As cycling enthusiasts, we’re always searching for that one bike that can conquer diverse terrains and riding styles. Think of it as the Swiss Army knife of bikes, ready for anything, rather than a specialized tool limited to a single purpose. The Hudski Doggler embodies this versatility, and after several months of putting it through its paces in the varied landscapes around Santa Fe, from city streets to the Santa Fe National Forest, I’m excited to share why this bike excels as both a gravel and mountain riding machine.
Decoding the “Hybrid” Concept
The term “hybrid bike” can be loaded with different meanings, often causing confusion. Back in the late 90s, when All-Terrain Bike (ATB) was also a common term, it often described entry-level mountain bikes aimed at riders who weren’t tackling extreme mountain trails. These bikes were marketed for general use – rail trails, gravel paths – for those who needed something more robust than a road bike but weren’t necessarily hitting serious singletrack. The Hudski Doggler, however, redefines this concept of “hybrid.”
It’s crucial to understand that the Doggler isn’t your typical hybrid bike with front suspension and an upright riding position. Instead, the Hudski Doggler is a unique blend: a rigid, flat-bar gravel bike with geometry and features borrowed from both gravel and mountain bikes. It boasts a longer top tube, a lower bottom bracket, and generous tire clearance, combined with a comfortable stack height, a short stem, and riser bars reminiscent of early mountain bikes. This intelligent design makes the Hudski Doggler a truly versatile machine, filling a gap in the market that many bike manufacturers have overlooked, perhaps wary of the limiting “hybrid” label.
The Minds Behind Hudski Bikes
To truly appreciate the Hudski Doggler, it’s worth understanding the brand’s origins. Hudski is the brainchild of Will Hudson and Brian Szykowny. Brian’s background includes designing striking custom paint jobs for Specialized concept bikes, showcasing his artistic flair. Will’s expertise lies in design and fabrication. Together, they combined their skills to create Hudski Bikes, starting with the innovative Doggler, a brand that isn’t afraid to be a little different and push boundaries.
One Frame, Three Riding Styles: City, Gravel, and Mountain with Hudski Bikes
Hudski Bikes cleverly designed the Doggler around a single frameset adaptable to various riding styles. The core concept is simple: the terrain dictates the bike’s configuration. For city riding, Hudski offers a “City Bike” build with 27.5 wheels and smooth, high-volume tires. Gravel adventures are covered by the “Gravel Bike” configuration, equipped with 700x50mm tires. And for tackling trails, there’s the “Mountain Bike” version, which I tested, rolling on 27.5 x 2.6″ tires.
Interestingly, all three Hudski Doggler configurations come standard with a dropper post. This feature, often associated with mountain bikes, is surprisingly practical for urban riding. Imagine approaching a stoplight – simply drop the saddle for comfortable waiting, and raise it again when the light turns green. Ultimately, when you invest in a Hudski Doggler, you’re acquiring a highly adaptable platform that transforms with tire swaps, making it three bikes in one.
Delving into the Frame and Fork of Hudski Bikes Doggler
Many potential Hudski Doggler owners are curious about the aluminum frame’s ride quality. Let me be clear: this isn’t your typical harsh aluminum frame. In a blind test against a similarly built steel frame with identical geometry, discerning the difference would be challenging. The Doggler’s aluminum frame exhibits a surprising amount of flex, providing a comfortable ride across varied terrain and confident handling on descents, all while remaining impressively lightweight.
Hudski Doggler Specs Highlights:
- XL Size Aluminum Frame, Carbon Fork
- XL Size Weight: Approximately 26 lbs
- Head Angle: 67.5°, Seat Angle: 74°
- Non-Boost Frameset: 142x12mm Rear, 100x15mm Front
- Bottom Bracket Drop: 76mm (Approx. 10.5″ BB Height with 27.5″ x 2.6″ Tires)
- Chainstay Length: 450mm
- 73mm English Threaded Bottom Bracket
- Tire Clearance: 27.5″ x 2.6” or 29″ x 2.25″
- Price as Reviewed: $2,200
Hudski achieves this balanced ride feel through strategic tubing choices. Double-butted top and seat tubes contribute to compliance, while a robust 48mm diameter downtube ensures torsional stiffness, preventing the overly flexy feel often associated with older aluminum mountain bikes.
