When this Norco Fluid FS A1 arrived at STW HQ, I said "Hurray for metal trail bikes. Especially metal trail bikes with decent geometry."
Review
Orange Stage 7 LE Review: A Jaffa Smasha
The Orange Stage 7 LE is the latest bike from the Halifax metal masters to feature the brand's new Strange Power Link system.
Look Trail Roc+ Flat pedal review
The Look Trail Roc+ Flat has forged aluminum body, two cartridge bearings, a needle bearing, 10 pins per side and is made in France.
Leatt Knee Guard AirFlex Hybrid Pro review: skid plates for knees!
These Leatt Knee Guard AirFlex Hybrid Pro knee pads combine hard shell elements with gel padding for protection you can pedal in.
100% Tarka Vest review
100% Tarka vest is based around a mesh, stretchy, body material to offer high levels of ventilation, mobility, anti-microbial and wicking.
Garmin Varia RCT715 Rear Light, Camera and Radar review
The Garmin Varia RCT715 records footage of vehicles approaching behind. It’ll can give you a warning sound that a vehicle is coming.
Revgrips Handguards review
Handguards are a brilliant invention and I'm never going through a summer without them. These particular Revgrips Handguards have been great.
Fizik Vento Ferox Carbon Shoes
The Fizik Vento Ferox Carbon shoes are targeted for off-road racing. They have a carbon sole, tear resistant mesh upper and a BOA Fit System paired with an elasticated top strap for a speedy yet secure fit. They look nice enough to ride down a…
Women’s Rab Cinder Downpour Waterproof Pants
The Cinder Downpour Pants are Rab’s bike answer to your waterproof leg cover needs. They’re predominantly made of 2.5 layer Pertex Shield waterproof fabric, but with a more flexible Proflex fabric on the bum area. Full length two-way zips allow you to vent heat while…
Petrichor Projects PP002 Women’s Bib Shorts
Petrichor Projects is the brainchild of Claire Goodman, a Fashion Designer and mountain biker with a background in sportswear and technical clothing for some very well known brands. The PP002 Bib Shorts are designed for women, by a woman with a host of experience on…
Rab Cinder Waterproof Jackets Reviewed: 3 Models Compared and Contrasted
The Rab Cinder range brought its established reputation for outdoor activity fabric technologies and designs to the bike market, by adding cycle specific design features. I’ve had the three waterproof jackets on test in a women’s cut. They arrived just at the end of April…
Motorhead-To-Head: E-Bike Test
Benji takes his iron fist of judgement to three full-power e-bikes with three very different motors.
Canyon Strive:ON CFR review
The Canyon Strive:ON is a very modern e-bike. You can tell this by its downtube alone. It is flipping massive. Eye-catching bulging belly.
Marin Alpine Trail E1 review
The Marin Alpine Trail E1 has a 160mm travel X-Fusion Trace 36 RC air-sprung fork up front and a RockShox Super Deluxe R coil sprung rear.
100% S3 Glasses review: as much coverage as goggles (nearly)
Heaps of coverage means plenty of protection for your eyes, whatever the weather or light conditions, in the 100% S3 glasses.
Race Face Turbine Crankset Review
The Race Face Turbine Cranks have been in the Race Face range for a fair old time and are designed as a no nonsense, do everything crank.
Continental Kryptotal Fr & Rr tyres review
On test we have the Continental Kryptotal with front and rear specific tread in super soft compound, downhill casing in 29 x 2.4in.
Hope Evo 155mm Crankset Review
Rhys has been spinning these rinky dink Hope Evo 155mm length cranks for quite a while now. Are they rad or just a short(!) lived fad?
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.
SixSixOne Women’s Evo Compression Jacket and Shorts Review
SixSixOne Women's Evo Compression Jacket and Shorts are one of only a few in the market that have been designed for women.
Specialized Power Pro Mirror Saddle Review
A 3D printed saddle made from liquid polymer with titanium rails, the Specialized Power Pro Mirror is £290 worth of comfort.
Adidas Five Ten Trailcross Pro Clip-In Review
Adidas Five Ten Trailcross Pro clip-in MTB shoes are a great choice for riders that want all day comfort in the dry.
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.
I ❤️ My: All-Season Ridewear
Amanda shares with us the kit that gets her through ride after ride, day after day, through all the seasons. I’m a big fan of layering and I like to travel light when mountain biking. In an ideal world I would have one set of…
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.
Hunt Proven Carbon Race Enduro Wheelset Review – UPDATED (Cracked!)
UPDATE: 12/06/23 - Front Rim Cracked
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.
Trek Procaliber 9.6 Review
Sure, you can ride the Trek Procaliber 9.6 whenever and wherever you like but the raison d’être of this bike is to perform between race tape.
First Ride: Öhlins RXC34 m.1 fork and TXC Air shocks for XC
The Swedish squisher's new range of World Cup XC focussed suspension comprises new Ohlins RXC34 m.1 forks and TXC1 and TXC2 Air rear shocks.
Merlin Malt 725 Steel SLX Hardtail Review
Merlin Malt 725 Steel hardtail, a great choice for the long distance cyclist after a reliable bike to travel long distances on.
RockShox Reverb AXS Seatpost Review
This review is for a RockShox Reverb AXS seatpost, 31.6mm post diameter with 170mm travel. It has been transferred between bikes and had the saddle changed quite frequently, so the experience is quite a ‘living with it’ one as opposite to a short term review.…
7mesh Women’s Northwoods Windshell Review
The 7mesh Women’s Northwoods Windshell is a lightweight, packable layer offering windproofing and water resistance. It stuffs down quickly and easily into its own pocket, with plenty of room for this to not be a seam-stretching struggle, and once packed down there are two elasticated…
MET Parachute MCR MIPS Helmet Review
This is the MET Parachute MCR MIPS helmet MIPs, an enduro helmet with removable chin bar. It comes in three sizes and nine different colours.
Bluegrass Rogue Core MIPS Helmet Review
The Bluegrass Rogue Core MIPS is the brand's top end open face helmet. Designed to offer protection in a comfortable and well vented package.
Gusset S2 31.8mm Handlebars and Stem Review
This Gusset S2 31.8mm cockpit combo is great for those occasions that require a higher rise set of bars or an even shorter stem.
Revel Rail29 X01 Eagle Review
The Revel Rail29 is the flagship of the brand's stable. More popular in 29in than 27.5in; designed for the technical mountains of Colorado.
Production Privée Shan No5 review
The Production Privée Shan No5 will also accept 27.5in wheels too but you’ll need to swap the shock yoke to make the conversion.
Troy Lee Designs Stage Knee Guards review
Troy Lee Designs Stage Knee Guards are lighter weight, slip-on style pads offering "mid-range trail protection in a packable package".
Pipedream Cycles The Full Moxie review
Pipedream Cycles The Full Moxie is a 4130 CroMo, single pivot, full suspension bike that can be run as a 29er, 650b or mullet.
