At £379.99 you’re not always going to come up trumps with a high quality mountain bike, but this Specialized Hardrock HT Womens Mountain Bike knocks socks off other similar priced bikes.

This is the perfect bike for new and budding riders and would suit older children, men and women.

What we really like is that far from looking like an entry level bike, the Specialized Hardrock 2011 has a stylish design that will be sure to turn heads whether out on the trails, riding canal banks or heading to school or the office.

The hard-tail mountain bike benefits from a fully butted premium aluminum frame with a double “ORE” down tube. In layman’s terms this means the frame is light yet durable and compliant yet sturdy.
If you want the technical take on the front suspension of this Specialized Hardrock mountain bike then you’ll want to know that it boasts an upgraded 80mm-travel fork with a pre-load adjustment that is dialed for your size. In other words, if offers the perfect bounce for your weight and to suit a range of easier-going off-road terrains.

This mountain bike also has a long list of good quality components, especially when you consider the price tag. We particularly like the 21 gears with Shimano Acera rapid-fire trigger shifters and Shimano Atlus derailleur.

Whatever the gradient, going up or down, the Specialized Hardrock oozes smoothness and offers rides a big boost of confidence. This bike will get you where you want to go without the need to grind the gears or get off and push.

A light-feel yet proactive braking system also adds to the rider’s feeling of being in control while on two wheels.

Should you want to upgrade to disc brakes at a later date the Specialized designers have added a handy mount point. This is a real bonus if you take up mountain biking and then decide to push your riding up a notch, in which case you’ll be looking for more responsive braking