A proper full-bore full-suspension bike, with a healthy amount of travel
Review
Focus Mares CX 2.0 Di2 – Bike Review
Despite mountain bikes coming with disc brakes as a matter of course for a decade, at the elite level of the cyclocross world they're still on cantilevers
Felt F55X – CX Bike Review
As with all bikes, the laws of diminishing returns apply to 'cross bikes too.
Lazer Nirvana helmet
Functional XC lid with a retention system that happens to work uncommonly well for those riders with ponytails or mullets...
inov-8 Race Elite 20 litre backpack
Purpose-built biking hydration packs are all well and good but if it's minimalism you're after, look to the fell runners for inspiration
Giant Trance X 29er 1 Long Term Test Report
Sanny introduces his new longtermer; it's future is epic(s)
Vitus Vee-1 29
The Vee-1 is a bit master-of-none out of the box. But raid your parts bin and turn it into your new favourite bike.
Pipedream R-931 Skyline
Stainless steel - not just for knives and forks. Pipedream's latest take on the posh steel frame is really quite lovely...
Gore Bike Wear Phantom 2.0 Windstopper Softshell jacket.
Possibly the quintessential zip-off softshell, from masters of Windstopper, Gore Bike Wear.
Gore Bike Wear Countdown Windstopper Softshell hoodie
A softshell with a hood (and an unfeasibly long name). Rejoice! For it is warm and cosy...
Brief Blast: Niner WFO 9
Jon takes to the mountains on the long travel big wheeler that was way ahead of its time - but how does it compare to the current crop?
Hurricane Components Fork Up Adaptor
In our Thule 561 Outride review in Issue 75 we explained how you have to remove the entire locking mechanism in order to fit the supplied thru-axle adaptor. That’s all fine if all you are ever going to carry on your roof is thru-axle bikes.…
Suplest Off Road Alpine boots
Numerous things have sucked about summer so far this year; not least, still having chilblains in June. We should have been prancing about in our disco slippers months ago but instead I’m still doing almost every ride in winter-lite shoes and wool socks. Rubbish. Step…
WTB Moto TCS 29 x 1.9in
We were sent these supposed all-rounders from WTB back in the spring. I rode them for a week on my usual trails – loam, rock, loamy rock – scared myself stupid with numerous back wheel overtaking front wheel moments, and then quietly put them straight…
X-Fusion Hilo 27.2 dropper post
Dropper seatposts. They’re hailed by some as utterly vital; others really can’t see what the fuss is about. If you’re in the former camp, and you run a bike with a 27.2mm seat tube, your choices are limited, partly as a result of having to…
Crank Bros Iodine 3 Saddle
I’ll not beat about the bush – I was sceptical about this saddle when I was handed it to review. It’s rather white, and to my mind it’s somewhat… uh… ‘singular’ in appearance. It has a distinctive profile, it is very tall, the chromoly rails…
Shelter Tape
We test a lot of rather posh bikes and I feel really, really bad when we send them back scratched. Upgrade Bikes included a couple of pre-cut kits and a big workshop roll of this Shelter Tape with its last delivery of Pivot-flavoured goodness, along…
Thule 591 ProRide Roof Rack
Issue 75 features our review of the Thule 891 Slide Bars and the 561 Outride Racks. We also tested this 591 ProRide rack too. The best way to make sure your bike is compatible with a roof rack is to pick a frame mounting version…
Mavic Crossmax SX wheelset
My only previous experience with Crossmax was a set of ceramic, V-brake rim SLRs bought for fifty quid from a mechanic I worked with some years back. They were light, accelerated like crazy, made a strange, hollow rumbling noise off-road and paid absolutely no attention…
The North Face Dirt Track jacket
The Dirt Track (really?) is TNF’s Gore Windstopper softshell, with zip-off sleeves that convert it into a gilet. First things first: fit. It’s decidedly ‘American’ in its sizing and boxy, rather than fitted. As a slim six-footer, the medium jacket came up short in body…
Bontrager RXL MTB shoes
The RXL is the top of the shop in Bontrager’s three shoe racing range. As such it gets all the benefits; heat-mouldable insoles, a ‘multi-position medial adjuster to dial-in top pad placement’ and a ‘rider adjustable Heel Trap’ (which appears to be a metal band…
Vincero Design Stratus20 waterbottle & Edge16 mount
Since the Camelbak came out, 20 years ago, I’ve not paid much attention to water bottle technology. Apart from a few inventions like insulated bottles and slightly lighter cages, there’s not been too much to shout about. The Vincero bottle and ‘cage’ though, really is…
RaceFace Canuck gloves
I am quite particular about summer gloves. I’ve been through a few pairs over the years, and I’ve developed a strong sense for what’s going to work for me, and what’s not. It’s a short, but personal list, and I’m well aware that what’s good…
ENVE 26in XC clincher rims
It’s impossible to review the Enve XC rims built into these wheels without first considering the price. ￡700 is what some people consider expensive for a bike and the ￡2000 price tag of the wheelset is firmly in decent full susser territory. But while ￡2000…
Five Ten Spitfire Mid Freeride shoes
I have to be honest here and say that I must have been one of the few mountain bikers in the world that didn’t really like Five Ten shoes when they were first available to us. Although I loved the grip, I could never really…
Timbuk2 Light Bright Messenger bag
Riding to work. Sounds like a wonderful idea now the sun is out, doesn’t it? Less appealing in the middle of winter though. A waterproof courier bag is a thing of joy when it’s cold and wet – it’s an extra layer of protection against…
Gravity Light CSI flat handlebar and AL2014 stem
What makes a decent cockpit? You can’t beat plenty of width and ‘just enough’ depth (stop sniggering at the back). The Gravity Light brand is part of FSA and, as such, quality control and R&D are both top notch. The CSI flat bar and AL2014…
Rocket Fuel Hot Cup Energy Coffee
Self heating coffee for those cold days on the trails when you need your caffeine hit.
Nukeproof/DT Swiss 29in custom wheel build
Chainreaction Cycles do custom wheel builds. Jenn gave a pair of custom build Nukeproof/DT Swiss wheels three months worth of riding.
Cannondale Jekyll 3
Jamie spent winter on the travel adjustable Cannondale Jekyll 3. The aluminium version of Cannondale’s go anywhere, ride anything trail bike
Bionicon C-Guide V2
Bionicon have revisited the old DCD and given it a rather clever revamp for the new generation of chainslippers
Review: Whyte 146 S
Jon tests the most affordable Whyte 146 model, a UK designed lightweight carbon trail bike with new school geometry
Long Termer Review: Dave’s Santa Cruz Highball
Dave has spent six months aboard his carbon big wheeler - it may be called a 'race weapon' but what's it like every day?
Long Termer Review: Jamie’s Turner 5-Spot
Jamie's finally got all the bits to build his extra-large Turner 5-Spot together - what are his plans then?
Review: Sun Ringlé Charger Pro wheelset
Price: £479.99 From: Hotlines Tested: 12 months Wheelset reviews are a funny old game. You can’t really write much about their performance at first. Pretty much all non-cheap wheels these days are fine out of the box and fine for a few rides. You can…
Louis Garneau Sotchi Gloves
Patrick tests a set of winter gloves from Canada - are they toasty or just stale bread?
Camelbak HAWG NV 30
One of the largest mountain biking hydration packs that Camelbak have ever produced.
X-Fusion Vengeance HLR
Benji tests an all mountain fork from X-Fusion that promises a lot - but does it deliver?