What's Your Flavour of Bike For The Trail? - Video

Oct 19, 2016
by Chromag Bikes  
Views: 23,559    Faves: 296    Comments: 15


Jordan Hodder chose to ride two hardtails for 2016. These were the bikes he would ride every day, for fun, for racing, for getting to work. One bike is a Stylus 27.5. The other is a Rootdown 29er. But how do you choose? It’s all about the flavour!

Video and main image - Mike Gamble
Music Mix - Ian Ritz
www.chromagbikes.com

Rolling into a rock line at sunset.


MENTIONS: @Chromagbikes / @mike-gamble



Author Info:
Chromagbikes avatar

Member since Nov 21, 2011
95 articles

116 Comments
  • 51 0
 A Chromag hardtail is some very special shit. A+ video and some crazy lines!
  • 2 0
 I don't think I'll ever give up my 26" stylus. So much capability and stoke
  • 42 0
 He was the rider starting just in front of me at the Whistler EWS, on a frickin hardtail of course. Meanwhile, I was secretly wishing I was on a DH bike.
  • 55 0
 Well, he might have had suspension grips.
  • 4 0
 So which bike was he riding?
  • 4 1
 @robjames: He rode the Stylus 27.5 for the EWS (orange bike in video) & the Rootdown BA (Blue bike in video).
  • 1 0
 @mike-gamble: cool thanks
  • 19 0
 Great follow along shot on that section he goes across the left side of the skinny rock outcrop. And a nice natural trail feature that the builder used at that.
  • 14 1
 OK I need to ride NOW. Great video btw.
  • 3 0
 I know, right? Already looking for my biking shorts lol. Nothing gets you pumped up to go ride like the Chromag videos Smile Razz
  • 3 0
 Hell yeah! One of the best vids all year, IMO. Wicked soundtrack!
  • 7 0
 I moved to the west coast of Canada and got whipped by so many hardtails on north shore and whistler trails that I took my 160mm travel bike a moved back to Australia. (Most of this story isn't true, except for the bit about having my ass kicked by guys on hardtails).
  • 7 1
 Really fancy the chromag surface and all there hardtails are things of beauty.
  • 3 0
 Building mine up tonight. Fizzing!
  • 3 0
 @samoooli: You're gonna love it, and building it up you'll be so much more attached to it than an off the shelf bike. Be sure to name her, she'll get you through a lot.
  • 1 0
 @AverageAdventurer: Her names Maggy (original I know..) Pic in my profile!
  • 1 0
 @samoooli: Love it, sweet build. Suzie for mine, Remi for my girlfriends
  • 1 0
 @samoooli: That is one nice bike dream build love it.
  • 7 0
 So much yes, and not a lot of no !
That trail was cgi , right ?
  • 9 2
 Every time I ride my Chromag, it feels like I'm in this video.
  • 3 0
 Nice work on the music Ian ! Still loving my wide angle , and for you guys wondering wether or not to get one , remember this famous quote " a good mechanics got more than one wrench " I love my all mountain ride ( knolly)but it's always a a toss up when I'm picking a bike to ride and the chromag never disappoints
  • 7 1
 is it just me.. or the video flavoured 4:20
  • 4 0
 Where is that at?? absolutely beautiful place, awesome lines. That leisure ride was the essence of mountain biking at is best
  • 3 0
 looks a little like Pemberton, BC? just a wild guess though.
  • 2 0
 Blue bike is Sproatt in Whistler Red Bike is Pemberton
  • 3 1
 What is it about HTs everyone likes? Is it the more "connected" feeling to the trail?

I've never ridden one as I always immediately react with "why would I want a slower rougher ride that limits how I ride and the speed I hit my local trails", but maybe there's something more to it...?

I'm open to the idea of it. Maybe I should get one and play around on it when I ride with my gf or buddies that are just there to have a good time?

