The Dualist is designed to be a rigid MTB, but you can safely run a short-travel gravel fork with around 40–50mm of travel.

We don’t recommend using a long-travel fork—doing so changes the bike’s geometry and applies forces the frame wasn’t designed for, which can void the warranty.

We can make small changes, like swapping out the handlebars, but we don’t currently stock other component options beyond what comes on the complete builds.

While the Dualist is running the flip chip in the rear, you’d still most likely need either an eccentric bottom bracket or a hanger pulley to properly tension the chain.

Velo Orange makes a great eccentric bottom bracket designed for a 24mm crank spindle and a 68/73mm threaded BB shell—that could be a solid option for setting up your Dualist as a single speed.

Yes — even though the rear spacing is 12x142, the bike was designed around a Boost chainline.

We recommend using a 24mm spindle crankset, as anything larger can cause clearance issues with the internal dropper post routing.

There are plenty of great “off-the-shelf” options for the Small and Medium sizes:

Roadrunner Bags Full Wedge – Fits like a glove on a Medium, handmade in LA, and tough enough for anything. It’ll also fit a Large Doggler, though not perfectly.

Outer Shell Half Frame Bag – A great low-profile option if you’re just carrying essentials like a windbreaker, tools, and snacks.

For Large and XL frames, we recommend going custom to make full use of the big front triangle. Check out this extensive list of custom makers:

Bikepacking.com’s Custom Frame Bag Directory

Rear rack options:
Tumbleweed T-Rack (355mm) – Features cargo cage mounts on the legs for strapping on dry bags.

Old Man Mountain Divide – A super sturdy option for backcountry trips. Requires a fit kit, so use their fit kit finder to confirm compatibility with your Hudski.

Topeak Uni Explorer Disc – A classic, reliable rear rack found at most bike shops. Works with Topeak’s modular MTX trunk bag system.

The Dualist has an axle-to-crown measurement of 415mm.

The Dualist has been factory tested for a combined rider and gear weight limit of 280 lbs.

We currently don’t have stock of Doggler rear hubs or rear wheels, but we can help you find a compatible option. Velomine is a great source for handbuilt and affordable wheels.

One solid choice is a Shimano rear hub with a Micro Spline cassette, which makes for a great replacement. Just note that the rim’s inner width is about 5mm wider than the stock Doggler wheelset.

We recommend staying close to the stock fork’s 400mm axle-to-crown measurement. Running a 120mm suspension fork would put too much stress on the frame and could risk cracking the head tube and down tube junction.

The Doggler was designed as a flat bar gravel bike, so if you’re looking to add some compliance, we suggest gravel-specific suspension forks such as the Fox 32 TC, RockShox Rudy XPLR, or the MRP Baxter (our top pick).

We recommend sticking with cranks that use a 24mm spindle. Even if you remove the sheath from a 29mm crankset, it’ll be too tight of a fit. We tested 30mm Turbines (with the BB sheath removed), and the dropper housing actually cut a slot right into the spindle—so clearance is definitely an issue.

We don’t currently have any in stock, but you can source a compatible replacement here:

Trek Diamant Prowheel Crank Preload Bolt

This is a solid replacement option and should work perfectly in place of the original.

Absolutely! It has all the mounting points on the frame and fork to accommodate fenders.

You can run a mountain front derailleur with a 34.9mm clamp on the Doggler.

You’ll want a 3mm offset chainring for both builds.

Even though the rear end is 12x142, it was designed around Boost spacing, so the 3mm offset ensures proper chainline alignment.

The Doggler has been sunsetted to make way for our new bike, the Dualist. The Dualist is essentially the evolved Doggler—featuring adjustable geometry, SRAM UDH, Boost spacing, 38T chainring clearance, and tire clearance up to 29 x 2.5" or 27.5 x 3.0".

Yes! We can ship directly to your local bike shop for assembly.

If you already have a shop in mind, just give them a heads-up that your bike is on the way and enter their address at checkout.

If you don’t have a preferred shop, we’re partnered with Beeline Connect—a network of affiliated shops that will receive, assemble, and tune your new Huddy. During checkout, you can enter your zip code to see nearby shops, and the assembly cost will be added to your bike purchase automatically.

Yes! Our Canadian distributor, Butter Snakes Trading Co., currently has bikes in stock. You can order directly through them or check out one of their partner shops across Canada.

We currently don’t ship to New Zealand or Europe, as we don’t yet have direct relationships with dealers or shops in those regions — but it’s in the works and hopefully coming in 2026!

