Giant Fathom 29er 1 Mountain Bike Review

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Available in both a “normal” and an e-bike version, the Giant Fathom has been a top performer for a few years. With 29” wheels, there isn’t a lot that this cross country MTB can’t do. The hard tail is great across a whole variety of terrain, we were keen to see what the 2019 version had to offer.

— 15 BITS OF BAD CYCLING ADVICE TO IGNORE —

Giant claim the bike is tenacious on steep climbs and confident through the quick, single track descents. With an all round smooth rolling feel, the 29er is set to deliver a balanced ride quality as the terrain gets more difficult. Cross country riders are also on the hunt for bikes that can climb efficiently and hold the speed on the flats. This comes from a combination of lightweight technology and careful design.

The Giant Fathom 29er 1 is superb as the climbing gets steep and rugged, but isn’t afraid on the descents, rolling with equal speed. The Frame geometry is designed around a 29” wheel set and an aluminium frame with 100mm of travel up front.

The Features:

The Giant Fathom 1 will stop at a moments notices with Shimano MT400 hydraulic disc brakes. So when things get technical, it really is a bike that you can rely on. Mixed with Giant XCT rims, the Maxxis Ikon tubeless ready tyres let you really roll over the bumps effortlessly. They really grip tight to ground to keep you shiny side up when it gets gnarly. 

— 7 THINGS YOU WERE NEVER TOLD ABOUT BECOMING A CYCLIST —

The Fathom 1 2019 comes with a 1×11 Shimano SLX drivetrain that allows you to unlock the majority of terrains. Comfortable, sharp shifting that you can rely on will rarely skip a beat. It’s ideal for all round riding, both in and out of racing. The SLX cassette comes complete with an 11-46 gear range so that you’re not caught short when you’re trying to power along the flats, but you can also get up the steeper stuff.

The bike is comfortable all round with a Giant Contact Switch dropper post letting you change your position to suit. You can change the saddle height at a moments notice. While up front a Suntour Axon 32 fork provides low-speed compression and a rebound adjustment.

— WHY E-BIKES ARE ACTUALLY FANTASTIC —

The Verdict:

An all round race ready machine, this bike will unlock exactly what you want it to without any hesitation. Smooth, easy to ride and fun. Giant haven’t cut any corners in the design of the Fathom 29er 1. Full of the great features we love in other rangers, we’d definitely recommend this bike to anyone looking for a new hardtail companion. 

— SHOP NOW —

  • 73%
    Performance - 73%
  • 78%
    Value - 78%
  • 74%
    Aesthetic - 74%
  • 79%
    Durability - 79%
76%