While many brands have abandoned their 29ers for the safer option of 27.5in wheels, Boardman has stuck to its guns.

Both the 29er models in Boardman’s hardtail range come with cutting-edge single-ring drivetrains and RockShox forks hung on a stunning aluminium frame.

Buy now: Boardman Mountain Bike Pro 29er from Halfords for £800

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As you might expect from a brand that was founded by gold-medal winning Olympian Chris Boardman, the MTB Pro 29 is built for speed.

Most race-inspired hardtails at this price miss the mark, either by being too heavy or too twitchy and nervous, but the MTB Pro hits the bullseye.

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At just over 26lb, it is by far the lightest bike here, meaning it responds to every pedal stroke with an urgency and enthusiasm unmatched in this category.

Quick up to speed, it also maintained momentum brilliantly, thanks to the rollover talents of the 29in wheels and the excellent RockShox Reba RLT. The smoothest fork in this category, its 15mm thru-axle kept it stiff, while the RLT damping was both supple and supportive.

The swift, stealthy Boardman made barely a sound thanks to the superb 1×11 SRAM GX wide-range drivetrain.

We found ourselves out of the saddle, sprinting everywhere, as though there was a chequered flag at the end of every ride.

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If you want to gallop flat out over big miles, and are not interested in seeking out the most challenging trails, the thoroughbred Boardman is first past the post.

Buy now: Boardman Mountain Bike Pro 29er from Halfords for £800