RockShox’s Flight Attendant active suspension has been a pioneering system for riders who desire real-time self-adjusting forks and shock dynamics. Leveraging all the integrated benefits of wireless components, Flight Attendant has proved its value in XC and XCO racing with baseline tests recording 1.8% faster speeds in a single XC World Cup lap. Compound that gain … Read more
5Dev has carved a niche in the component industry offering super-high-end titanium cranks built using cutting-edge five-axis CNC machining technology. The San Diego brand’s latest Titanium Road Gravel XC Cranks are no different and will provide savings of between 1.2- and 4.4 watts at 24mph. SRAM MTB drivetrains 2024: SX to XX SL explained 10 pieces of … Read more
Riding with a helmet is imperative – if you own a bike, you should own a bicycle helmet, too. That’s because, without it, you’ll be opening yourself up to easily avoidable injury and possibly even death. Even the best mountain bike helmets need to be replaced over time due to the degradation of polystyrene foam. We asked some … Read more
Simplicity is the name of the game with Topeak’s Prepstand ZX, so much so that it eschews the usual clamping design of the best bike repair stands in favour of a forked hanger. While this limits the stand, ease of use, solid build quality and portable size make it worth considering if you’re looking for a quick … Read more
Over the past few years, cross-country bikes have experienced something of an evolution and have changed rather dramatically compared to the cross-country bikes of old. Now, cross-country mountain bikes are expected to take on the widest range of riding as athletes tackle gnarly terrain all while retaining their pedigree when climbing. With the moniker ‘quiver killer’ usually reserved … Read more
The SDG Bel-Air V3 Overland is an updated and tweaked design of the famous Bel-Air model to make it more suitable for the Gravel, XC and Trail market. It’s a comfortable place to sit on long rides with its large pressure relief channel and low profile padding. At £90, it represents good value but how does it fair against the … Read more
In recent years cross-country has been dominated with mega spendy, featherweight carbon frames rocking Flight Attendant goodness. That’s all resulted in a high entry point to cross-country racing but with the new Chisel FS, Specialized is hoping to buck the trend. Is big travel necessary for UK trails? 11 things to put in the ends of your handlebar … Read more
The 2024 TweedLove Festival brought together cycling enthusiasts and industry leaders for a weekend of bikes. Owing to the weather, this year’s conditions dished out some character-building riding and racing. We had a wander around the festival expo to spot some cool bikes and catch up with brands – many of whom had hauled whole vans … Read more
The Quoc Gran Tourer XC Lace shoe offers exceptional comfort for long rides. It uses a traditional lace adjustment system and doesn’t skimp on the stiffness factor with its carbon sole proving plenty stiff enough for blasting the trails and offering a strong grip from its lugged sole. The insole is adjustable for support and there is … Read more
The DT Swiss D 232 One Dropper stands out for its unique design and it is aimed specifically for cross-country mountain biking and racing with a drop of just 60mm. But, while the drop is short, less often means more and despite excellent performance and reliability, it is heavier and more expensive than many of the best dropper … Read more
