Berthoud, saddle, Sinewave Beacon light with Fenix LD 30 helmet lamp. Saloman Vest for hydration and extra storage.

Temir Tenizbaev

Age 39 / bishkek (kyrgyzstan).

BIKE : I’ll be riding the Silk Road Mountain Race on a Specialized Chisel with mostly stock components. Upgrades include a new pair of Vittoria Mezcal 2.25” tires, a Truvativ carbon handlebar and aluminum aerobars, a Fi’zik Terra Aidon X5 saddle and Ergon grips. BAGS : I will mostly use custom-made bags sewn by a friend Alex Mata with the handlebar bag harness attached to the aerobars. The only mass-produced bag is Revelate Designs Spinelock Saddle Bag. GEAR HIGHLIGHTS : All my electronics including the lights will be charged from a 30k power bank. I will carry a Naturehike tent, sleeping bag, and a sleeping mat.

Andrei Tereskin

Age 35 / novocherkassk (russia).

BIKE : I’ll be riding my Sonder Broken Road. It has a SRAM GX Eagle drivetrain with a 30T chainring and 10-52T cassette. SQLab 612 saddle, Ergon GS3 grips, Spirgrips, and RideFarr aero bolt-on. I’ll be running same Rene Herse Fleeceer Ridge Endurance tires as I used last year. BAGS : I have a mix of bags from different manufacturers: Tailfin in the back, Apidura and Tailfin on the top tube, custom ultra800 framebag made by Sarmatian Bags and Nerpa harness with a Revelate ultra200 dry bag in the front + feedbag from Revelate. GEAR HIGHLIGHTS : Zpacks Plex Solo dyneema tent together with a Featherstone quilt and Therm-a-Rest xlite pad will be my sleep system and shelter. For lighting and charging I’ll be using kLite combined with SON 28 dynamo hub.

Galym Torgautov

Age 50 / shymkent (kazakhstan).

BIKE : My bike for SRMR 2024 is a 2015 Canyon Lux. It’s running a SRAM Eagle 12-speed drivetrain, Fox suspension, Chinese carbon wheels laced with Mezcals. I have Shigura brakes, Ergon grips, and a WTB Volt saddle. BAGS : My bags are a combo of Tailfin, Sarmatian, and Nerpa and I was glad to get Andy’s harness from Wayward Riders just in time for the event. GEAR HIGHLIGHTS : My sleep setup is a classic for SRMR, consisting of an OR Helium bivy and Therm-a-Rest Neo xLite pad. I’ve been testing the Keg spirit burner system with success and I’ll be taking it with me for the race.

Nursultan Turarbekov

Age 30 / bishkek (kyrgyzstan).

BIKE : I’ll be riding the Silk Road Mountain Race on a Surly Karate Monkey with rigid fork, Shimano Deore 1х11, 30T chainring, and Vittoria Mezcal 29 х 2.35″ tires. BAGS : My bag setup is mostly custom MASEY BIKEPACK waterproof bags handmade in Belarus except the handlebar bag is Vaude. GEAR HIGHLIGHTS : MSR FreeLite 1-person UL Tent, Sea to Summit Sleeping Bag, and an Apidura hydration pack.

Maarten Vanhaverbeke

Age 39 / brakel, flemish ardennes (belgium).

BIKE : Can’t believe I am in Kyrgyzstan for my third Mountain Race this year after Atlas and Hellenic. Anyways, the bicycle? As always, I’m riding my Mason InSearchOf. Ritchey Beacon drop bars, a SWS Wheels hand-built wheelset (SON/DT240), René Herse Fleecer Ridge tires, those new new SRAM Red shifters, XX1 derailleur, Shimano XT crankset, XTR 10-51 cassette, Wolf Tooth 32T chainring, RockShox SID fork, Syntace XXS aerobars, and Leap Components blip holders. I’m a bicycle mechanic, I could go on forever. BAGS : Revelate Designs feedbags, Spinelock seat bag and Rifter framebag. Tailfin top tube pack. Miss Grape ILCOSO handlebar bag mount with a 7L Revelate Pronghorn drybag. Apidura downtube pack supported by a King Cage Many Thing Cage. Camelbak Chase 4 hydration vest with a 2L Hydrapak bladder and inline filter. Second 1.5L bladder in the framebag. GEAR HIGHLIGHTS : Nordisk Lofoten tent, Cumulus X-Lite 400 sleeping bag, Therm-a-Rest NeoAir Xlite mattress, KLite lights and charger, Lucifer Z2Mini helmet light. Garmin Edge 1040 Solar for navigation, Edge 530 as backup. Inreach tracker.

