Tech

10 controversial gravel and MTB trends that have stuck around for the long haul

New bike technologies are reliably met with shed loads of scepticism, but here are a few that have managed to establish themselves for better or for worse

Wed, Sep 23, 2026 11:13

Bike at Bedtime – Bickerton Portable Sept 2026

Bickerton Portable: The folding bike built in a stable and heat-treated in an Aga

Before Brompton there was the Bickerton Portable – an aluminium folding bike that was part ingenious engineering, part kitchen creation

Sun, Sep 20, 2026 21:45

I tried Shimano’s new Dura-Ace SPD-SLR pedals and cleats, and they’re mostly great… yet also a bit annoying

The non-compatible cat is out of the bag... but how's the ride with Shimano's all new SPD-SLR pedals and cleats, mounted to some fresh RC910 shoes? We sent Liam to test them out in secret shortly before the official launch

Thu, Sep 17, 2026 08:00

You don’t need fancy kit to cycle to work Sept 2026

You don’t need fancy kit to cycle to work. Here’s how to commute by bike on the cheap, and when it’s best to invest

It might be tempting to splurge on the latest kit for your cycle commute, but you don't need to remortgage your house for an efficient and comfortable ride

Mon, Sep 14, 2026 10:36

Home workshop tools I simply cannot live without, including some you may not have thought of

Fixing, modifying and tweaking bike stuff requires a pretty extensive tool kit but here a few perhaps more niche tools that Liam can't live without

Tue, Sep 08, 2026 14:00

Ribble Endurace SL – Yoeleo QianKun C50-8

Chinese carbon wheels transformed my cheap bike… but are they really worth it? Sponsored

It probably won't surprise you that a set of decent carbon wheels will make a cheap road bike sing a lot more tunefully than if it were shod with cheap alloy rims. Liam weighs up the pros and cons of investing, while still trying to keep a handle on the cost

Tue, Sep 08, 2026 11:19

9 classic British mountain bike brands lost to time

With the sad recent decline of Raleigh, we take a look at 10 classic British brands popular in the early days of mountain biking that are either no more, or have lost their former glory

Mon, Sep 07, 2026 14:00

The best-looking e-bike conversion kit yet? A first ride on the stealthy new DUO Wheel system

Why spend thousands on another bike when you can get the assistance you need on the bike you already have? The new DUO Wheel System promises just that, without the bulk of other conversion kits

Fri, Sep 04, 2026 17:10

10 mountain bike brands that do things differently: Break from the norm with bikes from these unique MTB makers

Bored of seeing all of the cookie cutter MTB designs? Here are 10 brands that build their bikes in different ways to the norm

Wed, Sep 02, 2026 14:41

Do mountain bikes get more adjustable than this? Rocky Mountain’s Instinct and more from Giant, Tailfin, Insta360 and Cast

This week's Five Cool Things plus the best stories of the week

Sat, Aug 29, 2026 11:00

Gravel bike vs MTB: The bike genre lines are more blurred than ever, so which one is actually best for cycling on gravel?

"You might as well just get a mountain bike".... really? We put a gravel rig up against a custom MTB to see if a gravel-specific bike is really needed to ride gravel

Tue, Aug 25, 2026 16:00

More anti-squat, less adjustment but Yeti’s MT is a right hoot: Yeti MT XO Factory first ride review

Yeti has brought its Sixfinity platform to a 140mm trail mountain bike and Liam reckons it's a right hoot

Tue, Aug 25, 2026 16:00

Retro nostalgia, modern DH progression and yes, 32-inch wheels: The best bikes of the Malverns Classic 2026

Retro throwbacks, modern downhill and 32-inch wheels were the order of the weekend as we scoured the fields of the Malverns Classic to hunt for the most interesting bikes

Mon, Aug 24, 2026 13:58

Combs for your… uh… bike? Plus more from Bell, Hope, Peaty’s and XFusion

This week's Five Cool Things plus the best stories of the week

Sat, Aug 22, 2026 11:00

Swiss Side thinks handling matters as much as aero, while Fulcrum says “we will never go hookless”: What do the brands designing the world’s fastest wheels really care about?

We speak to Swiss Side, Princeton Carbon Works, CeramicSpeed, Berd, Fulcrum/Campagnolo and Reserve about the technology, engineering and ideas that could shape the future of performance road wheels

Wed, Aug 19, 2026 16:32

We tested some of the best on-bike communication devices… but a much cheaper solution beat all the expensive tech

What's the ideal solution for talking on a group ride? If you're willing to sacrifice some pocket space for sound quality, that solution may be much more affordable than you might think...