Complementing the frame is a beefy carbon fork with generous tire clearance, easily accommodating 2.6″ tires with ample room for mud and debris. While initially feeling stiff, lowering the front tire pressure significantly improved ride comfort. Both the frame and fork are equipped with mounts for racks, cargo cages, and fenders, expanding the Doggler’s versatility for touring and bikepacking. Hudski officially states tire clearance at 27.5″ x 2.6″ or 29″ x 2.0″, but some riders have successfully fitted 29×2.25″ tires.
Component Highlights of the Hudski Doggler
The Hudski Doggler build kit is centered around reliable Shimano SLX components, providing a solid foundation for diverse riding. It features mountain bike gearing, flat mount brakes, Race Face cranks, a PNW dropper post, a short 50mm stem, high-rise, backswept bars, and comfortable Oury grips. The bike ships with tubes but includes all necessary parts for a tubeless setup.
The component selection strikes a balance, incorporating gravel-oriented features like flat mount brake calipers (allowing for drop bar conversion if desired) with mountain bike-inspired gearing. Interestingly, Hudski opted for non-boost wheel spacing (100mm fork, 142mm frame). Brian Szykowny explained this decision by pointing out the availability of high-quality, used non-boost wheelsets at attractive prices, offering a cost-effective upgrade path.
Priced at $2200 for the reviewed build, the Hudski Doggler offers exceptional value. While some entry-level mountain or gravel bikes might be slightly cheaper, the Doggler stands out with its component spec and lighter weight. My size XL test bike, complete with dropper post, pedals, cages, and a frame bag, weighed in at a respectable 26 pounds – significantly lighter than many entry-level mountain bikes. Hudski also offers an even more affordable Doggler model with a Deore 12-speed groupset and mechanical disc brakes at an MSRP of $1600.
Geometry and Handling of Hudski Bikes Doggler
Bike geometry, often described through angles and triangles, profoundly impacts handling. Head tube and seat tube angles define a bike’s responsiveness, while chainstay length and bottom bracket height fine-tune its behavior. A lower bottom bracket generally enhances stability at speed, whereas a higher bottom bracket can make a bike feel more agile but potentially twitchier.
The original Doggler V1 featured a higher bottom bracket and steeper head angle, resulting in a more agile, cross-bike-like feel. The updated V2 Doggler, the model I tested, adopts a lower bottom bracket, a slacker 67.5° head angle, and a steeper 74° seat angle. These changes create a bike that feels more planted and confident at higher speeds on gravel roads and flowy trails. The V2 Doggler’s geometry feels perfectly tuned for the terrain around the San Francisco Bay Area, where Hudski Bikes originated.
Ride Experience and Target Audience for Hudski Doggler
The Hudski Doggler is a refreshing entry into the cycling world. While a few similar bikes exist, like the Marin DSX or the quirky Evil Chamois Hagar, the Doggler carves its own niche as a true hybrid, blending gravel and mountain bike characteristics without the limitations of either category. It’s not a heavy, downhill-focused mountain bike, nor is it a purely aerodynamic gravel race machine.
Riding the Doggler feels natural and intuitive. It’s the kind of bike that encourages casual rides around town, hopping curbs, exploring local trails, and tackling gravel roads leading to singletrack adventures. I found myself enjoying singletrack and Forest Service roads the most on the Doggler. Many cyclists online have shared that they recommend the Doggler to newcomers to cycling or riders seeking a more capable alternative to under-biked gravel bikes, without fully committing to a dedicated mountain bike.
