Tested: Haro Mary SS 29ER

Haro Mary SS 29ER // $950
800-289-4276; HAROBIKES.COM

Though the world is awash in big-wheeled bikes, Haro has managed to create an undeniable head turner in the Mary SS. Maybe it’s the svelte 4130 steel frame with elegantly-shaped seat and chainstays, tidy welds and swank, socket-style dropouts. Or perhaps it’s the smart component mix that draws stares—Avid mechanical disc brakes, Truvativ Stylo 1.1G singlespeed crankset and nouveau-moustache, On-One Mary handlebars all are nice touches.

Of course, performance is the only thing that really matters. I rode the Mary SS over the course of one very soggy spring in Northern California and Washington and was impressed by how well those 29-inch hoops rolled up and over many of the same roots and logs that gave me hell on my regular 4-inch travel bike. Extra momentum on a single speed is a beautiful thing.

The Mary is as forgiving as a hardtail can be (buoyed along, no doubt, by the fat, yet fast-rolling 2.25 Kenda Nevegals), but there is no escaping the fact that this bike is absolutely rigid. I understand that riding a rigid fork helps hone your skills, but after two rides on the Mary SS, I would have traded my own mother for a suspension fork.

Likewise, I had mixed feelings about those swoopy On-One Mary bars. They work great on climbs—with your hands far back on the grips, you’ve got great leverage. It’s almost like sawing back and forth on a pair of bar ends. On descents, however, the bars angled my elbows close to my sides, giving me a sort of straitjacket feeling that I never got used to.

There’s also the issue of sizing. I’m 5’11”, and this smallest-available 16-inch test model fit me like a glove. That, however, is a "glass half full" way of saying that all you shorter folks are pretty much out of luck when it comes to fitting one of these things.

The components are top notch, except for the finicky Haro house-brand Pivit rear hub. But there’s plenty of tire clearance and the frame has the kind of dialed and supple ride that steel is famous for. Plus, you can always buy a derailleur hanger from Haro and convert the frame to a geared bike. Overall, I’m mighty impressed, and it’s clear Haro did its homework when they designed this bike.

HIGHS: Affordable and versatile—just add a derailleur hanger and the frame is ready for gears; smooth steel ride

LOWS: No suspension fork; Mary bars hinder descending; compromised size range