Icelandic gravel bike and fork firm Lauf has slashed its complete bike build prices following a move to a direct sales, with the leaf-sprung, carbon-framed True Grit gravel bike now available from £2,690 with SRAM Rival 1 and full AXS builds from £3,590, making them around 25% cheaper than before across the board. Lauf True Grit Race Edition … Read more
E-bikes are one of our favourite things to test at the moment, and why wouldn’t they be?! This week, it’s the turn of the Kinesis RISE e-bike, a mountain bike hardtail using the Fazua motor system. Also on test is a big pack for camera gear, some tough new knee pads, plus a sleek top … Read more
For 2021 Canyon has updated the brands best selling bike, the Grand Canyon. The update introduces new kids frames and, a first for the Grand Canyon, the brand has done away with any front derailleurs, with all bikes coming with 1x drivetrains from the warehouse. The best mountain bikes for under £600 – our top picks Buyer’s guide … Read more
The Heritage short sleeve jersey from Royal Racing is an excellent jersey for the summer months. It’s baggy, long and well priced. Despite the Polygiene antibacterial treatment, however, it can still get a little whiffy after a sweaty ride. Morvelo Women’s Friday Short Sleeved MTB jersey review Funkier Flow-MTB 3/4 Sleeve jersey review Buyer’s guide to … Read more
Our Decathlon Route for Ashton Court and Leigh Woods takes in the Nova and Super Nova trails, before darting towards the Belmont jump trails via some bridleways, before returning to head over to Leigh Woods for a lap of Yer Tiz before ending up back where you started.There’s nothing particularly technical on the trail centre loops … Read more
This blue-graded trail is set in the mixed broadleaf and conifer trees of Leigh Woods. It’s relatively short at just 3.6km but it’s all singletrack and packs in some fun and flowy (though relative flat) sections. It also offers a red-graded detour called Gert Lush – it’s only 100m long but offers a bit more technical … Read more
The Nova Trail is a blue-graded loop that starts from Ashton Court itself. The relatively short length and lack of technical difficulty don’t mean any lack of fun, as there’s lots of fast and flowing singletrack to enjoy without any particularly unpleasant climbing.The trail starts with a fireroad climb before you get into some undulating … Read more
Just a short bike ride from central Bristol and easily accessed from the M5 motorway, the trails at Ashton Court and Leigh Woods are short and sweet but are well worth a lap or two if you’re visiting the area already or just have a half-day to use up.There’s not much height to play with, but … Read more
Twrch – named after an enchanted boar from Welsh mythology – is the original cross-country loop at Cwmcarn. The fairly technical first climb sets the tone for the rest of the trail, with a rocky and almost entirely singletrack climb up the valley before you haul yourself up the very top, via some jumpy fun at the upper … Read more
Named for the mythical dog that hunted the wild board Twrch, Cafall uses the opposite side of the valley to good effect, with a bit more climbing and descending. Once again, it’s almost entirely on singletrack, opening with a techy and tiring climb that winds up the hillside, complete with switchbacks, rocky technical sections and … Read more
