Mick Kirkman

Contributor/tester

source hipster

  • August 4, 2017

The Source Hipster belt stands out from the bumbag fannypack crowd by having additional shoulder straps and an unusual reservoir design.

forme lathkill

  • August 1, 2017

Flattering and instilling rider confidence isn’t a trait all trail bikes manage, so the Forme Lathkill LTD deserves props for delivering the fundamentals.

renthal fatbar 35

  • May 25, 2017

We ended up liking the precise control and shape of the Renthal FatBar 35 handlebar so much that it’s stayed put on our own bikes.

five ten freerider eps

  • March 30, 2017

The Five Ten Freerider EPS High is a winter-friendly ankle boot packed with PrimaLoft insulation. The best winter flat pedal trail shoe you can buy.

7mesh revo

  • March 28, 2017

From slush to torrential rain, the Revo hasn’t flinched. It isn’t cheap, but the 7Mesh Revo Gore-Tex short ticks every box to justify the asking price.

ragley stubbing

  • February 21, 2017

The Ragley Stubbing stem comes in a multitude of colours, all with a two-tone finish. The smaller size doesn’t result in a below average weight.

hope am freeride

  • February 21, 2017

Machined out of a solid billet of 2014 T6-series aluminium, the Hope AM Freeride stem is exactly what you’d expect from the Lancashire component giant.

gamut cillos

  • February 21, 2017

Gamut is better known for chain devices, but this minimal, matt-anodised Gamut Cillos stem shows another side to the US manufacturer.

burgtec enduro mk2

  • February 21, 2017

Made in the UK from 6061 T6-series aluminium, the Burgtec Enduro MK2 short stem is second-generation trail and all-mountain stem for both bar sizes.

race face aeffect 35

  • February 21, 2017

The Race Face Aeffect 35 is a no-nonsense, forged and CNC finished 6061 aluminium stem at a bargain price. Winner of Best value in our stem group test.

ks ether

  • February 21, 2017

KS has now added bars stems to its line-up. Designed for enduro, the KS Ether stem is light and strong enough for everything from XC to DH.

gravity grid

  • February 21, 2017

There’s nothing to complain about here. The Gravity Grid stem’s price is fair, the finish is good and performance is right up there.

chromag bza

  • February 21, 2017

The Chromag BZA is perfectly in keeping with aggressive riding ethic. It works great, but doesn’t provide anything over a stem that’s half the money.

azonic rock

  • February 21, 2017

The design of the Azonic Rock proved stiff enough and the unusual 45mm reach may be useful. Solidity and steering response is good too.

truvativ descendant

  • February 21, 2017

Not the lightest, but the Truvativ Descendant is still perfectly acceptable for trail riding and XC. The price is excellent considering the quality.

syntace megaforce

  • February 21, 2017

The Megaforce 2 is mega expensive, but comes with a 10-year guarantee and, if money were no object, would be our first choice. Syntace really has ticked all the boxes.

  • January 5, 2017

Even as a flat pedal user, affordable insoles, like these Specialized footbeds, can bring a substantial increase in comfort and stability. Designed with Bike Fit innovator Andy Pruitt, they are…