Latest articles by Mick Kirkman
Best MTB flat pedals 2024 – 9 top options for trail and gravity riding
Buyer's Guide Our expert testers' pick of the grippiest and toughest mountain bike flat pedals you can buy
Best trail mountain bikes 2024 – the top-rated trail MTBs you can buy right now
Buyer's Guide Trail bikes have become the ultimate do-everything MTBs, efficient on the climbs and confident on the descents. Here's our pick of the best bikes available, every one has been fully tested by our expert team
I tested Norco's all-new Optic with its trendy high pivot suspension DH tech in a short travel downcountry package
Review 125mm rear wheel travel might have you imagining something of an XC bike, but think again, as Norco’s latest high pivot Optic blurs the boundaries and brings maximum downhill attitude to the short travel trail bike segment
Trek Slash 9.9 Gen 6 review – a high pivot and idler suspension design, plus a completely new chassis
Review With 170mm travel and a complex high pivot layout with upper idler wheel and lower guide, Trek’s new Slash prioritizes bump swallowing and DH capability without sacrificing the ability to be a sorted enduro all-rounder
Kali Protectives Cascade review – the greenest trail helmet you can buy?
Review Kali’s open face Cascade helmet is a USA-designed trail lid packed with safety tech and exacting environmental credentials
Michelin Wild Enduro MH Racing Line tire review – a new incarnation of the gravity MTB model
Review The Wild Enduro MH is part of a revamped, faster rolling and lighter Michelin enduro lineup that’s still designed tough enough for racing and hard charging
Mavic Deemax MIPS helmet review – a solid lid with well-designed straps but some fit issues
Review The French brand’s latest feature-packed open-face enduro lid comes with a completely new look
Michelin Wild Enduro MS tire review – the brand new MS is faster rolling with better grip
Review Michelin has revamped the popular Wild Enduro tire with brand new models including this MS (Mixed Soft) Racing Line model
Santa Cruz Tallboy GX AXS RSV review – rapid trail bike with a reputation for extra DH capability
Review The Tallboy 5 is Santa Cruz’s 120mm rear/130mm front travel trail machine that aims to prove one bike really can do it all
Bosch Performance Line CX vs Shimano EP801 – which e-MTB motor is best?
Feature With hundreds of e-bikes to choose from, knowing more about the two leading motor systems from Bosch and Shimano can help you make a better bike buying decision. Mick Kirkman takes a deep dive into the differences between the systems
Manitou Mezzer Pro MTB fork review – smooth, lightweight and excellent tuning options
Review A highly-tuneable, 37mm legged enduro fork with class-leading weight and performance that’s a match for the very best MTB forks available
Schwalbe SOS Mini Pump review – small, super portable and rock-solid
Review Schwalbe’s SOS Mini Pump is a small but mighty emergency essential that’s easy to always carry
Canyon Strive:ON CFR review – a UCI EDR-E championship-winning, carbon, full-fat enduro e-bike
Review A Bosch CX-powered 160mm rear/170mm front travel e-bike specifically designed for the demands of modern e-enduro racing
Mavic Deemax Enduro SL wheels review – lighter rims and Mavic's latest hub design
Review The well regarded French wheel brand’s latest take on its Deemax wheel concept
Rapha Trail Gore-Tex Pants review – outstanding, premium-priced waterproof trouser
Review Rapha's Trail pants combine the brand’s tailoring and design know-how with a well-proven waterproof fabric
Best electric mountain bikes – the top-rated e-MTBs we've tested
Buyer's Guide With a motor between the cranks, the best e-MTBs unlock huge potential for increasing your riding range and powering up the climbs. Here's our expert pick...
Best budget MTB wheels 2024 – performance boosting bargain upgrades
Buyer's Guide These bargain MTB wheelsets will make your bike faster and more responsive – whatever your style of riding
Best MTB body armor 2024 – we test the 6 top options for protection and comfort
Buyer's Guide Mountain bike protection for the upper body comes in the form of padded vests and jackets. Here’s the best MTB body armor you can buy for trail, enduro and DH
E-bikes are poised to change forever as UK government considers doubling permitted motor power
News Ministers to consult on allowing 500 watt maximum power e-bike motors and other changes in a fresh legal shake up
Canyon Torque:ON CF 9 review – long-travel electric monster truck that corners like a hot hatch
Review The Torque:ON is the Canyon’s longest travel, hardest charging, biggest battery-ed, most DH-orientated e-bike, but is it simply too much for most UK trails?
Best mountain bike wheels 2024 – the lightest cross-country options to the strongest downhill MTB wheels
Buyer's Guide Upgrading to the best mountain bike wheels is one of the most significant modifications you can make to your bike, resulting in better overall control and more speed on the trail
Reynolds Blacklabel 309 Enduro Pro wheels review – carbon enduro wheels reengineered for more compliance
Review Remodeled with a shallower/wider rim and new hub options, Reynolds carbon enduro wheels target extra compliance, better handling and faster overall performance
DMR Wingbar 4 review – dependable, affordable and now in a 35mm clamp size
Review DMR’s heat-treated aluminium bar is its lightest stiffest and strongest ever, according to the brand
