Latest articles by Jim Bland
Wilier announces the Urta Hybrid – a sub 16kg downcountry e-MTB
News Powered by a Fazua motor the Wilier Urta Hybrid claims to be the lightest e-MTB in its category
Specialized Rockhopper Elite 29 review – a smooth and stable ride
Review Specialized’s Rockhopper Elite 29 brings a remarkably smooth ride, but certain specification choices limit its full potential
Ridley adds two new XC mountain bikes to their range – the Raft and the Probe RS
News Ridley may be best know for their proven drop-bar road catalog, but the Raft and Probe RS show they’ve got their sights set on going fast off-road too
Cannondale launches the Neo1 – an all-new EMTB featuring the latest Bosch motor and a large 750wh battery
News An intelligent motor system and long-lasting 750wh battery gives the Neo1 big distance potential
Sweet Protection Firewall MTB goggle review – specifically designed with MTB in mind
Review Sweet Protection’s Firewall goggle is made for mountain biking, and its performance is noteworthy on the trail
TRP DH-R Evo brake review – big power that’s good enough for Aaron Gwin
Review TRP’s DH-R Evo brake brings serious power and great modulation into a superbly reliable package
Etnies Camber CL Shoe review – a good-looking shoe with a well-stacked feature list
Review The Camber CL sports a new-age mountain bike aesthetic with a quality construction and great on-trail performance
Maxxis Forekaster tire review – now wider and with a new tread
Review Maxxis has redesigned its Forekaster tire from the ground up, but does the totally new downcountry and everyday trail riding tread pattern leave anything to be desired on the trail?
Crankbrothers Mallet DH pedal review – the best pedal available for gravity MTB
Review Incredible feel and performance make the Crankbrothers Mallet DH a genuine standout piece of kit
Etnies Culvert flat pedal shoe review
Review The Culvert shoe from Etnies looks amazing and the sticky rubber sole means pedal traction is good, but several flaws stop them from being our absolute favorites
Pro Bike – Jackson Goldstone’s Red Bull Hardline 2022 winning Santa Cruz V10
Pro Bike We take a look at the Santa Cruz V10 that took Jackson Goldstone to victory at this year's Red Bull Hardline
Best fat bike tires: a guide to our favorite fat mountain bike tires
Buyer's Guides This year’s best fat bike tires that’ll boost your fat bike's performance on the trails
Kenda Pinner Pro tire review
Review How does a tyre designed by one of the world’s best racers perform as a hard-charging aggressive all-rounder?
Hope F20 flat pedal review: pedals from the CNC-machining specialists
Review The Hope F20 flat pedal is exceptionally well made with superb weather sealing but its blunt pins and almost flat profile means outright grip isn’t top level
Specialized 2FO Roost flat shoe review
Review Specialized has reformulated its SlipNot ST rubber, but is it enough for the Roost to stick with the best flat pedal shoes
Race Face Ambush knee pad review
Review The Race Face Ambush knee pad uses a classic design that offers good protection, but the bulky construction and complex strap system won’t be for everyone
Crankbrothers Stamp 3 flat pedal review
Review It’s awesome that Crankbrothers offers the Stamp in two sizes to suit the full shoe size spectrum, but do the grip levels compete with the current class leaders?
Alpinestars Paragon Plus knee pad review
Review The Paragon Plus knee protectors from Alpinestars have plenty of potential but unwanted movement and slippage while pedaling prevent them from competing with our current favorite knee protectors
7 Protection Sam Hill Knee Pad review
Review The 7 Protection Sam Hill Knee Pad from 7 Protection is one of our favorite knee protectors, offering a secure fit, generous coverage, and a proven SAS-TEC insert for added safety
IXS Flow Evo+ Knee Guard review
Review The Flow Evo+ from Swiss brand IXS packs an impressive punch into a rather compact design, but a shorter-than-average overall height limits protection and all-important aesthetic appearance
Sweet Protection Knee Pad review
Review With incredible levels of comfort, protection and security, the Sweet Protection Knee Pad has quickly become our go-to option for everything from aggressive trail riding to gravity-fuelled shuttle days
The best trail bike under £500: hit the trails for less than £500
Buyer's Guide Bike Perfect’s guide to the best sub £500 trail bikes that provide tons of confidence-inspiring control at a very affordable price point
Best 24-inch mountain bikes: Top bikes for young shredders looking to hit the trails
Buyer's Guide What are the best 24-inch mountain bikes for today’s youth riders? Bike Perfect lists the hottest 24-inch wheeled trail-ready rigs
