Zero 29 – Shimano 12 Speed

When it comes to hard tails, the most important component after the frame is no doubt the fork. This will help define the ride quality and so you should be sure to allocate plenty of your budget here.

Wheels are another of the hardtail's most critical elements. You'll want to blend strength and weight - luckily we've done that for you in our incredible selection of wheels:

DT M1900 - DT Swiss' base trail wheel still packs a punch and offers simple, reliable riding. Great rims combine with solid components, and best of all the service parts and conversion kits are readily available.

Bird Factory Wheels - Updated for 2020 our in-house blend of the best DT components and Hope's legendary Pro4 hub. These wheels are build to last with no compromises. DT rims are the benchmark by which all others are judged and we won't compromise for our in-house wheels - accept nothing less.

PLEASE NOTE MY2020 DT SWISS 1700, 1501 and XMC SERIES WHEELS ARE SOLD OUT, SORRY.

Brakes are a critical part of the bike, bringing confidence in your ride and shouldn't be underestimated. All our brakes offer power and control, but for heavier riders/more extreme terrain we recommend 4 piston brakes.

On a 29 bike its worth changing to the larger rotors for your brakes whichever brakes you select. The larger diameter of the 29er wheel generates greater forces which need larger discs to compensate.

Choose from a 160/180 pairing, or a larger 180/200 set up. Disc brake rotors are the quickest and easiest way to upgrade your brakes and we would generally recommend larger rotors for riders over 75kg, and all riders on 29er bikes.

We don't do that many stems because to be honest, they all work great! More expensive will save you a bit of weight, and look nicer, but otherwise there's not a lot in it.

We design our bikes for a 40mm stem. If you want to run a frame on the large side, or are looking for a stable gravity sled, go shorter. If you need to gain some extra room while keeping the wheelbase in check on a slightly smaller frame, go longer. Simples!

Bars can really help make or break a ride. The right width feels good and gives you confidence. Thats why we buy them wide so you can start wide and cut down as you see fit - you can't add it back on!

IF YOU'D LIKE US TO TRIM THE BARS FOR YOU NO PROBLEMS, WE CAN REMOVE UP TO 50MM FROM ANY BAR, JUST LET US KNOW YOUR TARGET WIDTH

We offer Bird own and Hope headsets in a wide variety of colours to suit your build. Both use the same style bearings which are interchangeable down the line. Bird and Hope headsets are manufactured in the UK.

Hope headsets come with stainless steel bearings as standard.

We offer 2 great choices for seat clamps; our own as well as Hope's QR clamp. Choose ours for a smoothness and ease of use, or add a splash of colour with the Hope.

One of the most asked questions is 'Should I get a chain device'. The answer is always the same - 'You'd be mad not to'.

Why? Because a chain device, whether top or top and bash is the last line of defence against chain drop, which can be an expensive if you're unfortunate enough to drop over the outside, wrapping a pedal in the chain, which tears out the mech, which goes into the wheel...

Narrow wide 1x drivetrains offer impressive retention of the chain, its a game changer, but as the chain wears the retention falls off and drops become more common. A chain device prevents almost all drops from the top of the ring, the place most likely to cause you issues. From just £20 and weighing very little its a no-brainer.