For a hardtail mountain bike designed for trail riding, the Trek 4500 handles road cycling surprisingly well. This is a mid range mountain bike, superior to the budget department store bikes, but still affordable and flexible enough to fulfill a variety of uses. While the middle of the road components from Shimano, Bontrager, and RockShox aren’t ideal for the most demanding trails, the beginner or intermediate rider should have no complaints. The Bontrager Jones ACX tires handle dirt and cement with equal effectiveness, and the Shimano Alivio shifters help build up impressive speed as you move through the 24 gears. The RockShox Dart 1 suspension fork is stiff but offers 80mm of travel. Whether you’re looking for a hardtail mountain bike for moderate trail riding and the occasional urban ride, or for daily cycling around town with the odd off-road trail thrown in, the Trek 4500 offers the flexibility you need.


Pros: Comfortable ride; fast; solid specs.
Cons: Need knobbier tires for serious trails; exposed gear sprockets.