FIRST Rides MBUK

THE SHORT SETTING TURNS THE RC529 INTO WHAT FEELS LIKE A BMX ON BIG WHEELS; THE FRONT END POPS UP FAR EASIER WHILE THE TIGHT BACK END CORNERS WITH A WICKED ATTITUDE

PACE RC529 GX ULTIMATE

£3,319 Steep and fast or tight and twisty, Pace’s hardtail does it all

There aren’t many brands with a history in mountain biking that runs as deep as Pace’s. After making waves with the RC100 hardtail back in 1987, the pioneering Yorkshire company’s other innovations included early triple-clamp DH forks, integrated grease ports, long top tubes paired with short stems, and carbon-fibre-legged, disc-specific forks, all of which they were experimenting with before pretty much anyone else. The iconic square aluminium tubes of the RC100 may have been dropped for Reynold’s finest round 853 tubes on the RC529, but it’s affirming to see that Pace are keeping their trail hardtails thoroughly contemporary.

The frame

Steel frames have long been popular in the UK hardtail scene. For this updated 2021 model, Pace have gone straight to Reynolds for the front triangle, while the rear stays are made from their own chromoly tubeset. Both are treated to protect them from corrosion. While our bike was set up as a 29er, with room for 2.4in rubber, the frame is compatible with a 650b rear wheel should you prefer, and