The Hudski Doggler appeals to a broad spectrum of riders. As someone who enjoys rigid mountain bikes, I appreciate the Doggler’s ability to hone riding skills and provide a direct connection to the trail. It encourages a more mindful approach to riding, where choosing lines and adapting to terrain becomes paramount. The Doggler’s geometry allows it to climb efficiently, handle steep switchbacks, and confidently descend gravel roads and singletrack. It strikes a balance between engagement and predictability, making challenging terrain enjoyable and flowy trails truly come alive.
One memorable ride perfectly encapsulates the Doggler experience. Coasting down a ridge trail, the freewheel hum of the rear hub harmonized with the drone of cicadas, creating a unique connection with nature. Moments like these, away from urban noise, are what make cycling so rewarding. The Hudski Doggler makes even the ride to the trailhead enjoyable. In essence, the Hudski Doggler represents what a modern “gravel bike” should be – not a race-focused machine, but a versatile bridge between drop-bar road bikes and flat-bar mountain bikes. It surpasses typical gravel bikes in terms of gearing, geometry, and riding position, making it a superior choice for true all-terrain adventures.
Minor Drawbacks of the Hudski Doggler
No bike is without its quirks, and the Hudski Doggler is no exception. Geometry preferences are subjective, and what works perfectly for one rider might be slightly less ideal for another. The V1 Doggler’s higher bottom bracket might have been better suited for very rocky trails, but its steeper head angle could have made it feel twitchier overall.
The V2 Doggler’s lower bottom bracket, while enhancing high-speed stability, does reduce pedal clearance in rocky terrain. It’s also low enough that I even managed to scrape a pedal while cornering in sandals in town (a user error, admittedly). The bottom bracket drop of 76mm on the XL “Mountain” spec, combined with 27.5″ x 2.6″ tires, results in a bottom bracket height of approximately 10.5″. This is about 2 inches lower than some dedicated rigid mountain bikes, which offer more pedal clearance for technical trails.
Bottom bracket height, rather than drop, is the more relevant measurement as it accounts for tire size variations. Despite the lower bottom bracket, adapting riding technique quickly mitigates pedal strikes. Ratcheting cranks and keeping pedals level through rocky sections becomes second nature. Ultimately, the lower bottom bracket is a trade-off that enhances the Doggler’s performance in other areas, making it a more engaging and fun bike to ride overall.
Final Verdict on Hudski Bikes Doggler
The Hudski Doggler offers exceptional value for money. For $2200 (or $1600 for the entry-level model), you get a well-designed, well-specced, and remarkably versatile bike. While cheaper hardtails, touring bikes, or gravel bikes exist, the Doggler’s ride quality, lightweight build, component selection, and versatility are hard to beat. It truly is a successful hybrid, blending the best aspects of gravel and rigid mountain bikes into a lightweight and confidence-inspiring package. Whether you’re tackling gravel paths, singletrack trails, commuting, or embarking on bikepacking adventures, the Hudski Doggler is ready for the challenge. While the bottom bracket is a bit low for extremely rocky terrain, its overall competence, predictable handling, and exhilarating performance on gravel descents make it a standout bike in its category.
Pros of the Hudski Doggler
- Lightweight for an XL “Mountain” spec build (around 26 pounds)
- Visually appealing design with attractive color options and a sleek black component kit.
- Abundant rack, cargo, basket, and fender mounts for added versatility.
- Modern geometry with a longer reach and short stem for confident handling.
- Well-chosen components including a dropper post, Shimano SLX drivetrain, Maxxis tires, and Hudski Longhorn bars.
- No toe overlap across all models and sizes.
- Low bottom bracket enhances stability and fun on gravel descents and flowy trails.
- Compliant and comfortable aluminum frame.
Cons of the Hudski Doggler
- Low bottom bracket can be a limitation in very rocky and technical terrain.
- Stiff carbon fork, although tire pressure adjustments mitigate this.
Hudski Doggler in action
Do you own a Hudski Doggler? What are your thoughts? Share your experiences and questions in the comments below!
Special thanks to Hudski Bikes for providing the Doggler for this review and to Kyle Klain for the excellent action photography.
Learn more about Hudski Bikes at Hudski Bikes Official Website.
