If you can find just one thing that makes the excruciatingly bad a little more bearable and the low days brighter, that will be the most important healthy thing you can do for yourself and a positive way to cope when everything is overwhelming. It’s safe to say the majority of us reading this will … Read more
Norco’s latest Sight joins the Optic in the brand’s latest round of updates that have graced both bikes with a high-pivot suspension platform. This platform was honed and proven aboard the Range enduro bike and the brand’s downhill bike. Sitting in the all-mountain category, the Sight C1 has a real penchant for descending, providing a planted and … Read more
Topeak’s BB Hide ‘n Tool might not be a one-stop shop for all kinds of bike repair; rather, it’s a powerful addition to an existing on-bike tool roster that’s primed for minor get-me-home tweaks and chain repair. As it stealthily hides in such a small space, it is a compromised tool but one you can’t … Read more
As we dive into the Christmas period, the cool things keep flowing and this week we’re kicking off our aftermarket crankset testing with cranks from 5Dev and Hope. Adding to the stoke, there are Vittoria’s Air Liner tyre inserts, Endura’s new Bib Pant, and a digital-but-portable torque wrench from Topeak. But first, let’s take a … Read more
The Race Face Chester grips prove to be a comfortable and reliable companion which, thanks to the cleverly placed soft rubber, do a great job of taking the sting out of harsh handlebar feedback. Available in two diameters and a wide range of colourways, these grips should suit most people, and they have to be on the … Read more
[Words by Steve Thomas – Header image credit PHUNKED]Since the mid-90s, Si Paton from Birmingham has been all about bikes and has a passion and talent for thrashing them downhill. Somewhere along the unruly early ride through the rise of gravity racing in the UK, he stepped to the opposite side of the tapes and became a race … Read more
Known for chasing efficiency through ceramic bearings, CeramicSpeed’s BSA Bottom Bracket for SRAM DUB MTBs is an upgrade for the most discerning mountain bikers– where every watt counts. Although it is out of reach for most, if you want an added edge over your rivals, it’s worth considering. How to replace and upgrade your threaded bottom bracket … Read more
Hardtails make fantastic winter mountain bikes thanks to the simple designs and fewer moving parts. Yorkshire-based brand, Carbon Wasp seems to think so, too, as its new gearbox-equipped hardtail is built to take on the worst conditions the UK can throw at it. Is the hardtail the best winter mountain bike? Best hardtail mountain bikes 2024 … Read more
[Words by Steve Thomas – Photography courtesy of Gravel Burn]When he launched the Cape Epic, south African mountain biker, Kevin Vermaak, turned his hazy and semi-feasible dream into reality in 2004. This wild and bold ride through his homeland was set to become the world’s greatest mountain bike stage race – the Tour de France for … Read more
The Trek Checkpoint SL 7 AXS Gen 3 is the top-level model in the Wisconsin-based brand’s revamped gravel/endurance range and it’s a belter, especially for those who like a ride style on the racier side of things. It’s light, flickable, nimble and fast, while also focusing on comfort for those longer tours, plus the addition of … Read more
