Orange Switch 6er. Stif Squatcher. Schwalbe Magic Mary Purple Addix front. Maxxis DHR II 3C MaxxTerra rear. Coil fan. Ebikes are not evil.
I have been a writer for nigh on 20 years, a photographer for 25 years and a mountain biker for 30 years. I have written countless magazine and website features and route guides for the UK mountain bike press, most notably for the esteemed and highly regarded Singletrackworld.
Although I am a Lancastrian, I freely admit that West Yorkshire is my favourite place to ride. Rarely a week goes by without me riding and exploring the South Pennines.
Fresh Goods Friday 662 – Where The Eagles Dare Edition
After a series of tentative moves followed by capitalising on a fumble, Bon Jovi has made it through the wrestling ring of musical tastes.
NBD: RockShox Boxxer, Intense Tazer Alloy, Mason Bokeh 3.0…
... Trek Fuel EXe in Alloy, Privateer DJ101 and a perfectly Pink Process X from Kona. It\'s all of this week\'s most-interesting bike launches!
Fresh Goods Friday 661 – The Hard Lining Edition
It\'s Red Bull Hardline weekend! And it\'s looking like it might be a terrifyingly wet one. Good luck to all the racers giving it their best.
NBD: Scott Endorphin, FSA x Cannondale Factory, Deviate Tilander…
... Hunt Proven Carbon Race XC UD wheels, Patrol full-sussers for kids, more ticket availability for Fort WiIliam World Champs and revised Nukeproof Megawatt.
Specialized Trail Wind Jacket review
The Specialized Trail Wind Jacket is one of those cliché \'goto\' garments. For what I appreciate in a 3-season jacket, this ticks all boxes.
Fresh Goods Friday 660 – The Pump Me Pub You Edition
Hannah says: Living with an American is an endless source of lingual anomalies. My latest observations are around their curious deployment of French. A piece of fish without bones? I...
NBD: Specialized P.Series in 20in, 24in, 26in or 27.5in
The Specialized P range hasn\'t been updated since approximately yonks* ago, the new dirtjumpin\' pumptrackin\' range comprises four models.
New UCI Mountain Bike World Cup show hosted by Rob Warner, Eliot Jackson and Emily Batty
Episodes will be released throughout the UCI Mountain Bike World Cup Season. Watch Beyond the line only on Red Bull TV from today.
Fresh Goods Friday 659 – The Fiddle Edition
Hannah here, fresh from a podcast recording which has left me full of beans and bike enthusiasm. Assuming I haven’t screwed up the technical side of recording, you should get...
NBD: Commençal Meta V5 SX, Deviate Claymore Artist Edition, Ibis HD6…
... Canyon flat pedals, Thok 3D-printed e-bike, HUnt XC Wide Wheelset. Here\'s a compendium of the more interesting things to arrive in our Inbox this week.
Fresh Goods Friday 658 – It’s a Gas Gas Gas Edition
New Schwalbe tyres and a new Aphex Twin tune! Truly it feels like Xmas in Benji\'s domain this week.
NBD: Wyrm Racing Lab, Tacky Chan, Cotic E-Scapade Concept…
... CushCore E-MTB, Schwalbe Green Marathon and the new Commençal Meta 5 all feature in this week\'s news round-up.
How to deal with overgrown trails
\'Tis the season of overgrowth. Here\'s how to protect yourself and how to keep your trails running sweetly with a few trail maintenance tools.
Fresh Goods Friday 657 – The Hand Dryer Edition
Hannah says: I have a conundrum of the most modern and first world variety. I need to decide what to do with my name when I get married next week....
NBD: Orange Switch 6, SRAM Apex, Lapierre E-Zesty…
... Hope Dropper Lever, Cannondale Habit HT, Sixpack Headset Cable Routing System, Rocky Mountain Slayer, Saracen LSL Hardtails, Specialized Levo SL Kids.
Daytrippin’ Kit Essentials
Benji brings you a kit list for a pilgrimage to the mountains, or just somewhere new and far away.
CamelBak M.U.L.E. Pro 14 Review
“Hydrate or die.” This is one of my favourite ever marketing slogans. CamelBak came out with it in the nineties, and it has a point.
Specialized Gambit Helmet Review
This Specialized Gambit is going to be a controversial one. It is a product I very nearly didn’t include. Why? Not because of its price tag.
Troy Lee Designs Resist Trouser Review
I’m happy to say the Troy Lee Designs Resist Trouser completely confounded expectations and have proved to be an excellent.
Unparallel West Ridge Shoe Review
Although these Unparallel West Ridge are high-top shoes, I usually don’t lace them all the way up the very top.
Torque Covert 7 Crank Multi-Tool Review
This Torque Covert 7 multi-tool could be better. I’m happy to accept the cost-cutting aspect of it in exchange for the lower price tag.
Gusset Sleeper Push-on Grip Review
If you suffer from arm pump during rides, forget new bars/forks/wheels/bike, just spend ten quid on some Gusset Sleeper push-ons.
CushCore XC 29 Review
The best solution to keeping the dreaded deflations at bay is a tyre insert. And in my opinion, CushCore XC is still the best option.
Scrub Alloy Trail Wheelset Review
These Scrub Alloy Trail wheels from one-man-band UK outfit Scrub are what I’d actually spend my own money on.
Marzocchi Bomber Z1 Coil Fork Review
Time for some more preaching. Coil is better. Always has been. Always will be. Yes, some gravity racers prefer air. Are you a racer? I’m not.
Jackery Explorer 1000 Portable Power Station Review
The Jackery Explorer 1000 Portable Power Station is not for everyone, BUT for some folk this thing will be really, really useful to have.
Lenzerheide DH World Cup: How Was It For You?
SPOILERS. The racing itself was as amazing and entertaining as ever, but how did the new format and the new broadcasters fare? It\'s time for some \'hot takes\'.
Double Yer Money Hardtails: Bike Test
Hardtails are not just for winter, and mountain bikes don’t have to be expensive. Benji looks at what your money can get you.
Voodoo Braag Review
The Voodoo Braag is an exercise in seeing how low you can go with price while still ticking sufficient ‘proper mountain bike’ boxes.
Merida Big Trail 400 Review
The Merida Big Trail 400 may not have some of the more boutique brands’ bits bolted to it, but it has absolutely nailed the essentials.