Making changes to your hardtail, whether big or small, can have an impact on your ride - so
you might be wondering what changes YOU can easily make to your bike to make it better.
You might be looking to give your old hardtail some much needed TLC
or you're just raring to upgrade that new hardtail you've treated yourself to!
In this video we're going to take you through 5 ways you can improve your hardtail mountain
bike - of course, there will be more than the ones we suggest, so if you have any
of your own - don't forget to leave your suggestions down in the comment section.
Go Tubeless
If you’re into mountain biking then you’ll probably be aware of tubeless tyres but
for anyone who is new and not so familiar, tubeless tyres are exactly what they sound like,
a tyre that doesn’t need an inner tube to stay inflated. So why go tubeless?
A tubeless setup is lighter because you’re removing the extra weight of two tubes,
they’re also more resistant to pinch flats meaning you can run tyres at lower pressure
with more grip and more confidence. And, because a tubeless tyre contains liquid sealant, it also
helps to avoid punctures from thorns, sharp stones or anything else you may encounter on the trails.
Tubeless tyres also roll faster – by conforming more readily to the ground
and absorbing impacts so that rolling resistance is reduced for a faster overall speed.
Chances are If you’ve got bought a modern hardtail,
it’ll come with tubeless-ready wheels and tyres, so converting them will be
fairly straightforward. For more information on going tubeless hit the link in the description.
New/Different Tyres
A new set of tyres is hands down one of the most dramatic
yet cost effective changes that you can make to your bike.
You must think about where and what you’re going to be riding.
Think about the local trails you spend most of your time on and how
your current tyres perform on them and what they could be doing better.
Do you ride on hard-packed, man-made trail centre stuff or on steep,
root-scattered trails? If you ride on a bit of both, then you might choose an all-rounder.
Generally speaking, narrower tyres are more suited to harder, and smoother surfaces,
are generally faster, but offer less traction in the loose. Wider tyres on the other hand have
more rolling resistance so therefore roll slower but offer much more traction on loose surfaces.
Tread patterns are really important too. Some tyres may have directional tread patterns
which are designed to roll in one direction for increased speed, whilst other tyres are
uni-directional. Tread spacing is often key. Tightly spaced, shorter knobs eek every gram
of grip from a dry trail whilst taller, wider spaced knobs spear through mud and clear quicker.
The choice of tyre width combined with tread pattern can have a real impact on bike handling.
It is always best to pick something suitable for the terrain you are riding on.
Install a Dropper Seat post
The seatpost is a very simple part of your bike – a tube that connects the frame to the
saddle – but it can have an important role to play in how comfortable your bike is to ride,
and can also be a potential area for a weight-saving upgrade.
‘Dropper’ seatposts are telescopic hydraulic posts that are instantly
height-adjustable by means of a saddle- or bar-mounted switch
and they have become hugely popular for the majority of mountain biking.
For steep, technical descents you have the option of activating the
switch and dropping the saddle out of the way, allowing you to position your
body more easily over the back wheel for improved control and weight distribution.
And, once at the bottom, another flick of the switch and compressed air causes
the seat to rise back to its original position for optimum pedalling dynamics.
Change Your Grips/Finishing Kit Customise your contact points/finishing kit
Your finishing kit, things like the grips, pedals and saddle, is about more than just aesthetics and
can really affect the position that you ride in and how comfortable you are on your bike.
Your contact points – the handlebars, grips, pedals and saddle are the parts
of the bike in direct contact with your body
and they are the main areas you will want to look after… especially on longer rides.
Your handlebar plays a key role in how comfy your ride is, and it is important to find the
width and position that best suits you to minimise stretching and optimise comfort.
Likewise, getting a saddle that is comfy and can be positioned properly to suit
your riding style will make all the difference on a ride.
Making sure you have a grippy pair of pedals and grips will not only make you more comfortable but
help to boost your confidence when you’re sending it down the trails.
Changing to a 1x Drive Train
A 1x drivetrain refers to a setup with a single chainring up front and any number of
gears on the cassette and they continue to gain popularity with mountain bike riders.
But why make the switch?
Well, with only one derailleur to shift, converting to a 1x drivetrain results in simpler,
more efficient gearing, while still maintaining your gear range.
Another benefit is the reduced number of parts involved in the drivetrain, reducing the amount
of weight in parts, as well as the number of parts that have to be maintained and replaced.
And there you have it! Making any of these changes we've suggested are
sure to improve your ride. Have you tried any of our suggestions?
Maybe you've got some of your own to share? Either way, comment down below and let us know!