The Epic Camí de Cavalls 360º is a three-day marathon race that circles the whole of Menorca, one of Spain’s Balearic islands.

The course follows an old established path that hugs the coastline, often traversing beaches, skirting clifftops and plunging through steep woodland trails.

The trail is littered with rocks, roots and sand, making it one of the roughest and toughest marathon courses I’ve ever ridden, with technical sections that got hearts pounding, brakes squealing and shocks hot to the touch.

The race can be tackled individually, or as a pair. My colleague Rachel Bennet from MBUK magazine had been offered a pairs spot, so I was more than happy taking the second slot – who wouldn’t want a few days in the Med in November?

So, which bike did I take? I plumped for the Specialized S-Works Epic World Cup.

Why? Well, going into the race I figured the 180km and 4,000m of climbing I was about to tackle would be easier on a bike built for the efficiencies of XCC and XCO racing.

The Epic World Cup was launched earlier in 2023. It has a 110mm-travel fork and a pretty distinct 75mm rear suspension system that gives between 0 and 10 per cent sag depending on how you’ve set it up.

The goal of the bike is to give the pedalling performance of a hardtail mountain bike, but with some of the performance gained by riding a full-travel, full-suspension XC bike.

I ran the bike in its Full-Gulp mode in the race, giving me 10 per cent sag. I set the fork’s Brain (a system to firm up the fork under pedalling loads, without resorting to a lever-operated lockout) as open as I could.

In preparation for the race, I made a few modifications. Some were to tune the bike to my particular preferences and a couple were made to boost performance.

The personal touches

The two main changes I made to the stock setup sit at the front of the bike.

First up, I knew if I was going to ride the bike for prolonged periods over three days the supplied Roval Control SL Integrated cockpit’s combined bar and stem would have to go.

In my experience, when a brand blends the bar and stem into one, they tend to become very stiff, and with no ability to alter the position of the bar in the stem, you’re stuck with those dimensions.

Sadly for longer rides, Specialized’s handlebar engineer clearly has different preferences from me, because the stock item’s 8-degree backsweep was too much for my wrists.

Off I popped to the BikeRadar workshop, where I nabbed the bar and stem from the Lapierre Prorace 9.9 I reviewed a few months ago.

This two-piece setup enabled me to get the backsweep to my preference, and is overall a more forgiving setup thanks to the 31.8mm-diameter FSA SL-K bar.

The bars I removed weighed 387g (with the grips), and my new setup added 58g and a whole lot more comfort.

My next job involved an app on my phone.

I removed the AXS Transmission Shifter Pod from the Epic WC and stole the SRAM AXS shifter from one of my longer-term test mules, before pairing and re-programming the system on the AXS app to my preferences.

There are two reasons for this.

First up, I much prefer the ergonomics of SRAM’s original electronic shifter. I find it more intuitive to use and much easier to place in a position where my thumbs can effectively reach.

The other reason is that, in my experience, the little button covers on the Pod fall off. In fact, one of the buttons on this test bike has been lost to my local trails.

My final personal preference swap was a mistake.

Off came the Specialized Body Geometry S-Works Power saddle and in its place went the hyper-light, super-rare, mega-bling Fabric ALM, saving me a whopping 3 grams.

This beautifully engineered saddle has a one-piece shell and rail, developed with Airbus. It’s topped by a thin, firm layer of padding.

A few years ago, this was my go-to saddle. However it seems time has not been friendly to my backside, and after a day I was immediately regretting my decision to save very few grams for the sake of comfort. My John Wayne impression is much improved post-race.

Performance picks

In prepping the bike for the race, I made a couple of additions to ensure when the going got tough, the trails didn’t get too difficult.

First up was the addition of a RockShox AXS Reverb dropper post and a solid 500g in weight. It’s super-quick and easy to fit, thanks to the lack of cables, and its operation is almost perfect. It really is that good.

Being able to drop the saddle proved key when tackling some incredibly technical tracks – I was very happy to have fitted the bike with a dropper post.

I think I saw only one bike being raced without one – and there were some Spanish marathon heavyweights racing.

I’d like to say the little bit of squish the post has was set up by myself to boost comfort. However, it’s just the regular Reverb bounce that requires the Vent Valve procedure to be carried out – a simple job for which I didn’t have the necessary tool in Menorca.

The other item can’t be seen, but certainly added some assurance when I was blatting my way over heinously rough rocks – a tyre insert.

The stock Specialized Renegade and Fast Trak tyres are light and fast rollers. I had no issue running such scarce tread in the dry and rocky conditions, and they added a fair bit of zip to the bike.

Likewise, the Roval Control SL wheels have a noticeably broad rim wall, to help dissipate impacts and reduce the chance of punctures.

However, the tyres’ light weight means thin carcasses. Despite running 26psi in the rear, I  felt the tell-tale clang of rock to tyre, to insert, to rim. I’ve no doubt the Huck Norris insert saved my bacon on a couple of occasions.

In total, the S-Works Epic World Cup went from 9.6kg before my mods to just over 10.4kg – not too shabby.

The race

The race itself was an experience for sure.

Three days, just over 180km, with around 4,000m of climbing might not put it in the heavyweight category on paper, but Rachel and I put in every ounce of effort we could, and still only managed an average speed of 11km/h over the three days.

This is because the trails really were tough.

Climbs were loose, steep and technical, and with up to 26 in a day, the entire field spent plenty of time scrambling up the rocks.

The descents left no prisoners either – I’ve never seen such tech in XC racing. I was loving it.

But even on the flat, speeds were at times pretty low. Imagine a lava field, pock-marked and gnarled, sharp and lumpy, with a path roughly demarked over the top – then imagine sections more than 10km in length.

While the top men and women (and a few runners, too) completed the race much faster than we did, we still put in a respectable performance, coming in third in the mixed pairs category.

Given we thought we were running second to last, it was a surprise when we heard our names called out at the podium ceremony.

Right race, wrong bike?

So, did I take the right bike for the job?

In all honesty, I’m not sure I did.

The Epic WC is a short-travel race bike primed for fast and aggressive XC racing. I reckon a longer-travel XC bike, such as the Orbea Oiz Rach was riding, with a more forgiving feel over the rough, would have suited the race better.

The Epic stood up to everything my occasionally dodgy line choices threw at it, and when it came to those technical climbs, I was blown away by how well it scrambled up the steeps.

Save for the saddle, I was happy with my component swaps. The dropper paid dividends, the insert was worth its weight in gold (or at least in cheese, our prize for coming third), the shifter shifted perfectly and the bars were less punishing than the alternative.

If you want to learn more about the race, go to camidecavalls360.com

Specialized has introduced a new third-tier Aethos frame to make its throwback, round-tubed, externally routed road bike more affordable.

The Aethos 9r frameset is the basis for the new Specialized Aethos Sport, built with a Shimano 105 mechanical groupset for £3,250 / €3,800 (not available in the US).

An updated version of the Aethos Comp, with Shimano 105 Di2, also uses the 9r frame, having previously used the 10r frame. The Specialized Aethos Comp now costs £4,250 / $4,500 / €4,800.

The new Aethos 9r frameset retains the same ‘traditional’ silhouette as the existing Aethos 10r and S-Works framesets, but increases the weight.

While Specialized hasn’t revealed the weight of the 9r frame specifically, the Aethos Sport comes in at a claimed 7.8kg for a size-56cm bike, while the Aethos Comp now weighs a claimed 7.5kg.

Re-introducing the Aethos

The Specialized S-Works Aethos was originally launched in October 2020, following the release of the Tarmac SL7

The Tarmac SL7 combined Specialized’s race bikes into one platform, with the long-standing Tarmac – historically a lightweight/all-round race bike – getting an aero makeover, and the brand’s dedicated aero bike, the Venge, being discontinued.

With that, the Aethos arrived as something of an antidote to the aero tubes and integrated routing now found on pretty much every race bike.

While the cables/hydraulic hoses run internally through the frame, they remain external from the two-piece cockpit. The Aethos’ tubes are also round and the seatpost clamp is external. Oh, and the S-Works frame came in at a claimed 585g in a size 56cm.

If you wanted a performance-focused bike that harked back to the 2010s, the Aethos was it, but it came at a cost – from £10,750 / $12,500 at the time of launch.

Trickling down

As is usually the case with new releases, Specialized followed the S-Works Aethos launch with the introduction of a second-tier Aethos frame, with the 10r increasing the weight from 585g to a claimed 699g.

That 10r frame is now being offered by Specialized as a frameset-only option for £3,500 / $3,000 / €4,000.

The new 9r frame brings a third tier to the Aethos line-up and lowers the entry point to the range.

While the 10r was the original basis of the Specialized Aethos Comp we reviewed in 2021, that model will be based around the 9r chassis for 2024, dropping the price from £5,000 in the UK to £4,250 ($4,500 / €4,800).

Indeed, if you wanted to buy an Aethos in the UK in 2023, the existing Aethos Comp was the lowest-priced option at £5,000, while, at the other end, the range sky-rockets all the way up to the £15,000 S-Works Aethos Campagnolo Ltd.

At £3,250, the new Aethos Sport is the most affordable Aethos yet – and may appeal to riders who want an uncomplicated bike that still has an element of modernity – but we can hear you at the back: ‘Three grand for a road bike with a third-tier groupset?!’.

While we don’t need to tell you again about price rises across the industry over the past couple of years, the Aethos Sport is, broadly speaking, in the right ballpark currently.

The Giant TCR Advanced Disc 2, also with mechanical Shimano 105, costs £2,499, though we’d bet the TCR is due an update. Trek’s Emonda SL 5 Disc, also with 12-speed mechanical 105, was priced at £2,700 when we reviewed it last year.

Entering its fourth year, the Aethos frameset may also be due an overhaul, though where Specialized takes this one next is anyone’s guess.

If your loved one is into cycling, you’re probably aware that it’s a dangerously acquisitive sport. Shiny new things power the average rider almost as much as the joy of getting out on the bike.

We’ve trawled the web and asked the BikeRadar team to bring you a bunch of cycling gift ideas.

We’ve got ideas for someone who loves bikes but is impossible to shop for, frivolous gifts for those who seemingly have everything, novelty cycling presents that are a little bit silly, and even some for more serious moments such as fixing punctures at the side of the road.

Best cycling gifts under £20

If you’re on a budget or just looking for something small for your cycling friend, there are plenty of excellent cycling gifts under £20, from books and films to small accessories that will make their time on and off the bike more enjoyable.

1923: The Mystery of Lot 212 and a Tour de France Obsession by Ned Boulting

Part-cycling book, travelogue and fanatical investigation, Ned Boulting’s 1923 is the story of his obsession with a two-and-a-half-minute Pathé clip of a distant Tour de France, he purchased at an auction. The ITV cycling commentator’s book is certain to engross cycling fans.

Castelli Bandito Socks

Who doesn’t like getting socks as a present? These Castelli Bandito Socks are sure to be a popular present. They use a Merino wool blend for luxurious warmth, but are thin enough to avoid any discomfort in slim summer cycling shoes. The high 18cm cuff also helps keep plenty of warmth in.

Cycling Souvenirs retro team cup and saucer

• Buy now from Cycling Souvenirs (£16.99)

It turns out that coffee tastes even better when it’s served in crockery that looks as good as this.

There’s a whole bunch of classic team liveries to choose from, as well as various styles of mug for almost any beverage.

Knog Oi

Bike bells are the best way to alert others to your presence, but they often disrupt the clean lines of the best road bikes.

The Knog Oi overcomes this problem, with a shallow profile that means it’s barely visible on the handlebar.

The Rider by Tim Krabbé

If you’re thinking about treating any cyclist you know to a book, ditch the usual autobiography and buy them this lean, hardboiled classic instead.

Part memoir, part novel, The Rider follows cyclist Tim Krabbé and his travails on an amateur cycle race in southern France in the summer of 1977. Filled with laconic observations, dry humour and existential angst, this has developed a cult following among bibliophiles and cyclists alike since it was translated from Krabbé’s native Dutch in 2002.

Check out our best cycling books list for more recommendations.

Tour de Force: My history-making Tour de France by Mark Cavendish

Mark Cavendish is one of cycling’s most thoughtful and articulate characters and Tour de Force promises to be a riveting account of his remarkable 2021 Tour de France.

The race saw him come back from being cast aside from the sport just eight months earlier, after suffering years of misfortune, poor form and ill health, and equal Eddy Merckx’s record for the most Tour de France stage wins.

Thinking back to his stage wins at the race still gives us goosebumps, and if your giftee has a passion for racing, we’re sure they’ll love reading about how the race unfolded from the man himself.

TrailMaps.co.uk prints

• Buy now from Trailmaps.co.uk (£15)

Have you had a transcendent experience on a mountain climb? Or do you just love your local trails?

TrailMaps.co.uk offers these stylish graphical renditions of the places you love to ride, including Tour climbs such as Ventoux, numerous trail centres, and more.

As well as ready-made designs, it offers custom prints based on your own GPS files.

Best cycling gifts under £50

If your budget extends up to £50, you can get some seriously nice tools, accessories and small gifts for around the home.

Abbey Tools Whip-It chain whip

Abbey Tools makes a wide selection of elegant and well-designed tools, and its Whip-It chain whip is the perfect example of what makes the tools so sought after. We think it would be a welcome addition to any home mechanic’s toolbox. After all, having the best-quality tools makes any job more enjoyable.

The Whip-It’s body is made from a 12-inch length of stainless steel, to give the user leverage when removing stubborn cassette lockrings. Abbey specs the tool with plenty of chain for a secure hold on the sprockets.

Aeropress Go

Coffee is considered essential by many cyclists and the Aeropress Go is a travel coffee maker that enables you to brew a great cup anywhere.

The coffee maker brews espresso, americano or cold-brew style coffee and comes with a mug, creating an ideal package for any bikepacking trips.

Albion Burner

The Albion Burner is a small insulated panel – or a performance picnic blanket, if you prefer – that is designed to be stuffed down the front of your bib shorts to add a windproof insulating layer.

It’s surprisingly effective in use and, more importantly, if it’s being bought as a gift, amusingly daft – just the sort of thing that is unlikely to be bought independently.

• Buy now from Albion

Alpe d’Huez cycling print

• Buy now from Cycling Souvenirs (from £22)

Ideal for the living room wall of a cycling-obsessed household or for a little inspiration while climbing Alpe du Zwift on their indoor trainer, this print features the legendary Tour de France climb of Alpe d’Huez and is available in a number of different sizes, from 8x10in to 24x36in.

It’s sure to please even the most discerning of armchair critics.

​DMR Deathgrip Race Edition

A decent pair of mountain bike grips can go a long way to improving all-day comfort and descending confidence.

DMR’s Deathgrip Race Edition grips are a favourite among the BikeRadar team.

These grips are a significant upgrade for a relatively small outlay. Plus, they’ve got the cool factor as the signature grip of the legendary mountain biker, Brendan Fairclough.

Endura Freezing Point overshoes

Sometimes a practical gift can be as welcome as an indulgent one, and these Endura Freezing Point overshoes will likely fall into that category.

Some of the best cycling overshoes we’ve tested, the fleece lining of these boots will keep feet warm, while the robust design should ensure longevity.

Ergon BT Allroad bar tape

Handlebar tape may seem a strange gift, but trust us – Ergon’s BT tape will bring an extra bit of class and comfort to your cyclist’s bike.

The BT Allroad bar tape has a 2.5mm thickness, with added texturing for assured grip on all surfaces. It’s available in five different colours.

Ergon TP1 pedal cleat tool

When replacing your cycling cleats, or setting up a new pair of cycling shoes, having a foolproof method to replicate your setup with precision is vital.

There are plenty of lo-fi methods you can try, of course, but the Ergon TP1 pedal cleat tool offers a quick and reliable way to get your cleats in exactly the same spot every single time.

We’re sure the cyclist in your life will be grateful for the time this little device will save them, but just make sure you get the right version for the cleats they use.

Muc-Off 8-in-1 bike cleaning kit

This kit from Muc-Off contains what’s needed to get a bike looking seriously good, hence why we think it makes a great gift.

There’s a litre of Muc-Off’s effective yet biodegradable cleaner and a soft sponge, as well as several brushes for detailed cleaning. The brand’s post-wash Bike Spray is also in the kit and should help guarantee a lasting finish.

Park Tool PZT-2

This pizza cutter from Park Tool will bring a bit of humour to any celebration.

This ‘penny farthing’ cutter is finished in Park Tool’s famous blue and the stainless steel blade will cut through the crust, base and toppings.

The PZT-2 features a front-wheel stand enabling it to be propped up on display – if your cyclist wants to show off another bike.

Rapha Rainproof Essentials Case

• Buy now from Rapha (£25)

A zip-lock sandwich bag will do just fine for carrying your phone, cards and cash, but the cyclist who likes a more stylish get-up would surely prefer a more graceful solution.

