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…
Products
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…
At 6ft 1in I’ve struggled to find MTB bike trousers long enough, but Gore’s Passion Pants are it
I’m a big fan of the Gore Passion Pants because they’re technically great, lightweight, good value, and don’t feel the need to dress you up in logos like a Formula…
I’m a diehard mountain biker, but the roadies nailed it with Sportful’s Pro Baselayer Tee
The Sportful Pro Baselayer Tee is really designed for roadies, but don’t let that put you off. Because base layers are much more of a staple for road than MTB,…
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…
I’ve tested stacks of long-travel enduro forks, and I think RockShox’s latest Zeb Ultimate Charger 3.1 is as close to suspension perfection as you can get
What RockShox used to call the Totem many moons ago became the Zeb when this 38mm stanchioned fork launched a few years back and inherited the brand’s leading longest-travel single…
I’ve used Stan’s Original Tubeless Sealant for nearly 20 years, here’s why it’s still my go-to choice for puncture prevention
Stan’s No Tubes Race Sealant is expensive, but contains twice as many sealing crystals and uses bigger particles that can make larger holes air tight.
The Fizik Terra Ergolace GTX MTB shoe is perfect in every way, except where it really counts
The Fizik Terra Ergolace GTX is not your usual flat pedal shoe. There’s no hint of the skate-inspired look most flat shoes lean into, instead the exquisite build quality and…
The PNW Loam handlebar took the sting out of Alpine descents, and its light flex feel is ideal for heavier riders
The PNW Loam Carbon Handlebar is designed explicitly to offer more comfort and vertical compliance than an alloy bar, to take the sting out of bumpy trails and introduce an…
Spare lenses cost just £12 on the affordable 100% Accuri 2 goggles, but they steam up like a kettle
100% is a big player in the cycling eyewear and protection game and a frequent fixture over the eyeballs of top professional riders. In terms of MTB goggles, loads of…
The Smith Rhythm goggles are lightweight, breezy and brilliant… but beware of flying insects
Mountain bike goggles goggles are prone to steaming up when you heat up, especially on cold and damp days, and Smith’s Rhythm uses the same open lattice frame idea as…
Michelin’s Wild Enduro is the privateer’s choice, but will the new V2 roll any quicker?
The new Michelin Wild Enduro tyre is completely new for 2024, it’s lighter than the generation is replaces and there are also claims it rolls faster too. And with two…
I love the subtle styling and conscientious manufacturing of Rab’s Cinder Crimp T Shirt, but there are better jerseys for a really hot ride
In case you didn’t notice, leading UK outdoor brand Rab started a new cycling range last year offering pieces for MTB, gravel and bike-packing. The firm is already well established…
I’ve tested dozens of full-face helmets, and POC’s Otocon Race is the best lightweight model I’ve ever used
Around five or six years ago, a slew of lightweight full-face helmets hit the market. They aimed to address the (at the time) new demands of enduro racing, and how…
The Castelli Core Mesh looks like a string vest, but it’s the best base layer I’ve tested for keeping cool in hot weather
The best base layers are designed for the solemn business of road cycling, but don’t let that put you off because the roadies know their stuff when it comes to…
The Calvin Klein of mtb liner shorts: Patagonia’s Dirt Roamer
Helmet aside, there’s no item of mountain bike clothing more important to me than a decent chamois, buy one of the best mtb liner shorts out there and your unmentionables…
The Zefal Mt. Mini is the fastest mini pump in the west – but there’s a catch
Zefal has been making pumps for over 100 years, and its fluoro frame pumps were de rigueur on mountain bikes in the nineties. This latest mountain bike-specific model stands among…
A mud tyre that works in the dry? That’ll be the e*thirteen Grappler Mid Spike, my new fave for mixed conditions
The latest tyre from e*thirteen is called the Grappler Mid-Spike, with sticky rubber and big aggressive lugs it’s already one of the best mountain bike tyres out there for muddy…
Mavic’s added extra protection, venting and quirkiness to its new Deemax helmet
The name Deemax reminds me of those legendary yellow wheels from the noughties, but we should really think of it as the Mavic’s gravity division. This new open face helmet…
The Race Face Chester is one of the softest mountain bike grips I’ve ever tested
Enter Race Face’s new Chester grip, which the brand reckons is its most advanced grip ever. In part that’s down to an all-new tread design, but perhaps more importantly an…