Hard not to love the Santa Cruz Nomad CC. It looks drop dead gorgeous, pedals better than most 140mm bikes but you have 170mm to get you out of trouble.
Bikes
Giant Reign Advanced 0 (2018) review
The 2018 Giant Reign Advanced 0 has class leading sizing and geometry plus a race-tuned coil shock and revised suspension linkage.
BMC Speedfox AMP Two first ride
BMC Speedfox AMP is a trail focussed e-bike with aggressive geometry and 29in wheels. BMC's new e-bike will turn up your trail-riding buzz.
Polygon Siskiu D5 review
Yes, the Polygon Siskiu D5 frame is top-notch but the parts spec is lacking. If it was £750 it'd be a steal but it's outclassed by other £1k full sussers.
Dartmoor Hornet first ride
Polish brand Dartmoor build bikes attitude; we try and tame their Dartmoor Hornet hardtail. 160mm fork and Plus tyre compatibility.
Specialized Stumpjumper FSR Comp Carbon (2018) review
With the Specialized Stumpjumper FSR Comp Carbon the bike that started a revolution has been transformed into a modern trail heavyweight.
Norco Fluid 2 HT (2018) review
It was only last year that Norco's Fluid 7.2 HT+ blew the competition away with lavish spec and unbeatable ride. This year, we welcome the Norco Fluid 2 HT.
Calibre Line 10 (2018) review
The new Calibre Line 10 hardtail sports aggressive geometry and spot on sizing. All mod-cons catered for here, including a dropper.
Norco Charger 2 (2018) review
When we unboxed the Norco Charger 2 we thought it was a commuter bike, due to the skinny 2.1in WTB Nineline tyres.
Polygon Xtrada 6 (2018) review
For our Hardtail of the Year test we picked the £750 Polygon Xtrada 6 model with the smaller wheels and single chainring drivetrain.
Voodoo Wazoo 275+ (2018) review
Voodoo Wazoo brings two firsts to the sub £500 category: first bike to sport 2.8in Plus tyres and to benefit from the extra stiffness of a bolt-thru fork.
Marin Alpine Trail 8 first ride review
The new Marin Alpine Trail 150mm travel 29er might look generic from the side, but jump on board and it’s anything but run of the mill.
Merida One-Sixty 800 (2018) review
The switch to aluminium not only expands the range, it also means the Merida One-Sixty now comes in four frame sizes rather than being restricted to three.
Saracen Ariel Elite (2018) review
New Saracen Ariel Elite has suspension and character influenced by the Myst downhill bike and it’s gained a new sense of purpose.
Rocky Mountain Pipeline Carbon 50 (2018) review
The Rocky Mountain Pipeline Carbon 50 uses a single frame for both this Pipeline Plus bike and the big wheel Rocky Mountain Instinct 29er.
Intense ACV Pro (2018) review
Could the key to eternal youth lie in the a Californian dream with wide wheels and voluminous tyres? Here's our Intense ACV Pro review.
Trek Fuel EX 9.7 29 (2018) review
You’re only looking at around 150g in weight saving over an aluminium frame, but the carbon fronted Trek Fuel EX 9.7 29 is easily the stiffest bike in those we
Whyte S-150 S (2018) review
Called the Whyte S-150 S, it has 150mm of travel, Boost spacing and Whyte’s dedicated SCR (Single Chain Ring) frameset design.
Lapierre XR 529 (2018) review
The 2018 Lapierre XR 529 is the bike Lapierre developed to meet the demands of XCO and Marathon cross country racing but it's a capable trail bike too.
Starling Murmur Factory 29 first ride
Starling Murmur Factory 29 is made from Reynolds 853 tubing, TIG welded in Taiwan, delivering 140mm travel through its single pivot suspension.