As far as we know, Bombtrack is the first brand we’ve tested that takes its name from a Rage Against The Machine song (‘Bomb’ here being hip-hop slang for ‘great’. Thank you, Wikipedia).
- Highs: Tough, comfortable, decent kit
- Lows: Not quite enough for the price
The Hook is flagged up by Bombtrack’s UK distributor as a road bike, but it clearly has a hefty dose of cyclocross DNA. This does make it tough enough for tackling kerbs and even steps, but limits its speed and acceleration.
The ’cross gearing, with its 46/36 chainset, also means you lack a big top gear on the flat and descents. But it bombs along nicely enough over poor surfaces, the steel frame, 27.2mm seatpost and 35mm rubber keeping the comfort high.
The BB30 bottom bracket, tapered steerer and lovely flared handlebar ensure the handling is reassuring rather than explosive, and given its weight and good cable disc brakes, it descends better than it climbs. It has eyelets and bags of clearance for front and rear mudguards, but the absence of rack mounts is a bit of a shame, limiting its versatility.
We did enjoy riding this Bombtrack, but it’s going to have to do a little bit more to get you hooked. It’s tough and comfy, but it’s the same price as the Cannondale CAADX Rival, for example, which has SRAM’s hydraulic brakes.