Rapha’s Rainproof Essentials Case is constructed from a waterproof coated fabric and features a soft divider that will lovingly cosset a precious phone and keep cards separate for easy organisation. There’s also a zipped pocket for small valuables such as coins or keys.

Sealskinz Waterproof Cold Weather Mid-Length Sock with Hydrostop

Sealskinz is the benchmark in waterproof socks, using a multi-layer construction with a membrane sandwiched inside the fabric.

The cold-weather version includes a Merino lining for maximum snugness, while the Hydrostop seal around the inside of the cuff makes it harder for water to work its way in. Lighter versions are available if you don’t need as much protection.

They’re expensive, but can you put a price on comfort?

Two Wheels Good by Jody Rosen

Two Wheels Good is one of the best cycling books. It explores the history of the bicycle from innovations such as the Dunlop pneumatic tyre to ‘freak bikes’ salvaged from parts bins.

The book is said to be a ‘love letter’ to bicycles with Jody Rosen, contributor to The New York Times, waxing lyrical about the beauty of double-diamond frames and celebrating the emancipatory potential of bikes.

But Rosen also takes a more critical look at life on two wheels, exploring how bikes have played a role in colonialism and can contribute to gentrification.

Topeak Ratchet Rocket Lite DX

Some multi-tools suffer from quantity over quality, packing too many functions into a small package, but not actually being good at anything.

Topeak’s handy little ratchet sets keep things simple and as a result, they’re very effective. The bits provided cover most eventualities, but your giftee can always swap them for alternatives if they have an unusual fastener on their bike.

The Ratchet Rocket set is highly portable and it includes an extender and two small tyre levers for emergencies.

Troy Lee Designs Swelter Gloves

Troy Lee Designs is one of the biggest – and most respected – names in mountain biking and its Swelter gloves are great for riders looking for highly dexterous winter cycling gloves.

The design is snug but not tight, and lightweight, although that means these gloves are best suited to mild rather than freezing conditions.

Wera Hex-Plus Stainless L-Key Set

A quality set of hex keys is a home workshop staple and this Wera Hex-Plus Stainless L-Key Set is just the ticket.

This colour-coded set features 1.5mm to 10mm hex keys and the Hex-Plus profile is particularly handy because it ensures a stronger contact with the bolt.

Best cycling gifts under £100

Spend between £50 and £100 on a cycling gift and you can find clothes and components many cyclists desire. You can also find high-quality gadgets and accessories that your average cyclist wouldn’t buy for themself.

Nukeproof Blackline Trail Pants

Senior technical editor Alex Evans included the Nukeproof Trail Pants in his Gear of the Year 2023, and we think they’d make an excellent gift for any mountain biker in your life.

These mountain bike trousers are stretchy, flexible, water-repellent and surprisingly robust. At £90 (and often reduced), they’re reasonably priced too.

DMR V12 pedals

Pedals can be quite a personal thing, however the DMR V12 has been recognised as being one of the best mountain bike pedals for the past 20 years.

A good set of pedals can inspire confidence by making you feel more connected to the bike – and if the cyclist in your life uses plastic pedals, this is an upgrade they are waiting for.

Like other DMR pedals, the V12 is available in a selection of colours with black being the safe option when gifting.

The aluminium body holds 10 replaceable pins providing an impressive level of grip. DMR say that the V12s parts are all replaceable and serviceable including the 4140 chromoly steel axles which should mean they have a long service life.

• Read our full DMR V12 pedal review

Evoc Hip Pack Pro 3l

While not cheap, Evoc’s Hip Pack Pro is one of the best hip packs we’ve used, and we’re sure it will make any mountain biker’s day.

Wide wings and a padded back panel make it ridiculously comfortable and stable, even when stuffed to the gunnels and rattling over rocks and roots. Trust us, if you’re using a backpack for only a few bits and pieces, the freedom afforded by a bumbag is revelatory.

There’s plenty of carrying capacity, certainly enough for spring to autumn days, where you want a few snacks, tools and a spare layer. Extra pockets on the wings are great for stashing keys and cash, while there’s a pair of sleeves at either side to carry bottles.

Gore C5 Gore-Tex gloves

A good set of winter gloves can be the difference between enjoying and enduring your commute, so here’s a pair that are really outstanding.

Gore-Tex’s excellent balance of weather protection and breathability means these gloves will keep your hands dry and comfortable during the worst of the weather.

Madison Crypto Sunglasses

The Madison Crypto Sunglasses were awarded a rare 5-star review, earning a deserved place in our pick of the best cycling gifts.

Their massive lenses offer bucketloads of protection from the wind, rain and errant bits of vegetation, while the three tints cover any weather situation.

• Read our full Madison Crypto Sunglasses review

Silca Sicuro titanium bottle cage

Bottle cages come in all manner of designs and they don’t have to be expensive. However, a set of posh titanium cages can be the finishing touch to an exotic build, and few are more elegant than the Sicuro from Silca.

Weighing 31g each, there isn’t a roadie on the planet who wouldn’t delight in these. Note that it’s customary to buy cages in pairs…

Solo Stove Lite

If you’re buying for a bikepacker or someone who generally loves to sleep out under the stars, and they’re still using gas-powered camping stoves, then make them give gas the boot.

Rather than carting around metal containers, they can still go on their micro-adventures and use renewable energy with a twig-powered Solo Stove Lite.

It’s small and lightweight so they can fit it in a bag, and they no longer need to carry their fuel because it’s there on the ground.

Wolf Tooth 8-Bit Pack Pliers

Having a mechanical while out cycling and not having the right tool to rectify the problem is a fear many cyclists have. But the Wolf Tooth 8-Bit Pack Pliers banish this fear, in most instances.

This multi-tool has 17 functions, including quick link pliers and a valve cleaning rasp. It contains eight attachments that fit into the 8mm swivel head, providing plenty of leverage for seized or overly-tight bolts.

This may seem like a pricey tool, but we’re sure it’ll see plenty of use at home, even if – hopefully – it’s never needed out on a ride.

Best cycling gifts under £200

Many of the gifts in this category would make a cyclist’s day, with everything from gadgets that will take their training up a notch to seriously nice shoes, jackets and tools.

Stubble and Co Roll Top 20L Backpack

The best cycling backpacks can sometimes look too… well, cycling.

The Stubble and Co Roll Top 20L Backpack avoids the pitfalls of reflective chevrons and loud branding while providing all the functionality any cyclist needs for getting about town.

It has a 16-inch laptop sleeve, a bike light loop, side pockets and waterproof seams. It’s available in nine colours and a smaller 14-litre size.

Restrap 18L Saddle Pack

The Restrap 18L Saddle Pack is ideal for bikepacking and audax cyclists.

Consisting of a dry bag within a rigid hostler, the saddle pack keeps possessions dry and avoids any unwanted swaying.

The 18-litre capacity is ample for short adventures. Paired with other bikepacking bags, the Restrap 18L Saddle Pack would be ideal for longer escapades.

Fitbit Versa smartwatch

If you just can’t get enough data, you can gather health and fitness data even when you’re not riding by using a smartwatch.

Fitbit is one the biggest players in the smartwatch market, and its Versa model offers a range of useful features such as heart rate monitoring, sleep tracking, GPS, Bluetooth connectivity, compatibility with Strava and other apps, plus a claimed battery life of over four days.

If you’re interested in other options, check out our list of the best smartwatches we’ve tested.

Five Ten Trailcross Gore-Tex mountain bike shoes

It’s virtually impossible to put a price on warm and dry feet, so we think these fully waterproof mountain bike shoes from legendary manufacturer Five Ten are well worth the money.

Along with the impressive rainy-day and wet-trail performance, thanks to the Gore-Tex membrane, the Five Ten Trailcross Gore-Tex has almost identical flat-pedal grip as the brand’s Impact Pro shoes, which makes them near-perfect.

Whether the person you’re giving these to is a weather-hardened veteran or is just getting into riding, you can guarantee they’ll be grateful for having toasty tootsies.

Lumie Bodyclock Glow 150 Alarm Clock

For many amateurs, sleep is one of the great uncharted areas for performance gains, and traditional alarms are a nightmare in this regard – often shocking you awake right in the middle of REM sleep and leaving you feeling tired and groggy.

The Lumie Bodyclock Glow instead wakes you up gradually, in customisable 20, 30 or 45 minute windows, by using LEDs to mimic real sunlight and help you wake up feeling naturally refreshed and awake.

Additionally, it can mimic sunset to help you wind down at night and has 10 built-in sleep/wake sounds.

Muc-Off Pressure Washer

Know someone who spends more time washing their bike than riding it? Yeah, we do too.

The Muc-Off Pressure Washer will make anything they can aim the high-powered jet at sparkle without breaking your bank balance.

Included is a bike-specific wand that reduces the washer’s power, limiting damage to delicate bits on frames.

Shimano RX8 shoes

Combining the lightness of a road shoe with some of the key elements from cross-country shoes, Shimano’s RX8 gravel cycling shoe is a great premium option for the roadie transitioning into riding off-road.

Constructed with lightweight PU uppers, a carbon sole and bonded TPU rubber grip sections, it has a Velcro and Boa closure system that will be immediately familiar to most road riders.

Sony LinkBuds wireless headphones

The Sony LinkBuds wireless headphones will have any cyclist nodding along to Kraftwerk’s Tour de France in euphonious bliss.

The £149 price tag seems entirely reasonable when you consider the headphones’ clear, well-rounded sound, array of useful features, the accompanying app and Sony’s focus on sustainability.

While cycling with headphones is a controversial subject, the open ring in the centre of Sony’s LinkBuds leaves your ear canal unrestricted to hear the surrounding world.

• Read our full Sony LinkBuds review

Topeak Torq Stick Pro

Having a torque wrench makes bicycle maintenance a precise art rather than a guessing game.

This Topeak Torq Stick Pro will ensure the cyclist in your life can tighten the bolts on their bike to correct torque, and avoid any embarrassing trips to the bike shop in the process.

The kit has 22 functions and can provide readings up to 20Nm, which should be enough for practically any maintenance job.

Zwift Play

If the cyclist in your life now prefers to spend most of their time riding indoors and playing Zwift during the winter, then a set of the brand’s recently launched Play controllers could be an ideal gift.

Akin to a PlayStation gamepad split in two, Zwift Play mounts to practically any drop handlebar – the standard kind on most road bikes – and enables riders to control the game and their avatar without having a mouse and keyboard nearby.

• Read our full Zwift Play review

Best cycling gifts over £200

If you have over £200 spend, it’s likely you won’t just make someone’s day, but you could really change how they ride a bike. This price bracket is where you start to see GPS cycling computers and other high-tech gadgets.

Castelli Perfetto ROS 2

Nobody enjoys getting cold and wet in the rain, but nobody likes the boil-in-the-bag feeling of cycling rain jackets, either.

Enter the Castelli Perfetto ROS 2. The jacket provides protection against light rain but is highly breathable, so you can cycle in the rain without concern for the cold or wet.

It’s pricey, but it’s an outstanding jacket and will prove the envy of many other cyclists.

• Read our full Castelli Perfetto ROS 2 jacket review

Garmin Edge 840 Solar

The Garmin Edge 840 Solar is one of the latest generation of cycling bike computers.

It packs in all the features a cyclist needs. It has flawless mapping and a brilliant touchscreen, not to mention a whole host of training features. Plus, its solar charging reduces the chance of running out of battery.

• Read our Garmin Edge 840 Solar review

7mesh S2S Jersey LS

The 7mesh S2S Jersey LS isn’t cheap, but we think the high-quality construction, unique looks and environmentally friendly design justify the price tag.

The jersey feels more like a light jacket, thanks to its three-layer body fabric, and it’s well-suited to road and gravel riding in wet and windy conditions.

GoPro Hero 10 Black

More and more cyclists are looking for action cameras to record their rides. They could do far worse – but not much better – than the Hero 10, GoPro’s top-of-the-range device.

Not for nothing is GoPro doing for action cameras what Hoover did for vacuum cleaners: the GoPro name is now pretty much synonymous with these ride-ready recording devices.

Wahoo Kickr Core

The Wahoo Kickr Core sits in the middle of Wahoo’s indoor training range, and it’s one of the best smart trainers we’ve tested. The Core will provide the cyclist you’re buying for with an entry into the world of indoor cycling and virtual racing. These activities may not be exactly like riding outdoors, but they are great ways to keep riding and have some fun when it’s too grim, dark or cold to go outside. You’ve been warned, though: there’s a high chance anyone you give this to will become a Zwift fanatic.

A bike?

When all is said and done, the ultimate gift for a cyclist is probably a bike. Whether the cyclist in your life is looking to dip their toes in a new riding discipline or wants a bike that’ll carry them further, faster or simply in greater comfort, we have what feels like an endless number of reviews and best lists to explore.

A good place to start is our guide to the best bikes, which provides an overview of our pick of the best road bikes, best gravel bikes and best mountain bikes for under £3,000, £2,000 and £750.

Elsewhere, we have our picks of the best electric bikes, best commuter bikes and best folding bikes, as well as the best kids’ bikes with options for teenagers too.

Back in October, during BikeRadar’s Indoor Training Week, two of our indoor aficionados – Simon von Bromley and Jack Evans – put their cards on the table as to the ‘best’ approach for training.

Indoor training has the potential to be more engaging than ever, with the advent of smart trainers and the corresponding rise of indoor cycling apps.

But while Simon and Jack are both regular users of the latest tech, the pair have opposing views on indoor cycling.

Simon thinks gamified indoor cycling, typified by Zwift’s virtual worlds, is the best thing since tanwall tyres.

As BikeRadar’s chief smart-trainer tester – and a regular gamer – he argues the makers of indoor training apps should learn from popular video games, such as Mario Kart, and prioritise fun over realism.

On the other hand, Jack wants to get fit, not have fun, on his turbo trainer. He prefers apps that focus on structured workouts, such as TrainerRoad.

With Jack Luke mediating, Simon and Jack have taken the issue to the BikeRadar Podcast to duke it out. You can listen using the player above.

Read more from Simon and Jack

• Simon von Bromley | Gamification is the future of indoor cycling
• Jack Evans | Indoor cycling is boring and that’s the way I like it

Subscribe to the BikeRadar Podcast

The BikeRadar Podcast is published every Monday and Friday, bringing you the latest news, insight and interviews, whether you’re a mountain biker, road cyclist or gravel rider.

Make sure you subscribe, so you don’t miss an episode. You can find the BikeRadar Podcast on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.

In 2023, I’ve ridden in excess of 14,000km during more than 500 hours in the saddle on tarmac, dirt and, lately, mud.

In addition to completing several audaxes up to 300km-long and two bikepacking trips, I’ve competed in four different disciplines, including gravel racing and road-bike time trialing.

To be a Jack of all trades and master of none this year, I’ve relied on a hodge-podge of tech.

From bantam-weight kicks to a clever saddle pack, here are my Gear of the Year selections, which helped me into the top 100 of the UK National Hill Championships and across Belgium on gravel.

Specialized S-Works Torch Lace

• £300 / $350 / €340 / AU$550

The Specialized S-Works Torch Lace is the brand’s priciest lace-up road cycling shoe. With a narrow toe box, granite-hard sole and minimalist design, I expected the shoe to suit short, hard efforts and little else.

How wrong I was.

Over thousands of kilometres of testing the S-Works Torch Lace, it remained flawlessly comfortable.

Micro-perforations in the thin, supple upper and larger vent in the sole ventilated my feet really well. This is crucial on long summer rides – your feet swell when they overheat and can begin to rub.

I had no such issues doing big miles in a (rare) UK heatwave and on a sweltering day in the French Vosges mountains testing the new Focus Paralane and Izalco Max.

Crank things up a notch and the S-Works Torch feels sublime: stable and supportive beneath your foot and secure around the ankle.

My size-46 test pair weigh 456g, thanks in part to the laces, which save 100g or so compared to the Boa-dial version of the shoe.

As hill-climbing weight-saving mods go, that’s a sizeable one, which could enhance rather than reduce your comfort (the same can’t be said for hack-sawing your handlebar).

The S-Works Torch’s all-round performance goes a long way to justifying its £300 / $350 price label.

Selle Italia Novus Boost Evo 3D Kit Carbonio Superflow

• £399.99 / $449.90

A short-nose saddle with a long name, the Selle Italia Novus Boost Evo 3D Kit Carbonio Superflow has also impressed in contrasting scenarios.

Shorter saddles are intended to improve comfort and pedalling efficiency, while 3D-printing, a technology the saddle also incorporates, is aimed more at comfort.

In my experience, the Novus Boost Evo 3D Kit Carbonio Superflow fulfils both objectives.

