Latest articles by Guy Kesteven
I've ridden SRAM's RED XPLR AXS groupset for hundreds of kilometers. Here's why I think it's the future of gravel gearing (and hopefully XC MTB too)
Review The numbers and features of SRAM’s new RED XPLR AXS gravel group look next level, but how do they add up in terms of practical performance on the trail?
I tested Santa Cruz’s new Bronson XO AXS RSV to find out if it's still a party animal or a serious gravity machine?
Review Santa Cruz’s mid-travel MX bike is now smoother, slacker, and more confident at speed and in the steeps, but has it lost its signature rider-reactive agility?
From trail centers to racing, UK mountain biking is in a real crisis right now. Should you care and what can you do about it?
News Guy Kesteven looks at the now-and-next of mountain biking and thinks about what we can do to create the future we want. You might find his conclusion hard to swallow though….
Best MTB bottle cages 2024 – top-rated, secure and easy-to-use cages for off-road riding
Buyer's Guide Our test team's pick of the best MTB bottle cages to keep your water bottle secure out on the trails
Riding a classic MTB from a few years ago taught me a lot about what really matters when buying a new bike
Opinion Riding an old Santa Cruz Tallboy mountain bike really opened tech expert, Guy Kesteven's, eyes on recent bike progression and long-term value versus short term 'bargains'
Best budget e-MTBs 2024 – top-rated cheap electric mountain bikes that won't break the bank
Buyer's Guide Go further and faster for less with our pick of the most affordable e-MTBs
Best mountain bike helmets 2024 – top-rated head protection for trail, XC and enduro
Buyer's Guide Our expert pick of the best MTB helmets to protect your head and ensure you look good on the trail
Bespoken Word – Is the bike industry a lesson in 'knowing the price of everything and the value of nothing?'
Opinion Guy Kesteven talks about how an old proverb is very relevant to the bike industry right now and how that is affecting his reviewing work
Are small evolutions enough to keep Trek’s all-new Top Fuel Gen 4 in the hunt for more ‘bike of the year’ wins?
News Trek are very much taking the ‘if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it’ approach to refuelling their super popular Top Fuel trail / downcountry mountain bike. But is that the right move to make?
Best bike locks – protect your MTB from being stolen
Buyer's Guide Bike theft is a horrible thing to go through, so thwart thieves with the most secure bike locks for MTBs
Now could be the worst time ever to launch a new MTB, so how are bike brands handling that and should you buy one?
Opinion It’s a really hard time to launch a new MTB for a whole bunch of reasons, but why is that and who’s doing it best?
Best tubeless tire valves 2024 – top-rated MTB and gravel bike valves tested by our experts
Buyer's Guide It used to just be about color matching but valve designs have got a lot smarter recently. Are clever cores worth the extra money or will more basic bargains do the job just as well?
Best budget mountain bikes 2024 – our test team's pick of sorted MTBs at affordable prices
Buyer's Guide We showcase the best budget mountain bikes made for proper trail riding
I rode Merida’s all-new Big Trail 600 hardtail MTB and the fresh geometry makes it a fantastically rad riding freak
Review The kick stand compatible daily driver that can totally kick ass on the raddest enduro trails
I've been testing Specialized Stumpjumpers for over 30 years, but this new version is the most awesome Stumpy ever
Review Genie shock tech adds extra suspension wishes to Specialized's already awesome MTB all-rounder
I switched testing high-performance MTBs to riding a battered B'Twin shopping bike and rediscovered the sheer joy of simply cycling
Features Guy Kesteven had a holiday romance this week, falling in love with the simple joys of cycling in its most basic form. He reckons it’s an affair we could all do with having and involving others in too
Best enduro mountain bike 2024 – we test the top options for racing or burly trail and gravity blasting
Buyer's Guide The best enduro mountain bikes are fast, light and comfortable enough to ride all-day, here are our top picks
Mountain bike suspension forks explained – we break down every technical term and piece of jargon to help you better understand your MTB fork
Feature Our easy, A to Z expert guide on what all the bits of your suspension fork are called and what they do
Going long on the shortest night – an epic, all-night, solstice MTB ride
Feature Guy Kesteven and his mates always head out for an overnight mountain bike epic somewhere around the summer solstice. But what’s so special about celebrating the longest day and shortest night on your favorite singletrack?
Is RockShox relaunched Flight Attendant the ultimate ‘automatic’ suspension for trail and enduro riders?
News RockShox is relaunching the latest ‘powered up’ version of its AI-automated Flight Attendant suspension back into the rowdy end of riding by combining it with their latest fork and shock changes
Best mountain bike shorts 2024 – we test the top baggy shorts from budget to premium
Buyer's Guide Our team of highly experienced testers give you their pick of top MTB shorts covering every kind of riding situation
Specialized Chisel FS review – awesome ‘economy Epic’ XC mountain bike
Review Guy Kesteven has been testing the brand new Chisel FS to find out if the alchemic SmartWeld alloy frame and basic SRAM spec can shine through to create a cost-effective cross-country champion
Bespoken Word – Everybody loves a rebel alliance, but is UK mountain biking playing into the Empire’s hands again?
Opinion Guy Kesteven asks if the launch of the UK MTB Trail Alliance is another ‘People’s Front of Judea” Monty Python moment for mountain bike advocacy or something more genuine and significant?
Peaty’s Products are looking to rule the grip game with their new Monarch range, I put them to the test to see how they fared
Review DH MTB legend Steve Peat is no stranger to hanging onto bars and Guy Kesteven has been getting hands on with Peaty’s new Monarch grip designs to see if they really do rule
