New for this year and as seen by BikeRadar at the 2013 iceBike trade show, Saracen have been venturing into the urban and cyclocross markets with their Hack bikes.
The 6066 aluminium frames have carbon forks and have been designed with some clear influences from the company’s mountain bike range. Disc brakes, acres of mud clearance and MTB-inspired geometry such as longer top tubes and shorter stems start to give an idea of what the bikes are all about.
For urban riders, the extra muck room allows wider, more comfortable and more puncture-resistant tyres to be used while leaving space for mudguards and racks. The disc brakes enable predictable stopping and the geometry should make popping between cars a bit more fun. For those looking to use the bike on dirt, Saracen’s head designer has managed to fit 1.95in Maxxis tyres into the frame, opening up ‘monster cross’ opportunities.
6066 aluminium is about 25 percent stronger than the usual 6061, allowing thinner and lighter tubes to be used. The tapered head tube holds the carbon fork while smooth welding techniques maintain a slick look.
Saracen have borrowed the Flex Stay seatstay tech from the higher-end Kili bikes, which are triple-butted for comfort and weight, with lateral stiffness maintained by flattening the middle of the stays.
Flex Stay tech on the Tiagra-equipped Saracen Hack 2
Two levels of bike are available, with the Sora-equipped Hack 1 costing £899.99 and the Tiagra version, the Hack 2, costing £1,149.99. Saracen have hinted at more road-inspired designs in the works, too, possibly for 2014.
