The claim is that the On One is a bike for ragging about. British trail riding is a sort of genre in its own right, think Whistler rather than day-long epics, technical descents over loose rocky terrain, little respite and short sharp climbs. 456 bikes are so named because they have a geometry which supposedly compliments a 4,5 or 6 inch travel fork, but the Evo is designed more towards the longer travel, so think 6 inch or 160mm travel, with a hugely slack head angle, probably around the 66% mark, which an XC rider would think was like a wheelbarrow. They are ideal for those plunging descents, but the pay-off in having a slack head angle is that it's a pig to climb, unless the bottom bracket is lowered and the seat angle steepened. That's what On One say they have done here, made a slack headed bike with a climbing capability. Many riders choose an adjustable travel fork, like a Talas 100-140, or 130-150, so they can set the travel to low for climbing.
The 456 is bombproof. The steel frames are chromoly steel, which are designed to be robust, not racy. I know a couple of On One riders, one of whom had a Carbon 456, but found it a bit of a dog's breakfast, creaky, and not the best build quality. He swapped it for a Ti frame in the end and is much happier. He runs it with a 140 (5") fork.
If you like the thought of a "hardcore" steel frame, On One are in a world of British competition, and you could have a look at the offerings from Ragley such as the Blue Pig, Piglet, and Troof- again, hooligan hardcore hardtails with 6 inch geometry. Dialled Bikes do the acclaimed Prince Albert and Alpine, Genesis have a beauty in the Lattitude, and here we stray into top grade steel bike territory, using Reynolds 853 tubing. Steel it may be, but it's worlds apart from the One One's chromoly, which is strong and robust, 853 gives a supple, and extremely light for its strength ride quality. Top of the market (and price!) is the Cotic brand, with several hardtails to choose from, my favourite being the Soul, designed for 100mm to 140mm forks, slack but climbable, and astonishingly light at 4.4lbs for a medium frame.
). I really ought to get round to building it up!
