Mick Kirkman

Contributor/tester

Hope XC Wide Wheels

Hunt has made a name for itself over recent years by offering MTB wheelsets, suitable for multiple disciplines, at a killer price. Its TrailWide wheelset impressed us and scored a…

Abus Mo Drop mountain bike helmet

This extended coverage MoDrop helmet is part of Abus’ latest line-up of three open face lids. The German brand might be better known for protecting bikes from thieves than noggins…

All Mountain Style Cero

These All Mountain Style lock-on grips are designed in Spain by Cero Designs. Cero is a design team led by top ex-World Cup downhiller Cesar Rojo, a man who’s responsible…

Industry Nine 1/1 Enduro wheels 

This complete enduro wheelset comes from American brand Industry Nine, whose reputation was built making its hubs in-house in North Carolina. The 1/1 model here is the brand’s more affordable…

American Classic Tectonite EN

Founded around 40 years ago in the infancy of our sport, American Classic has been around a good while. Initially making frames and lightweight components, its reputation in this country…

Continental Argotal Enduro Soft tyres

This Argotal is one of Continental’s latest range aiming to bring the brand back to the top of the gravity tyre game. After a period of not having quite the…

Michelin Wild Enduro Racing Line

French brand Michelin has a big presence in the enduro scene, bolstered by the successes of top racers like Sam Hill and other Nukeproof-sponsored athletes. The Wild Enduro here is…

Pirelli Scorpion Enduro M

Italian car tyre giant Pirelli has been hustling into the cycling tyre game for the last few years, but its mountain bike tyres have yet to find the marketplace traction…

Vee Snap WLT GXE tyre

Part of Vee’s four model tyre range for gravity rigs and e-bikes, this Snap WLT is the pointier model for looser conditions. Thai tyre company Vee has been around the…

E*thirteen Grappler Enduro MoPo tyre

We tested this E*thirteen gravity tyre last year and it blew us away with its performance. The Grappler is available in two casing and compound options, including a thick dual…

Vee Attack FSX GXE tyre

Based in South East Asia, it’s logical Vee Tire Co makes a lot of tyres for the mopeds that are popular in that part of the world. You might be…

Maxxis Forekaster II 3C Maxx Terra tyre

The Maxxis Forekaster has been around for years, but isn’t normally seen on complete bikes, where the Minion, Dissector or Rekon usually feature. With a low profile, fast-rolling spikey tread,…

Maxxis Assegai Maxx Grip EXO+

Wherever you ride, Maxxis’s Assegai is a totally safe bet for aggressive riding. With its recently updated EXO+ casing proving more reliable and a better match for how hard you…

Specialized Butcher T9

We tested this Specialized Butcher a couple of years ago, but since then the price has dropped 25%. On the other hand, most of the competition are now charging more,…

Silt XC Alloy

Direct-sales brand, Silt, is a direct-to-consumer outfit based in Northern Ireland, and we’ve had good experience with its products in the past. Being part of the Scribe family, it also…

Race Face Aeffect R wheels

Race Face’s latest Aeffect R wheelset incorporates some of the brand’s higher price tech into a more affordable complete package. Most obvious in terms of looks are the asymmetric rims,…

Nukeproof Neutron V2

The cheaper of two complete Nukeproof wheelsets, these Neutron V2s share the brand’s workhorse, durable outlook at a more affordable price point. The wheels aren’t significantly different weight-wise than the…

Hope Fortus 30SC Pro 5 

Hope has been making hubs in Lancashire long enough that it will only mess about with a winning formula if significant improvements are on the table. Well the venerable Pro…

Hope 155mm EVO cranks

Hope initially made short EVO cranks for extra clearance on e-bikes, and ended up experimenting with even shorter lengths after seeing some additional benefits. The brand settled on 155mm as…

One Up EDC Pump

Part of One Up’s well considered range, this EDC pump is a different beast to most. First off, it has a higher volume compared to rival portable pumps, which means…