Back in the old days, when I was a kid, a bike chain was held together with a split link – albeit one with an extra plate holding the whole…
Paul Burwell
Contributor
Fizik Terra Artica X2 winter boots review
The Fizik Terra Artica X2 is one of the most expensive clipless winter boots we’ve tested, but it is superbly made and features a quality eVent membrane. The rip-stop Nylon…
Acros Stealth Stem review
Since we stopped using the best mountain bike stems as a way of compensating for tiny bikes, they have become shorter and more focused on handling. Most of the stems…
Five Ten TrailCross Pro winter boots review
There are a couple of ‘Pro’ features to it, but essentially the TrailCross Pro is just a high-top version of Five Ten’s regular Trailcross. The cuff adds a bit of…
Scott Heater winter boots review
In the world of the best winter boots for mountain biking, the Scott Heater is like a half-way house between the Giro Blaze and Shimano MW7. It gets a full…
Endura MT500 Women’s Freezing Point Jacket review
Even though the trails have been rinsed, on most of my rides this winter, my go-to body muffler has been this Freezing Point Jacket from Endura. Why? Well I’ve been…
Burgtec Bartender Pro grip review
Like the other contact points on a bike (saddles and pedals) there’s a definite love/hate thing going on with certain grips. When I first tested the Burgtec Bartender Pro, I…
Leatt 7.0 HydraDri winter boot review
If you ride flats in the winter there are currently only a handful of weather-resistant shoes on the market, but Leatt has thrown its hat in the ring with the…
100% Hydromatic waterproof jacket review
Like several manufacturers, 100% uses a non-branded fabric in the construction of the Hydromatic jacket. This is classed as a 2.5-layer laminate, meaning there is a polyester/elastane face fabric, a…
Specialized Trail Rain waterproof jacket review
Specialized’s Trail Rain jacket is a 2.5-layer option with a polyester face fabric bonded to a waterproof and breathable membrane. This is less breathable than the three-layer Rapha Trail Gore-Tex…
The best MTB frame protection kits and chainstay protectors
Quieten your ride and protect your paint by using some of the best chainstay protectors — here’s our pick, plus a DIY option you can hack from an old tyre.
Giro Blaze winter boots review
In the past, pulling a neoprene bootie over your shoe was a cheap way to get winter protection. The Giro Blaze is more sophisticated and a lot more expensive, but…
Shimano MW7 XC winter boots review
We were really impressed with the Shimano MW7, and it proved to be one of the best winter boots on the market. Like the Giro Blaze, the Shimano MW7 XC…
Rapha Trail Gore-tex Infinium Jacket
The Rapha Trail is a new contender for the best mountain bike waterproof jacket and uses the highly breathable and water-resistant Gore-Tex Infinium fabric, but also features the company’s C-Knit…
Birzman Disc Brake Piston Pusher review
What do you use to reset your pistons in your disc brakes? Big screwdriver, maybe a thin cone spanner or even a wood chisel, which was recommended by a member…
Syncros IS Cache CO2 bottle cage review
If I tell you that IS stands for ‘Integrated Storage,’ you’ll have a good understanding of what the Syncros IS Cache CO2 is all about. It’s a nylon bottle cage…
Best hydration packs for mountain biking: small, medium and large backpacks
Find the best hydration packs with our grouptest that compares hydration packs and bladders from mid-size through to all-day ride capacity.
The 10 tools you should have in your workshop toolkit
Fettling with your bikes is sometimes half the fun. Here's the ultimate workshop toolkit to ensure you can fix, upgrade and modify your pride and joy.
Nukeproof Blackline waterproof jacket review
With its 2.5 layer construction, the Nukeproof Blackline is around 150g lighter than the heaviest three-layer jacket we’ve tested in compiling our guide to the best waterproof jackets for mountain…
IXS Carve AW waterproof jacket review
IXS make a lot of excellent kit, and if you’re looking for one of the best mountain bike jackets in term of value and features there are plenty on offer…