On the road bike saddle, I’ve found it relatively easy to hold a fixed, aggressive position, helping me to put the hammer down on my local chaingang.

The prominent cut-out and 3D-printed padding make it a pain-free place to sit on endurance rides, too.

I fitted the Novus Boost Evo 3D Kit Carbonio Superflow to my hill-climb bike. Although a true weight weenie would opt for something lighter and drill holes in it, I know which I’d rather ride in training, and to and from races, as I like to do.

Like other 3D-printed saddles, the Novus Boost Evo 3D Kit Carbonio Superflow is painfully expensive. But what price comfort?

RAB Cinder Phantom Waterproof Jacket

• £195 / $235

At 101g, including its case, which loops securely around your bike’s frame, the RAB Cinder Phantom Waterproof Jacket is also light. But I’ve put it to completely different use from my two previous products.

During a 450km gravel traverse of Belgium, the Cinder Phantom Waterproof was worth its minimal weight in gold.

In the August showers, I would have had to take a heavier waterproof jacket on and off to avoid boiling.

But because the Cinder Phantom Waterproof Jacket is readily breathable and highly waterproof, it stopped me getting wet from sweat and rain. Once the sun emerged again, the outside seemed to dry in minutes.

The relaxed fit is well suited to minimalist bikepacking – it’s not too racy to wear off the bike, so you don’t need to take an extra jacket for the evening.

The sleeve of the RAB Cinder Phantom Waterproof ripped on a thorny section of singletrack. However, through RAB’s repair scheme, which you’ll be able to use too, I got it patched up.

Post-repair, the jacket performs as well as before.

Restrap 18L Saddle Pack

• £129.99 / $194.99 / €155.99

The Restrap 18L Saddle Pack is an antidote to the ills of less well-designed saddle packs, which swing disconcertingly under load.

Unlike some bikepacking bags, it’s stable over rough stuff, including cobbles and technical singletrack. This results from the rigid holster, double seatpost attachment, and the quality and position of the straps.

The 18L Saddle Pack performed well on the road too. It didn’t sway as I grinded out of the saddle on the frightfully steep upper slopes of Bwlch y Groes, Wales’ second highest public mountain road.

No matter how much you pack in, the fastening that runs lengthways over the bag packs its content into a compact shape.

I found the 18L capacity ample for my lightly laden Wallonian adventure, in conjunction with a frame bag for spares and food.

The dry bag lives up to its name and the vent enables air to escape as you compress it. A stiff, reinforced lip to the top of the bag keeps the roll-top closure firmly shut.

You can slot your off-bike shoes or waterproof jacket under the drawcord at the bottom of the pack.

There’s no denying it, we’re seeing fewer and fewer hardtails on the start line at cross-country events, thanks in part to how tough the tracks have become.

But while full-suspension mountain bikes can add comfort and confidence, many riders still yearn for that solid connection between the front and rear triangles, and the efficiency and urgency only the best hardtails can provide when stamping on the pedals.

You only need to look at some of the bikes being raced in the World Cup XC Short Track (XCC) series to see this. Cérvelo, for example, has been replacing the rear shock of its ZFS-5 full-suspension bike with a solid link, effectively turning it into a hardtail.

The shock has then been slotted back in ahead of the longer Olympic-distance XCO race a couple of days later (with the same bike needing to be used for both events).

This compromised approach may well pay off when putting the power down, but could throw a spanner in the works when things get technical on the track.

So, how do you balance efficiency and power transfer with grip and control? Can you have your cake and eat it? Trek and Specialized seem to think so.

Their latest XC race machines promise the feel of a hardtail when you’re on the gas, but should still offer the bump absorption and more forgiving, traction-rich ride you’d expect from a full-suspension bike.

The two brands have approached frame and suspension design slightly differently, although the end goal is similar. Which is best, and should we be bidding the cross-country hardtail a fond farewell?

To find out, Tom Marvin’s been hammering the Specialized S-Works Epic World Cup on UK singletrack loops, as well as taking on a multi-day marathon event in Menorca.

Meanwhile, Rob Weaver has been using the Trek Supercaliber SLR 9.9 XX AXS Gen 2 for mixed local laps with steep, treacherous sections and fast-paced, rough trail-centre rides.

After comparing notes, chasing each other around the trails and, finally, swapping between the bikes, they’ve reached their verdicts.

Introducing the bikes

Specialized S-Works Epic World Cup

The Specialized Epic World Cup is the bike the Big S believes is going to replace the XC hardtail.

The World Cup sits alongside the longer-travel, more traditional Epic in Specialized’s line-up.

The brand says its 75mm of rear suspension gives you the snap out of the gate of the best hardtails, with at least some of the smoothing characteristics of its full-suspension sibling.

While 75mm doesn’t sound like much, the bike is designed to be run with minimal sag (zero to 10 per cent), so you should get almost as much usable travel as on a 100mm full-supension bike run with 25 per cent sag.

The custom RockShox shock gives you control over the negative air spring to alter the suspension characteristics of the bike.

You can switch to No Gulp for a full-throttle zero-sag, hardtail-feeling race rig, or give yourself the Full Gulp treatment with 10 per cent sag for top grip and a smoother ride. There’s a 5 per cent setting, too.

A 110mm fork, carbon finishing kit and flyweight hoops complete the picture.

Trek Supercaliber SLR 9.9 XX AXS Gen 2

The Trek Supercaliber only has 5mm more bounce than the Specialized, but you set it up more like a regular mountain bike.

Like Specialized, Trek has designed the bike to offer the pedalling efficiency of a hardtail, but give you enough cushioning to handle the impacts and compressions you’re likely to encounter when hammering around a modern XC track.

While the US brand still sells its Procaliber hardtail, it’s been a while since we’ve seen any of Trek’s racers rock up to the start line on one. Instead, it’s the Supercaliber that’s the firm favourite – a bike designed to bridge the gap between the Procaliber and longer-travel Top Fuel.

Trek has upped rear-wheel travel on the second-generation Supercaliber frames by 20mm to 80mm.

It’s controlled by the IsoStrut shock, developed in collaboration with RockShox. This is no ordinary shock: it’s designed to be an integral part of the frame structure in a bid to boost stiffness and pedal efficiency.

Up-front sits a top-tier 110mm-travel fork, while the parts bolted to this fancy frame are some of the best you can buy.

Specialized S-Works Epic World Cup vs Trek Supercaliber SLR 9.9 XX AXS Gen 2 frame details and geometry

At the core of each of these bikes is a frame that makes them different from a lot of the competition, thanks largely to how their rear suspension works.

The S-Works moniker highlights that this is Specialized’s top-end chassis, built using its latest FACT 12m carbon fibre. Half-hidden within the top tube, the shock is driven by a tiny linkage.

At the rear, the stays flex a touch to allow for smooth movement of the suspension. Further forward, there’s space for a couple of bottle cages.

Cables run neatly inside the frame, entering via the headset. Shaped and smoothed stem spacers continue the sleek lines, while a sloped top tube gives the frame a compact look.

The Epic World Cup features geometry inspired by today’s ever-more-technical XC courses. At 66.5 degrees, the head angle is a full degree slacker than on the regular Epic.

On paper, the seat tube angle is more relaxed, too, at 74.5 degrees. However, that figure won’t change much when the bike is weighted (due to the minimal sag), whereas on a normal full-sus bike, the dynamic geometry is often quite different from the static figures.

Specialized S-Works Epic World Cup geometry

With Trek, it’s the SLR tag that highlights this bike’s top-tier ranking within the Supercaliber range. It’s made from higher-modulus carbon fibre than the SL version and also forgoes internal cable-guide tubes, to save weight.

Extended seatstays connect directly to the IsoStrut rear shock, eliminating all the usual hardware and creating a more solid connection from front to rear.

Down below, the chainstays extend past the main pivot and wrap around the base of the seat tube to bolster stiffness further.

As on the Specialized, there’s no rear pivot. Instead, the heavily shaped seatstays are designed to flex under compression. There’s ample room within the front triangle for two bottles.

Trek has slackened the Gen 2 Supercaliber’s head angle to 67.5 degrees, steepened the seat tube angle slightly to 74.5 degrees and extended the reach of the medium size to 435mm, which is 5mm shorter than that of the equivalent Epic World Cup.

Trek Supercaliber SLR 9.9 XX AXS Gen 2 geometry

Specialized S-Works Epic World Cup vs Trek Supercaliber SLR 9.9 XX AXS Gen 2 spec details

The Trek and Specialized share plenty of kit, and even the bits that aren’t identical are similar.

SRAM’s XC-focused, wireless XX SL Eagle AXS Transmission drives both bikes forward, while Level Stealth Ultimate brakes bring them to a halt.

There are subtle differences, though. Trek has opted for the more powerful four-piston variant, while Specialized gives you the two-piston version, even though SRAM’s spec list indicates that the four-pot brakes are 9g lighter.

Both brands assume you’re happy pushing a 34t chainring, and tech-heads will appreciate the Quarq power meter built into the ring on the Epic World Cup.

RockShox suspension is used on both bikes. The Supercaliber’s IsoStrut SIDLuxe shock is paired with a regular SID SL Ultimate fork up-front, with 110mm of travel.

Specialized uses a custom SIDLuxe WCID Ultimate shock, and also drops its Brain damper into the top of the SID SL fork.

This adds an adjustable inertia valve platform, which keeps the fork effectively locked out under gentler inputs, but gives you access to the full 110mm of travel if a harsher or bigger shock bumps the valve open.

You get to decide just how sensitive the system is, too.

Trek’s approach to improving efficiency is a two-position lockout, operated from the handlebar via RockShox’s freshly revised TwistLoc remote.

Wheels and tyres play a crucial part in the performance of any XC bike, and both brands go to their in-house suppliers for these.

Carbon fibre hoops and skinny, fast-rolling rubber feature on both, but while the Specialized gets modern 2.4in tyres, the Trek rolls on relatively narrow 2.2in rubber (something we rectified early in testing).

Carbon fibre finishing kit is the name of the game.

Both bikes have integrated bar/stem setups, which save weight but deny the rider the opportunity to tune the fit and feel of the cockpit.

Further back, the Epic World Cup gets a rigid carbon post, while the Supercaliber has a Fox Transfer SL dropper fitted, with 100mm of travel on the medium bike tested here.

Specialized S-Works Epic World Cup specifications

• Frame: FACT 12m carbon fibre, 75mm travel
• Fork: RockShox SID SL Ultimate Brain, 110mm travel
• Shock: RockShox SIDLuxe WCID
• Wheelset: Roval Control SL carbon wheels
• Tyres: Specialized S-Works Fast Trak (f) and Specialized Renegade (r) 29×2.35in
• Drivetrain: SRAM XX SL Eagle AXS w/ Quarq power meter cranks (1×12)
• Brakes: SRAM Level Stealth Ultimate, 180/160mm rotors
• Bar/Stem: Roval Control SL Integrated, 60mm/760mm
• Seatpost: Roval Control SL rigid
• Saddle: Specialized S-Works Power
• Weight: 9.6kg, large size without pedals
• Price: £11,000

Trek Supercaliber SLR 9.9 XX AXS Gen 2 specifications

• Frame: SLR OCLV carbon fibre, 80mm travel
• Fork: RockShox SID SL Ultimate, 110mm travel
• Shock: Trek IsoStrut RockShox SIDLuxe
• Wheelset: Bontrager Kovee RSL carbon wheels
• Tyres: Bontrager Saint-Anne RSL XR 29×2.2in
• Drivetrain: SRAM XX SL Eagle AXS (1×12)
• Brakes: SRAM Level Ultimate Stealth, 160mm rotors
• Bar/Stem: Bontrager RSL Integrated, 750mm/70mm
• Seatpost: Fox Transfer SL, 100mm drop
• Saddle: Bontrager Aeolus RSL
• Weight: 9.62kg, medium size without pedals
• Price: £10,800

Specialized S-Works Epic World Cup vs Trek Supercaliber SLR 9.9 XX AXS Gen 2 ride comparisons

In No Gulp (firm) mode, with zero shock sag and its most progressive spring rate, the Epic World Cup really does have the demeanour of a hardtail. The rear end is solid, barely breaking into its travel until an impact requires it.

Stand on the pedals and the fast-rolling Renegade rear tyre instantly spins up to speed, but take care on slippery, slimy surfaces because the slick tread and stiff suspension can make technical ascents a spicy affair.

Although the Supercaliber sags into its travel, get on the power and you’ll be surprised by just how taut and direct things are.

It may not feel quite as solid as the Epic World Cup in an all-out sprint, but there’s no denying just how stable it is or how quickly it picks up pace.

Hit a technical climb at speed on the Specialized and the rear soaks up the harsh edges, underlining that it certainly isn’t a hardtail.

Switch to Full Gulp (active) mode – by pressing the button on the shock, which transfers air from the positive to the negative chamber, giving 10 per cent sag and a more linear spring rate – and it only gets better on chunky uphill sections.

It’s still direct and efficient-feeling, but with that little extra sag, the bike turns into a mountain goat.

The tyres may be scantily treaded, but the suspension helps them grip tenaciously, while remaining relatively stable and not causing any pedal-tempo-ruining lurches.

With the fork settled deeper into its travel than the rear, the seat tube steepens, further boosting pedalling.

The intermediate Half Gulp setting ‘gulps’ a little less air into the negative chamber than Full Gulp, for a feel somewhere between the other two modes. Breakaway force is reduced compared to No Gulp, giving a suppler start to the stoke.

While the Trek’s shock is less fancy, it too provides a super-stable platform to pedal from, with the rear end barely moving as you spin the cranks. This makes the Supercaliber feel sprightly and eager to claw its way up any incline.

When you do encounter a rock-step or root, the rear wheel can still move freely enough to take the edge off the impact, boost traction and keep you feeling unflustered as you continue to power up the hill.

Even awkward, technical uphill switchbacks can be dispatched with relative ease, with plenty of control and next to no front-wheel lift or wander.

Specialized S-Works Epic World Cup vs Trek Supercaliber SLR 9.9 XX AXS Gen 2 descending comparison

The best cross-country bikes must excel on the climbs, but they need to feel relatively composed and confident on faster-paced trails and descents, too.

With its slack-for-XC head angle and decent reach, the Specialized’s front centre is pretty long. On smooth, flowing trails, this gives the bike plenty of stability.

Whether you keep it in No Gulp, Half Gulp or Full Gulp, this is a bike that thrives when you push and pump through the terrain, or stab at the pedals to boost speed.

The Supercaliber feels more like a traditional full-suspension XC bike, albeit one with quite heavy damping, but it still gives a sensation of urgency and eagerness on mellower trails.

Point the Epic World Cup down something more gnarly and the bike surprises.

With the Brain valve shifting smoothly from closed to open, there’s often a hint of forward bias, as the fork settles deeper into its travel while the shock remains propped up higher in its stroke.

This means you can end up weighting the front wheel more than is necessary (the fixed seatpost doesn’t help here, either).

However, with more travel to play with at the front than the back, and the understanding that the rear suspension is there more to take the edge off the hits than flatter your descending prowess, you can adjust.

The fork’s mid-stroke support helps keep the front end propped up, too.

In all three modes, the Specialized delivers all its travel as and when needed, with a smooth transition to the end of the shock stroke, thanks to the Mega Jounce Bumper – basically, a bottom-out bumper.

The difference between the Full Gulp and No Gulp settings is most clear when you dive into a set of loose corners.

With zero sag, the rear wheel is reliant on the tyre’s low tread blocks alone to create grip.

However, shift some air into the negative chamber, and that little extra suppleness immediately boosts grip and confidence.

Get up out of the saddle on the Supercaliber and you feel more centred, with the suspension remaining more balanced and the dropper post enabling you to slam the seat out of the way.

This makes for a more controlled and confident stance on the bike. A little like on the Epic World Cup, the rear suspension is there to soak up and quell impacts, rather than totally absorb them.

That means more feedback through the chassis, but thankfully, there’s enough give and progression within the system to enable you to make the most of that 80mm of rear-wheel travel, stick lines older XC hardtails would baulk at and do so without feeling uncomfortable or out of your depth.

The four-piston calipers on the Trek help when descending, too, especially in treacherous conditions, where the boost in power and punch gives extra confidence.

Specialized’s tyres blow up broad on their Roval rims and, with thin sidewalls, have a supple feel, which helps reduce buzz and boost grip.

While the tread blocks are low in profile, they’re well-placed and, especially up-front, have sharp enough edges to dig into XC-style surfaces.

Come winter, something with a more aggressive tread is likely to be on your shopping list, though.

The rubber that comes as standard on the Supercaliber is also superbly pliant, but at 2.2in, the tyres just aren’t wide enough.

Trek sent us some replacement 2.4in Saint-Annes. With these fitted, more trail chatter was eliminated and grip felt easier to find in slimy rock sections.