We can expedite shipping if you need your order sooner. Just let us know what you’re looking for and provide your shipping address, and we’ll send you a quote for faster delivery options.

Please inspect your order as soon as it arrives and contact us right away if your item is defective, damaged, or incorrect. We’ll evaluate the issue promptly and make it right.

We offer a 30-day return policy, starting from the day you receive your order.

To be eligible for a return, your item must be in like-new condition, unused, and in its original packaging with proof of purchase. For complete bikes, the tires and components should show no signs of wear—the policy is primarily in place for sizing purposes and can be verified indoors or with a short test ride.

You can start a return through our Return Portal.

• If you purchased returns coverage at checkout, return shipping is covered.
  
• If not, the buyer is responsible for return shipping costs.
  
• Local customers can drop off returns at our San Rafael, CA HQ to avoid shipping fees (just contact us first to schedule a time).
  

For any questions or to initiate a return, reach out to us at info@hudskibikes.com.

Once we’ve received and inspected your return, we’ll notify you to confirm whether your refund has been approved.

If approved, your refund will be automatically issued to your original payment method. Please note that it may take a few business days for your bank or credit card company to process and post the refund.

Yep! Easily done. All it takes is a wheel swap—just make sure to re-check your shifting and brake alignment after changing wheels.

Currently, Shimano only recommends flat mount calipers for the rear when paired with mountain levers.

That said, you can absolutely run a flat mount caliper on the fork—options like the SRAM Level, Paul Klamper, or Hope RX4 work great up front.

Unfortunately, we found a tolerance issue with the 12mm adapters, so we’re no longer offering adapters with complete bikes.

Most hub manufacturers offer swappable end caps that let you convert from 15mm to 12mm, which is the best route if you’re looking to run a gravel wheelset.

We’ve put together a detailed, step-by-step guide on how to install your dropper post on the Deore Doggler. You can find it here on our Journal:

How to Install a Dropper Seatpost on Your Deore Doggler

Yes — the front brake line shouldn’t be wrapped around the head tube and should be re-routed.

The easiest fix is to:

1. Remove the grips
   
2. Remove the brake lever
   
3. Unwind and straighten the brake line
   

Since it’s been wrapped for a while, you may need to spend a bit of time straightening the line before reinstalling and clamping the brake lever back onto the bars.

Hudski is a combination of the founders’ last names — Hudson and Szykowny.

Doggler is a word of endearment they use when greeting a good friend they haven’t seen in a while.

The measurements from the inside edge of the seat tube to the inside edge of the head tube are:

• Small: 505mm
  
• Medium: 537mm
  
• Large: 567mm
  
• X-Large: 597m

All our bikes come with tubes installed—it’s just easier for shipping that way—but they’re ready to convert to tubeless.

That means the rims are tubeless compatible and already have tubeless rim tape installed. You’ll just need to add tubeless valves and sealant, both of which you can purchase directly from our site under Equipment.

The Itzarack was designed to fit a rigid fork with a 400mm axle-to-crown. We currently don’t offer adapters to mount the rack higher up the fork leg.

Your bike will include a set of basic Allen wrenches — 3mm, 4mm, 5mm, and 6mm — which are all you’ll need for basic assembly.

Your new bike arrives 90% assembled and includes the hex keys you’ll need to make final adjustments and get from 90 to 100.

All that’s left to do is turn the bars, install the front wheel, and pump up the tires.

We recommend bringing your new bike to a local shop for a quick inspection once you’ve finished assembly.

Watch our assembly video here

You can run up to a 180mm rotor with the proper adapters.

You can run up to a 36T chainring.

Our bikes come stock with 2.0" tires for the 29" wheel and 2.6" tires for the 27.5" wheel.

The 27.5" setup is maxed out at 2.6", while the 29" setup can comfortably fit up to a 2.2" tire without any clearance issues.

Aluminum doesn’t get enough credit for its versatility — it’s light, durable (with proper heat treating and material choice), and allows us to fine-tune ride quality through tube selection.

Pairing an aluminum frame with large-volume tires balances out its natural stiffness, while the carbon fork adds a refined, responsive feel up front and helps keep overall weight down.

Dropper seatposts were originally designed for mountain biking, but we think they’re useful in all types of riding.

In the city, a dropper makes it super convenient to lower your seat at stoplights, letting you put both feet on the ground. With a quick press of the lever, the seat pops right back up to your ideal saddle height.

On the trail, dropping the seat lowers your center of gravity, giving you more control and letting the bike absorb impacts and flow smoothly over rough terrain.

If you can’t tell by now — we’re big fans of droppers.