The Calibre Line 10 is designed to be a well priced, aggressive hardtail for ragging through the mud in the coldest months.

Calibre Line 10 need to know

• “Winter hardtail”
• 120mm RockShox suspension fork
• 66.5° head angle
• 73° seat angle
• Relatively long reach (450mm on a Large)
• 1x drivetrain
• Wide rims
• Schwalbe tyres (yes those are WTB in the pics)
• Dropper post

Aside from the paintjob not being dirty brown out ofthe box, the Calbre Line 10 does indeed appear to tick a lot of the boxes when it comes to choosing a hardtail to thrash around during winter.

Whether it’s to be your only bike or you’re one of those sensible people who put their expensive full susser into storage for a few months and break out a no-nonsense hardtail instead.

Geometry-wise, the Line 10 isn’t at the bleeding edge but it’s far from old hat. The numbers look pretty much on-trend for a capable hardtail designed for 2018.

The reach is roomy but not huge. The head angle doesn’t scream slack-attack. The standover is perfectly fine. Perhaps the most significant number is the low BB.

Spec-wise, whilst it’s not as immediately as gobsmacking as the £1k Calibre Bossnut full suspension trail bike, a more considered inspection reveals precious few, if any, weak links or clearance-parts speccing. There’s nothing here that needs changing until it wears out really.

Shimano disc brakes and 1x drivetrain (with an excellent Sunrace 11-42t wide range no less). WTB 29mm internal width rims. 760mm wide bar is fine and the 45mm stem is a pleasing sight. The Tranz X dropper post offers 120mm of drop. Bolt-thru RockShox Recon fork.

Any niggles? Not especially but if we’re being moon-on-a-sticky it’d be nice to see bolt-thru rear end. And it’s missing a Small frame size option so riders shorter than 5’6″ are out of luck. And a Schwalbe Rapid Rob rear tyre is perhaps a tad optimistic on a winter bike.

>>> Interview with designer of the Calibre Bossnut and Beastnut

All in all, another well thought out mountain bike from Calibre Bikes.

Want to know how it rides?

There’s a review of it in the forthcoming issue of mbr.