Specialized Hardrock Mountain Bike Review

“This is a fun bike to ride. i've tried it on soft...”

Written on: 17/04/2008

Good Points
It handles rough turns, switchbacks, and hard loops very well. on singletrack, it rides fun and responsive. the place i've tested this bike is on the many varied trails of sycamore canyon in southern california. if you live near it, ride it. its a great way for you to know immediately the strengths and weaknesses of your bike, and what to do to bring out the best performance of it.

Bad Points
Attacking hills is difficult. so i added bar ends which helped greatly. watch the plastic cassette spoke protector if you are riding hard. if your rear derailleur pops loose or is not shifting properly, check to see if the plastic disk is loose or broken. fixing it or removing it would fix the problem.

General Comments
This is a fun bike to ride. i've tried it on soft dirt, packed dirt, knobs, tree roots, gravelly loops, water filled loops, switch backs up and down, over grass, attacked steep hills. i'm planning to get a full suspension bike next year but i dont see myself ever getting rid of my sport. if not, i'll just upgrade small parts here or there. like a new saddle, bar ends, etc.