Ruben Verhelst

Age 31 / gent (belgium).

BIKE : Jaegher Typhoon custom handmade stainless steel adventure bike with custom paint job (handmade drawings with pencil directly on the frame). BAGS : Mostly Tailfin bags with a VAP handlebar bag. GEAR HIGHLIGHTS : Zpacks tent for more comfort compared to a bivvy. My Garmin 1040 will be powered by the sun (hopefully) and a SON dynamo hub.

Dennis Vink

Age 22 / fair lawn, new jersey (usa).

BIKE : I’ll be riding on my Panorama Taiga bike with a Marzochi Bomber Z2 front fork. It’s an all steel frame and has a PG-1230 11-50T cassette. Shout out to Panorama as I partnered with them for this adventure and will be putting their great bike to work. BAGS : To be honest, I found most of my bags on Amazon and I’m glad to say so. Was on a tight budget as I’m a student. My saddle bag is the Topeak BackLoader 15L which I love so far. GEAR HIGHLIGHTS : Acquired some neoprene socks after watching them used in past SRMR events. My Big Agnes Shield 2 Tent is great. And can’t forget large rubber yellow kitchen gloves to protect my hands from the adverse conditions.

Age 28 / Vancouver, British Columbia (Canada)

BIKE : I’ll be racing on my trusty 2023 Cannondale Scalpel HT, size small. Components include SRAM AXS, 10-52T cassette, 28T purple Raceface chainring and Raceface carbon Era cranks. Wheels are Raceface Arc rims, laced with an SP dynamo hub at the front, and purple Raceface Vault hub in the rear, wrapped in 2.25” Maxxis Rekkon Race EXO tires and filled with Orange Seal. Fork is a Fox 32 stepcast. I’m running Deore brakes with Galfer pads. Cockpit is built around some Salsa bend bars, with Profile Designs aero bars on 70mm risers, SQ labs inner bar ends and Ergon grips. Saddle is a Fizik Vento Argo R3 Adaptive paired with a Redshift Shocktop PRO Endurance Suspension seat post for extra comfort. BAGS : I’m running nearly all Tailfin bags which have been a game changer on my small bike. The carbon Aero Pack has my spare clothing and food, while the 5L panniers have items I’ll need to access during the day like warm layers and electronics and plenty of extra space for food. My repair kit is in a Tailfin down tube bag. Tailfin top tube bag for more snacks and camera. Salsa anything cradle holds a salsa dry bag with my sleep kit — RAB Ultrasphere 4.5 sleeping pad, Therm-a-Rest Vesper -6°C quilt and Outdoor Research Helium bivvy — as well as my Albion rain jacket and insulated jacket. I’m also wearing a Salomon ADV Skin 12L vest for water, snacks and miscellaneous items. GEAR HIGHLIGHTS : Kit from Albion keeps me stylish, comfy, and protected from the elements. The Coros DURA has the best battery life I’ve experienced with a navigation device. My husband Jake surprised me with a Supernova rear dynamo light before we left and I’m so excited to have one less thing to charge.

Rufus Wenlock

Age 36 / christchurch (new zealand).

BIKE : The frame is self-built and designed, the second version of a bikepacking prototype. It’s running on 29 x 2.35″ Vittoria Mezcals, a 120mm Sid Ultimate fork, Shimano 1×12 drivetrain with an oval 32T, Hayes Dominion brakes with 180mm rotors and a Redshift Pro suspension post. BAGS : I’m running a pair of Tailfin top tube bags and a home made dry bag harness for under the saddle. Main framebag is also a home made job. The last piece of the kit is an Ultraspire Zygos 5.0 hydration vest with alllll the pockets. GEAR HIGHLIGHTS : I’ll have a total water capacity of 4.5 litres. My sleep system is a Sea to Summit -1 sleeping bag, SOL Escape bivy and a Sea to Summit Eitherlight XT sleeping mat.

Angus Young

Age 28 / blandford forum, dorset (england).