No idea. Been watching the occasional HT video for years on this site, and Ive slowly built intrigue.
  • 3 0
 The only way to know is to try one yourself.
  • 6 0
 Riding a hardtail through gnarly terrain feels like truckin´ a Prius through 3 feet of powder; you just have to hold on, go straight, never mind the rear end, and keep haulin´
  • 5 0
 @JimmyGrand:

Not in my experience..riding a hard tail requires a more concerted analysis of terrain and line choice. cant just huck and plow through the same stuff you ride on your full suspension.

@nvranka

i see youre from the LBC...really a hardtail is very capable for a lot of the socal trails..with exception of some of the rockier OC / San Gabriels mtn trails. hardtails are plenty fun..they're not slow once you get used to it. granted, we're talking modern hardtails...the ol skool hardtails are indeed rough on the body.
  • 7 0
 @ledude:

Your right, it certainly requires a different level of precision to ride a hardtail, but no matter how precise and analytical you are with your line choice, it seems to me, that riding a hardtail will always feel faster and more rowdy the riding a full-suspension bike. In reality I´m well aware that it isn´t faster, and you can certainly allow your self to be more rowdy on a fully, but the sensation of speed and gnarliness sure isn´t the same.

I´ve ridden hardtails my whole life, and only tried full-suspension bikes on rare occasions, my local terrain simply doesn´t justify a full-suspension, and that´s why I choose to ride a hardtails.
  • 4 0
 @JimmyGrand:

I started on full suspension bikes...then recently in the past 2 years started riding hardtails to the point where my hardtail is my primary sled. Less margin for error, but certainly just as fun!
  • 5 0
 @ledude:

Hardtails are unreal, hitting the perfect line on a hardtail certainly takes planning and precision, but when it happens, it feels like mountainbiking.
  • 7 0
 @nvranka how have you never ridden a hardtail? What was your first bike? If it wasn't a handrail you're doing something wrong. You need to ride a hardtail to some extent mate you're missing out.
  • 1 0
 If you've ever ridden a bmx then you know why. It's just good ol fashioned fun.
  • 2 0
 I would have thought everyone starts out on a hardtail. I tried my first full suspension bike like a month ago and was blown away by how well it rips through everything with insane traction, when normally I would have been skipping around on my hardtail. But I still like the fact that if you're on a good line, the hardtail is just as fun if not more satisfying.
  • 2 0
 Hardtails: seat of the pants fast, but maybe not Strava fast.
  • 1 0
 I tend to go slower on my hardtail and focus on flow and creative lines. I feel like it's fun in a totally different way and maybe a little less chance of wrecking since I'm not as tempted to just straight line everything super fast.
  • 1 0
 @redshift: Same here. On the full squish, I feel like I can just monster truck through stupid lines and roll off drops with no fear of what I'm going to land on, where as on the hardtail I'd be picking my way along, hard on the brakes and/or bouncing all over the place. But on the hardtail the climbs feel really efficient and I love how in control and... I dunno, "lossless" it feels on twisty, jumpy flow trails.
  • 5 0
 Chromag = best bike I've ever owned
  • 1 0
 Most of the cinematography was top notch - following behind on those narrow ledges, sweeping motions down the boulders.. Minimal music let the riding / trail sounds shine.

