MTB Girls Magazine Reviews the Mullet Cycles Peacemaker
A new bike can make you a new rider.
That’s the biggest lesson I learned after spending a month testing the Mullet Cycles Peacemaker, a mixed-wheel mountain bike that challenged my assumptions about geometry, handling, and what confidence feels like on technical terrain MTB Girls Guide to Mullet Bikes.
As someone who primarily rides a Santa Cruz Tallboy and spends most of my riding time at Annadel State Park, China Camp State Park, Jackson Demonstration State Forest, and Soquel Demo Forest, I’m firmly rooted in the downcountry and XC side of mountain biking. I love climbing, covering miles, and finding flow through technical terrain.
So when I drove up to Aloha MTB in Avery, California, to pick up a Mullet Cycles Peacemaker for review, I wasn’t sure what to expect.
What followed was a month of trail testing, suspension adjustments, learning curves, and eventually one unforgettable ride down Annadel’s infamous Refugio Trail—better known to locals as Refco.
Test Ride Details
Bike: Mullet Cycles Peacemaker
Wheel Setup: 29-inch Front / 27.5-inch Rear
Fork Travel: 160mm
Location: Annadel State Park, Santa Rosa, California, USA
Primary Test Trails:
- Canyon Trail
- Refugio Trail (Refco)
Ride Date:
June 23, 2026
Strava Ride:
https://strava.app.link/UVMXyunDe4b
What Exactly Is a Mullet Bike?
Most riders think a mullet bike is simply a mountain bike with a 29-inch front wheel and a 27.5-inch rear wheel.
According to Mullet Cycles founder Miles, that’s only part of the story.
“Any bike can have a mixed wheel setup. It’s more about the geometry that makes a mixed wheel setup work in any conditions. Basically the same way a dirt bike can ride any condition and any speed.”
That dirt bike analogy made more sense every time I rode the Peacemaker.
Unlike bikes that simply swap wheel sizes, the Peacemaker feels purpose-built around the mixed-wheel platform. The geometry creates a unique ride character that is noticeably different from traditional trail bikes. MTB Girls Guide to Mullet Bikes.
Setup Matters More Than You Think
One thing I learned quickly is that setup is critical on this bike.
My first ride was surprisingly smooth and comfortable. Later, when making suspension adjustments, I wasn’t entirely honest about my riding weight because I assumed lighter settings would improve ride quality.
Instead, I learned a valuable lesson.
Suspension setup works best when you tell the truth.
The team at Trail House in Santa Rosa helped check the bike, inspect the brakes, and adjust the suspension before my second and third test rides. Miles recommended approximately 15% sag in the rear shock, along with additional fit adjustments MTB Girls Guide to Mullet Bikes.
Ironically, after the adjustments, the bike felt firmer on some of my later rides—not because the bike performed worse, but because I was taking it into significantly rougher terrain than before.
And that terrain was Refco.
The Climb Up Canyon
The route began with the climb up Canyon Trail.
For Annadel riders, Canyon is familiar: steep in places, rocky in sections, and demanding enough to get your attention. I’d rate it about a 7 out of 10 on my personal rock scale.
Coming from my Tallboy, I immediately noticed the extra travel and weight. The 160mm fork and more aggressive build required more effort on the climb.
Miles later explained that the longer fork changes rider position and effectively slackens the seat angle, making steep climbing slightly less efficient.
The bike never felt incapable.
It simply asked for a different riding style.
More patience. More power. Less urgency.
The Refco Test
Then came Refugio Trail.
If Canyon is a 7 out of 10 for rocks, Refco is a 10.
The trail is a relentless mix of ledges, roots, volcanic rock, loose chunk, and rapid-fire line choices. Some sections even resemble a miniature version of Moab, with striking red rock formations scattered throughout the trail.
This is where the Peacemaker started to shine.
The bike rolled through terrain that would normally have me carefully selecting every line. The 29-inch front wheel wanted to steamroll over obstacles, while the 27.5-inch rear wheel felt easy to maneuver around tight corners and technical features.
More importantly, I felt lower in the bike.
Compared to my Tallboy and even a Specialized Stumpjumper, the Peacemaker placed me in a position that felt more connected to the terrain. The lower rear wheel created a sensation of security and stability, particularly on steep descents and rocky sections.
I wasn’t riding above the bike.
I was riding in it.
That feeling made a difference.
The Bike Changed My Riding
The biggest surprise wasn’t the bike.
It was me.
I found myself taking lines I normally wouldn’t choose. The bike seemed to encourage creativity and commitment. Sections that usually required caution suddenly felt approachable.
I wasn’t necessarily riding faster.
I was riding differently.
And that’s what great bikes do.
They expand your comfort zone.
A Dirt Bike With Pedals
The longer I rode the Peacemaker, the more I understood Miles’ dirt bike comparison.
The bike wants to go downhill.
Fast.
It wants to roll through rough terrain rather than dance around it.
Where my Tallboy encourages efficiency and precision, the Peacemaker encourages confidence and commitment.
The best description I can offer is simple:
The Peacemaker feels like a bulldozer.
In the best possible way.
MTB Girls Comparison Test
| Feature | Mullet Cycles Peacemaker | Santa Cruz Tallboy | Specialized Stumpjumper | Santa Cruz 5010 |
| Wheel Setup | 29F / 27.5R | 29 / 29 | 29 / 29 | 27.5 / 27.5 |
| Riding Style | Aggressive Trail | Downcountry / XC | Trail | Playful Trail |
| Climbing Efficiency | 7/10 | 10/10 | 8.5/10 | 8/10 |
| Descending Confidence | 10/10 | 8/10 | 9/10 | 8.5/10 |
| Rock Garden Performance | 10/10 | 8/10 | 9/10 | 7.5/10 |
| Cornering | 8.5/10 | 8.5/10 | 9/10 | 10/10 |
| Stability at Speed | 10/10 | 8.5/10 | 9/10 | 8/10 |
| Playfulness | 8/10 | 8/10 | 8.5/10 | 10/10 |
| Best Terrain | Steep, Rocky Trails | Long XC Rides | All-Around Trail | Flow & Features |
Which Bike Would I Choose?
For all-day rides at Annadel or China Camp, I’d still reach for my Santa Cruz Tallboy.
It’s efficient, climbs beautifully, and matches my downcountry riding style.
For aggressive terrain, bike park-style riding, rocky descents, and technical black-diamond trails, I’d reach for the Mullet Cycles Peacemaker.
The Tallboy feels like an endurance athlete.
The 5010 feels like a gymnast.
The Stumpjumper feels like an all-around trail specialist.
The Peacemaker feels like a dirt bike with pedals.
Final Thoughts
The Mullet Cycles Peacemaker taught me something unexpected.
Trying a new bike can make you a new rider.
Not because the bike magically improves your skills.
Because it changes your perspective.
It changes your body position, your confidence, your line choices, and the way you interact with the trail.
After a month aboard the Peacemaker, I understand why mullet bikes have developed such a loyal following.
The platform offers something genuinely different.
For riders who love technical terrain and want maximum confidence when the trail turns rough, the Peacemaker deserves serious consideration.
And after all my testing, I still have one final question for Miles and the team at Mullet Cycles:
Does it come in pale pink?