Both of our testers struggled with the integrated cockpits on these bikes, which share similar rise and sweep figures. Unable to roll the bars into a different position, they found it hard to keep their hands comfy, especially on rougher trails and longer rides.

Specialized S-Works Epic World Cup vs Trek Supercaliber SLR 9.9 XX AXS Gen 2 bottom line

The Epic World Cup is, to all intents and purposes, a niche bike. Short-course XC racers who love putting in 100 per cent effort on every lap will love its tenacious approach to speed.

However, marathon racers may benefit from more travel to make long days and prolonged descents a little more palatable.

The Trek is arguably more of an all-rounder, thanks to how that 80mm of rear-wheel travel is delivered.

There’s no denying just how formidable this machine is when you get on the gas, though.

As with the Epic World Cup, put the power down and the Supercaliber surges forward at breakneck speed.

But there’s enough squish to soften impacts sufficiently to boost comfort on longer rides. It helps massively that the bike comes with a dropper post, which elevates control further.

On both of these bikes, acceleration and pick-up is almost instantaneous and there are certainly hints of a hardtail coursing through each of these frames.

But, when it comes to maximising the number of watts going through the rear wheel, the Epic World Cup just edges ahead.

It’s a touch more direct and solid-feeling in these up-out-of-the saddle situations, which makes it a seriously eager climber.

Get into more technical, undulating terrain and the Trek gains the upper hand. The back end of the bike is that bit more forgiving on choppy, roughed-up sections of trail.

Couple this with the dropper post, and when it comes to descending, the Supercaliber offers a well-centred ride position that feels confidence-enhancing and controllable.

The Epic World Cup can’t quite keep up with its rival.

Both bikes are dripping with some of the best XC-focused kit going, although some of the spec choices are somewhat questionable.

Overall, though, it’s the Trek that offers the better all-round performance, whether for shorter, sharper efforts, or longer stints in the saddle.

In my previous Gear of the Year selections, I’ve focused on kit that served a specific purpose, whether because of impressive performance or an unfaltering duty to make my life more comfortable and easy.

This year, however, I want to shout out the kit that performs exceptionally and gets used and abused on (almost) every ride.

The frequency with which I rely on these bits to help me do my job or have fun gives them a special place in my heart.

Garmin Edge 830 bike computer

• From £309.99

Arguably the most-used product I own, my Garmin Edge 830 has missed only a handful of rides since I got it in 2019.

As a self-professed ride-recording addict, the computer’s onboard wizardry affords me a wealth of stats both during and post-ride, culminating in an afterglow endorphin hit.

Geeking out on heart rate, power, cadence, elevation and speed data is almost unbeatable; all that delightful data is conveniently pumped out on its colourful 2.6in screen.

Paired with one of Garmin’s smartwatches, such as the Fenix 6 Pro Solar I’ve reviewed, those stats are bolstered with training statuses, body battery and more.

Fortunately, the diminutive 830’s performance is matched by its robustness.

It holds its own in the worst conditions; through scorching sun, soaking rain, freezing cold and sideways snow, mine hasn’t missed a beat over thousands and thousands of kilometres.

Although it looks leggy, thanks to a mud-stained body and scratched screen, performance-wise it’s no different today than when I peeled off the screen protector and first mounted it to my bike.

MET Parachute MCR helmet

• £240 / €350

Existing in some guise or another, the MET Parachute is one of the original convertible helmets.

This latest version – the MCR – is arguably the best-looking and most feature-packed convertible lid from MET.

This makes it one of my standout performers of the year, and I wear it religiously.

Boasting MIPS, a Fidlock buckle, Boa fit adjustment and a magnetic chin-bar release (hence MCR), it meets the ASTM 1952 certification.

This is all handy given my unwavering love and obsession with the inherently dangerous gravity-focused side of mountain biking, and my surprising penchant for safety.

Convertible lids, such as this one, make total sense; you can whip the chin bar off for winching to the top of the hill, then reattach it prior to descending for maximum protection.

However, even with the chin bar on, there’s enough ventilation to breathe comfortably while looking to push your FTP on a climb.

I use the lid for the lighter, less engaged cycling disciplines too, even wearing it when simply bombing around the local trail centre, not just gravity shredding.

While that certainly raises a few eyebrows from onlookers – “who’s that lunatic wearing a full-face helmet on his trail bike?” – I certainly feel more at ease wearing it than I do in an open-faced model.

As these pictures will attest, it’s hard to mask the signs of how much I use the MCR. The peak bolts are rusting from sweat, its paint is scratched and patinated, and it has a distinct, albeit not very pleasant aroma despite a regimented cleaning procedure (thankfully for you, Smell-O-Vision is consigned to the history books).

If you’re on the hunt for a convertible lid, the classic Parachute is certainly one to look at.

Evoc Hip Pack Pro bum bag

• £109.99 / €130

An Evoc bum bag has featured in my gear of the year before, but in the now-discontinued Race guise.

Adding to the Race’s features is this year’s entry – the Pro.

An extra mesh side pocket, increasing the pack’s carry capacity and versatility, and an improved waistband made from a chunky Velcro material rather than the skinny strap and clip of the previous model, boost its usability.

With the Pro improving comfort and upping how much I can stash in it, the Race version has been sidelined indefinitely.

Whether I’m out testing the latest bikes, components or clothing, the Hip Pack Pro is invariably strapped around my waist.

Dutifully – just like my helmet and GPS – it stands strong and resistant against mud, water, snow and rain to protect its contents.

Storing my ride essentials securely and comfortably is its modus operandi; my snacks, puncture repair kit, tube and jacket, along with a 1.5-litre bladder, can all be conveniently stashed within.

But seemingly like everything I own, it bears the weathered patina of a hard life.

Frequently getting snagged on trees, there are small rips and tears, especially in the side pockets, but none so bad that performance is compromised.

Covered in mud, its once-gleaming material is now deep-stained brown, and it has gone stiff from frequent sweat drenchings.

Its hard life attests to my unwavering affection – the Hip Pack Pro is a true performer.

If you’re after the best bum bag, look no further.

Nukeproof Blackline Trail Pants

• £90

By now, the theme linking each of these products should be clear, and my Nukeproof Blackline Trail Pants do not buck the trend.

Stretchy, flexible, lightweight and plain-looking, these affordable riding trousers from Nukeproof tick so many must-have boxes with borderline perfection.

Their cut is sporty but not aggressive and there’s room for knee pads without an excess of material, making them equally at home on the DH or trail bike.

The pants are warm but not roasting. Layer up with bib tights for cold-weather protection, but run them with a set of padded MTB shorts and you don’t get excessively hot.

With robustness that’s surprising, the amount of use they can sustain justifies the reasonable £90 RRP.

Mine are showing those tell-tale signs of a hard life though.

Some small nicks and rips – such as at the knees, caused by outlandishly wild crashes – demonstrate their rough-and-tumble lifestyle.

The once black backside panel has faded patches matching the shape of my sit bones, testimony to the countless kilometres they’ve pedalled.

I’ll admit the DWR coating is all but gone, though that’s hardly a surprise given the life they’ve had.

Whether I’m riding in my personal time or heading out testing, the Blackline Trail Pants are among the bits of kit I’ll actively reach for time and time again.

Looking for the best mountain bike suspension fork? You’ve come to the right place.

Buying a new suspension fork for your mountain bike is one of the priciest – and potentially most effective – upgrades you can make to your mountain bike. Even when buying a complete bike, the fork it comes with is a serious consideration.

You’ll want either a suspension fork that irons out the harshest of trail feedback, helping your hands to last longer whatever bike you ride, or you’ll want the fork to sit smoothly into the first part of its travel to keep your front wheel stuck to the ground.

You’ll also need enough stiffness to provide accurate and predictable steering, and enough adjustability to fine-tune the fork to your needs, but not so much that it’s a nightmare to set up.

You’ll probably want it to be as light as possible too, and hopefully not cost the earth.

We’ve tested forks to suit a broad range of budgets, making sure to include some top-shelf options because these are what people tend to buy as an upgrade to their bike.

You can read our full mountain bike suspension forks buyer’s guide at the end of this article.

Best mountain bike suspension forks of 2023

RockShox SID Ultimate 3P

• Price: £1,069/$999/€1,199 as tested
• Wheel size/travel options: 110mm and 120mm (29in), 120mm tested
• Weight: 1,600g (29in x 120mm)
• Pros: Initially very sensitive; remains controlled in rough terrain
• Cons: TwistLoc remote grips don’t have lock-on option

The SID Ultimate 3P is the latest top-level cross-country fork from RockShox, offering a more refined and capable ride feel than the fork it replaced.

Its new Charger Race Day 2 damper gives the fork three positions, which can be switched between ‘open’, ‘pedal’ and ‘lock’ modes via the crown-top lever or optional TwistLoc remote (£119/$117/€133).

We found ‘open’ and ‘pedal’ to be our most frequented modes, rarely using the ‘lock’ mode unless slugging up road ascents and the odd fireroad.

The SID Ultimate 3P is keen to sink into the first few millimetres of travel without hesitation, making for a supple ride with a smooth, ground-hugging feel over small bumps.

Its mid-stroke support builds progressively, with the ramp-up near the end of the travel remaining calm on big hits.

The new 35mm chassis enables the fork to attack fast, technical descents with precision, with only some flex being detected on steeper turns with fast catch berms that would challenge most trail forks.

• Read our full RockShox SID Ultimate 3P review

Fox 36 Factory GRIP2

• Price: £1,139 as tested
• Wheel size/travel options: 27.5in with 160, 170, 180mm; 29in with 160 (tested), 170mm
• Weight: 2,091g (29in x 160mm)
• Pros: Impressively supple and composed over high-frequency chatter
• Cons: Firm high-speed compression damping when set to open

The all-singing Fox 36 GRIP2 Factory is one of the most expensive forks we’ve tested. Fortunately, it’s got performance to match.

Its four-way adjustable damper has high- and low-speed adjustment for both compression and rebound damping. Fortunately, Fox nailed the setup guide, so it’s one of the easiest forks to get in the right ballpark despite the vast range of adjustments.

It’s also one of the best performers, particularly over big holes and choppy unpredictable ground. The independent high-speed rebound adjustment seems to make it more controlled and calm when returning from deep in the stroke if, like us, you’re running a lot of pressure in the spring.

It’s not quite as sensitive off the top of the stroke as its rival, the RockShox Lyrik, though, so there isn’t quite as much traction in low-load situations.

While very active and supple over small bumps, it’s a little stingy with its travel over bigger impacts, even with the compression damping fully open. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing, but we would have liked the ability to run the high-speed compression a little more open for long-run comfort.

There were situations where the 36 was the best fork we’ve ever used.

• Read our full Fox 36 Factory GRIP2 review

Manitou Mattoc Pro

• Price: £1,323 / $1,050 / €1,260 as tested
• Wheel size/travel options: 27.5in with 120, 140mm; 29in with 120, 140mm (tested)
• Weight: 1,797g (29in x 140mm)
• Pros: Lovely feel through travel; easily adjustable; competitive weight
• Cons: Air valve access could be easier; Hexlock axle isn’t quite as intuitive as competitors

The Mattoc Pro impressed us with its impeccable suppleness and great end-of-stroke control.

Manitou has given the fork plenty of adjustment with an MC2 damper, with hydraulic bottom-out in the stanchion offering high and low-speed compression and single rebound adjustment.

All this tech pays dividends, with the Mattoc Pro offering plenty of grip and comfort, with ample control late into the stroke and plenty of usable adjustment.

The Hexlock axle is more difficult to use than other securing axles, with a hand needed to balance the bike, push the axle and turn the Allen key from the other side of the fork.

We also found the air valve to be in an awkward position at the bottom of the fork, making it difficult to use with some shock pumps.

• Read our full Manitou Mattoc Pro review

Manitou Mezzer Pro

• Price: £899.99/$999.99/€1,050 as tested
• Wheelsize/travel options: 27.5in and 29in (tested), both adjustable between 140 and 180mm in 10mm increments (160mm tested)
• Weight: 2,093g (29in x 160mm)
• Pros: Very supple with great mid- and end-stroke support
• Cons: Difficult to set up

The Mezzer is a surprise performer, offering an excellent balance between small-bump sensitivity and bottom-out resistance. It’s particularly capable no matter how deep into its travel you go or how hard you push it.

The chassis also hits the perfect balance of control, accuracy and compliance, feeling stiff when it needs to – such as under corners – but didn’t cause our front wheel to bounce or judder offline, also helping to reduce hand fatigue.

The MC2 damper’s high-speed compression is light enough to absorb fast impacts and proved to be incredibly supple. Its low-speed damping gives plenty of support through turns and compressions, adding to the capabilities of the impressive air spring.

Although the air spring is quite hard to set up – and you need to follow the supplied guide exactly – once you get it right, the performance that’s unlocked is virtually unparalleled on the trail.

If you’re looking to upgrade your fork and were considering a RockShox Lyrik or Fox 36 GRIP2, the Mezzer has to be on your shortlist as well.

The Manitou Mezzer wasn’t tested as a part of our latest fork group test, and doesn’t feature in our video, but was tested and rated to the same criteria, and performed exceptionally well.

• Read our full Manitou Mezzer Pro review

Marzocchi Bomber Z1

• Price: £749 as tested
• Wheel size/travel options: 27.5in with 130, 140, 150, 160, 170mm; 29in with 150, 160 (tested), 170, 180mm
• Weight: 2,249g (29in x 160mm)
• Pros: Comfortable with big-hit capabilities
• Cons: Firm at the beginning of the stroke; heavy

Marzocchi is now a sister brand of Fox, and the Z1 shares a lot of features with the Fox 36. However, it’s designed to hit a lower price point.

Because it uses a lower-grade aluminium in the upper tubes, it’s one of the heaviest enduro forks around at 2,249g, but the extra weight is not noticeable on the trail.

The air-sprung Z1 isn’t as soft at the very start of its travel as the Fox 36, or the Yari and Lyrik, so it needs a lower air pressure to get it to sag properly, along with a healthy stack of volume spacers to stop it using all of its travel too easily.

It still canters through the middle of its travel a bit more easily than those other forks too, making it feel a little less predictable and refined. The flipside is it swallows kerb-sized rocks like a champ, which means good long-run comfort.

The key comparison is to the RockShox Yari (below). The Z1 is more willing to swallow large impacts, making it more forgiving in those big-hit scenarios, but the Yari is more supple at the start of the stroke, and offers more traction and more predictable support. It’s a touch lighter and cheaper too.

On balance, the Yari just edges it for us. But if big-hit capability is your priority, and you can’t stretch to the RockShox Lyrik or Fox 36, the Z1 is a good option.

• Read our full Marzocchi Bomber Z1 review

Öhlins RXF38 m.2

• Price: £1,45/$1,450 as tested
• Wheel size/travel options: 160-180mm (29in), 170mm tested
• Weight: 2,354g (29in x 170mm)
• Pros: Smooth and fluttery off-the-top; tunable bottom-out
• Cons: Rebound damping re-tune might be needed

The RXF38 has impressive off-the-top sensitivity, minimising trail chatter and providing huge amounts of comfort and grip.

Mid-size hits such as brake bumps are catered for with buckets of support. The damper controls the impacts with a calmness that enables you to focus on what’s down the trail rather than beneath your front wheel, leading to more speed.

The fork handled compressions well, never once diving under hard braking, which gave confidence to weight the front wheel into catch berms and steep sections of trail.

The rebound damping on our test fork was a little hard, which may be a problem for lighter riders, but the brand offers various tunes, so finding the right one shouldn’t be hard.

It was also a difficult fork to set up, with a negative spring volume-reducer spacer installed in the fork from the factory that wasn’t mentioned in the manual.

• Read our full Öhlins RXF38 m.2 review

RockShox BoXXer Ultimate

• Price: £2,029/$1,899/€2,279 / AU$3,265 as tested
• Wheel size/travel options: 200mm (27.5in and 29in)
• Weight: 2,840g (29in x 200mm) Claimed
• Pros: New chassis gives precise handling, DebonAir+ twin tube spring gives plenty of support without a firm spike or ramp-up deep in the travel
• Cons: Rebound dial stiff and creaky

The RockShox BoXXer Ultimate receives 38mm stanchions in its current guise which adds plenty of accuracy and makes the fork hold a line well, even when traversing slippery rocks after poor line choices.

A smooth and quite ride quality calms the front of the bike and makes the BoXXer feel reassuringly predictable, while the break away force of is minimal, with the fork sliding easily into its initial stoke.

The beginning of the stroke takes the sting out of small high frequency bumps impressively well, isolating your hands without losing support.

Charging through rough sections reveals how composed this fork is, with the mid-stroke soaking up big hits while delivering plenty of support to push against.