However I logged in to say : Stop the lens flare. It looked like a chromag video made by JJ Abrams.
  • 6 0
 N+2 me thinks
  • 4 1
 I too went back to a HT after 13 years of full suspension this past year. It was a welcome change. No slower, and sometimes even faster, on my local trails.
  • 1 0
 Though I just built up my '16 Honzo ST this year... I still lust for a Stylus. Stoked on all of the burly HT options available and the fact that most manufacturers are really starting to take note of the geometry riders crave. A Chromag would make for a special kind of do-it-all
  • 4 0
 Nice to see a video that shows riding I could actually do.
  • 5 1
 Rode my Chromag last night. Such an awesome bike.
  • 3 0
 got a stylus 26 best bike ever owned.everyone should own at least 1 chromag component great vid by btw
  • 2 0
 I have a wideangle and the thing gets more miles than my 160 and 130mm bike. short chainstays and snappy.. the bike is a blast to ride and the bike will outlive me..
  • 2 0
 This video this very cool... Featured is also the music by Iam Ritz (miss that guy... he is a genius!) Chromag is f*ck and love Pemb!
  • 3 0
 sweet vid. single pivot calf & quad suspension takes me back to my old trail days.
  • 4 1
 thanks for the wake and bake chromag! (4:20)
  • 2 0
 4:20 Big Grin
  • 2 0
 details, details. Blue bike, pink shirt. Pink bike, GRAY shirt? I coulda loaned you a blue shirt.
  • 1 0
 Ha! Didn't have a blue shirt. Dang!
  • 2 0
 Beautiful soundtrack! The minimal instrumental tune with the natural sounds the bike made = perfection
  • 2 0
 Oh yeah, my kind of stuff. Ian Ritz doing the music?! That is a sweet surprise!
  • 1 0
 Damn.... now that's how you sell bikes... Sick... rad trails and riding and the filming was perfect! Now if only the weekend could get here sooner.
  • 1 0
 The cable cam (I think) between 2:30 and 2:38 is so good! This last rock slice/roll is a gem!
Where is that? I rode lord of the squirrels and this isn't there!
Awesome vid!!
  • 5 0
 No cable cams were harmed in the making of this vid, all long shots are running shots with a gimbal.
  • 1 0
 @mike-gamble: well done!
  • 1 0
 @mike-gamble: very nice
  • 2 0
 Dude Ian!! Sick beats!! And also Hodder and Gambie of course. Way to crush it on most of my all time favorite trails :-)
  • 1 0
 Cheers Love.
  • 2 0
 totally dig the video. and the riding offcourse!
  • 2 0
 Great rider! Great Video! Keep up the great work. We want more!!!
  • 2 0
 Pineapple doesn't belong on pizza
  • 2 0
 this is not making it easier to wait for my Rootdown!
  • 1 0
 Such an awesome Video! There are way to less videos online with some nice hardtail riding.
  • 3 0
 Nice leisurely ride.
  • 3 0
 That video length!!
  • 2 1
 No rear suspension, no dropper seat post,, and he still rides (much) better than me.
  • 1 1
 the first bike has a dropper
  • 3 0
 Nice work Chromag!
  • 3 0
 Awesome filming!
  • 2 0
 looks kinda like a demo...
  • 1 0
 Needed more Stylus riding. Been trying to get my hands on a fun hardtail. This is fueling the fire.
  • 2 0
 I think one of my fillings just came loose.
  • 1 0
 i also have a stylus and rootdown ba Smile
  • 2 0
 yus!
  • 1 0
 nice riding, nice filming, nice video!
  • 1 0
 Surely there must be droppers on those bikes...
  • 1 0
 exactly how i would of done it
  • 1 0
 Wish we could get the stylus in the UK
  • 2 0
 I enjoyed that immensely
  • 2 0
 420
  • 2 0
 love my Surface!!
  • 1 0
 The Rootdown BA looks fun.
  • 2 0
 this video is 4:20 long
  • 1 0
 Man I miss summer already also Hardtails ftw.
  • 1 0
 How is the bottle still in the cage?
  • 1 0
 Beautifully done
  • 1 0
 beautiful edit
  • 1 0
 Anyone know the song?
  • 1 1
 Chromag gets it.
  • 2 4
 Never ridden a 29er, but they look so weird and terribly awkward
  • 4 1
 Which part of that looked awkward. That guy was on a tear.
  • 3 1
 I fully respect your opinion, but you're dead wrong. End of.
  • 3 0
 @thenotoriousmic: The extra effort to move the wheels laterally?

@adrock-whistler: um...ok? Doesnt change the fact it appears to be awkward to me... I wasnt trying to hate, I'm just trying to understand the 29er phenomenon, and decide whether it has place in my life.
  • 1 0
 @meltboro: you just adjust the gearing to compensate.
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