The Scott Spark 710 Plus has been ridden to two Olympic gold medals; well now it can add our Trail Bike of the Year award to its glittering palmarès.
Bikes
Cannondale Moterra 1 (2017) first ride
At nearly 24kg, the Cannondale Moterra is certainly a brute — even for an e-bike — but clever engineering means it stops short of being a blunt instrument.
Orange Four RS (2017) first ride
With a revised frame construction, the new Orange Four is light, fast and a bundle of fun. Short-travel trail bike with 130mm travel front, 120mm rear.
Vitus Escarpe 29 VR review
Having endured all four of the UK’s seasons as one our fleet of long termer test bikes, how has the keenly priced Vitus Escarpe 29 VR held up?
Cube Stereo 160 C:62 SL 27.5 (2017) review
The Stereo has long been one of Cube’s most popular mountain bikes in the UK. We review the new Cube Stereo 160 C:62 SL 27.5.
Sonder Broken Road (2017) first ride
The Sonder Broken Road is built for adventure, so where better to test it than on a 10-day expedition in the Himalayas? Great geometry and pricing.
Merida eOne-Twenty 900E (2017) review
The Merida eOne-Twenty provides a thrilling and intoxicatingly addictive ride. Great geometry, rapid and flickable. One of the lightest e-mtbs available.
Specialized Demo 8.1 Alloy (2017) first ride
Great geometry and progressive sizing give the Specialized Demo 8 Alloy an edge. Everything about the Demo’s parts package is pretty much bombproof.
Cannondale Habit 5 (2017) review
The Cannondale Habit 5 has totally nailed the fit and sizing and the tighter suspension response makes it feel fast, efficient and fun to ride.
Giant Trance 3 (2017) review
Get the front end dialled and the Giant Trance 3 is instantly transformed into a weapon. The suspension response is super stable, it’s not lost any sensitivity.
Trek Fuel EX 5 27.5 Plus (2017) review
The Trek Fuel EX Plus 5 eats up boulders and roots on the descents. On dry or rocky trails it would be our go-to bike.
Genesis Tarn 20 (2017) first ride
Expanding its range, sorting its sizing and making the best of Plus-size tyres — Genesis Tarn 20 is another trail-ripping hardtail from Genesis.
Cannondale Bad Habit 1 (2017) first ride
The Cannondale Bad Habit 1 is the company's latest trail bike, it maxes out the Plus points and goes big when it comes to old-school fun.
Scott Scale 730 Plus (2017) review
The Scott Scale 730 Plus will instantly win you over as you carve effortlessly through corners, blast down the rowdiest descents and spin up loose technical climbs with aplomb.
Marin Pine Mountain 1 (2017) review
The Marin Pine Mopuntain rides more like an adventure bike than a trail hardtail designed to get your pulse racing.
Cannondale Beast of the East 3 (2017) review
The Cannondale Beast of the East 3 is a lightning-fast bike and a blast to ride.
Rocky Mountain Slayer 770 MSL (2017) first ride
The latest Rocky Mountain Slayer eats trails for tea and cleanses its palate with boulders and rubble.
Stif Morf XT first ride
Long, low and slack, and with a frame that apes the ride of a full-susser, the Stif Morf XT is a blast to ride.
NS Snabb E Carbon first ride
The NS Snabb Carbon E is a lightweight all-mountain offering that is only a tweak or two away from perfection.
Giant Trance Advanced 0 (2017) first ride
Giant reworks its classic 140mm-travel trail bike to make it even more capable.