There’s no harsh ramp-up or firmness present at the end of stroke, making big drops and high speed compressions reassuringly composed as the linear nature of the fork feels like it’s only using the travel it needs.

After some use, the rebound dial on our early test model became stiff and creaky, but this didn’t hinder performance.

• Read our full RockShox BoXXer Ultimate review

RockShox Lyrik Ultimate

• Price: £1,013/$1,049/€1,134 as tested
• Wheel size/travel options: 150-160mm (27.5in and 29in), 160mm tested
• Weight: 2,042g (29in x 160mm)
• Pros: Unrivalled mid-stroke damper support; feature-laden additions improve performance
• Cons: Small-bump sensitivity not perfect

The RockShox Lyrik Ultimate sets a benchmark for support and height control with its Charger 3 damper and DebonAir+ spring at the sacrifice of small-bump sensitivity.

The damper enables you to confidently weight the front wheel while hammering it into gnarly sections of trail without fear of the fork diving under braking.

The DebonAir+ handles lower spring pressures with impressively supple and effective ramp-up that was helped by the damper to not blow through its travel on big hits.

Small-bump performance is the only letdown. While the ButterCups mute harsher bumps, the fork remains almost static on small jagged rock paths found at trail centres.

• Read our full RockShox Lyrik Ultimate review

RockShox Yari RC Debonair

• Prize: £695/AU$1,200 as tested
• Wheel size/travel options: 150mm, 160mm (tested), 170mm and 180mm travel for 27.5in and 29in wheels
• Weight: 2,129g (29in x 160mm)
• Pros: Great off-the-top sensitivity
• Cons: Motion Control damper lacks low-speed support and is occasionally harsh over big impacts

The RockShox Yari uses the same stiff 35mm chassis as its pricier sibling, the Lyrik. It now gets the same supple, class-leading Debonair spring too.

The difference is in the damper. The Yari’s more simple Motion Control unit doesn’t provide the same digressive damping – blending low-speed support with high-speed suppleness – that you get from the Lyrik’s Charger.

As a result, it doesn’t feel quite as settled and supportive when braking, and occasionally spikes when slapping down to earth with a thud.

Realistically, though, it’s rare that the less refined damper lets the side down, and this is compared to the best mountain bike forks.

The Yari offers better long-run comfort and small-bump traction than almost anything else on the market, including forks costing several hundred pounds more.

If the slightly unrefined damper bothers you, you can always upgrade it to a Lyrik spec further down the road.

• Read our full RockShox Yari RC Debonair review

RockShox ZEB Ultimate

• Price: £1,119/$1,253/€1,159 as tested
• Wheel size/travel options: 150-190mm (27.5in and 29in)
• Pros: Easy to make meaningful adjustments; good mid-stroke support
• Cons: Lighter riders may need a re-tune

RockShox’s ZEB Ultimate is one of the best forks on offer, with seriously impressive composure and control on rough trails.

Aimed at enduro racers, the ZEB Ultimate has best-in-class small-bump sensitivity with a supple and silent feel that does a great job of tracking trail imperfections,

There is plenty of support deeper into the travel, delivering a calm and composed ride through steep gnarly sections where your weight is over the front of the bike.

Its progression is very gradual through the entire stroke, giving confidence towards the end, where other forks can feel harsh.

The dials enable high levels of adjustment, with high- and low-speed compression all tuneable from the crown of the fork.

We found our test tune to not compliment lighter riders, with all adjustments needing to be fully open for the desired fork setup, reducing overall tunability

• Read our full RockShox ZEB Ultimate review

Cane Creek Helm MKII

• Price: £1,100/$1,100/AU$1645 as tested
• Wheel size/travel options: 130-160mm (29in and 650b), 160mm tested
• Weight: 2.08kg (29in)
• Pros: High levels of adjustability; supple ride feel
• Cons: Not the most supportive in the mid-range

The Helm MKII has 35mm stanchions, which felt accurate through rocky sections with no significant flex or binding.

You get external low- and high-speed compression and low-speed rebound-damping adjustment.

The negative air spring is equalised manually from the positive spring, making it easy to tune the fork’s progression. It takes a little figuring out to set up the fork, but once you get it dialled in, it’s an impressive piece of kit.

The Helm MKII is wonderfully supple through the initial part of its travel, so takes a lot of the sting and buzz out of the trails.

Deeper into the mid-stroke, it feels as though it relies on its spring for support more than its damping, which makes for a very plush ride.

It doesn’t have the most supportive mid-stroke, but there’s a decent range of low-speed compression damping should you want to wind some on. Bigger hits are dealt with comfortably, too.

Whether you’re hitting heavy compressions or landing massive drops, the Helm MKII’s progression builds consistently throughout its travel, which makes for a predictable-feeling ride.

Cane Creek Helm MKII Coil

• Price: £1,049.99/$1,049.99 as tested
• Wheel size/travel options: 130-160mm, 29in and 27.5in
• Weight: 2,330g (29in x 160mm)
• Pros: Supremely supple; easy to adjust, good bottom-out resistance
• Cons: Could be overdamped for lighter riders; tyre clearance

Cane Creek’s Helm MKII Coil impresses with its suppleness, ironing out small-bump chatter and isolating your hands from well-worn trails.

With four spring options to choose from for riders weighing 45 to 100kg, we found the suggested spring to be too soft, with the desired support still missing even when we maxxed out the low-speed compression.

After replacing the spring with the hardest available, the fork proved to be a top performer, responding well to being pushed hard on rough, gnarly terrain.

In its open settings, the fork becomes very firm, which limits the adjustability real-world usage.

We also found the tyre clearence to be quite tight, with Cane Creek giving the Helm a maximum tyre clearance of 2.5in on the 29in model. This made it difficult to attach a variety of mudguards to the fork.

• Read our full Cane Creek Helm MKII Coil review

Formula Selva R

• Price: £1,200/AU$2,099 as tested
• Wheel size/travel options: 120-170mm (29in and 650b)
• Weight: 2.11kg (29in)
• Pros: Wide-ranging and user-friendly adjustability
• Cons: Narrow arch makes fitting mudguards tough with Velcro straps; 160mm brake mount

Formula’s Selva R has impressive adjustability, enabling you to tune it more than most other forks.

The positive and negative air springs are inflated independently, and you can reduce end-stroke progression with the Neopos compressible-foam volume spacer.

You also get Formula’s Compression Tuning System (CST), consisting of swappable valves that change the compression tune, giving you seven different options.

The 2Air system is useful for fine-tuning how the initial part of the travel feels. This gives the fork plenty of small-bump sensitivity, enabling the wheel to hug the ground and making it easy to find grip on slippery trails.

Suppleness over square-edged hits is impressive, too.

We found the Selva R calmed the ride and kept the front end stable, with no harsh spikes deeper in the travel. Over braking bumps, the rebound is fast enough to keep it from packing down and becoming harsh.

Even without the volume spacer, progression was impressive, and we never used full travel, so could run lower pressures to give even more bump-swallowing ability.

Don’t let the narrow 35mm stanchions deter you – whether in high-load berms or big compressions, the Selva R stays composed.

• Read our full Formula Selva R review

Manitou Mezzer Expert

• Price: £700/$815/AU$1234/€864 as tested
• Wheel size/travel options: 140-180mm (29in and 650b)
• Weight: 2.09kg (29in)
• Pros: Impressive performance for the money
• Cons: Support mediocre; digital pressure gauge is a necessity for setup

The Mezzer Expert comes with Manitou’s ‘Reverse Arch’, which sits behind, rather than in front of, the 37mm stanchions.

External adjustment is limited to a six-position low-speed compression-damping dial, a lockout and a low-speed rebound adjuster.

There’s also a self-equalising negative spring and an ‘Incremental Volume Adjuster’ (IVA), which enables you to change the positive air chamber volume by rearranging self-contained spacers.

The Reverse Arch’s appearance may divide opinion, but it works well enough – the Mezzer Expert’s accuracy through technical sections is good, and we never noticed any binding under high-load turns or sharp direction changes, either.

The fork feels stiff, but not harsh. Blasting along chattery trails, its low breakaway force means it sits comfortably in its sag and soaks up small bumps well, providing tons of grip and confidence in corners and root or rock sections.

Support is mediocre, but it can use its travel and recover from repeated hits quickly. Progression to the end-stroke builds smoothly, with no sharp spike in ramp-up.

We were never hesitant landing drops or ploughing into deep compressions. Pummel through a rock garden and the fork lends a calmness to the front end that helps boost confidence.

• Read our full Manitou Mezzer Expert review

Öhlins RXF34 m.2

• Price: £1,185 as tested
• Wheel size/travel options: 120mm and 130mm (29in)
• Weight: 1740g (130mm)
• Pros: Usable range of adjustments; plenty of support without feeling harsh
• Cons: Pricey

Öhlins’ RXF34 m.2 is aimed at downcountry riding with weight saving as a priority.

The RXF34 m.2 uses traditional positive chamber and self-equalising negative chamber in the spring, with volume spacers to increase progression, rather than Öhlins three-chamber design.

We found the chassis to deliver precise steering, with the RXF34 m.2 able to hold a line through tough rocky and rooty terrain better than other lightweight forks.

The mid-stroke has plenty of support, and even with the low-speed compression open the fork remained composed though compressions and high-load corners.

We found no harshness when using the full range of travel, with the fork remaining smooth with zero spiking.

• Read our full Öhlins’ RXF34 m.2 review

How do I choose a mountain bike fork?

Just like your choice of mountain bike, your choice of a suspension fork should take into consideration the type of rider you are and the severity of the terrain you wish to cover.

There are a multitude of mountain bike forks on the market, from the likes of RockShox and Fox, grouped into sub-categories each intended for a specific use case.

The main differences between the categories are weight and stiffness. Heavier, stiffer forks are favoured by aggressive trail and enduro riders, while lighter forks are popular amongst those riders who value weight savings and don’t require the extra rigidity of a heavier fork, such as XC riders.

Long-travel trail and enduro forks achieve increased stiffness through an all-round beefier chassis, with thicker stanchion diameters (35-38mm) compared to short-travel forks, which commonly have smaller stanchions (32-34mm diameter).

While the chassis often remains similar throughout the price range, the internals housed within vary greatly, with high-end options offering improved performance and tunability over their budget counterparts.

Do all suspension forks fit all bikes?

Based on their intended use, mountain bike frames are designed with a specific suspension fork travel in mind.

Retrofitting a longer or shorter-travel fork can have a big impact on a bike’s geometry, potentially putting excessive stress on the frame. Therefore, it is not uncommon to see brands stating a maximum fork travel for their bikes, a breach of which could impact your warranty.

Increases of 10mm, swapping a 150mm fork for a 160mm option, for example, won’t usually compromise your frame’s geometry too drastically. However, we recommend you check with your frame manufacturer’s guidelines before committing to a fork swap.

How much suspension travel do I need?

How much suspension travel you need depends greatly on your riding. If you would describe yourself as a cross-country rider, enjoying big days out on relatively tame paths and trails, you will find the best balance of weight and comfort in a fork with 80 to 120mm of travel with 30 to 34mm wide stanchions.

If you love riding trail centres, with the occasional day out in the mountains thrown in, a suspension fork with 120 to 150mm of travel and 34 to 36mm width stanchions will offer you a good level of comfort and grip at a manageable weight.

If you are an enduro rider and love tackling the steepest and roughest trails around, an aggressive fork with 160 to 180 mm of travel and thick 35 to 38mm width stanchions will offer the best grip, stiffness and comfort at the cost of weight.

If you ride a freeride or downhill bike, you’ll want as much travel as possible to deal with high speeds and gnarly terrain. You’ll likely already be running a suspension fork with 180 to 200mm of travel with 38mm to 40mm width stanchions.

Air vs coil suspension

The spring in a suspension fork enables the fork to absorb bumps and impacts from the trail. It is usually housed inside the left leg of the fork and can be an air spring or a coil spring.

Coil springs are linear, which means there’s a direct relationship between how much force it takes to compress the spring and how compressed the spring is. For example, a 200lb/in spring will take 200lb of force to compress one inch, 400lb to compress two inches, 600lb to compress three inches, and so on.

They are also linear, meaning that no matter how deep it is in its travel, a coil spring will always compress the same amount under a given load.

An air spring is a sealed cartridge with an internal piston that moves as the fork absorbs an impact, reducing the volume and increasing the pressure in the chamber. Air springs are progressive, meaning that the load required to compress them increases the deeper they sit into their travel.

On modern mountain bikes, air-sprung forks are by far the more popular choice. They are a lot lighter than their coil counterparts and can be easily and accurately adjusted by raising or lowering the internal air pressure with a shock pump to find the perfect setup.

Coil-sprung forks on the other hand can only be adjusted by swapping the coil for another with a heavier or lighter spring weight, which is both costly and time-consuming.

Straight steerer vs tapered steerer

The steerer is the tube that connects the fork to the bike, fitting through the bike’s head tube before being clamped by the stem and top cap. There are two standards for suspension fork steerers.

The old steerer standard featured a 1 ⅛-inch diameter from top to bottom. These are called straight steerers.

As the name suggests, tapered steerers have a 1.5in diameter at the bottom and taper to a 1 ⅛-inch diameter at the top. Most modern mountain bikes now feature this standard, which is claimed to improve stiffness between the frame and the fork.

A couple of brands have strayed from these standards. Giant ran its Overdrive2 fork steerer system, which tapered from 1.5-1.2in for a number of years, and Cannondale (plus a few other small ebike brands) have run straight 1.5in steerer tubes.

While few bikes deviate from the regular tapered standard, if you have a Giant or a Cannondale, it might be worth checking.

If you have a bike with a tapered head tube, it is possible to fit an older fork with a straight steerer, providing you source an adaptor for the lower headset cup. Unfortunately, the same does not apply to fitting a new tapered fork to an older frame with a straight head tube.

Volume tokens/spacers

Another benefit of air-sprung suspension forks is their ability to be tuned with volume spacers, sometimes called tokens. These spacers are an inexpensive way to tune the progression of your fork.

By adding volume spacers, you effectively reduce the size of the fork’s internal air chamber, increasing the progressivity of the spring. This enables you to reduce your overall air pressure, increasing the fork’s sensitivity at the start of the stroke without compromising support and ramp-up deeper in the travel.

By removing volume spacers, you can make your fork more linear. This is especially useful for lighter riders who are struggling to use all of their travel and bottom out their fork.

What are compression and rebound damping?

Regardless of whether you have an air or coil spring, the spring itself does a fairly simple job – it absorbs an impact and then returns to its original position.

However, without damping, it is essentially a pogo stick and not very good at delivering a controlled and predictable ride.

This is where rebound and compression damping come into play. Usually housed in the right leg of the fork, the damper is adjusted by dials at the top and bottom of the fork leg.

Rebound damping

Rebound damping controls the speed at which the spring returns after absorbing an impact. Too fast and the fork will bounce uncontrollably. Too slow, and it won’t extend in time for the next impact, making for a very harsh ride and compromising grip.

High-speed rebound damping controls how fast your fork will rebound from a big hit that uses most of the suspension travel, while low-speed rebound controls the speed through the rest of the travel.

Luckily, rebound damping can be adjusted on most quality mountain bike forks. Adding rebound damping (often marked ‘+’ on the fork dial) slows down the return rate of the fork. Reducing rebound damping (often marked ‘-‘ on the fork dial) speeds up the return rate of the fork.

Low-speed compression damping

Low-speed compression (LSC) damping influences how the fork responds to impacts where the spring compresses slowly – think pushing into a take-off or around a berm.

Adding low-speed damping makes the fork firmer in these instances, using less travel, and can make for a more supportive and stable-feeling fork at the cost of some sensitivity on small bumps.

High-speed compression damping

High-speed compression (HSC) damping is usually only available on high-end forks. It influences how the fork responds to impacts that make the spring compress rapidly, such as sudden compressions and big hits.

Adding high-speed compression damping helps to stop the fork blowing through all of its travel and bottoming out.

How do I know my fork size?

When considering a fork upgrade, it’s important to know the travel and size of your current fork because replacing it with something outside your frame manufacturer’s parameters could void your warranty.

Suspension travel is often displayed on the rear of the fork legs, just beneath where the stanchions meet the lowers. If this isn’t the case on your particular fork, you can find the serial number under the fork crown.

The length of the stanchions can also be an indicator of how much travel a fork has. However, it isn’t always reliable because some forks don’t use their full stanchion when compressed.

Another important measurement is the axle-to-crown distance. This is measured in a direct line from the fork crown to the axle.

When measuring this distance, it’s important that the fork is unsagged, so make sure the stanchions are fully extended before you grab your tape measure.

Changing your saddle height is the most important adjustment you can make to the fit of your bike.

In this guide, we’ll explain how to find your correct saddle height on a bicycle, including how to set the fore/aft position of the saddle, as well as tilt.

