We're firm believers that a trail bike needs to be able to cover the entyre trail at speed, and when it comes to sending it, it's tough to beat a 29er. Even more so, it's tough to beat our Camber Comp 29. With its fast 29-inch rolling stock, this Camber is designed for speed over the entyre trail. In other words, it blends all of the trail bike characteristics that you want with the XC climbing prowess that you need. This is achieved by thoughtfully combining our M5 alloy Trail Chassis with a Camber FSR rear end. The combination results in blending lightweight, rigidity, and durability in one package. At both ends of the bike, you'll find sufficient travel lengths that deliver plenty of plush suspension—all without going overboard on big hit capability. This means that you don't have to sacrifice efficiency, weight, or sheer speed to ride how you want. And with our Trail 29 Geometry and lightweight, stiff, and smooth Concentric Pivot at the rear, we can guarantee it. For the build, we selected components that focus on strength and performance, like a custom SRAM double-ring crankset, powerful Shimano hydraulic disc brakes, and hand-built Roval wheels. It's everything you need, and nothing that you don't.
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An M5 alloy Trail Chassis w/ Camber FSR rear end has been paired with our Trail 29 Geometry to create a bike that's fast, durable, and just at home on the climbs as it is mowing over rock gardens. It also features the shortest, most nimble rear end possible, and internal cable routing to make clean lines and reliable shifting through any condition.
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A custom RockShox Revelation RL 29 fork was developed to deliver 120mm of plush, trail taming travel, while accommodating a 15x100mm thru-axle for reliable handling and durability over rough, bumpy, or loose terrain. It also features our Rx Trail Tune for the ultimate in performance and feel.
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SRAM GX 11-speed rear derailleur grants you access to a wide range of gears, while providing crisp, reliable shifting.
Mountain biking has been revolutionised in the last few years with the introduction of larger wheel sizes and more sophisticated suspensions. Whether you are buying your first mountain bike, or you want to upgrade your ride, this is a quick guide to steer you through the occasionally confusing world of mountain biking. For a far more detailed guide, go to our BLOG on finding the mountain bike for you.
Where to start
Prices for a mountain bike that will last and give you a proper riding experience start around £400, which includes bike set-up and your first service. On bikes over £600, we include a free suspension set up, which is a £45 value. You can spend less on a bike, but you'll either get sub-standard components or be left on your own to build up the bike, fit it correctly, tune the suspension and service it once it beds-in.
What are you paying for?
£400 - £4,000 is quite a range, so how do you decide what's right for you? For example, is it more important to spend extra to get a carbon fibre frame or would you be better off with a less expensive frame and better gear shifters, brakes and wheels? If it's an upgrade from your current bike you are looking for, how do you choose the best frame, groupset and wheels for you?
1. Your Mountain biking objectives
The best place to start is understanding what you want to achieve with your bike. Are you riding local bridleways and towpaths, or will you be a regular on the red runs at Swinley Forest and the trail centres in Wales? Do you want to do big jumps, or be fast cross-country? The answers to these questions will guide you toward the right kind of bike. To keep it simple, we will refer to "Cross country", "Trail" and "Downhill". There is a more detailed breakdown in the BLOG
2. Frame materials
The most common material is aluminium, as it's light and strong, and it is less likely to be damaged in a crash than carbon fibre. Carbon fibre frames can offer improve weight and stiffness, but all carbon is NOT equal. Cheap carbon is like riding a plastic bike, and it is unlikely to survive many crashes.
3. Suspension & frame angles
"Hardtail" bikes have suspension forks and a rigid rear triangle, but "Full Sus" bikes have a rear shock absorber as well. Quality Full Sus bikes start at £1,000, as the parts and manufacturing costs are higher. The suspension "travel" is matched to the type of riding you will do. Cross country bikes generally have 100 - 120mm or travel, Trail bikes have 140 - 160mm, and Downhill bikes go up from there. Downhill bikes also have a fundamentally different frame design, and very heavy duty shocks, so it's a specialist area.
4. Wheel sizes
All quality mountain bikes now come with either 27.5" or 29" wheels. The "traditional" 26" wheel is slower over rough surfaces and has less grip due to the smaller contact patch with the ground. In general, 29" wheels are a good choice for medium and larger hardtail bikes, and 27.5" wheels are the best for smaller frames and full sus bikes.
Summary
We are here to help you match you with the best bike for your riding objectives and budget. We'll make sure you get the right size and set it up correctly for you in any case, but we can also discuss the trade-offs and pro & cons of your different choices. We are all cyclists and enthusiasts, so we are keen and able to help.