To say the Maxxis High Roller is a classic mountain bike tyre is a bit like saying Coca Cola is a popular soft drink. The High Roller is pretty much…
Products
Stylish, breezy and well-protected, Smith’s Payroll is now my go-to open face helmet
The Payroll is available with or without a crash sensor called Aleck, which uses bluetooth to connect to an app on your phone and costs £45 more. I’m testing the…
My favourite helmet light of 2025 is the ‘infinite’ run time Fenix BC26R
A powerful beam of light, switchable battery, multiple mount options, and great warranty make the BC26R one of the best mountain bike lights you can buy right now. Nothing’s perfect…
Burgtec’s B-Rage Penthouse Flats are utterly bombproof, and even grippier than the originals, and great for big feet, but I think they’re overkill for most riders
Penthouse Flat pedals were the first product Burgtec ever made. Originally a massive chunk of alloy, designed to be pretty much unbreakable, over the years they became a lot thinner…
I need a good reason not to buy Maxxis: GoodYear has a great one in the new Wrangler, it grips well for less cash
I’m about as into cars as your average Green Party member, but even I’ve heard all about Goodyear tyres. The brand is huge in things four-wheeled and engined, but yet…
The Trail Bloom Ladies MTB Trousers aren’t designed for freezing winter rides, but come spring these will be my go-to riding pants
Considering Trail Bloom only launched at the start of the year, this women-led brand has certainly taken no time in getting itself established in the UK riding scene. If you’re…
Finally, a jersey that fits women properly: the Trail Bloom Ladies MTB Jersey wicks well and works all year round
The Trail Bloom Ladies MTB Jersey is a fully polyester based long-sleeve layer with a feminine design and dropped rear hem. The British brand is relatively new, only launching their…
Exposure’s helmet-tap turn on is genius and makes the Zenith one of the best lights I’ve tested for easy night riding
The Zenith is the most powerful of Exposure’s range of five helmet-mounted options, and we’ve rated it one of the best mountain bike lights for years now. The latest Mk3…
Like taking a floodlight to the trails: Ravemen’s XR6000 bike light turns night into day, but at over half a kilo it’s a beast
Ravemen does a range of self contained PR lights but tops out with this separate head and battery XR set up. It delivers genuine floodlight illumination and plenty of practical…
With rock-solid lever feel and power, TRP’s Trail Evo brakes are ideal for riders with big enough hands to grab them
A decade ago, Tektro was something of a budget brand. Mostly appearing on cheap bikes, it didn’t quite have the brand image to sell high-end products at more expensive price…
Muc-Off says you can’t carry water in its Mobile Pressure Washer or it’ll leak, defeating the point of an all-in-one washer
Muc-Off’s newest pressure washer is purpose-built for bikes, although I’m sure the brand wouldn’t begrudge you using it to hose down the patio once a year. Really though, it’s built…
SQlab’s ONE10 glove might look like a commuter’s claw, but the windchill cover tucks neatly away and I love the wide fit option
SQlab’s ONE10 isn’t like most serious mountain bike gloves, at first glance it looks pretty normal but peer closer and you’ll see a waterproof lobster mitt clever discreetly tucked away…
Night riding season is upon us, but you can do a lot better than Cateye’s AMPP2200 mountain bike light
Cateye has been making bike lights for longer than most, and the AMPP2200 is the brightest of an 11 strong AMPP headlight range. The focused beam makes it OK for…
Manitou’s highly tunable Mattoc Pro fork delivers impressive trail bike performance with minimal maintenance
Manitou is one of the original MTB suspension fork brands alongside RockShox and Marzocchi. It’s been 25 years since it were a top choice for trail use though. Which is…
I’ve tested a dozen lights this winter and Exposure’s Six Pack is literally brilliant… I just wish the mount was more robust
Six Pack is the biggest of Exposure’s self contained bar lights and the MK14 Reflex+ is the equal brightest too. It’s not the smartest or most expensive light Exposure makes,…
The 7Mesh Spruce jacket is so good I’ve basically lived in it all winter
Fellow mbr tester Mick Kirkman rightly raved about the 7Mesh Chilco jacket after I tipped him off about its miraculous weather-beating warmth. For most of my high energy riding the…
No screens, no remote switches, no gimmicks: Lezyne’s Mega Drive 2400+ is one of the best night riding lights I’ve tested this winter
The Mega Drive is the most powerful of Lezyne’s 14 strong bar light arsenal but it’s simple in terms of features. Deliberately so though, the idea is to prioritise brightness,…
Rapha’s Trail Gore Tex Pants are the best waterproof trousers I’ve tried in twenty years of testing
If it’s not currently raining, it will be quite soon. This is the reality of winter mountain biking, but get the right kit, including some of the best waterproof mountain…
I didn’t gel with SRAM’s old AXS shifters, but the new Pod Controller is totally intuitive
Ever since SRAM first launched its electronic AXS drivetrains for MTB about five years ago, it’s offered a wireless gear shifter. The brand has been through various shapes and designs…
Endura’s MT500 Polartec jacket is cheaper than my favourite cold-weather top, and more practical too
Endura’s MT500 fleece is a new hooded mountain biking jacket designed to offer ‘incredible temperature regulation’. It uses multiple textures and panels in different zones, along with a swathe of…