While this guide focuses on setting the saddle height for a road bike, it applies equally to mountain bikes, hybrids and gravel bikes. We have a dedicated guide to mountain bike setup.

When your saddle is at the right height, and has the correct fore/aft position and tilt, you’ll have a comfortable and efficient ride.

You risk discomfort or, worse, injury if they’re not. Many of the most common types of pain caused by cycling are linked to incorrect saddle height.

How to set saddle height on a bike

It’s good practice to document your starting position before doing anything. It will come in handy in the future, especially if you find any changes you have made aren’t working for you – with your old position noted, you can go back to your starting point quickly.

In addition to saddle height, you’ll also need to consider saddle fore/aft (also known as saddle setback) and saddle tilt.

1. How to measure your bike’s saddle height

Measure the length of your seat from front to back and find a mid-point. Mark this spot on the saddle.

Use your tape measure to start at the centre-top of your saddle and measure in a straight line to the centre of your bottom bracket.

Record to the nearest millimetre (764mm, for example).

2. How to measure the saddle fore/aft position

Place your bike against a wall, either in a stationary trainer or with the wheel in. Either way, make sure the bike is vertically perpendicular to the floor and horizontally perpendicular to the wall.

Measure from the wall to the bottom bracket for measurement one.

Measure from the wall to the tip of the saddle for measurement two.

To calculate saddle setback, deduct measurement one from measurement two.

3. How to measure saddle tilt

Because many saddles have contours, it’s best to measure the overall seat tilt.

Place a piece of board over the seat and use your smartphone or inclinometer to find the overall seat tilt. Measure to the nearest tenth of a degree.

How to get the perfect saddle height on your bike

Once you have your three measurements, it’s time to get started.

Determining saddle height with the heel method

The ‘heel method’ is a very quick way to establish a baseline height. This process can be done in a doorway, or better yet with the bike on a stationary trainer.

Hop on the bike and place your heel on the pedal, in the shoes you plan on riding in.

Pedal forwards or backwards slowly. If the saddle is too high, you’ll not be able to pedal smoothly without having to rock your hips from side-to-side or overreaching.

Move your saddle down one to two centimetres at a time until this back-and-forth stops.

Conversely, if you’re pedalling smoothly, try going up a few centimetres at a time until you start reaching for the pedals. Then, edge your saddle back down until you don’t have to stretch at the bottom of the pedal stroke.

How to use a smartphone camera to determine your saddle height

You can use a smartphone camera to determine your saddle height by asking someone to film or take photos of your pedal stroke. The goal is to record how much bend is in your knee.

You can try this method with your bike in a turbo trainer or with one hand against the wall for support.

To start, try putting your foot on the pedal as you would when riding. If this means clipping into clipless pedals, then go for it.

If you prefer to ride with flat pedals, then put about a third of your foot in front of the pedal axle, and two-thirds behind.

At full extension (which is more like five o’clock than six o’clock) 30 to 40 degrees of knee bend is the generally accepted range.

If the images show your knee at an angle of less than 30 degrees, the seat height is likely a bit low. You may be feeling tension at the front of the knee or a large amount of work only from your quads.

If the images show your knee at an angle greater than 40 degrees, the saddle is likely too high. You may feel a dull ache in your lower back, if so.

Keep adjusting the height of your saddle until you’ve found something that feels smooth and balanced.

Now take your bike out for a few short spins. Bring your hex keys or a multi-tool with you to make on-the-fly adjustments if required.

Using a formula to set saddle height

Two formulas are commonly used to find saddle height based on your inseam measurement.

The LeMond Method multiplies your inseam measurement in millimetres by 0.883. This number is the distance between the top of your saddle and your bike’s bottom bracket. Therefore, it discounts the length of your cranks.

To use the Hamley Method, multiply your inseam measurement by 1.09. This figure is the distance between the top of your saddle and the pedal axle in the six o’clock position.

How to get the perfect saddle tilt on your bike

Your saddle should properly support your sit bones (ischial tuberosities).

While sitting on your saddle, if you don’t feel pressure on the bones at the base of your buttocks, it could be for two reasons:

1. Your saddle shape or width doesn’t match your anatomical structure
2. The tilt of the saddle doesn’t enable your sit bones to support you

In the first scenario, you can check for yourself if your bike seat is right for you.

If you have the right one, the saddle tilt, which determines where pressure is applied to the pelvis, might be wrong.

If the front of the seat is too high, it makes it difficult, if not impossible, for the sit bones to provide support.

Conversely, if the saddle is too low at the front, your sit bones can support you. But you’ll be sliding forward and subsequently applying too much pressure on your hands.

Use a piece of board and a digital inclinometer (or smartphone level app) to determine saddle tilt. Write it down.

Make sure your bike is level or, if it’s not, account for the fact. Now try moving things around to see what best supports your behind.

Most saddles fall into a zero- to six-degree range.

How do I know my saddle height is correct?

The correct saddle height should result in:

• A level foot where there is no excessive toe down or heel down
• A stable pelvis with no rocking side-to-side. If this is happening, it’s likely your saddle is too high
• A consistent saddle position. If a saddle is at the wrong height, riders will often shift back and forward on the saddle
• A smooth pedal stroke, where there isn’t a feeling of losing contact with the pedal at the bottom of the stroke
• Minimal discomfort, particularly in the knee
• An even load on your muscles

If you can’t achieve these results by adjusting the height of your saddle, it might be worth considering whether your handlebar is at the right height or if you have the correct cleat position.

Now that we’re in December, utterance of the C-word is officially acceptable in my book. And what better than an early Christmas present in the form of First Look Friday?

However, before I unveil a bonanza of goodies, I’ll have to keep you in suspense just a little longer while we recap on the week just gone.

Senior technical writer Simon von Bromley penned a love letter to his go-to Sportful Fiandre Light NoRain Vest in the latest of our semi-regular High Mileage Heroes series. I’ve never really been one for gilets myself in the winter, swearing by my Castelli Gabba 2 jacket, but Simon’s effusive praise may have tempted me to give them another go.

Nick Clark was the only contender who could have reviewed his namesake Clarks CRS C4 brakes, and he came away highly impressed by with their impressive stopping power and lever feel.

Digital writer Jack Evans brought us news of the new Focus Paralane, the German brand’s latest rendition of its endurance road bike. The bike has clearance for 35mm road bike tyres, with tubes that have undergone an aero makeover for increased stiffness. We were also treated to his first ride review from the atmospheric Vosges mountains in eastern France.

Jack also introduced us to his Giant TCX Advanced Pro 2, which will be his long-term bike for the next year.

Although cyclocross bikes conjure images of race weapons with tight tyre clearances and shoulder-friendly top tubes, this latest TCX has clearance for 45mm gravel bike tyres and dropper post compatibility if you want to get rowdy.

Jack’s already baptised the bike in some truly filthy conditions in a handful of cyclocross races in the West Midlands.

Finally, we brought news that Strava has introduced messaging on its app, so you can now slide into people’s DMs or chat directly in a group. Will it replace WhatsApp or other popular messaging systems as the platform of choice for organising rides? Only time will tell.

Castelli Trail GT Jacket

Castelli markets the Trail GT Jacket as being made for riding in “wild weather”.

The jacket is constructed from Gore-Tex Paclite Plus, which is designed to balance being waterproof and windproof while being breathable, ultralight, packable and robust. Castelli suggests a 2 to 16°C temperature range.

The Trail GT Jacket is fully seam sealed and even the zips are waterproofed.

There are two pockets at the front that can be opened for ventilation and two at the rear for extra storage. An adjustable drawstring at the waist enables you to dial in the fit.

You also get an adjustable wrist closure that can close to shut out rain or open for ventilation.

There’s a large hood that can cover a mountain bike helmet and it packs away neatly when not in use into the jacket’s collar.

While there’s nothing stopping you from using it on the road, the waterproof jacket is more at home for mountain biking and gravel riding, thanks to its more spacious ‘Trail’ fit. Castelli says the jacket’s casual styling also lends itself to being worn off the bike.

The jacket weighs 297g in a size medium (true to Castelli’s claim) and packs down easily when not needed.

I can foresee it being just the ticket for bikepacking escapades, where you keep a waterproof handy as an insurance policy that you can quickly chuck over your gear.

My current favourite waterproof jacket, the Patagonia Dirt Roamer Storm, saw extensive use when I rode the Pictish Trail back in the summer. Will the Castelli Trail GT, a jacket with a 60 per cent price premium, top it? Only time will tell.

The Trail GT Jacket is available in Dark Grey or Pompeian Red (as pictured here) from sizes XS to 3XL.

• £460 / $549.99 / €399.95 / AU$749

Sidi Shot 2S road shoes

Sidi’s Shot 2S shoes are the update to the Shot 2, one of my favourite road cycling shoes that I’ve ridden countless miles on.

The updates are pretty modest, with the Italian brand focusing on improving comfort and using more sustainable fabrics.

The upper is now made of recycled materials, specifically a mesh and Bioveg, derived from recycled materials and cereal (yes, you read that right), which is claimed to be more breathable, abrasion-resistant and supportive.

The brand is also now using a ‘95 per cent recycled insole’ for improved comfort.

The Shot 2S shoes sport a twin Tecno 3 Push Flex dial closure system on the tongue, whereas the brand’s dials are located at a more conventional side location on the Wire shoes.

The ‘Adjustable Heel Retention Device’, a pair of screws that enable you to dial in the heel’s fit, remains. I’ve long appreciated this feature on my other Sidi shoes because my heel is quite narrow and it really locks it in place.

The shoes are available in four colours – Anthracite / Black, White / Black, Black / Grey and Black.

I’ve gone for plain ole’ Black (it matches everything) in a size 45.5.

• £425 / €419

Koo Alibi glasses

The Alibi sunglasses are Koo’s latest flagship model. They use a half-frame design, which Koo says is for maximum visibility, and feature rounded arms for a secure fit.

The frame is made from Grillamid, a polymer designed and developed in Switzerland, which is said to be resistant to shocks.

Zeiss provides the cylindrical polycarbonate lens and there are ventilation holes at the top of the lens to prevent the glasses steaming up.

Elsewhere, there are replaceable nose pads made of soft rubber to improve comfort and the glasses are compatible with prescription glasses via an optical clip.

There are eight colours to choose from, two of which feature photochromic lenses. I’ve got them here in Dark Blue Matte with a Photochromic Red Mirror lens.

• £170-200 / $190-235 / €180-220 / AU$280-340

7mesh gravel clothing

7mesh Men’s S2S Jersey LS

The S2S Jersey LS is a new release from the Canadian brand for this winter and is designed for variable conditions on road and gravel.

It uses 7mesh’s new Airmap technology, which the brand says is designed to “put air in its place”. Airmap is said to control air movement while optimising water resistance, breathability and air permeability. It’s also PFC and PFAS-free (chemicals that harm the environment), Bluesign-approved and Oekto Tex Standard 100 certified.

The brand is using the technology on an array of mountain bike clothing, but for road and gravel you have the option of this jersey or the S2S Vest, which retails for £180.

This jersey (which feels more like a light jacket) sees a three-layer body fabric paired with two layers at the sleeves and one at the underarms for breathability.

You get reflective details at the rear hem, sleeves and chest, and there’s a two-way zip for mid-ride adjustments.

There are three spacious pockets at the rear, as well as a zipped fourth pocket for valuables.

A size-medium jersey is claimed to weigh 228g.

The S2S Jersey LS is available in six sizes, from XS to XXL, and three colours – Black, Prince and Butterscotch, the latter of which I have here.

HDcap 7mesh x Ciele

7mesh has collaborated with fellow Canadian brand Ciele for this skullcap, which uses a thermal WTV (Wind Thermal Ventilation) fabric. This is a proprietary fabric from 7mesh, which is claimed to simultaneously retain and release heat as you ride.

The cap is large enough to also cover your ears and the peak is flexible (perfect for riders like me who like to ride with the peak up).

It’s available in three colours (Black, Raisin and Ultra Green) and two sizes – S/M and L/XL.

I got to use this cap a couple of weekends ago on the 308km overnight Moonrakers and Sunseekers audax, where it was one of the stars of the show.

It was a seriously cold night, with temperatures reaching -4°C. To paint a picture of just how cold it was, the water in my bottles froze.

While I dressed suitably for the occasion, my head was never cold throughout the ride (my fingers, on the other hand…) and I really appreciated the well-considered fit. I can see this skullcap becoming one of my winter staples.

• 7mesh Men’s S2S Jersey LS – £280 / $300 / €300
• HDcap 7mesh x Ciele – £70 / $70 / €75

Sea to Summit Ultra-Sil Dry Bags

Dry bags are a great way of organising your equipment inside your bikepacking bags and can even function as a main bag when combined with some Voile straps.

These Ultra-Sil dry bags from Sea to Summit are a lightweight but tough option, thanks to the 30D Cordura nylon fabric construction. While the brand says they’ll withstand water, they’re not designed to be submerged.

They weigh next to nothing, with the 3L claimed as 30g and the 35L 74g – a small price to pay for peace of mind that the contents are going to be kept safe.

The semi-translucent finish means you can locate items easily and the slippery finish to the fabric is claimed to make sliding the dry bag in and out of packs effortless.

Once you’ve loaded the bag, it’s secured with a waterproof, roll-top hypalon closure. The closure includes Sea to Summit’s Field Repair Buckle, which means they can be replaced with a screwdriver if they ever break.

Sea to Summit recommends rolling the top at least three times over to ensure an optimum seal.

The Ultra-Sil bags are available in six sizes (3, 5, 7, 13, 20 and 35L) and five colours – High Rise Grey, Spicy Orange, Atoll Blue, Tarragon Green and Zinnia Yellow.

I’m looking forward to trying these bags out on trips I have planned next year.

• Sea to Summit Ultra-Sil Dry Bag 3L – £16 / $22.95 / €18.95 / AU$22.99
• Sea to Summit Ultra-Sil Dry Bag 5L – £18 / $24.95 / €21.95 / AU$24.99
• Sea to Summit Ultra-Sil Dry Bag 8L – £21 / $29.95 / €24.95 / AU$28.99
• Sea to Summit Ultra-Sil Dry Bag 13L – £24 / $32.95 / €28.95 / AU$32.99
• Sea to Summit Ultra-Sil Dry Bag 20L – £28 / $35.95 / €34.95 / AU$39.99
• Sea to Summit Ultra-Sil Dry Bag 35L – £32 / $39.95 / €39.95 / AU$46.99

QEJA socks

A bonus inclusion, QEJA (pronounced kay-jah) is a relatively young company formed in 2020 that is trying to combine the everyday and cycling sock into one.

Designed in Sweden and manufactured in Italy, there are three styles in the range – Ankle, Classic Crew and Climb Series. The socks are crafted from organic cotton for breathability and comfort, and Q-Skin for durability and anti-odour.

• QEJA Classic Crew socks – $18
• QEJA Climb Series socks – $18
• QEJA Ankle socks – $16

Forbidden has revealed its Supernought downhill bike, featuring 205mm of rear-suspension travel, proportional geometry and modular dropouts.

This is the first downhill bike from the Canadian brand best known for its high-pivot enduro bikes, with the Supernought receiving a familiar but updated Trifecta suspension system.

The Supernought is only available as a frame kit, priced at £3,999 / $4,299 / €4,299 / CA$5,499, which sees a RockShox Super Deluxe Ultimate DH Coil shock sitting in the frame and a selection of interchangeable dropouts.

Updated high-pivot linkage

First seen in prototype guise under Forbidden Synthesis riders Connor Fearon and Alex Storr earlier this year, the Supernought features a full carbon fibre frame and shares a similar aesthetic to the Dreadnought enduro bike. The RockShox Super Deluxe Ultimate DH Coil rear shock is located low down in the frame.

The frame sees an updated version of Forbidden’s high-pivot Trifecta suspension system, which the brand says increases sensitivity and grip.

The V2 Trifecta Platform is said to have a DH-optimised leverage curve and braking characteristics that keep the Supernought composed under braking.

High-pivot suspension systems tend to have a rearward axle path, making them better at absorbing square-on impacts in the trail, while the idler pulley reduces pedal kickback.

Forbidden has given the bike an 18T steel idler pulley, which it says features an optimised tooth profile and an updated Race Guide chain guide to keep the chain in place.

The rear of the bike sees modular dropouts that enable you to adjust the rear centre by 0, +10mm and -10mm lengths, giving the bike the option of running 29in wheels or 29in and 27.5in mullet wheels.

The brand says this enables you to customise weight bias and handling to suit your riding style or the type of terrain you ride.

Forbidden say it has tried to use ‘sensible standards’, giving the Supernought an 83mm bottom bracket, 148mm Boost spacing and a 49mm head tube to increase adjustability and durability.

