How to Choose Mountain Bikes

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Take charge on the descents and singletracks with the Cannondale Trail 5 hardtail mountain bike. It's built with reliable 1x gearing, 100 mm of plush front suspension and a sturdy aluminum frame.
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Best Use | Mountain Biking |
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Frame | SmartForm C3 alloy, 1-1/8 in. headtube, dropper post compatible |
Mountain Bike Style | Trail |
Bike Suspension | Front Suspension |
Fork | SR Suntour XCM, 100 mm travel, coil, 42 mm offset (27.5 in.) 46 mm offset (29 in.) |
Fork Travel | 100 millimeters |
Crankset | Prowheel, Charm 30T |
Bottom Bracket | Cartridge square taper |
Shifters | microSHIFT Advent X, 10-speed |
Rear Derailleur | microSHIFT Advent X |
Rear Cogs | microSHIFT, 11-48T, 10-speed |
Number of Gears | 10 gear(s) |
Brake Type | Hydraulic Disc Brake |
Brakes | Shimano MT200 hydraulic disc, 160/160 mm RT10 rotors |
Brake Levers | Shimano MT200 hydraulic disc |
Rims | WTB SX19, 32 h |
Front Hub | Shimano HBTX 505 |
Rear Hub | Shimano FHTX 505 |
Tires | WTB Ranger Comp |
Tire Width | 2.25 inches |
Handlebar Shape | Riser Bar |
Handlebar | 6061 alloy, 25mm rise, 8 deg. sweep, 6 deg. rise, 720 mm |
Stem | 6061 alloy, 31.8, 7 deg. |
Seat Post | 6061 alloy, 31.6 x 350 mm |
Saddle | Cannondale Stage 3 |
Pedals | Cannondale Platform |
Headset | 1-1/8 in. |
Chain | KMC X10, 10-speed |
Weight | 32 lbs. 6.4 oz. |
Bike Weight | Bike weight is based on median size, as sold, or the average of two median sizes. |
Gender | Unisex |
XS | S | M | L | XL | |
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Height Range | 5'1''-5'2'' | 5'1''-5'4'' | 5'4''-5'8'' | 5'7''-6'0'' | 6'0''-6'3'' |
Reach | 36.5 | 40.2 | 42.5 | 44.7 | 46.9 |
Stack | 57.3 | 59.1 | 62.3 | 63.2 | 64.1 |
Effective Top Tube | 53.5 | 57.7 | 50.9 | 63.4 | 65.9 |
Seat Tube Center-Top | 53.5 | 57.7 | 60.9 | 63.4 | 65.9 |
Standover Height | 67.3 | 71 | 76.8 | 79.5 | 83.9 |
Head Tube Length | 9.5 | 9.5 | 10.5 | 11.5 | 12.5 |
Head Tube Angle (degrees) | 68 | 68 | 68 | 68 | 68 |
Seat Tube Angle (degrees) | 73.5 | 73.5 | 73.5 | 73.5 | 73.5 |
Bottom Bracket Height | 29.3 | 29.3 | 30.7 | 30.7 | 30.7 |
Wheelbase | 105.4 | 109.8 | 114 | 116.6 | 119.2 |
Chainstay | 44 | 44 | 44.5 | 44.5 | 44.5 |
Fork Offset | 4.2 | 4.2 | 4.6 | 4.6 | 4.6 |
Measurements are stated in centimeters unless otherwise indicated.
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My OLD hardtail finally kicked the bucket and I'm broke, so I picked this up just to get back on trails. I was planning on getting something more robust in the future, but I'm really digging this Trail 5. I've never ridden on 29" wheels and was a bit leary, but they actually are very nimble. They clear everything, too. A lot less skittish than 26" and TONS of traction. The AdventX 10 speed drive train is actually really nice. I'm riding singletrack in Colorado and frequently use all the gears s the range is perfect. They're quiet and quick. The clutch keeps the derailleur & chain from bangin' around. No complaints. I haven't hit a point yet where the lowest granny gear wasn't enough to get me up the trail but I haven't tackled anything hard core. I don't think this bike was built for that. Not with the Suntour XCM at least. My main beef is this shock fork. It's a pogo stick! If you're thinking of doing some singletrack, get ready for an interesting ride. The XCM can't keep up. I'm already shopping for an upgraded fork. It's fine for a smooth gravel trail or dirt road though. Overall very confidence inspiring. It's a very fun ride for the casual biker. And I LOVE the color! Totally worth it.