BIKE : I’ll be racing on my gorgeous Mason Cycles Macro prototype which has been anodized in a stunning bronze. Wheels are the Hunt Beyond Carbon Dynamo shod with Vittoria Mezcal trail tyres. Finishing kit from Ultimate Components. BAGS : The bags are a full Restrap Race Range and I’ll also be using the hydration pack. I’ve got plenty of space in the all so I can load up on snacks for the long sections. GEAR HIGHLIGHTS : Clothing is all from Gore, vital kit for Kyrgyzstan is a full set of waterproofs and you can’t beat GORE-TEX sleep system is the tried and tested OR bivvy, Therm-a-Rest Uberlite, and a Sea to Summit Spark sleeping bag.

Age 42 / Riga (Latvia)

BIKE : I’ll be riding The Silk Road Mountain Race on an old Scott coffee bike. Nothing serious, just a daily ride for fans. Custom wheels with an Extralite hub, Son dynamo hub, Berdspokes, Rideporte rims, Cushcore XC, Rene Herse 55mm endurance +. Magicshine 8000 front light, Nitecore nu50, nu05. BAGS : Modified Apidura bags. I’m creative and patient. I knew my needs for equipment, had my vision how it should look like and made it happen. Handmade. GEAR HIGHLIGHTS : Free mind, happiness and empty legs.

Further Reading

Make sure to dig into these related articles for more info...

Rigs of the 2022 Silk Road Mountain Race (SRMR)

Sofiane Sehili’s SRMR Gear List: 2022 Winning Set-up (video)

Rigs of the 2023 Silk Road Mountain Race (SRMR)

A Post-Race Interview with Jakub Sliacan, Winner of the 2019 Silk Road Mountain Race

Alone in Kyrgyzstan

An Interview with Lael Wilcox after the 2019 Silk Road Mountain Race

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TREK Procaliber 9.5

Cycle4Life - Paarl

5 days ago | 536 views

Used - Good

Frame Material

Procaliber 9.5 is a lightweight carbon hardtail with the unique advantage of our trail-smoothing IsoSpeed decoupler. It's the most affordable carbon model in the Procaliber mountain bike family, and it's built for speed and efficiency on singletrack with a wide-range Shimano Deore 1x12 drive train, RockShox Judy SL fork and speedy 29er wheels.

OCLV Mountain Carbon, IsoSpeed, tapered head tube, Knock Block, internal control routing, balanced post-mount brake, Boost148

RockShox Judy SL, Solo Air spring, TurnKey lockout, tapered steerer, 42 mm offset, Boost110, 15 mm Maxle Stealth, 100 mm travel

Rear Derailleur

Shimano Deore M6100, long cage

Shimano Deore M6100, 12-speed

Shimano MT511, 32T steel ring, 52 mm chainline, 170 mm length

Shimano Deore M6100, 10-51, 12-speed

Shimano MT200 hydraulic disc

Bontrager Kovee TLR

Bontrager XR2 TLR

More from Cycle4Life - Paarl

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The 7 Best Hybrid Bikes For Exercise, Commuting and Casual Fun

Hybrid or ‘exercise’ bikes make for a great introduction to cycling.

Gear-obsessed editors choose every product we review. We may earn commission if you buy from a link. How we test gear.

Editor's Note (8/7/2024): We circled to make sure all of our picks are still available and in stock.

They’re also great for casual riders and commuters, since they’re fairly stable and designed with an upright riding position. Throw in some feature mounts for fenders and racks, and you have an easy-going bike that’s perfect for getting you places and running errands, then taking the long way home.

The Best Hybrid Bikes

• Best Overall: Cannondale Quick 3
• Best Value: Co-Op CTY
• Best All-Arounder: State 4130 All-Road Flat-Bar
• Best Step-Through: Liv Alight Disc
• Best Commuter: Trek District 4 Equipped Stagger
• Most-Stylish: Cannondale Bad Boy 1
• Best Hybrid Electric: Velotric T1

What to Consider in a Hybrid Bike

Why trust us, how we selected the best hybrid bikes, our hybrid bike reviews, q+a with our experts, flat bar vs. drop bar.

A hybrid bike starts with a traditional road bike platform: fast-rolling 700c wheels and a lightweight, efficient frame. But while a road bike typically comes outfitted with a drop bar, a hybrid bike’s signature feature is a flat handlebar. This provides a wide hand stance for better control, easy brake-lever access, and a more upright position that’s comfortable and conducive to looking over your shoulder in traffic. These are just a few of the reasons why new cyclists and commuters are often drawn to this type of bike.