The bike also features fork bump stops and clamping cable ports on the head tube, while the down tube features frame protection and a shuttle pad.

Proportional geometry

The Supernought comes in four sizes, spanning S1 to S4, and features Forbidden’s One Ride sizing, which sees the front-centre and rear-centre measurements grow proportionally through frame sizes.

The frame kit only comes in mullet or MX wheel sizes and sees a front-centre measurement of 835mm and a rear-centre figure of 460mm for an S3 size.

Forbidden has given the bike a 63.1-degree head angle and a reach measurement of 466mm.

Tacx has announced the Neo 3M, its latest flagship smart trainer.

Building upon the highly rated Neo 2T, one of the best smart trainers available, the Neo 3M adds integrated fore-aft movement.

Tacx also says the Neo 3M features “enhanced accuracy and power… across a broader range of power outputs”.

As with the Neo 2T, the Neo 3M is a direct-drive smart trainer that uses an electromagnetic motor braking system.

Tacx says this enables it to create a virtual flywheel of variable weight, leading to a more realistic ride feel.

The Tacx Neo 3M is available now for £1,749.99 / €1,999.99 / $1,999.99.

Moving with the times

With virtual indoor cycling apps becoming increasingly advanced, smart trainer manufacturers are also looking for ways to improve the ride feel of static trainers.

Wahoo, for example, recently launched its Kickr Move smart trainer, which features around 20cm/8in inches of fore-aft movement along an integrated, slightly curved track.

The Tacx Neo 3M takes inspiration from the Tacx Neo Motion Plates – an optional accessory for the Neo 2T, which provided around 5cm / 2in of fore-aft movement (and cost £259.99 / $299.99 / €299.99).

This time, though, the movement is built directly in to the Neo 3M, as is an unspecified amount of “natural side-to-side flexion”.

According to the brand, this helps make the ride feel more realistic and more comfortable.

As with the Wahoo Kickr Move, Tacx says the added movement can be locked out if you prefer to ride without it.

Tacx also includes a front-wheel riser block (compatible with tyres up to 60mm wide) with similar built-in movement, to level out your bike.

Enhanced accuracy and power, but no Wi-Fi

It’s fair to say the Neo 2T was already well regarded for its data accuracy and high power output, but Tacx says it has made improvements to these as well.

Although the headline specs – 2,200 watts maximum power, 25 per cent maximum simulated gradient and +/- 1 per cent power accuracy – are identical to those of the Neo 2T, Tacx says accuracy has been improved “across a broader range of power outputs”.

We’ve asked Tacx for more details on this topic and will update this article when we receive a response.

Unlike the Wahoo Kickr Move (and Kickr V6), the Neo 3M doesn’t have built-in Wi-Fi connectivity.

It instead makes do with built-in ANT+ and Bluetooth, and the new Tacx Smart Network Adapter, an optional dongle that enables Wi-Fi or ethernet connections.

According to Tacx, this dongle can help create a “more stable connection” between the Neo 3M and your indoor cycling app of choice.

The Tacx Smart Network Adapter can be purchased separately for £129.99 or as a bundle with the Neo 3M for £1,879.98.

Tacx Neo 3M specification and availability

The Tacx Neo 3M is available now for £1,749.99 / €1,999.99 / $1,999.99.

It comes fitted with an 11-speed cassette on a Shimano HG freehub. If shopping directly with Tacx, additional freehubs (such as SRAM XD/XD-R, Shimano Micro Spline or Campagnolo N3W) can be chosen at the point of purchase, for a surcharge of £70.

As with the Neo 2T, the Tacx Neo 3M can simulate varying road surfaces such as gravel or cobbles, and includes virtual descent simulation.

Tacx says its electromagnetic motor braking system is also “extraordinarily quiet”.

Tacx Neo 3M

• Price: £1,749.99 / €1,999.99 / $1,999.99
• Maximum power: 2,200 watts
• Claimed power accuracy: +/- 1 per cent
• Maximum simulated gradient: + 25 per cent
• Flywheel weight: N/A
• Connectivity: Bluetooth or ANT+
• Integrated movement: Yes
• Claimed weight: 23.6kg

The endurance road bike has been the forgotten design for some years now.

With aero road bikes lighter than ever and pure race bikes getting more compliance, not to mention some gravel bikes being somewhat road-capable, endurance bikes have been overlooked by many riders.

I think that’s a big mistake, though, and here’s my manifesto as to why.

The heart of my argument is that the average roadie (like me) has vastly different needs from those of a professional racer.

A WorldTour team replica bike, with its race-optimised design and geometry, or a super-light hill climb specialist bike might just make your rides worse not better.

Endurance road bike geometry is what most of us need

Take a look at an average pro bike, and more often than not you’ll see bikes with a long reach and super-low stack height.

In practice, this means the handlebars sit very low and far away from the saddle, meaning the rider has to bend over and stretch out to reach the bars.

There was a social media trend a few years back dubbed ‘slam that stem’, for example. It was considered cool for ‘serious’ roadies to rid their bikes of headset spacers, cut down the steerer tube on the fork and even resort to negative rise stems to get a ‘pro’ riding position – comfort be damned.

I can only imagine the number of good bikes ruined by that daft trend.

These kinds of stretched-out, aerodynamic riding positions might make sense for professional athletes. They have the strength and flexibility to maintain these extreme postures for days on end, after all.

For the rest of us, though, one of the easiest ways to make yourself faster for longer is to be more comfortable, so I’d always recommend a proper bike fit.

You can buy the ‘fastest’ race bike on paper, but if you can’t get comfortable on it and stay that way on the longest of rides then it’s money wasted. A full-on aero road bike may look fast leaning up outside the coffee stop, but if it makes you wince every time you turn the pedals you won’t be fast while riding.

Endurance road bikes, on the other hand, typically use taller stacks and a shorter reach, putting the bars and controls within easier range.

This can not only help reduce fatigue and lessen the likelihood of discomfort or injury, but can also enable you to make better use of the drops on your handlebar, for improved descending control and aerodynamics.

Aside from your ride position, endurance bikes have handling geometries designed to meet the needs of non-pro riders too.

The most obvious change is often an elongated wheelbase (the distance between the centre of each wheel on the bike), because endurance bikes tend to have larger tyre clearances.

A longer wheelbase makes a bike feel more stable and less twitchy, which is especially useful for confident riding at high speeds, such as when descending.

Whilst previous endurance road bikes tended to slacken the head angle to slow down the steering, the latest generation of modern endurance bikes keeps to the race bike standard of 72.5 to 73.5 degrees, with some even having similarly racy trail figures too.

Trail shows the front tyre’s contact point ‘trailing’ behind the steering axis. A small measure of trail makes for a fast-handling bike; more trail slows down the steering response.

In fact, one of the very best new endurance bikes, the Giant Defy, has a trail of 58.4mm in a size L – that’s as near to ‘race bike’ trail as you’ll find.

My own Cannondale SuperSix Evo (the previous-generation, 2021 model) – one of the prototypical road racing bikes of recent years – has a trail of 58mm, for example.

Even the most Goldilocks of bike riders would be hard-pushed to sense a difference between it and the Defy, when it comes to steering responsiveness.

The increase in tyre size and more fork rake makes for a bike that tracks better on poorer surfaces, though, so a combination of quick steering and stability – especially when the roads are less than perfect – is exactly what I want from a bike.

Why wider tyres are a good thing

Wide tyres used to be the confines of the clubman’s winter trainer, touring bikes or hardy commuter bikes.

Now, though, 28c tyres are the norm on pro bikes, with anything smaller being an exception.

Larger tyres are found frequently too, especially in the spring classics.

My partner’s family in Northern Italy rejoice when the Giro comes through the village, because they know that’s when the local region will clean or re-tarmac the roads.

Does anyone ever clean or resurface the roads to Grand Tour-worthy condition in your local area? They don’t in mine.

While many modern race bikes are getting clearance for wider tyres, such as 32mm on the latest Giant TCR or Specialized Tarmac, the latest endurance road bikes can typically still take much bigger rubber.

The latest Giant Defy and Trek Domane, for example, both have clearance for 38mm-wide tyres, while the Vitus Venon Evo (our 2023 Bike of the Year) can clear 40mm-wide tyres with a 2x crankset, or 45mm-wide tyres with a 1x drivetrain.

There’s no need to max out the clearance on these bikes if you don’t want or need to, of course. But for those of us who have to ride on poorly maintained roads most of the time, the speed, grip and comfort benefits of using wider tyres at lower pressures are clear-cut.

On the subject of tyre clearance, it’s true that most gravel bikes have even wider tyre clearances still. However, while they are ‘road capable’ (as in you can run a gravel bike on the road to get to the trail head), their slower handling and heavy, knobbly gravel tyres inevitably give up a lot of speed on the road compared to endurance bikes, in my experience.

Spin to win

Compact gearing first appeared around 2003 (that’s before BikeRadar existed, but I remember the furore in the letters pages of our sister title Cycling Plus) when Shimano first made its 50/34-tooth ‘compact’ crankset available.

The industry then doubled down on easier gearing in the early 2010s, bringing us 11-32 and 11-34t cassettes (off the back of Alberto Contador using an 11-32t in that year’s Giro d’Italia).

There was rumbling from old-school roadies that somehow this was cheating, because it made road cycling ‘too easy’. We even had some in the office who would only countenance 53/39t ‘standard’ cranksets and tight, 11-25t (or smaller) cassettes.

While many road bikes are still specced with ‘race’ gearing, such as 52/36t ‘sub-compact’ chainrings and tight (by today’s standards) 11-30t cassettes, endurance road bikes typically come with a much more useful spread of gears.

The 2024 Giant Defy Advanced SL 0, for example, is specced with SRAM’s Red eTap AXS drivetrain, with 46/33t chainrings and a wide-ranging 10-36t cassette.

At the top end, that gives you a marginally bigger gear than a 50x11t, while you get an easiest gear low enough to scale almost any berg.

Ultimately, by using a groupset with smaller ratios, I have a gear spread that’s more compatible with me.

Yes, a pro or elite racer may be able to spin a 53/11t gear at 45kph, but I can’t and I’d wager most of our audience can’t either.

Is it worthwhile carrying such big gears around when you’ll rarely use them, and having smaller chainrings and bigger cassette cogs can help you climb faster? I think not.

N=1

While pure road racing or gravel bikes tend to be great at the one thing they’re designed to do best, endurance road bikes are becoming increasingly versatile in comparison.

The Vitus Venon Evo and Ridley Grifn, for example, can be built up in both road and gravel trim, while Merida’s Scultura Endurance can also be had in a gravel-spec variant.

With these bikes, you can add a set of gravel tyres, or even a second set of wheels, and you’ve potentially got a one-bike-for-all solution, or an N=1 bike rather than the usual N+1.

Yet on the days when you want to stick to the road, endurance road bikes aren’t such a compromise in a race, fast sportive or competitive club run.

Cervélo’s Caledonia, for example, is essentially an R-series Cervélo road bike with a slightly relaxed ride position and generous tyre clearances.

The fabulous new Giant Defy Advanced SL (the bike that’s making me contemplate giving up my much loved Giant TCR Advanced SL), with its total weight of 7.52kg (in a size large) is as light as most pro-level race bikes – including its bottle cages, GPS mount and 32c tyres.

The modern endurance road bike is practical and exciting

The biggest benefit of the endurance road bike has also perhaps led to it falling out of favour.

A bike that’s road race and (light) gravel capable, along with being more comfortable to ride, has the potential to be a quiver killer – a one-bike-for-all solution, which looks great on paper and is the choice to make with your head rather than your heart.

But let’s be honest, who’s buying a bike solely with their head?

Despite penning this love song to the endurance road bike, I only have a couple of them (a Cannondale Synapse and a Lynskey titanium road bike) in my garage. I’m something of a bike hoarder, as some of you may know, but I have far more ‘race’ bikes (a Specialized Tarmac, a Parlee, a Cannondale SuperSix Evo, a Giant TCR, a Storck, etc).

So I understand my own hypocrisy and I’m trying to deal with it.

The latest generation of endurance bikes, however, offer the opportunity to buy with your head and your heart.

There are some stunning-looking new models around, with the promise of more to come next year.

I’m currently lusting after a new Giant Defy, I enjoyed testing the new Specialized Roubaix SL8 and I’m champing at the bit to get stuck into the endurance bikes in our next Bike of the Year.

The endurance road bike category is the most diverse and I’d argue the most exciting right now, and long may that continue.

The best winter gloves will keep your hands toasty in seriously cold weather. They’re an essential accessory for winter training, commuting by bike and any other riding in the colder months.

Riding with cold hands is miserable, but staying comfortable isn’t as simple as just wearing the heaviest gloves possible. You need to make sure you can grip the bars, use your gears and brakes properly and control your bike safely. 

There’s no single choice that will work everywhere for everyone. So we’ve tested gloves from the big names that are designed for a range of winter conditions, from wet and mild through to dry and bitter. 

Read on for a summary of our top glove picks for winter training, cold commutes and muddy mountain biking. There are links to the full reviews, too.

Otherwise, if you’re in search of fingerless gloves, check out our guide to the best summer cycling gloves.

You can skip to road or mountain bike gloves by hitting the links below.

• Best winter gloves for road cycling
• Best winter gloves for mountain biking

The best winter gloves for road cycling in 2023

Castelli Spettacolo RoS gloves

• £85 / $89.99 / AU$167 as tested
• High breathability and good warmth without bulk
• Easy-on with a long zipper

Castelli’s Spettacolo RoS gloves (RoS meaning Rain or Shine) are designed for variable conditions, featuring a windproof, breathable membrane.

The premium insulation is thin but still keeps your hands warm. There’s a very grippy palm and the long zip makes it easy to get the gloves on and off.

• Read our full Castelli Spettacolo RoS winter gloves review

Dissent 133 Glove Layering System

• £95 / $123 / AU$181 as tested
• Lots of glove combinations allow tailoring to different weather conditions
• Versatility means you’ll get more use than from a single pair of gloves

This four-glove set from Dissent 133 gives you options for a huge range of weather conditions, from cold and dry through to wet summer rides.

The set includes two pairs of outer gloves, a thermal inner (that can also be worn on its own), and a silk baselayer. While the price for the whole kit looks hefty, it’s still less than some brands charge for a single pair of gloves, and the Dissent system offers far more versatility.

• Read our full Dissent 133 Glove Layering System review
• Buy the Dissent 133 gloves from Dissent 133

Endura Deluge gloves

• £49.99 / $64.99 / €59.99 as tested
• Comfortable and grippy
• Lots of reflectives

Endura’s Deluge gloves have good rain and wind resistance, along with a grippy palm, gel padding in the heel of the palm and lots of reflectives.

They’re well enough insulated to keep your hands warm, without sacrificing bar and lever feel.

The Endura Deluge has been updated since our review, but we’d expect the latest version to perform well too.

• Read our full Endura Deluge II gloves review

GripGrab Windster 2 Winter Gloves

• £65 / $80 / €70 as tested
• Lots of grippy surfaces
• Good insulation without too much bulk

GripGrab majors on grip and the Windster 2 gloves have plenty of silicone spread across the palms and the fingers. There’s also a large vibration-absorbing pad at the base of the palm.

GripGrab says the Windster 2 gloves are mid-weight and they’ll handle temperatures down towards zero.

There’s good wind-proofing and plenty of insulation, without it getting in the way or being too bulky. Visibility is taken care of well, with long reflective darts on the outside edges of the gloves and more reflectives on the backs and index fingers.

• Read our full GripGrab Windster 2 winter gloves review

Pearl Izumi Amfib Lite gloves

4.5 out of 5 star rating

 

Immediate Media

• £54.99 as tested
• Lightweight and comfortable
• Great all-rounder

The Pearl Izumi Amfib Lites have all the usual winter glove features – thermal padded insulation, a water-resistant outer and a long, adjustable cuff – but Pearl has pared them back as much as possible, while still maintaining their cold-combatting qualities.

The 60g PrimaLoft Gold insulation has little bulk, the soft and supple synthetic leather palm is unlined so you have a good connection to the handlebar, and the thumb and index fingertips are touchscreen-friendly.

These are great gloves for cold and damp morning rides, keeping your hands warm but not sweaty.

They do wet out after a couple of hours in full-on rain, but our tester hasn’t tried many gloves of this weight that last longer in adverse conditions.

Prologo Energrip long finger glove

• £80 / €77.70 as tested
• Class-leading grip
• Superb fit

Prologo has incorporated its patented CPC grip (usually found on it’s saddles) in the palm of the Energrip, creating a glove with impressive levels of grip and shock absorption.

The glove is well-shaped, and the laser-cut cuff keeps it in place. A suede-like palm material conforms well and adds a reassuring layer of protection, while the back of the hand features a breathable material that limits this glove on the coldest of winter days.

