What is a hardtail?
Considering one of the most legendary hardtail bikes, the Norco Sasquatch, it should be noted that it became the most popular freeride bike in 2009. What is a hardtail? This is a bike with only one front fork cushioned. This provides it with the greatest flotation and maneuverability when riding on uneven terrain and equates to an army of hundreds of thousands of other bicycles designed in this way. It is the majority of bicycles in the world that are followers of this fashion or, more simply, belong to this class. They are more comfortable off-road than rigidai, for example, and therefore the breadth of their application, distribution and use.
One of the most legendary hardtails
Norco Sasquatch has been on the market for many years. The bike is frankly not cheap, although it holds up slightly above the average price range from inception to today. Its cost from the moment of announcement and entry into the market until today (taking into account the models before 2008) was something about 2 thousand dollars. Bicycles with entry-level gear cost about half a thousand less. After all, Norco is Norco. The type of bike for sale or for use by the cyclists themselves is designated by the manufacturer as a Hardtail MTB with a front shock absorber. The bike is made of solid and forged parts.
Frame
The aluminum frame, which greatly lightens the entire supporting structure, naturally gives more freedom and enjoyment to the cyclist itself. Due to the low weight, the manufacturer had to think, of course, about strength. The old fasteners were replaced by new, more reliable ones, the frame received a base, in addition to aluminum plates, also from hydroformed pipes.
Transmission
The bike is equipped with a gearbox of 18 gears. The stages have a clearly selected gear ratio, which makes it simple and convenient to use. The optimal selection of the size of gears in the steps and the choice of torque for a particular gear fell on the shoulders of the developers, years ago, when the first Norco was released. Now Norco is just a lifestyle for many. They trust him, love him, and no one will ever dare to doubt him. It is for such a simple reason that the developers have endowed the bikes of this line with such precise and reliable technologies.
Brake system
The bike has amazingly powerful brakes. You can talk about them in the key: disc, hydraulic, large diameter, or you can talk for hours. The disc is corrugated, cooled, ventilation occurs in both directions, and there is a dependence on the driving speed with the speed of air penetration into the sinuses between the abutting parts. The holes are precisely drilled, so you can be sure that in the most varied, even the most severe operating conditions, nothing and nowhere will knock or moving parts will not touch static ones. The brakes are powerful enough to instantly stop a bicycle moving at a speed of many tens of kilometers per hour. It does not matter - you are driving downhill, or on a straight road, good or mediocre quality of the road surface is provided to you. Wheels of 26 inches can easily reach such revolutions at high speeds that a conventional brake will not be able to stop in a matter of seconds. The Norco break system has long been considered one of the most dignified and productive bicycles in the world. Trigger switches (rear Sram X.5 and front Shimano Alivio) provide the fastest response to your actions. If we consider the performance of seemingly simple (and technically, too) tricks with the help of this bicycle model, it can be noted that it pleased with its capabilities.It is quite possible to put the bike on the rear wheel and keep it in this position while riding and it is not difficult due to the shifted center of gravity. Putting it on the front wheel is a little more difficult as it depends on the road surface and your personal skill set, but also not as difficult as on entry-level bikes.
Anti-blocking
Anti-blocking and adjustable brake disc forces allow for instant braking to smooth braking. In this case, in the process of braking at high speed, the bike does not stop rooted to the spot, but rises onto the front wheel. Here, the main thing in the process is to maintain balance and use smooth sliding in such a way as not to change the trajectory of this very front wheel. Otherwise, you just fall into the skid.
Front fork
The suspension travel is so accurate that it is precisely the performance of such manipulations that is welcomed on this model. It seems to her that she herself cannot sit still, and she invites you to take a walk in search of adventure. It is convenient (just thanks to the front fork - Marzocchi 55 RS, 160 mm travel, with a 20 mm axle for the front hub) to overcome low obstacles. To do this, it is not even necessary to defiantly get up, leaving the saddle empty, or tilt the bike, "wringing" your knees like in a trial. Curbs, curbs, edging of flower beds and city fountains, natural obstacles such as logs, etc., are easily attacked by Norco Sasquatch. Still, once again you are convinced that Norco is Norco.
Steering column
FSA TH-855 MTB headset, 1 1/8 "is another conversation. Truvativ Hussefelt Comp, alloy, 38mm lift, 31.8mm center diameter. One of the best I've ever seen. It's comfortable and Exactly as wide as you might need it for a wide grip, riding over rough terrain, or for performing any trick. Officially, the handlebars, like the bike itself, are not declared as equipment for performing anything like that. The change of the working part, since the crossbar itself is instantaneous and is performed with the help of easily removable swivel brackets. In bicycles of this type we can say the same about fastening saddles and wheels. the position is as easy and fast as the manipulation we performed earlier. The handlebars are protected by a special coating against slipping. For riding in extreme mode, I still used to wear gloves, To be honest, one could use them much less often, since the coating of the handles and the inner coating of the gloves, as I noticed during the ride, are almost identical. This speaks of the great concern of developers for the health and safety of consumers of their products. And this is very important and pleasant.
