Hope’s minimalist XCR carbon lever started out mated to an X2 twin pot brake caliper, making it ideal for proper XC applications. Roll on a few years and that XCR…
Guy Kesteven
The new Voodoo Canzo is a budget full-sus bargain, and I think it has better suspension than the Bossnut
Voodoo’s all new Canzo full-suspension trail bike isn’t perfect, but it’s a brilliant example of an affordable have-a-go-hero with future-proof upgrade features you won’t normally find at this price. Voodoo…
Cotic’s new Rocket e-bike made me swipe left when I first saw it, but the beautiful details and stunning ride quality turned me on
Cotic’s new e-bike stays true to its signature steel frame style of 21 years, and uses a wholly UK-built frame to minimise ecological impact and maximise build quality. Mounting the…
Nukeproof and Ragley are gone: step forward Merida’s new Big Trail, one of the few properly radical hardtails left
The original 2020 Merida Big Trail started as a collaboration between Merida and UK dealers wanting something more rad than the average trail hardtail. Four years later it’s become available…
The RockShox Pike is a flawed genius of a fork thanks to its Charger 3.1 damper
The latest RockShox Pike Ultimate literally reams out the QC problems of the old fork, which was beset by problems and often choked by damping and bushing issues when pushed…
I’m a huge fan of Trek’s high-octane Top Fuel 9, and the latest version is the best yet – but it could be even better
I was a big fan of the previous alloy Top Fuel from Trek, as were Danny and Alan when they tested the last Top Fuel 8, and this latest version…
Lizard Skins’ Gradient grips boast a subtle wing for palm support, and improved comfort on my longest rides
Before you even start counting colours, Lizard Skins have 23 different grip designs to try, and I’ve been working my way through a bunch of them recently. The ones that…
Viris might be a new name in eyewear, but the Raptor glasses kit impressed me with its scratch-resistant lens and prescription-compatible frame
Speculating in the biking spectacle space means going up against big, established global brands with massive marketing and ambassador budgets, such as Oakley, Smith, and 100% – the kind of…
Why the brilliant new Santa Cruz Bronson makes me feel sad… and safe, at the same time
Santa Cruz says it’s learnt a lot about mixed wheel bikes since launching the Bronson 4 as its first MX bike, and it’s loaded those lessons into the new Bronson…
I love the short-sleeve 7Mesh Roam jersey, but this long-sleeve version is even better for UK mountain biking
The 7Mesh Roam SS shirt has already been tested and highly rated, making it onto our rundown of best mountain bike jerseys. The LS version extends sun and scratch protection…
The Specialized Chisel FS is a cut-price Epic with the pace to go racing on a budget
Specialized has taken its latest carbon Epic XC/DC range and translated it into aluminium to create the new Chisel FS. The result is an affordable, but still seriously rapid, impressively…
I tested World Champion Tom Pidcock’s Pinarello Dogma XC and now I’ve got even more respect for his skills
Designed with the help of Olympic Champion Tom Pidcock, and ridden to victory in last summer’s World Championship XCO event in Glentress, you can’t deny the new Pinarello Dogma XC…
I tested the latest Specialized Epic 8 Evo, and couldn’t believe the transformation from XC racer to down-country ripper
The new Epic 8 Evo isn’t the pumped up race machine it once was, weight and stiffness are no longer the driving forces any more and really it’s impossible to…
I hate to admit it, but the AI suspension control on the new Specialized S-Works Epic 8 works better than a brain ever could
Specialized’s new S-Works Epic 8 is possibly the fastest XC MTB ever made and definitely the most high tech. It’s not just the latest RockShox Flight Attendant Ai suspension that…
I’ve witnessed e-bikes dying all winter – these are my top tips to keep your motor running when it’s muddy and raining
Up until now, most of my e-bike riding mates see winter as a time for smugness. Showering me with roost as they spin sticky rear tyres past me on climbs…
Forbidden’s high-pivot Druid V2 cast a spell on me, and after six months testing I’m still bewitched by it
“Pedals like an XC bike, descends like a DH bike” is a cliche as badly worn as the back tyre on a bike park rental in September. It’s a promise…
SRAM’s auto shifting Powertrain is pointless for riders like you and me, but it’s still my product of the year 2023: here’s why…
1. Forbidden Druid V2 X0 If I’m wondering how to hang onto a test bike, and not return it, that’s a very good sign. Even better if that happens within…
Specialized S-Works Epic World Cup – Review
Specialized teased the new Epic World Cup on the race circuit for several months, and SRAM even revealed it before the official launch, but Specialized still had a surprise up…
Trek Supercaliber SLR Vs Specialized Epic World Cup: Which is the ultimate cross-country speed machine?
Trek and Specialized are giants in the mountain bike world, and both of these new XC bikes weigh in under 10kg and have five figure price tags. And that’s not…
Cotic Jeht 2 Gold XT first ride review
The Cotic Jeht trail bike propelled itself straight into a position as the UK brand’s most popular model, with sweet spot mid-travel suspension and sorted geometry. Although only lightly evolved,…