Lance Branquino

News writer

Lance Branquino

Position: News writer

Height: 5ft 8in (178cm)

Weight: 76kg

Born Namibian. Childhood in Africa.

Fascinated by anything that has wheels, since being the backbencher on many family Safari trips. Two decades as a media professional on adventure journeys, nightshift digital newsrooms and technology trends.

Manager of an accidentally eclectic bike fleet, with a monster cross Cotic 26in single-speed in the starring role, supported by a Pyga 160mm aluminium prototype 650b enduro bike.

Eyes not so great anymore, so prefer open terrain with rocky descents, as opposed to dappled light in dense forest singletrack. Most of my miles roll by at the Contermanskloof and Helshoogte trails.

  • April 1, 2022

After a series of trail and enduro bike updates to its model range during Q1 2022, Pivot has revealed something for gram counting riders. The Arizonan brand’s Les SL is…

  • March 29, 2022

Gravity racers with a soft spot for a rugged aluminium frame aesthetic and high chainstay rear triangles, will love Orange’s new 279. The brand’s latest downhill bike debuted in France…

Specialized Turbo Levo

  • March 17, 2022

One of the original mountain biking innovators has handed over the reins at Specialized. Mike Sinyard is disengaging from his position as Specialized CEO, but will remain in a chairperson…

  • March 16, 2022

BikeYoke is best known for its dropper posts, but the German component maker has revealed a new 35mm bore stem – the Barkeeper. A single-piece stem without the traditional faceplate,…

  • March 13, 2022

If you are a flat pedal purist, it doesn’t mean you don’t care about watts. Riders who prefer the support and control of riding flats, might not be obvious candidates…

  • March 10, 2022

Want to filter more fun into your rides instead of muting trail feedback? Airdrop’s new 27.5” bike might be just the thing. The Peak District company differs from most other…

  • March 8, 2022

Transition has become the latest boutique bike brand to introduce an e-bike. The Bellingham company has added Shimano’s proven EP8 system to what is essentially the Transition Sentinel frame. And…

  • March 4, 2022

Revel has a new version of its Rail enduro bike platform, with bigger wheels. The American carbon-fibre bike brand, known for its patented Canfield Balance Formula (CBF) suspension, has finally…

  • March 2, 2022

Enduro bikes with high-pivot chainlines are all the rage this year. And Eminent is the latest brand introducing a frame with an idler wheel. The American brand, known for its…

  • February 23, 2022

Vivid anodising never really went off-trend. It just took a break. As riders desire to customise a dream build, bright colour finishes for select components have come back into vogue.…

  • February 22, 2022

Fancy a value trail bike with Shimano EP8 tech? That will be Canyon’s latest Neuron:ON. The German brand has added bold new colourways to the affordable aluminium-only e-bike, which configures…

  • February 21, 2022

Bronson will always be a storied name for Santa Cruz. The original Santa Cruz headquarters was in Bronson street. And the company’s first 27.5” enduro bike was named Bronson, too.…

  • February 18, 2022

Mere weeks after a Shimano parts shipment was hijacked in Germany, many e-bikes have been stolen in a single act – near London. Giant has confirmed that 127 of its…

  • February 18, 2022

Pivot has updated its Mach 4 SL lightweight 29er. The American brand’s lightweight mileage eater continues with unchanged geometry and suspension specification. But the rear triangle has seen some alteration.…

  • February 16, 2022

Ragley has announced some new colourways, for two of its progressive geometry models, in the current frame range. The brand known for bringing value to steel and alloy hardtail riders,…