But a proper fitness bike is more than just a road bike with a flat bar: It’s a bike that’s been specifically designed to be ridden with one. Chad Price, core research and development director at Specialized, says that a fitness bike typically has a longer reach than a road bike, resulting in better handling from a flat bar and shorter stem.

Disc Brakes

One of the best technologies to come to fitness bikes is disc brakes . Although they cost a little more than rim-style brakes, discs offer more control and precision, particularly in wet conditions . They also don’t require as much hand strength to operate, making them a reliable choice for rides with long, winding descents.

Some lower-cost bikes may come with cable-actuated disc brakes, a cheaper alternative that’s not quite as powerful or as low maintenance as a fully hydraulic disc-brake system but that delivers similar all-weather performance and reliability.

The Right Gearing

Most fitness bikes come with two chainrings in the front and between nine and 11 cogs in the rear. Having more gears in the back allows you to fine-tune your shifting so you can keep a steady cadence, no matter the terrain. Bikes with three front chainrings typically cost less, but the third ring can make shifting less precise. A single-ring option simplifies shifting and cuts down on maintenance but may not have the range you need for climbing.

Belt Drives and Internally Geared Hubs

A belt drive (which takes the place of a chain) with an internally geared hub (where all the gearing is packaged inside the rear hub’s shell and sealed from the elements) requires less maintenance than a traditional chain-and-derailleur drivetrain. It’s reliable and clean, says Andrew Lumpkin, CEO of Spot Bikes.

A belt drive is also easy to use (one shifter controls everything) and, perhaps best of all, lets you change gears while sitting still at a stoplight. It’s a great, low-maintenance option if you can afford it, though it adds a small amount of weight.

Bicycling recommends bikes based on the extensive work of its test team, which currently includes Deputy Editor Tara Seplavy, Senior Test Editor Matt Phillips, Test Editor Dan Chabonov, and Maintenance Editor Gabe Ortiz. Together, they have more than 60 years of ride-testing experience and bring that insight to every recommendation they touch.

For our guide to hybrid bikes, Tara Seplavy recommended many of these selections based on the team’s collective testing experience, as well as her extensive knowledge of the category.

Vanessa Nirode has been writing about bikes, adventure travel, and cycling gear for 15 years for a variety of outlets including Bicycling , Time , Adventure Cycling , Fodors , BBC Travel , Next Avenue , and many others. With 20 years of riding experience, she’s owned and pedaled everything from a heavy commuter bike to a carbon racing road bike on her daily commutes and errands.

In addition to ride-testing many of our selections, she surveyed bike commuters and messengers at two of her favorite New York bike shops– Bicycle Roots in Brooklyn and Specialized Long Island City in Queens: They’re great places for cyclists to hang out and hear from riders about their favorite bikes, and learn what works (or doesn’t) work.

Caitlin Giddings tested bikes for Bicycling for over a decade, and has ridden bikes for more than two decades as an everyday commuter cyclist. She’s had the chance to ride nearly a hundred different bikes designed for fitness, recreation, and commuting on varied terrain.

We’ve been asked to recommend a lot of bikes over the years. Anticipating these queries, we’ve made a big effort to test as many hybrids and city bikes as we can—not only because they’re great for commuting, fitness, and fun, but also because they’re the bikes our friends who aren’t bike nerds are most interested in buying.

Our selections were recommended by the Bicycling test team, which has extensive experience testing all kinds of bikes, including hybrids. We’ve performed extensive ride-testing of many hybrid bikes on bike tours, city commutes, long bike path cruises, and bike shop test rides. Lastly, we considered a diverse range of external notes from bike messengers and commuters, as well as customer reviews.

Cannondale Quick 3

If you’re still holding onto the belief that hybrids are sluggish and heavy, the Cannondale Quick will disabuse you of that notion right away. This lightweight bike is a favorite for its fast feel and smooth ride, as well as a comfortable upright riding position that makes it an easy choice for recommending to new riders who may be a bit hesitant about incorporating regular cycling into their routine.

It features reflective accents to boost your visibility, mounts for racks so you can carry stuff (except on the front, as the carbon fork precludes rack mounting), and fenders to keep road spray out of your eyes and off your backside during commutes in questionable weather.

