Cyclocross

Hutchinson make a lot of road tyres, they also make a lot of mountain bike tyres, and squeezed between the two are just a few cyclo-cross tyres with the Toro being one. With its pattern of small, square knobs it looks like a mountain bike tyre but smaller, which comes as no surprise as it's based on Hutchinson's Toro MTB tyre.

Scott's CX Comp comes in just over that magic £1,000 price barrier but if you shop around you can find these being sold for 'Cycle to Work' scheme friendly prices. Mind you, while it shares the innate versatility of all cross bikes and it is not without the odd commuter-friendly eyelet, this is bike aimed squarely at the hurly burly of the race circuit rather than the ride to work.

Need a tyre for your wheelbarrow? Kenda make one. Need a tyre for your wheelchair? Kenda make one. Need a tyre for your fork-lift? You can get one from Kenda. Need a tyre for your bicycle? Kenda can help out there too, thankfully no matter what the bicycle they even have a selection for cyclocross bicycles which includes the Kwicker.

The Ibis Hakkalügi is a lightweight cyclocross bike that's a real joy to ride. It's best suited to those who like to ride with a bit of finesse rather than those who like to muscle through regardless.

Ibis may have passed you by because, although they've had a road bike in their company quiver almost since their inception 30 odd years ago, they're best known as a maker of mountain bike frames.

I got one for Christmas!

Nah nah naah!