A no-nonsense value version of Shimano’s XTR Trail pedals.

The price means you don’t get high end luxuries like a hollow chromoly axle, but rather a solid one, but you do get a crisp secure engagement and an alloy cage surrounding the pedal offering a slightly wider area either side of the cleat, but no real “platform”.  For an entry level pedal the weight at 446g is more than respectable and performance is great for the price.

Ultra-thin knee pads comprising lycra sleeve and a thin bright yellow Poron XRD padding that’s moulded in place.  The padding is soft and flexible while riding, but on impact it becomes solid to absorb the stresses.  Unrestricted knee movement is made possible by shallow gaps in the moulding.

The thin lycra sleeve is pretty breathable, and the pads are really comfy but the bright yellow is a bit in your face.  The price is good but they are currently only available from the US with a delivery charge to the UK at 20 dollars (about £12.50)

Untidy garage? Need more floor space?  Look no further than these wall mounted bike hooks with anti-scratch rubber covered bracket which stops your rims getting trashed.  They’re strong, wide, constructed from steel and available in White or Silver powder coat finish.

Take it with you on every ride.

As well as the usual assortment of scissors, knifes and screwdrivers there are spring loaded pliers and sturdy wire cutters.

Its sleek looking but just because it’s got nice lines, there’s no reason you can’t use it in some pretty ugly situations. In fact, we dare you….

Originally designed as a running bumbag, the design is great for riding, including two water bottles (total 1.5 litre capacity), two gel flasks, a pocket with key clip and more than large enough for your phone and a small tool and a bungee cord to attach a shell jacket.

The wide band and large padded rear support do a great job of supporting the weight without having to overtighten the belt and the bottles were easy to remove and re-holster, but stayed snug in the pockets.

The adjustable waist strap rolls up to avoid annoying whiplash from the loose straps.

Worth its price for the bottles and flasks alone, it’s a great alternative to a hydration pack, especially when its really warm as you stay much cooler than wearing a hydration pack.

Kore have introduced their new version of the B52 stem, which is designed to take on the big boys when it comes to performance.

Forged stem in seven lengths from 50 to 80mm, all with 31.8mm bar clamp and zero degree rise keeps the front end low.   Weight from 176g to 224g depending on length option, and the weight is kept down by polycarbonate insert featuring the Kore logo.  Even with hard wrenching on wide bars the B52 will remain stiff.

Available in black or white.

Great looks and performance for the price.

Includes most of the tools an aspiring mechanic needs to start off with, tinkering at home or to keep in the car for car park adjustments.

Compact storage case is easily portable and contains:

• Ball ended Allen keys in various sizes 2mm to 6mm – great for hard to reach spots
• Long handled 8mm Allen key with plastic grip for better leverage on tight bolts
• Chaintool
• Cone Spanners
• Puncture repair kit
• T25 Torx wrench
• Spoke key
• Chain whip
• Cassette tool
•  Bottom bracket tool  and Shimano compatible external bottom bracket tool
• Chainring bolt tool
• Crank extractor
• Screwdrivers
• Pedal Spanner
• Tyre levers
• Shimano compatible Hollowtech II tensioning tool.

The kit is sturdy and good quality for the price.

Swedish design led firm POC have won a number of awards for their new helmet, the Trabec which brings 21st century design to safety gear.

Designed specifically with single track and enduro in mind, POC have analysed the locations where crash damage is most likely to occur on the polycarbonate helmet shell, which is part of an in-mould construction to increase durability, and its ability to transmit and dissipate impact forces over a wide area of the helmet’s surface.

By figuring out where impacts happen most often, POC are able to position the seams of the shell (the weakest points) away from those impact zones. Similarly, POC keep the outer shell well rounded and free from pointy fins, wings or vents, apart from the pop-off adjustable visor.

There are 16 aerodynamically designed vents, but if a hot head is a sticking point, you’re probably not going to find it particularly cool on a blazing climb, but then that’s the nature of chunkier trail helmets. The Trabec will suit riders who are normally full-face users but are looking for an open-face helmet with as much protection as they can find.

Light and lethally quick, at just 9.7kg (with pedals), this super-light 29er hardtail is fast, fun and friendly.

The low weight frame comes from integrated moulding process using composite fibre(HMX-NET) and a wealth of carbon build experience.

Internal cabling keeps it looking neat, but difficult to re-thread.

Shock Damping System (SDS) rear stays help take the sting out of rough trails, with Schwalbe Rocket Ron Tyres being fat and grippy (if a bit weighty).

The lumps and bumps that can trip up a 26inch hardtail vanish under the Scott without loss of speed.  The bigger wheels and SDS rear triangle give breathtaking traction on steep climbs, with balanced and precise steering.

While the larger heavier wheels mean it’s not as fast in its first pedal revolutions as a smaller wheeled bike, give it a clear trail to get going and it’s blisteringly fast.

Scott Scale 29RC Specification:

Frame:

Scale 29 Carbon IMP3 technology/ HMX NET, Tapered HeaDTube. PM 160 Disc Carbon dropout / PFBB92, Replaceable hanger, SDS shock damping system

Fork:

Fox 32 F29 FIT Remote / Air spring, Tapered Steerer / Rebound adjustable 15mm thru axle / Remote Lockout 100mm travel

Front Derailleur:

SRAM XX / High Mount / 34.9mm clamp

Rear Derailleur:

SRAM XX / Carbon long cage

Number of Gears:

20

Shifters:

SRAM XX Trigger multi adjustable with carbon cap / with matchmaker clamp

Chainset:

SRAM XX GXP / Carbon crankarm / QF 156

Chainrings:

42A x 28A T

Cassette:

SRAM XX / 11-36 T

Chain:

SRAM PC 1091

Pedals:

None supplied

Front Brake:

SRAM Avid XX Carbon with 185mm rotor

Rear Brake:

SRAM Avid XX Carbon with 160mm rotor

Brake Levers:

Avid XX Carbon

Handlebars:

Ritchey Carbon WCS Flat 9 degree bend/ 660mm

Stem:

Ritchey MTB WCS 4-Axis 44 / 4 bolt Oversize 31.8mm 1 1/8″ / -6 degree angle

Headset:

Ritchey WCS Carbon Tapered 1.5″ – 1 1/8″ semi integrated 50/61mm

Grips:

Scott Lock-on grips

Rims:

DT Swiss XR-29 32H / Tubeless ready

Front Hub:

DT Swiss XR-29 Disc IT / 15mm

Rear Hub:

DT Swiss XR-29 Disc IT / 10 mm-RWS QR

Spokes:

DT Swiss Super Comp black

Front Tyre:

Schwalbe Rocket Ron EVO 29 x 2.25 127EPI Kevlar Bead / Tubeless ready, Pace star compound

Rear Tyre:

Schwalbe Rocket Ron EVO 29 x 2.25 127EPI Kevlar Bead / Tubeless ready, Pace star compound

Saddle:

Selle Italy SLR Team Edition / Vanox rails

Seatpost:

Ritchey WCS Carbon / 34.9mm Scott custom SDS carbon layup

Weight:

9.60 kg / 21.15 lbs approx