In our Tech Q&A series, we tackle cycling queries – no matter how trivial – with insights from the BikeRadar team and some trusted industry experts. This time, we help a reader decide if they should upgrade a gravel bike to a hardtail MTB.
As a dedicated roadie who’s been ensnared by the mucky side of things, I have a dilemma. My Cotic Escapade gravel bike is lovely, but I’ve recently crashed and sprained a wrist, having previously dislocated my shoulder. So, I wonder if my riding is more suited to, at least, a hardtail mountain bike. If so, any recommended purchases for £2,000? I go downhill fast, uphill slooooowww.
Matthew Lewis, Bristol
With a budget of £2,000, you’ve got a lot of choice. Modern trail hardtails are comfortable to ride and easy to handle as you progress onto increasingly technical terrain.
They’ll give you more confidence on the descents with their grippy tyres, powerful brakes and stable geometry.
We’d recommend looking for a bike with 100 to 140mm of fork travel, and, if your budget allows, a dropper seatpost.
This will make it quick and easy to get your saddle out of the way on descents and bring it back up for the climbs without having to stop and adjust it manually.
Being able to move more freely around the centre of the bike will help you stay in balance, and prevent spills and injuries.
Our first recommendation would be the 2025 Merida Big Trail 600, at bang-on £2,000.
It has some great frame details and comes with a 140mm-travel RockShox Pike fork, four-piston Shimano Deore XT brakes, a 1x12 Deore groupset and triple-compound Maxxis tyres.
The Minion DHF front tyre has a grippy tread design, while the Dissector at the rear is fast-rolling – something you may appreciate, coming from a gravel bike.
Next up would be a 2025 Trek Roscoe 9, at £1,675. This has a 140mm-travel Fox Rhythm 36 fork with a stiff chassis and the brand’s well-regarded GRIP damper, which should soak up all manner of roots and rocks, giving a comfortable and controlled ride downhill.
The Bontrager XR4 Team Issue tyres aren’t the greatest, but you’d have some cash left in the budget to upgrade them.
The rest of the spec is good, including a Shimano Deore/SLX/XT drivetrain mix and Deore four-piston brakes.
If those bikes are too trail/descending-focused and you’d like more of a classic cross-country hardtail, which would be comfortable for long days in the saddle, we’d recommend you look at the Specialized Chisel Comp.
At £2,100, it’s slightly over budget, because you pay a premium for the Specialized name, but there are often deals to be had.
It’s a well-designed frame and comes with a 100mm fork, 1x12 SRAM drivetrain and fast-rolling tyres.
Finally, Alpkit’s in-house bike brand, Sonder, has a selection of hardtails catering for everything from aggressive trail riding (Transmitter) to all-day off-road riding (Frontier).
They’re well-specced with good components.
- Read more: The best hardtail mountain bikes of 2025
Do you have a cycling question you want answered? Every month, we’ll select the most interesting questions and bring you an expert-level response from our unparalleled access to the greatest minds in cycling, both on the BikeRadar staff and across the industry. Send your questions to podcast@bikeradar.com