The 2x9-speed drivetrain comes courtesy of Shimano, with a decent range for tackling the hills on your commute. Tektro hydraulic disc brakes give you confident stopping power, while the 35mm Schwalbe tires barrel over urban debris.

If you’re looking to spend a little less, we also like the Quick Disc 4 , which features a steel fork, microSHIFT Advent groupset, and 1x9 gearing. It rides similarly well and costs a bit less, though we ultimately prefer the Quick Disc 3 for its carbon fork and higher gearing, which bring more speed on downhills and flats.

Co-op Cycles CTY 1.1

Keeping in line with REI’s inclusive ideology and the simple goal of getting more people outdoors and (in this case) on bikes, Co-op Cycle’s CTY bike is a capable and affordable hybrid bike that will suit a varied range of riders, especially beginners.

The CTY has wide, flat-resistant, wire-bead 40mm tires with reflective sidewalls so you can easily roll over potholes, dirt, gravel, random road debris and the occasional curb. Its Tektro mechanical disc brakes ensure that you can slow your roll when needed. The Shimano 3x8-speed drivetrain provides 24 gears, enough to get you most anywhere you want to go.

The CTY has an upright riding position (as opposed to the more competitive bent-over posture encouraged by road bikes.) A comfortable memory foam saddle and gel handlebar grips help you complete your commute and/or errands without introducing any soreness or aches into the equation.

State Bicycle 4130 All-Road Flat-Bar

State Bicycle’s All-road flat-bar stands out for its versatility, strong steel frame, and plethora of customizable options that allows you to set it up exactly like you want. Steel bikes have their own dedicated following : Fans love their springy feel. They’re also durable and reliable, which is an important quality in a bike you use to get around every day.

We love how much room there is to tinker with this bike. State offers two extra wheel sets–a 700c with slick 38mm road tires and a 650b with knobby 2.1 inch (53mm) off road tires. These sets, which cost an additional $390 apiece, come with tires, tubes, brake rotors and cassettes for easy switching. You may also want to upgrade to a SRAM drivetrain for an additional $1,000, and hydraulic brakes for another $100 for added reliability, power and smoothness (especially when it comes to changing gears).

The State 4130 is a bike you’ll be able to ride for years. We might even go so far as to say for the foreseeable future. You’ll need to replace the components as the years go by–time comes for us all, even our bike parts–but that steel frame will persist.

Liv Alight Disc 3

Whenever Vanessa leaves her regular bike overnight at her local shop, her mechanic gives her this bike as a loaner. The flat handlebars and upright riding position make it a comfortable and stable bike without compromising speed. It isn’t a ‘fast’ bike by any means, but it’s far more nimble than what you’d expect by just looking at it.

Throw in the included fenders, rear rack, and kickstand, and the Alight emerges as a rather perfect errand bike. The fenders keep road muck from your person, the rack provides a place to hook on a set of panniers, and the kickstand saves you from scouring for a leaning spot when you stop for a much-needed (and deserved) pick-me-up coffee.

Trek District 4 Equipped Stagger

The Trek District 4 Equipped Stagger is built for any kind of weather. It features a front dynamo hub that provides power to your rear and front lights, and an internally geared rear hub with a Gates CDX belt, rather than a chain. The dynamo hub powers your lights, so you’ll never have to worry about remembering to charge them. The geared hub and belt cuts down on chain and derailleur maintenance, so you don’t need to make adjustments after riding through bad weather.

Belts tend to be quieter than chains, so while this adds a level of stealth, make sure to add a bell and alert others when you pass them, which you’ll need to use often as the Stagger doesn’t cramp your speed. Or style.

The powerful hydraulic disc brakes provide great stopping power, and the 700x40mm Bontrager wire bead tires with reflective strips keep you moving no matter what obstacles get thrown in your way. The Stagger includes a kickstand, fenders and rack for a quick and easy commute, or getting a workout in while you get things done.

Cannondale Bad Boy 1

The Cannondale Bad Boy represents some of the latest innovations in bike design, making it a very capable way to get around, no matter where you decide to take it. It’s also just plain fun to ride, dodging and cornering more sharply than other bikes allow when a wayward obstacle ends up in your path.

