Line29 is a bargain trail hardtail from Calibre

Line29 is an honest aluminium bit of trail riding kit
Line29 might have 11 gears instead of 12 but it is still a stonking deal (Image credit: Calibre)

Line29 is the latest mountain bike from Calibre.   

The British value brand’s latest offering is an aluminium hardtail which blends competitive specification and entirely modern geometry. All at a relatively affordable price.

It is called the Line29 and combines considered frame design with cleverly considered componentry.

The Line29 frame is constructed from 6061 aluminium and Calibre claims that its new hardtail will roll onto the trail at 14kg. That mass rating might not be light but when you evaluate the available specification and £899 price point, you realise that grams were sacrificed to create a capable bike at the given target price.

Calibre’s Line29 runs a 130mm Rockshox Recon RL fork up front, which gives it a 65.5-degree head angle. The Line29’s designers have also paid attention to current geometry trends and as such, this aluminium hardtail has generous reach measurements for all four its sizes.

Riders can choose between small, medium, large and extra-large sizing. A large size frame has a 465mm reach, which is on trend for a 2019 trail bike.

Rolling the Line29 along are house brand alloy rims laced to Formula hubs and shod with grippy high-volume WTB Trailboss G2 tyres.

Calibre has equipped the Line29 with a Sram NX11 drivetrain, instead of increasing the number of overall gears to 12 and opting for SX-grade drive components. Deceleration is courtesy of Sram’s Guide-T hydraulic brakes.

The Line29’s controls are true to purpose, with a short 45mm stem clamping a broad 780mm handlebar. This aluminium cockpit features a marriage between more of Calibre’s housebrand components. Rounding off the Line29 build is a Rage dropper seatpost from KS, with 125mm of stroke.

With clever geometry, boost specification hubs at both ends and large volume 29er tyres, this Line29 has the making of an accomplished trail bike at a great price.

Lance Branquinho
Freelance writer

Lance Branquinho is a Namibian-born journalist who graduated to mountain biking after injuries curtailed his trail running. He has a weakness for British steel hardtails, especially those which only run a single gear. As well as Bike Perfect, Lance has written for MBR.com, Off-Road.cc and Cycling News.