A big step up from my current legacy mountain bike. Fun ride along the beach and just as fun to take it off road on the trail. Climbing was pleasant with the gearing and shifting. The downhills equally nice with the front shocks. I did add the SPD pedal right off.I was planning on a mountain bike purchase 2 months ago and jumped on this bike when it came on the REI site. The Trail 5 fit my requirements
Put about 50 miles on my XL sized bike so far, about half on rocky northern California single track. It's light weight and confident--feels like it floats down hill even on rough spots despite being a hardtail. Feels great in the corners, but the geometry on the handlebars can get away from you in S- turns, I think due to the larger 29" tires. Takes getting used to such an agile set up. Brakes are excellent and nicely linear. Shifting was a little off as delivered, but a few adjustments and it was good to go. Recommended!
I bought this bike for trail riding in southern New England. For the price, the bike has performed nicely and I am more than satisfied with it. I've had a few flat tires so I will be changing the tires over to tubeless. Other than that, it's been great. I'm 5'8 160lbs and got the medium frame which has been fine but I have the seat down as far as it goes. If I were doing more downhill terrain, the seat would have to go lower. The bike was delivered from REI quickly with no problems and was easy to put together. Overall, great purchase.
Went up and down Papago mountain today without a hitch. Seems like a good all around bike with nice features for the price and options for upgrading. If I had to criticize it, the stock pedals seem like pretty cheap plastic but other than that I'm enjoying it so far!
I've been primarily riding on trails in NC, bike handles very well and the 29" really help you glide over rocks or branches. As much as I love the bike, I had to upgrade the pedals (stock felt cheap and had little grip on tough terrain), grips and saddle (all personal preference for touch points). Now it's a beast. As far as the sizing down issue I've heard. The large does feel a bit... well large and I'm 5'9". I don't think you could convince me to move to a smaller bike however.
This is my first bike of this kind. I am normally buying department store bikes and they have served me well. This time, I wanted something that was more fitted to me and will last me longer than a year or so. The reps at REI were fantastic to show me the proper way to size a bike and proper care and maintenance of a bike like this. It's been fun getting out and I crave riding now! Thanks!
Took the bicycle right back for tuning and REI said something bent during shipping and fixed it so the gears shift flawlessly through all 10 gears. Gear range is huge from normal top and to extremely low, the spacing is perfect. Replaced the pedals with Shimano metal flat pedals. Replaced the seat with WTB SL8. Ride this bike every clear day at lunch for at least 5 miles. Riding is fast and a total pleasure, what a wonderful machine.
From the modern frame design to the quick drivetrain, and exceptional braking, this bike is an amazing value for the price. It has been just over one month since I got the bike and I have been putting it through its paces. It has been driven mostly on dirt trails and on the road but it has also seen the occasional singletrack mountain trail. The wide handlebar allows effortless control on technical trails and rough terrain. The 1X drivetrain provides all the necessary range while also being easy to control using its responsive shifter and derailleur. The 29" tires are large and grippy which delivers confidence on wet or muddy paths. The two complaints I have with this bike are with the front suspension fork and the included composite paddles. These are complaints that most entry-level mountain bikes, however, I believe they are worth noting. Do not expect this bike to overcome anything bigger than a small root or rock. This bike comes with a very basic coil fork which is fine for road and dirt trail use, but it will struggle on technical trails that have large rocks or any drops. The included paddles are absolutely unusable after a few rides. They will lose their grip and will have to be replaced. I was fine with this because quality paddles with metal pins can be bought for not that much and it allowed me to customize my new bike a bit. Overall, this is an amazing entry-level bike. If you decide on picking one up for yourself, you will not be disappointed, because I believe it's a reliable mountain bike that will bring fun and enjoyment for years to come.
Pedals feel a bit cheap, but everything else is solid. Sizing runs large, I'm 5'8 and went with a Medium, and I could only just fit the bike. Size down if you are unsure. Building the bike was really easy, and on the trail the bike has performed admirably so far. Four stars only for the size issue which could frustrate someone, and also because it is a sort of starter XC bike, don't expect to do jumps and stuff. But its great fun on a XC trail.