I bumped into Richard from Torq up at a cool gravel bike event called Dalby Grit, and like some dealer of illicit substances, he hooked me up with my first…
£41.25
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Products
Vittoria’s new Mostro is right up there with the Maxxis Assegai for supple trail damping, but you won’t believe the weight of this thing
Italian tyre brand Vittoria is massive on the road bike side of things, but yet to make it big on dirt, where Maxxis, Continental and Schwalbe make some of the…
£64.99
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Schwalbe’s Nobby Nic Soft is a Magic Mary for people who like to pedal, with great all-weather grip, but the range is massively confusing – here are the only options you want
Schwalbe’s Nobby Nic used to be the tyre I dreaded finding on a test bikes. However, those sketchy days drifting in the wilderness are no more – a few years…
£65.00
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OneUp’s new Wave pedal is great for new riders who need help dropping their heels, but I found the quirky shape less than ideal
I’ve tested flat pedals for decades now and thought I’d seen it all. Concave or convex, big or small, plastic, alloy, magnesium… magnetic, even. And too many bearing and axle…
£149.99
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“The lightest, most breathable trousers I’ve tested” – Patagonia’s Dirt Craft Pants are my pick for summer riding
It’s a strange quirk of mountain biking in 2025 that my friends and I drive to the trails in shorts, before changing into trousers to actually ride. I’m sure it…
£130.00
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Endura’s latest MT500 waterproof jacket is lighter and easier to move in than the original, but the latest regulations mean it’s just not as good at shedding water
This hardshell jacket is the latest version of Endura’s flagship MT500 mountain biking waterproof. Around for years, the MT500 has always been the brand’s go-to for maximum protection from the…
£269.99
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Fox’s inverted Podium fork is heavy, expensive, and a faff to live with, but it’s the best enduro fork I’ve ridden
Fox’s new upside-down Podium fork isn’t pioneering – countless brands have tried inverted forks in the past. And it’s not even particularly eye-catching, particularly compared to the likes of Intend’s…
£2,199.00
Silt’s Enduro wheels offer just about the best price to performance ratio of any hoops I’ve tested, at £380 there’s no need to pay more
Silt’s entire thrust is putting together complete wheels offering top performance for a sensible price. Plenty of others are trying to do a similar thing too and product the best…
£380.00
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“It grips like stink” – the new Specialized Butcher gets more rubber, more weight and more damping, but it’s still amazing value
Specialized’s Butcher has been around for well over a decade, but is now a very different beast to the first generation. It started life with an all-round tread much like…
£54.00
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Shimano’s most expensive brakes were also their worst IMHO, but the new XTR has finally fixed that wandering bite point
I’ve had something of a love hate with Shimano brakes over the years, where I’m mostly hating on the top tier ones and loving the cheaper stuff. XTR and XT…
£499.00
I tested Shimano’s new wireless groupset: it shifts faster than SRAM, uses a hidden battery, and boasts a party trick XC racers, enduro riders and weekend warriors alike are going to love
Shimano invented electronic shifting for mountain bikes, but it’s hard to remember because it’s been more than 10 years since we first clapped eyes on it. In the decade since…
£1,639.92
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Every packless rider should know about Topeak’s Nano shock pump: it’s cheap, pocket sized, and perfect for suspension tweaks
If you’re anything like me, you’ll have long ago ditched carrying a pack, and now I’m even at the point of ditching the hip belt, if I can help it.…
£30.00
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These 7Mesh Glidepath pants cost a pretty penny, but they scream quality, and work come rain or shine
Waterproof riding pants are a necessity here in the UK, unfortunately, and while there are some excellent options on the market, it’s hard to get away from the sensation of…
£160.00
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The most supple Öhlins RXF fork I’ve ever tested: the latest M3 update is a true rival for RockShox and Fox
The Öhlins RXF 36 is the Swedish brand’s mountain bike suspension fork with, you guessed it, 36mm stanchions. It gets 140mm, 150mm or 160mm travel (170mm with a 27.5in wheel)…
£1,299.00
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Thule’s new Epos is the best bike rack I’ve used in 10 years testing – with a 60kg capacity, folding design and space for three bikes it’s almost as good as a van
I’ll come right out and say it, Thule’s new Epos is the best bike rack for mountain bikes I’ve ever tested. And at mbr we’ve tested pretty much everything going,…
£1,099.00
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I rode the new Bosch CX power upgrade and the flagship Race motor, and now I’m considering a new e-bike purchase!
Bosch has just launched a suite of new products, including an exotic CX Race motor, integrated top tube display, and even a free power upgrade for existing owners. You can…
I loved Wolf Tooth’s 8-Bit Pack Pliers when removing pedals, and they’re exquisitely made, but I still needed a chain tool
Wolf Tooth’s pliers don’t fit the conventional mountain bike multi tool mould, so can sink their teeth into a wide range of repairs as a result. There’s some howlers when…
£62.00
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Fox’s Enduro D30 pads haven’t slipped down once in months of riding, and they’re my new favourite knee guards
I always ride in knee pads, and feel really exposed without them. For me, the best knee pads are light and flexible, so they don’t intrude on my ride. Until…
£64.99
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The Race Face Era carbon bar is my pick for riders over 80kg, it’s well damped without being flexy, and has the perfect natural shape
The fashion for low or high bars swings to and fro as frequently as the trend for skinny or flared jeans, and right now we’re squarely in high bar country,…
£139.95
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Rab’s Cinder Downpour fits great, but it’s not waterproof or breathable enough to really cut it as a bad weather jacket
Rab’s Cinder cycling line currently offers two hooded waterproof cycling jackets (with an all-new ultralight Phantom version joining the line up soon). This Downpour jacket is the more affordable of…
£160.00
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