Hardtack

Description

The Tanglefoot Hardtack is the Shure SM58 of bikes, the Pentax Spotmatic, the 8″ chef’s knife. Built for endurance, useful in half a dozen guises, and likely to outlast its original owner.

Distilling the essence of sustenance:  provide just what’s needed to conquer the rugged trials and trails that lie ahead. No extraneous flourishes, no unnecessary embellishments. The Hardtack embodies versatility. Whether it’s gravel escapades, urban commutes, conquering rocky and greasy east coast trails with finesse, embracing leisurely long road rides, or embarking on O.G. loaded tours, the Hardtack is your best friend that never talks shit behind your back.

For tackling the gnar, slap on some 27.5 x 2.6 tires on wide rims. Embrace the chunky gravel or traverse muddy fire roads with 27.5 x 2.1 tires and fenders. Feeling a hint of nostalgia? Revive 2003 with 29 x 2.1 tires for a shot at the 24 hours of Big Bear race. For a touch of modernity inspired by 2019, equip some noise-canceling 700c x 55mm tires on a 29’er mountain bike rim. And hold on, there’s more! Dream of riding amidst the gravel racing fray, donning plaid shirts and Rapha bibs? Outfit the Hardtack with gravel rims and 700 x 45mm tires.  

Frame and fork stiffness are pumped up by 12mm thru axles. Stiff frames translate to superior tracking, loaded or unloaded. That means the Hardtack goes where you point it, even in rocky rough terrain with a load on it.  Frames that ‘plane’ can easily develop speed wobble, or feel like they’re hinged in the middle of the frame when traversing rugged terrain. Flex has its place – elbows, knees, and tires – but not in your bike’s structure. A lengthened front end quashes toe overlap for all sizes, even when sporting platform pedals and muck boots. The extended front end also nixes endos, a principle also embraced by contemporary mountain bikes.

Optimized for dirt drop bars, the Tanglefoot Hardtack boasts ample stack height, courtesy of the XL head tube. A short Discord stem maintains appropriate reach to the bars. A high bottom bracket helps clear logs, rocks, and deep mud on winding forest paths and prevents  pedal dabs on tight switchbacks. Dispelling misconceptions, higher bottom brackets actually enhance stability, as proven by penny farthings, lamplighter bikes, and classic 90’s mountain bikes. True, standover space diminishes, but that’s counteracted with a sloping top tube.

The deceptively relaxed seat tube angle mirrors the virtual seat tube angle employed by 95% of endurance road bikes throughout history. While road bikes deploy a 73.5-degree seat tube angle with a 25mm setback post, the Hardtack positions your seat at the same angle with a 71-degree seat tube and a 0mm offset post. This ergonomic design ensures knee comfort even when accommodating a dropper post – because the best droppers have no setback.

Tig welded from oversized butted chromoly, the frameset and fork combine stiffness with a high-trail fork for unwavering stability during challenging terrain or moonlit dirt road reveries.

Our conviction: bikes are not just five- or ten-year investments. A quality steel frame spans 25 to 50 years of rugged use, enduring even longer with attentive care. This longevity guarantees a bike’s purpose will evolve over time. What may begin as a gravel conqueror could metamorphose into a reliable commuter or a trusty touring partner for a journey to Tierra Del Fuego. The Hardtack stands primed with front and rear rack mounts for Nitto Mark’s Rack, R-10, or classic touring racks. It welcomes full fenders front and rear, supports a 135mm QR wheel with rear dropout swaps, and toggles between 27.5 chubby and 700c commuter or gravel tires. 

Yes, you can run alt bars! Consider Velo Orange Crazy Bars, Jones Full Loop, or Nitto Forest Amblers depending on your physique. Complete your setup with a Gnome Hopper stem.

1x specific.  You can rig a 2x, but why?  You’ll need to provide your own cable stop.  We’re not gunna help you sort it out, so you gotta hamburglar your own solution!

Take a moment to watch Russ at Path Less Pedaled as he appraises this gem. He’s a fan, and note, he even likes it as a 1x!  

GALLERY
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GEO
Stack 560
Reach 375
Effective TT length 569
Actual ST length center to top 425
Head Angle 69
Fork Offset 50
BB drop 50
BB height 306
Seat tube angle 71
Chainstay length 450
Standover 757

Standover calculated with 27.5 x 2.6″ tire.

Stack 585
Reach 395
Effective TT length 598
Actual ST length center to top 455
Head Angle 69
Fork Offset 63
BB drop 50
BB height 306
Seat tube angle 71
Chainstay length 450
Standover 784

*Standover calculated with 27.5 x 2.6″ tire.

Stack 610
Reach 415
Effective TT length 627
Actual ST length center to top 485
Head Angle 69
Fork Offset 63
BB drop 50
BB height 306
Seat tube angle 71
Chainstay length 450
Standover 810

*Standover calculated with 27.5 x 2.6″ tire.

Stack 640
Reach 430
Effective TT length 652
Actual ST length center to top 515
Head Angle 69
Fork Offset 63
BB drop 50
BB height 306
Seat tube angle 71
Chainstay length 450
Standover 840

*Standover calculated with 27.5 x 2.6″ tire.

Stack 690
Reach 440
Effective TT length 679
Actual ST length center to top 545
Head Angle 69
Fork Offset 63
BB drop 50
BB height 306
Seat tube angle 71
Chainstay length 450
Standover 879

*Standover calculated with 27.5 x 2.6″ tire.

SPECS
Specs
BB Width 73, BSA threaded
Front Hub Spacing 100 x 12, 1.5 threading
Rear Hub Spacing 142 x 12mm, 1.5 threading
Chainline MTN Standard
Tire Clearance 27.5 x 2.6″ tires on 35mm internal width rims
Rack Mounts Triple mounts on fork legs, R-10 braze ons for rear seat stays, traditional rack mounts on drop out and near top of seat stays.
Fenders Mounts Fork eyelets, Fork Crown Hole, Rear drop out eyelets, threaded bridges
Headtube / Headset EC34
Dropper Routing internal, seat tube
Seat Collar 30
Seat Tube 27.2
Brakes Disc, IS mount, 160 direct mount rear
Bottle Cage Mounts Standard on seat tube, triple mounts on top of down tube and under down tube
Shifter and Brake Housing External, 1x
Sizing
Size Rider PBH (CM) Rider Height Stem Length*
X Small 74.5-79 5′-5’3″ 0mm
X Small 74.5-79 5’3″-5’5″ 30mm
Small 78-82 5’4″-5’6″ 0mm
Small 78-82 5’6″-5’8″ 30mm
Medium 80.5-85 5’8-5’9″ 0mm
Medium 80.5-85 5’9-5’11 30mm
Large 84-88 5’10-5’11 0mm
Large 84-88 6′-6’2″ 30mm
X Large 87-96 6’1-6’2″ 0mm
X Large 87-96 6’3 30mm
X Large 87-96 6’4″ 50mm

*Stem length recommendation assuming 75mm reach drop bars

IN THE PRESS

Bikepacking: The Tanglefoot Hardtack Has Landed