The thumb features a soft wipe, and the forefinger and thumb pads are touchscreen-sensitive.

Shimano Infinium PrimaLoft Gloves

• £60 / $77 / €60 / AU$98 as tested
• Quality materials make for insulation without bulk
• Effective touchscreen fingers

The Shimano Infinium PrimaLoft gloves use two name-brand materials for insulation without bulk.

The insulation is restricted to the backs of the gloves, so it works well without compromising the ability to use the controls. It sits below a Gore-Tex Infinium Windstopper outer layer that’s very windproof and also resists lighter rain, while the palms are made of synthetic suede, providing a good level of grip.

Shimano’s touchscreen fingertips are very effective. The ability to use a touchscreen in gloves can be limited, but the Shimano Infinium PrimaLoft gloves enable you to carry out more intricate operations effectively on your cycling computer or phone.

• Read our full Shimano Infinium PrimaLoft gloves review

Endura Windchill

• £29.99 / $49.99 / €39.99 as tested
• All-round performance
• Great value with clever touches

Endura’s Windchill gloves combine ventilation with wind resistance to make them a versatile budget option. They also fit snugly.

Handy features include a patch over the back of the hand and fingers to guard against gusts. Padding on the palms adds comfort when riding on the drops.

In addition, there are reflective strips on the outside of the gloves.

Castelli Perfetto Max Glove

• £85 / $80 / €80 / AU$135 as tested
• Warm, light and close-fitting
• Plenty of grippy surfaces on palms and fingers

The Castelli Perfetto Max gloves belong to the brand’s pro-level clothing range and are the warmest option in the Perfetto glove line-up. Despite this, they’re light at 64g a pair and quite thin, but the dense fleecy lining provides plenty of insulation.

Castelli gives you a large grippy area on the palms, more grippers on the fingers and a pad to protect your median nerve. The gloves are close-fitting, so you have a firm grip on bars and controls. They’re comfortable once you’ve cut out the care and name tag labels, which tend to rub on the outer sides of the palms.

• Read our full Castelli Perfetto Max glove review

Chrome Midweight Cycle Gloves

• £47 as tested
• Very toasty
• Fit well

Gore C5 Gore-Tex Thermo Gloves

• £64.99 / $79.99 / AU$110 as tested
• Great insulation and breathability
• Comfortable, padded, grippy palms

DWR-treated fabric and a breathable waterproof membrane give Gore’s C5 Gore-Tex Thermo Gloves a high level of wet-weather protection, while there’s plenty of insulation to retain body warmth.

The synthetic leather palms retain grip well in the damp and include extra foam padding at pressure points.

• Read our full Gore C5 Gore-Tex Thermo Gloves review

Madison Zenith 4-Season DWR

• £25 as tested
• Suitable for wet, chilly rides
• Touchscreen-compatible

Madison’s Zenith 4-Season gloves are water-resistant and windproof thanks to a DWR treatment. When soggy, they managed to remain warm.

A great-value choice for foul weather, they also feel comfy anywhere you hold the handlebars.

Rapha Brevet Reflective

• £80 as tested
• Insulated, but not for near-zero temperatures
• Dainty and comfortable on the bars

Rapha’s Brevet gloves are warm, light and reflective, and would be hard to beat, if not for their high price.

Given their weight, the Brevets cope well in the cold, easily withstanding temperatures as chilly as 5°C.

Shimano Windstopper Thermal Reflective gloves

• £54.99 as tested
• Curved cut avoids rucking of fabric 
• Well-designed palm for bar comfort

The sophisticated cut and shaping of Shimano’s Windstopper Thermal Reflective gloves’ palms makes for a comfortable hold on the bars and levers, with well-positioned pads helping to keep your hands comfortable on longer training rides.

A metallic finish to the padding helps retain hand heat, without adding bulk. 

• Read our full Shimano Windstopper Thermal Reflective gloves review

The best winter gloves for mountain biking in 2023

100% Brisker

• £29 / US$35 / €35 / AU$ 47 as tested
• Superb in the wet
• Less good in dry cold

The 100% Briskers fit snugly and keep your hands toasty in the rain, while remaining grippy. They are also hardwearing and touchscreen-friendly.

A great choice for overall winter performance, but your fingers might tingle on the chilliest of days.

Endura Singletrack Windproof

• £30 / US$45 / €40 / AU$60 as tested
• Top of the class for on-the-bike comfort
• Live up to their claim to be windproof

These flexible gloves fitted our tester so well, they could’ve forgotten they were wearing them.

They withstand the most Baltic of breezes, but don’t ward off water as well as the Briskers and don’t work with touchscreens.

Giro Proof Gloves

• £80 as tested
• Protection from all but the worst winter weather
• Retain a tactile feel

These extremely warm and waterproof gloves are ideal for the depths of winter when diminished dexterity is preferable to frostbitten fingers.

Their fantastic insulation brings bulk, which may cause overheating when riding hard and on milder winter days.

• Read our review of the Giro Proof Gloves

Madison DTE 4 Season DWR

• £24.99 as tested
• Effective wind blocking
• Cuffs could be longer

The Madison DTE 4 Season DWR’s stretchy neoprene fabric provides a good fit and boosts warmth, even when wet.

Wind-blocking is good and the DWR coating is effective in showers. The thin palm gives a great bar feel, plus the fingers work well with screens and there’s a large, soft snot wipe.

Despite lacking Velcro, the gloves are easy to get on and off, even with damp hands. They’re well-priced, too, with lots of sizes available.

The cuffs could be longer. We’d prefer a silicone gripper on the index, rather than the middle, finger, for braking. The fingers are shorter than most, too.

Nukeproof Blackline Winter Glove

• £32 as tested
• Great all-rounders for winter riding
• Retain good handlebar feel

Considering the reasonable price, we were impressed by the performance here. The backs of these gloves are made from a fleece-lined waterproof softshell fabric that does a grand job of keeping water and windchill out. Importantly, though, this material isn’t particularly bulky.

Once on, they feel similar to regular riding gloves, the tips of the index finger and thumb get touchscreen-friendly patches, and there’s a neoprene cuff with Velcro closure that sits on the back of the hand and keeps them secure.

We’ve worn these in everything from sub-zero temperatures to heavy downpours and have always been impressed. They aren’t as toasty as 100%’s Briskers, but that slimmer feel broadens their appeal and we’d still wear these on milder windy days.

Specialized Neoshell

• £45 as tested
• Low bulk but warm
• Water can make its way in

The Specialized Neoshell gloves use Polartec NeoShell fabric for a stretchy, comfortable fit, and to exclude cold wind effectively. The DWR treatment makes water bead well, and despite their low bulk, the gloves stay relatively warm, even when wet.

They have long cuffs which helps keep draughts out. The simple palm contributes to an excellent bar feel. A Velcro closure ensures these gloves are easy to pull on and off.

In extended rain, water will eventually make its way in through the cuffs and fingertips. There’s no silicone gripper, and only the index finger is screen-compatible.

Troy Lee Designs Swelter

• £50 as tested
• Slim-fitting and comfy
• Keep fingers warm and agile

Providing insulation and windproofing without the heft associated with some winter gloves, the Swelters would suit warm-blooded riders or high-intensity riding.

The gloves don’t compromise on ride feel or grip, but they’re not cut out for days when the temperature tumbles. They are not waterproof either.

• Read our review of the Troy Lee Designs Swelter

7iDP Chill

• £29.99 as tested
• Svelte design and impressive in cold, dry weather
• Not the most waterproof but retain warmth

These well-priced gloves from 7iDP do a decent job of keeping your hands warm in cold weather. The thin palm allows plenty of feedback through from the grips, and the relatively svelte design means they don’t feel bulky or make it tricky to operate your gears or brakes.

While you can feel the seams that run along the fingers when you first slip them on, get riding and you’ll soon forget about them.

The micro-fleece neoprene back does a good job of blocking out cold air. While the Chills won’t keep your hands totally dry on really wet days, they’ll still manage to do a good job of keeping them warm.

Altura Polartec Waterproof Gloves

• £50 as tested
• Good value
• Waterproof and comfortable

The feel of these gloves is good for their level of warmth and waterproofing. They are also windproof, but their insulation doesn’t impede dexterity.

The fit on the fingers is a bit tight and they don’t work particularly well with touchscreens. Despite their name, the Polartecs will be out of their depth in near-zero temperatures.

• Read our review of the Altura Polartec Waterproof Glove

Fox Defend Fire Gloves

• £50 / €55 / AU$85 as tested
• Padded to protect knuckles
• Could be warmer and grippier

Pleasant to wear on and off the bike despite the padding, the Defend Fires fit well and can be used with screens.

Compared to the best gloves, such as the 100% Brisker and Endura Singletrack, they’re slippier and less warm.

​​Sealskinz Waterproof All Weather MTB

• £45 / $70 / €55 as tested
• High level of waterproofing
• May need to size up for a comfortable fit

As well as being waterproof, even when submerged, the Sealskinz have a tactile feel on the bike. They are adequately warm for frosty conditions, as long as you’re maintaining the effort.

Our tester found them a close fit on the back of the hand, so size up or try on before you buy.

• Read our review of the Sealskinz All Weather MTB gloves

How to choose the best winter gloves for your riding

Match your gloves to your typical riding conditions

A super-thick pair of gloves is not necessarily the best bet, particularly if you live somewhere where winter temperatures typically hover in the mid-single digits and the climbs and descents are quite short, such as the southern UK.

However, if you ride somewhere where it gets properly cold, or are tackling long winter descents, in the Alps or Rockies for instance, you’ll likely need more insulation to keep your hands comfortable. A good overlap with the cuffs of your jacket will also help keep the chill at bay.

Your needs will also depend on how hot you run. If you’re putting in larger efforts, your hands will probably warm up after half an hour’s riding or so, even if they start out a bit too cold, and a thickly padded glove might start to feel sweaty.

Wet conditions will also leave you colder, so most gloves will have a waterproof membrane and/or DWR surface coating to help keep your hands drier. 

Materials

The palms of most gloves will be made of synthetic leather, although some are real leather and there are other options too. Synthetic leather typically gives good bar feel, although it may wet-out in the rain. On the plus side, it should dry quicker than the real thing.

The glove’s back will usually be windproof and most winter gloves will include a water-resistant liner to help keep your hands dry. Beware, though, because some liners are more breathable than others.

The best will let sweat out readily, but a cheaper liner may leave your hands uncomfortably sweaty, and they can get sore if you’re out on a long ride.

Some cuffs are designed to fit over jackets, others under them. There needs to be enough length to ensure a decent overlap, so your wrists don’t get cold. A more chunky cuff worn over a jacket may offer more warmth, but only if it’s adequately closed; a velcro tab is the preferred option.

Grip, padding and other features

In wet conditions, you’ll want to make sure that you have a firm hold on the bars, so palm grip is important. Most gloves will have silicone printing on the palms and fingers for a firm hold on the bars and controls. Plus, it’s nice to have some padded areas in the palms to absorb road vibration if you’re planning longer rides, so look out for gel inserts. 

A touchscreen-sensitive fingertip will mean that you can operate your bike computer as you ride, or use your phone without taking your gloves off. An absorbent area will enable you to wipe rain from your glasses, while reflective elements or bright colours will up your road presence and help highlight your hand signals.

A bike works more smoothly, lasts longer and looks better when it’s clean. That will make riding it more enjoyable and save you money in the long term.

While it may be tempting to just pop it in the shed until your next ride, even a few minutes spent at regular intervals will improve your riding experience and the longevity of your bike.

Regardless of what shape your bars are or how many suspension parts your bike has, any build-up of dirt will wear through moving parts if left to do so. As important as it is to clean your bike after a filthy wet ride, it remains key after dry, dusty ones too.

Here’s how to clean your road or mountain bike in seven simple steps.

Bike wash essentials

• Water source: a bucket or garden hose. A jet wash/pressure washer can be used, and while the jury is out on whether they force dirt past seals and reduce bearing or bushing life, it’s definitely best not to point them directly at bearing or suspension seals
• Workstand: optional, but undoubtedly helpful
• Brushes: several brands offer a ‘bike wash brush kit’ with brushes for the various applications, but if you don’t have those, a couple of toothbrushes and an old dustpan brush will do
• Chain-cleaning device: or a specific stiff-bristled toothbrush if you don’t have one
• Degreaser
• Bike wash fluid: preferably environmentally sound
• Chain lube
• Paper towel: or rag
• Chamois leather

What you need to get started

How to clean a bike in 7 simple steps

Step 1: Clean the drivetrain

If you have a chain cleaning device, use it to clean the chain. If not, you’ll simply have to apply the degreaser and use a brush. You’ll need the brush for the cassette and derailleur(s) in any case.

Make sure you have a specific brush for your drivetrain, and don’t use it on any other part of the bike, particularly the brakes – contaminating your braking surface with chain filth will ruin performance and may force you to replace your brake pads.

You may need to use something to dislodge stubborn grime from places such as jockey wheels, and some brushes have a hooked handle for exactly this. A flat-headed screwdriver and an awl can help here.

Step 2: Wipe the discs or braking surface down

At this point, it’s wise to wipe your discs or rim brake surface down.

However careful you are cleaning the chain, there’s always a chance muck can find its way onto your rotors. It can also cause issues on rim brakes.

Spray some degreaser into a clean paper towel and wipe around the rotors.

Step 3: Rinse and apply detergent

Use your hose, or bucket and sponge, to wet the bike and remove the majority of the mud and grime that has built up.

If you’re using a jet wash, stand well back or turn the intensity down.

Spray detergent along the main tubes and the areas most affected by dirt.

Step 4: Brush clean

After a few cleans, you’ll develop your own routine – front to back or top to bottom. Pay attention to moving parts and use a smaller brush to get into narrower spaces.

The brushes combined with the detergent will loosen most of the remaining dirt from the bike. Remember the undersides and awkward bits that also need attention. An old rag is very useful for threading behind tight areas such as the crankset and front derailleur.

Step 5: Rinse

Use fresh water to rinse off the bike. Spin each wheel to rinse all the detergent out of the tread. Check all the dirt has been lifted off and revisit with the brush if any remains, then rinse again.

Step 6: Dry

If you have a workstand, now is a good time to move the bike into it. Use an old dishcloth or chamois leather if you have one to dry the bike.

Then, fastidiously avoiding braking surfaces, give it a polish with PTFE or silicone spray. Rub it in with a paper towel or soft cloth. Not only will this make your bike shine, it’ll also reduce the amount of muck that will stick to it on the next outing.

Step 7: Lube

Apply lube to the chain while turning the pedals. Pay attention to manufacturer recommendations because it’s very easy to overdo it with lube.

If the bike is not in a workstand, you’ll need to turn the pedals backwards. Use a moisture dispersant lube on your derailleur pivots, taking extreme care to avoid your braking surfaces.

More on bike cleaning and maintenance

We know it’s not always easy to perform a full clean as demonstrated in this article, so we have put together a separate guide on how to jet wash a bike safely for those riders with less time on their hands.

If you want to know everything there is to know about cleaning a bike chain (and likely more), check out our ultra in-depth standalone guide.

Cleaning your bike also presents a good opportunity to make sure everything is running as it should. Performing a basic M-check should highlight if your bike is safe to ride or if components are on their way out, but be careful to avoid these common home maintenance mistakes.

Focus has unveiled a new version of its Paralane endurance road bike, claiming a revised frame design saves weight and increases stiffness while retaining all-day comfort.

The second-generation Paralane targets riders who want to travel far, but without sacrificing comfort and practicality for speed.

Focus has added top tube mounts and increased stack height, while retaining the Paralane’s clearance for 35mm-wide tyres (or 33mm with mudguards).

While the German brand doesn’t make any performance claims about the Paralane, it says it uses similarly aerodynamic tube shapes as its Izalco Max race bike.

The Paralane remains competitively priced compared to the best endurance road bikes. The top-of-the-range Paralane 8.9 with Ultegra Di2 R8170 costs £5,199 / €5,299 / AU$6,999 (US pricing is to be confirmed).

“Look fast, go comfy”

The new Paralane frame uses a simplified version of the truncated NACA (National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics) aerofoil shape introduced to the latest Izalco Max.

On its race bike, the German brand claims this design saves 1 minute 45 seconds over 45km compared to the previous version (measured at 45kph).

The pointed, leading edge of the tubes thickens and rounds off at the back. As a result, the Paralane has a similar silhouette to the Izalco Max.

Look more closely and the taper of the Paralane’s tubes is pronounced, so the down tube and head tube are considerably thicker. Therefore, the Paralane frame weighs a claimed 1,130g in a size medium, about 300g heavier than the Izalco Max.

Despite not having tested the Paralane in the wind tunnel, Focus says the new frame and updated cockpit should make it more aerodynamic than the previous generation.