Trail or XC hardtail? Big Trail or Big Nine - which one is best for you?

If you're not sure whether you'd be best off with a trail hardtail or a cross-country hardtail, this video explains the differences in equipment and character between the two styles of bike and why they're very much different animals out on the trail. In one corner, we have the Big Nine, a dyed in the wool cross-country machine, while flying the flag for trail hardtails is the latest Big Trail.

We cover why the equipment fitted to the bikes is different, the reasons for the radically different geometry of the frames and also where each bike has an advantage over the other, and vice-versa, so you can figure out which one is likely to be the best bike for your kind of riding.