Journal

This versatile urban cruiser - featuring the same aluminum frame and carbon fork as Hudski's other two Doggler models, designed for gravel and mountain riding - more than covers a bike commuter's needs. The Sausalito, CA, startup brand loads it with technical riding components, a dropper seat post, and mounts galore for fenders, racks, and bottles.

The brainchild of a couple designer buddies, one a Specialized vet, the Doggler is out to prove that modern mountain bike geometry, a 1x12 drivetrain and a dropper post can take you just about anywhere. Hence the three distinct builds (city, gravel and mountain) emerging from a single aluminum frame/carbon fork combo — and a promo video that makes them look fun as hell on all surfaces.

Bicycles have gotten pretty fancy lately, with electronic shifting, battery-powered pedal assist, and complex geometries all created in an effort to make the riding experience…better? But with electronic components and complex systems, there are ultimately more opportunities for component failures. This is where Sausalito, California, based bicycle company Hudski has bucked the trend and offered up a simpler, straightforward rigid bicycle, the Doggler. Hudski’s goal was to maximize versatility and maintain stoke by offering three purpose-built rigid bicycles that are optimized for city, gravel, and mountain riding. Their creation, which they named the Doggler, pairs an aluminum frame to a vibration-dampening carbon fiber fork with a thru-axle skewer. The frame and fork offer ample clearances to accommodate knobby tires, 180mm disc-brake rotors, and a 40-tooth front chainring. A dropper seat post and tubeless-ready tires come standard.