I've
been airing out the Mustang XC hardtail for a few hours a day for the last
month. Built up with parts more suitable for a 5" travel
all-day bike it still weighs 23 pounds! It's the first bike from the Sinister
camp that is designed to go uphill as fast as your legs can take you, and boy
do I need some better legs to make full use of this thing on the climbs.
The right combination of angles and lengths and really subtle tube
choices really make this early Mustang feel like an
extension of my
body. No wasted energy fighting the bike up the most technical climbs,
and the neutral handling and a forgiving ride combine for a sensation akin
to carving up the trail with a big pair of skis on the way down. And the best
part seems to be that this bike is only going to get better before it hits the
hands of consumers. I've had lots of XC race bikes, but this is the first
hardtail I've seen in a long time with this level of attention, and this amount
of thought and innovation put into it.
Mickey D