Rubber
The rubber initially fitted to the bike is the same size (meaning the front and rear tires) - Kenda Nevegal, 26 x 2.35 ". Wide profile, like for a dayhill at two and a half inches wide, it impresses with its lugs and formidable Note that they are not unfounded at all. Everything is informative and retains its semantic content. On such rubber, the bicycle can enter turns with a significant degree of inclination, without sliding off the road surface. What is most interesting, the tire itself has a large shock absorption effect, which is directly proportional depends on the loads that the cyclist can put on it.
Performing stunts
Personally, I once learned the following on this bike - with acceleration I hit a natural obstacle and tried to drive as high as possible onto the trunk of an old sequoia growing in our city park, and then jump off effectively. I rode quite high, froze there for a moment along with the bike, jumped off not quite effectively, because I did not have time to bend my legs and landed, even on the rear wheel, but somehow on my side, so I could hardly keep my balance. That's not the point. The tires, on which the greatest pressure is produced at such a moment, in some way did not oppose the shock-absorbed fork, which actually helped me during the "take-off". The rubber kept the momentum of the entrance to the obstacle perfectly.The obstacle would not be a sheer wall, and there would be a little more speed - I could continue this movement for a long time. The coating, as I understand it, had a rather amorphous meaning for the tires, since it was the grip force that helped me to freeze motionless for a moment in the position of a right angle to the ground. Then, under the influence of reverse motion (gravity has not yet been canceled), the wheels spun two turns back, and the grip was lost. Actually, because of this, I flew one and a half meters in free fall and landed on the rear wheel. Consider the nuance of the landing itself. It was quite stiff due to the lack of a rear shock, but that's a good thing because the bike wouldn't be as fast on acceleration before hitting an obstacle. On the other hand, the active cushioning effect of the rubber itself pleased me very, very much - it almost completely replaced the theoretically possible rear fork, and I still kept my balance. I did a lot of elementary tricks on this bike in urban conditions, the bike perfectly overcomes obstacles, but in some moments it relies only on your skill. Oftentimes, a damped fork just gets in the way, cushioning a theoretically hard hit.
Related equipment
Much of what we owe during such maneuvers is not the tires or the suspension, but the accompanying equipment, for example, the rims (SunRingle Single Track, double, 32 spoke holes). The spokes in the bicycle are used steel, tensioning, ensuring the reliability and strength of the wheel. There are other parts of the Norco Sasquatch (2009) Blue XS that are easy to use. These are pedals, and cables for shifting, and brake discs, and even every small mount. The pedals, if you pay attention to them, in just a few words cannot be described. These are Alloy, platform type, sealed industrial bearings. Easy to rotate. They fix the leg well with working surfaces. Prevents slipping. Because of the chain stopper, it is very difficult, almost impossible, to get into the working area of the gearbox with your foot, or, for example, with a lace from sneakers. Another manifestation of the manufacturer's concern for the potential buyer and user of their bicycles. The main advantage of the bike is that it is compatible with a variety of related equipment, from which, having bought a bike, you can equip it to your liking, changing the standard pedals, forks and other kinds of parts to those that you need, like more, or fit Your active driving rhythm.
Saddle
The Norco Shore saddle is uncomfortable, as befits Norco's signature style. Considering that the bike was not created for trial, then the saddle should have been wider, or made of more elastic material, but apparently it is not the fate of this model to cross the line of the classic hardtail style. Everything is done in the style in which the history of such bikes began. It is not a vehicle, but a lifestyle. Regarding the frequency of use of the saddle, in my opinion, it could be absent altogether. Anyone who has ever used a Norco hardtail will tell you this.
Seat post
The seatpost (Truvativ XR, 30.9mm diameter) allows the saddle to be extended much further, or rather higher than its predecessors and competitors, which is more comfortable. Although the excessive length of the tail section of the post adds a few grams of extra weight to the bike, which, from an ergonomic point of view, cannot be considered too prudent on the part of the manufacturer. Probably another hint that it's time to use their brand's bicycles for their intended purpose and just ride on rough terrain and in urban settings.
Use in any weather
The bicycle, which is important, is very slightly affected by weather conditions. External influences are leveled due to protective surfaces and short-circuit-resistant working parts and mechanisms.These are not minimal requirements, but the highest aerobatics and achievements in the development of sports cycling technology. The bike can be used for extreme riding on snow or water ford, experience stress when jumping on sharp rocky stones, without obvious harm to the working parts of the bike, and also without endangering your own health and safety. It can also overcome sandy, pebble, viscous mud and other obstacles. In city mode, he is unlikely to be frightened by high speeds or loads when jumping from low heights. The user manual is a rather abstract thing, since it mostly reflects only the minimum allowable loads. In fact, the bike is capable of much more wonderful things than indicated in the instructions. The bike Norco Sasquatch (2009) Blue XS is covered with bright glossy paint, sparkling in the sunlight - not very flashy, but resistant to scratches, chips and abrasions. With frequent contact with moving parts or tactical obstacles, the paint seems to stretch towards the chip itself, but still covers the surface. Norco welds are some of the most torsion-resistant in the world. Many of its synthetic parts are easy to recycle and repair. After full use - disposal. If handled with care, the bike would truly be eternal. With active driving, it can serve you for many, many years. The bike's biggest plus is its wide compatibility with a full range of professional attachments. It is possible to use non-native parts, choosing them according to your taste and depending on your requirements. If you buy a Norco bike, you won't regret it! Be careful when driving on city streets!
