There’s been a lot of excitement about Specialized’s Under Bottom Bracket patent application online. And, while the focus of most articles and pundits has been on the possibility of a…
Alan Muldoon
Bike Test Editor
Ducati Powerstage RR first ride review
I have an admission to make. I don’t follow motorsports; never have done. But when someone says Ducati, I instantly think ‘red’ or ‘yellow’, quickly followed by ‘916’ or ‘Monster’.…
Nukeproof Megawatt Carbon RS 297 e-bike first ride review
When I tested the alloy Megawatt Factory 297 in our 2023 best E-bikes of the Year test, I loved the handling, fit, suspension performance and top-end specification. The stumbling block…
Specialized Epic Hardtail Comp review
Who is the Epic hardtail for? That’s the question I posed to the product manager responsible for Specialized’s XC race bikes. His response was both honest and telling. “It’s for…
Canyon Stoic 2 review
If you’ve been following our Hardtail of the Year test, you’re probably wondering why the Canyon Stoic 2 wasn’t in the mix. And the answer is simple. It didn’t arrive…
Polygon Xtrada 5 review
Xtrada literally translates to crossroads. And that can be interpreted a couple of different ways. Did Polygon intend the Xtrada 5 to meet at the intersection between on and off…
Carrera Fury review
When unboxing the Carrera Fury our first thought was that Halfords must have made a blunder. How could the Fury possibly have an air-sprung fork, wide-range Shimano Deore 1×10 drivetrain,…
Jamis Highpoint A2 review
Jamis bills the Highpoint A2 as a true all rounder and it’s easy to see why. With big 29in wheels to roll over bumps better and a 120mm travel coil-sprung…
Vitus Nucleus 29 VR review
Head over to the Vitus website and you could be forgiven for thinking that you’re seeing double. You’re not, it’s simply that Vitus offers the Nucleus VR with either 27.5in…
Interview – Owen Pemberton, Forbidden Bike Co. The high priest of high pivots
Almost 10 years ago to the day, we shone the spotlight on Owen Pemberton in a feature titled, “These People are Changing Everything”. The idea behind the feature was simple:…
Pivot Shuttle LT 29 Team XTR first ride review
I find it ironic that my news feed is constantly presenting me with horror-stories about the potential dangers of AI. Yet, the feed itself is driven by AI. Maybe it’s…
Vitus E-Mythique LT VRX e-bike first ride review
With e-bike prices fast approaching £15k, it really seems like the sky’s the limit in terms of pricing. And while those super-bikes are super-cool, Vitus has taken a very different…
Trek Top Fuel 8 review
Think Top Fuel, and the image of a XC race bike instantly springs to mind. But like a faded polaroid tucked into the corner for a dusty picture frame, it’s…
Ragley Big Wig Race first ride review
For 2023, Ragley has made some minor modifications to the Big Wig platform. It’s still a hard-hitting 29er trail bike with a robust 4130 steel frame, but the angles and…
Lapierre XRM 6.9 review
For the XRM 6.9, Lapierre takes the full carbon frame from its World Cup XC bike, the XR, adds a longer travel fork, a dropper post and slightly burlier components,…
Identiti AKA XT/LTD hardtail review
Now that the Mettle full suspension bike has disappeared from the range, Identiti has become a small but dedicated hardtail brand. So small in fact, that there are currently only…
Nukeproof Megawatt 297 Factory electric mountain bike review
Nukeproof doesn’t offer a comprehensive range of e-mtbs. Instead, the Megawatt is its one-stop-shop. With 170mm travel the Megawatt 297 Factory comes with flagship Fox Factory suspension, DT Swiss MX…
The Cannondale Moterra Neo Carbon LT 2 electric mountain bike review
With 165mm of travel, the Cannondale Moterra Neo Carbon LT 2 is one of the suspension heavy hitters in this test. At 26.51kg (58.44lb), it’s also the heaviest bike. Almost…
Mondraker Crafty Carbon R electric mountain bike review
Mondraker splits its e-mtb range by intended use. And in the enduro/all mountain category alone it has four unique platforms: Dusk, Chaser, Crafty and Crafty Carbon, which in turn generates…
Giant Trance X Advanced E+ 1 electric mountain bike review
It should come as no surprise that the Trance X Advanced E+ 1 shares a lot of design cues with the analog Trance X Advanced. Both get full carbon frames…