This is because of perhaps the most significant flourish of its design and legendary urban style; the LightPipe Lefty fork. Unlike most every other fork on the market, the Lefty features a single pipe on–you guessed it–the left side that connects to the front wheel hub. The entire suspension is squeezed into a package that’s effectively half the size (and half the weight) of the standard component. The Lefty (also referred to as an “upside-down fork”) is thicker and stiffer at the headtube where you need the leverage, so it performs exceptionally well when braking and cornering.

The Bad Boy 1 also has a bevy of cool quality-of-life features, including an integrated LED light strip on the fork, an integrated tail light on the seat post, internal geared hub and belt drive for minimal maintenance, and top tube bumpers that protect your frame from scratches and nicks when leaning and locking.

Velotric T1

Powered by Velotric’s new, smart drive system motor, stealthy internal wiring and an integrated battery, the T1 is an electric bike that doesn’t look or feel like an electric bike. Weighing just 36 pounds, you can easily hoist it onto your shoulders and carry it up or down stairs when needed, which is not something you can do with most other e-bikes.

A Class 1 e-bike, the T1 features 5 levels of pedal-assist power. On pedal-assist bikes, the power only kicks in when you’re pedaling. This also means you can take your T1 out on most trails and multi-use paths where Class 2 e-bikes are prohibited.

“With its mix of styling, power, and passive security features, Velotric’s T1 is great for city and around town use, notes Bicycling Test Editor Tara Seplavy. “It has a fingerprint lock to keep someone from turning on the bike when you’re not around and a ‘Find My Bike’ feature in the Velotric app in case you forget where you locked it up. A torque sensor helps provide a smooth ride feel and the motor has plenty of zip, especially in the higher power settings.”

Speaking of power, Velotric designed some of the smallest and lightest electronic components we’ve encountered on an e-bike and housed them all inside the frame, which is part of what gives the T1 its stylish, sleek look. And, the integrated headlight comes on when the sun goes down - just like the street lights do, so you never have to worry if you remembered to charge your lights or not.

As required by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission and local laws in some cities , the Discover 1 is UL certified for safety within the Standards for Electrical Systems, so it has been tested and engineered to eliminate accidental battery fires.

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Hybrid bikes are great for riding long distances and casual rides where speed isn’t a top priority. The flat, wide bars provide a better vantage point when you need to quickly look behind you and side-to-side. 

They also offer a more upright riding position that many people find more comfortable when navigating city streets compared with the experience you get with a road bike and their drop handlebars.

A hybrid bike can be a great fit for commuters, running errands, and a solid all-arounder for anyone who likes to get out on their bike and ride for awhile.

What are the benefits of a hybrid bike?

Hybrid bikes are, above all, comfortable and casual. Sitting upright is often a more comfortable riding position, and makes it easy to keep track of your surroundings. They often feature mounts for racks,  fenders  and  lights , so you can add some  accessories  that you may need if you plan to work it into your day-to-day life. Last but not least, hybrid bikes often cost less than a road bike or full-featured mountain bike.

Are there any disadvantages to riding a hybrid bike?

As you’d expect, hybrid bikes occupy a middle ground that’s useful for new and casual riders, but may hold more advanced cyclists back as they take on tougher routes or pursue more competitive challenges. 

They aren’t as capable as mountain bikes in rough off-road conditions. Conversely, most hybrids aren’t as aerodynamic as a great road bike, and will move slower when you pedal at top speed.

Vanessa Nirode is a freelance writer who covers wellness, culture, outdoor adventure and travel for Hearst , HuffPost , PopSci , BBC Travel , and Threads , among others. She’s also a pattern maker and tailor for film and television but most of the time, she’d rather just be riding her bicycle.

As Deputy Editor, Tara Seplavy leads Bicycling’s product test team; after having previously led product development and sourcing for multiple bike brands, run World Championship winning mountain bike teams, wrenched at renowned bicycle shops in Brooklyn, raced everything from criteriums to downhill, and ridden bikes on six different continents (landing herself in hospital emergency rooms in four countries and counting). Based in Easton, Pennsylvania, Tara spends tons of time on the road and trail testing products. A familiar face at cyclocross races, crits, and bike parks in the Mid Atlantic and New England, on weekends she can often be found racing for the New York City-based CRCA/KruisCX team. When not riding a bike, or talking about them, Tara listens to a lot of ska, punk, and emo music, and consumes too much social media.  

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