Tue, Aug 18, 2026 17:09

CamelBak is completely overhauling its range for 2027 – here’s why the legendary hydration solution specialist is returning to its performance roots Sponsored

Over the course of almost four decades, CamelBak has become the go-to name for cycling hydration solutions. For 2027, the brand is is refocusing on performance

Tue, Aug 18, 2026 14:03

Velo De Ville has raised the game for urban e-bikers to celebrate 60 years of cycling innovation: Meet the all new HUB-e Sponsored

Velo De Ville’s breakthrough HUB-e – the brand’s first personalised e-bike to use Bosch’s new HUB-Drive motor – is now open for registrations of interest. Here's everything you need to know...

Fri, Aug 14, 2026 15:03

Schwalbe says hookless safety standards need tightening, while Cadex argues tyre beads are the real issue – we speak to the brands shaping the future of wheel and tyre technology

We sat down with the people behind DT Swiss, Enve, Zipp, Cadex, Scope and Schwalbe to discover what's shaping the next generation of road wheels and tyres, and to get their take on cycling's ongoing hookless debate

Sun, Aug 09, 2026 09:00

I tested the worst bike saddle ever, and it was even stranger than I expected

What happens if you fit an office chair to your bike? Time to get testing...

Fri, Aug 07, 2026 11:12

Which RockShox fork is right for you in 2026? Your ultimate guide to all the models, details and specs

What to upgrade your rig with a fork from arguably the biggest player on the market? Get to know the current RockShox range and decide which flavour is best for you

Wed, Aug 05, 2026 10:28

Why are these bikes cheaper than they were four years ago?

It sounds unlikely in an era of rising prices, but some bikes have lower RRPs than equivalent models from a few years ago. Add in today’s discounts and you might be surprised how much bike your money can buy

Thu, Jul 30, 2026 16:00

All the gear? Check out the gearing choices of the top pros on cycling’s World Tour

What drivetrain does it take to be successful in the Tour de France? We take a closer look at the gearing choices of the pros

Mon, Jul 27, 2026 16:10

Five British cycling brands still pushing bike tech forward May 2026

The Far East is rising rapidly, but there’s still plenty of cycling innovation here in the UK: Here are some of the best British brands pushing bike tech forward

From aero innovators and handmade steel specialists to security brands, these British cycling companies continue to shape modern bike technology through design, engineering and manufacturing carried out in the UK

Sun, Jul 26, 2026 09:00

Is it time to reduce the UCI’s 6.8kg bike weight limit? We weigh up the pros and cons

Professional race bikes have been stuck with a 6.8kg minimum weight limit since 2000, despite huge advances in carbon tech. With manufacturers now producing safe sub-6kg race bikes, is it finally time for the UCI to ditch one of cycling's most outdated rules?

Thu, Jul 23, 2026 09:00

The most useful tech trends to copy from Tour de France pros July 2026

The most useful tech trends to copy from Tour de France pros — wide tyres, short saddles and tubeless are in, narrow cassettes are out

While it's not advisable to emulate everything your cycling heroes do, some of their tricks of the trade could make you faster and more comfortable on the bike

Mon, Jul 20, 2026 09:00

One of the first bikes to do it all: A deep dive into this lovingly restored Bates B.A.R. from 1948

"The Best All Rounder that breaks all records" according to the Bates catalogue of the time!

Sun, Jul 19, 2026 21:45

Tadej Pogačar’s so fast that even Colnago is battling to keep up with him Sponsored

Aero bikes, aero bikes everywhere… This year’s scorchingly fast Tour de France is shaping up to be one of the quickest ever. But are bike brands struggling to keep pace with modern cycling’s rapid racing revolution? We talked to Colnago’s lead engineer about how the peloton’s current crop is pushing their equipment to the limit

Fri, Jul 17, 2026 18:21

Merseyrail to ban all non-folding e-bikes citing safety risks — plus NJ e-bike licensing continues to confound, Lime gets dumped down under + more

This week: rail operator bans non-folding e-bikes, Lime contract ended in Melbourne, a knock-on effect of NJ bike licensing, plus Segway update unlocks auto shifting

Fri, Jul 17, 2026 11:32

Bike computers of the Tour de France July 2026

Bike computers of the Tour de France: Garmin still dominates as two Chinese rivals emerge

We look at the bike computers being used by all 23 teams, from flagship models to the devices riders choose on race day

Wed, Jul 15, 2026 09:00