[Words by Steve Thomas]We’ve seen some cutthroat finales, gut-wrenching mishaps and mashups, heart-warming returns to glory and fairy-tale endings, breakout performances, a changing of the guard, and so much more during this past year of international mountain bike racing. Naturally, we should start our look back at 2024 with the most dramatic and biggest battles … Read more
The latest USE Exposure Sixpack MK14 boasts the full might of the brand’s R&D department as it features a tweaked circuit that allows it to kick out more lumens than before. As a result, it displays the same user-friendliness and the heft of battery life the Sixpack has made its name for, but it’s brighter … Read more
The GoreWear Gore-Tex Paclite jacket is a lightweight and packable offering for battling the changeable weather. The Paclite material does a great job of fending off showers and heavier downpours while remaining breathable and windproof. The thin material is compact and provides a relaxed fit without being baggy. The storage leaves me wanting more as the pockets are … Read more
The Maven is SRAM’s latest, biggest and burliest brake system that’s designed to slow the world’s fastest downhill riders. And that performance translates well to the average Joe as it delivers a serious amount of stopping power while remaining controlled and absolutely useable. It is a real story of compromise, however, as it’s a weightier … Read more
The Hayes Dominion T4 brakes put the already popular A4s on a diet with some carbon and titanium bling. The power and modulation on offer with a light lever feel makes these brakes a delight to use however the idea of saving a couple grams in the enduro and dh environment where high-power brakes are … Read more
This year has been a bit of a rollercoaster, with some big events and goals that didn’t all go entirely to plan. That said, it’s given me plenty of time in the saddle — much of it off-road.I’ve raced across various disciplines and distances, but my real focus – and where I find the most enjoyable … Read more
The Fox Racing Defend Fire Alpha jacket is for those colder rides, especially if the wind chill is bitterly cold. The fleece lining manages heat well, keeping the cold out while being breathable enough to manage overheating. The sizing is on the small side, and I found the main zip a little fiddly; however, it’s a great cold-weather riding jacket. … Read more
Designed to blend the stability of goggles with the weight and breathability of glasses, Fox’s Purevue goggles have been one of the biggest surprises of 2024. They’re a little kooky in appearance, but there’s real sense behind the madness as they do their job commendably, packing all of the benefits that goggles provide but with … Read more
The Pivot Shuttle comes in three flavours, but the LT version is the hard-hitting, 160mm rear travel, mixed-wheeled ripper. With dialled geometry, a pretty reasonable spec and excellent ride characteristics, it has a confidence-inspiring ride. Cornering, braking and high-speed trails are handled with little dramatics whilst the climbing is dispatched with comfort and plenty of traction. … Read more
I tried to ride more off-road this year. I say ‘tried’ as I’ve become increasingly addicted to time trialling in the last few years and really enjoy the speed but also like to spread my saddle time across many disciplines. To me, there are a lot of similarities between time trialling, marathon mountain biking and gravel racing – most … Read more
