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EXPLAINED: Xc | Vintage Vibes

'A radical ride experience' - Salsa launches 'industry-first' full-suspension gravel e-bike

With XC-level suspension, wide bars, massice tyre clearance and electric assist, the Wanderosa stretches the definition of gravel to its breaking point

Cycling Weekly

Continental’s Olympic and World Championship XC winning Race King Protection is the fastest rolling MTB tire I’ve ever ridden, but it’s not for the nervous

I’ve been riding Continental’s Race King tire to find out what focusing on ultimate rolling speed rather than reassuring grip feels like on the trail

Bike Perfect

Schwalbe Rocket Ron XC tire review – our favorite all-condition race tire

Can Schwalbe’s Rocket Ron Addix Speed Super Race really combine XC speed with trail style grip and is there anyone it won’t work for?

Bike Perfect

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Has Vittoria improved its legendary Mezcal tires with the latest XC Race Formulation version? I’ve been riding them in all conditions to find out

Will Mezcal’s fanatically loyal fan base still love the latest version and who else should now consider using the bigger, tougher, more controlled version of this classic speed tire?

Bike Perfect

Inspired by the Olympic XCO mountain bike racing in Paris? Here are the best budget-friendly XC bikes and kit that will give you top performance for less

Fancy becoming the next Tom Pidock or Pauline Ferrand-Prévot? Then here's the best budget XC MTB kit that will give you what you need at a fraction of the price of the pro gear

Bike Perfect

The hottest Olympic XCO MTBs and pro kit being used in Paris that we mere mortals can buy

Fancy becoming the next Tom Pidcock or Jolanda Neff? Then here's the State-of-the-art XC MTB kit they'll be using at the Paris Olympics

Bike Perfect

Santa Cruz Tallboy GX AXS RSV review – rapid trail bike with a reputation for extra DH capability

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

Bike Perfect

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Crankbrothers Synthesis XCT 11 29 Carbon Wheelset review – do these high-end wheels set the trail alight or just burn a hole in your wallet?

Grip, control and comfort are the ingredients that make these front and rear-specific tuned wheels an absolute blast

Bike Perfect

Yeti ASR T3 XO review – Is this the ultimate deep pocket downcountry race bike for technical trail and heritage brand fans?

Yeti are charging back into the XC race / trail scene after almost a decade away. Guy Kesteven has been getting his teeth into their radical slack steering and deep sag design to see how it compares with the best of the rest

Bike Perfect

I tested Shimano's XC3 shoes and at last discovered an MTB option that properly fitted my large feet

Low profile, comfortable, budget-conscious XC shoes that will cope when the going gets tougher and are the only MTB shoes available in size 51 or 52 (EU) wide fit

Bike Perfect

Specialized S-Works Epic 8 review – is this ultra high-tech, superlight but trail-tough XC race superbike the new Olympic champion in waiting?

With an Olympics to win 2024 is going to be a big year for XC bikes. Specialized has thrown down a serious challenge to the rest of the pack with its ultra-tech, ultra-fast, and freaky fun S-Works Epic 8

Bike Perfect

I tested the new Specialized Epic 8 Evo Pro – its mixture of lightweight speed and middleweight control blew me away

Specialized’s cult favorite rowdy XC winner jumps up a whole weight category to burly downcountry, but does it still have the race speed our expert tester loved before?

Bike Perfect

Reynolds Blacklabel 329 Trail Pro wheelset review – lively and capable trail wheels

Reynold’s Blacklabel 329 Trail Pro is a wonderfully versatile high-performance wheelset, but are they worth the investment?

Bike Perfect

Roval Control SL and Control – which of Specialized’s hardcore XC wheels is best for you?

We’ve gone super hard on Roval’s Control SL and Control XC wheels at the highest level, so what do you need to know?

Bike Perfect

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Bike Perfect

Fox Defend Gloves review – do-it-all, three-season riding glove

Fox’s Defend is a mid-weight riding glove with plastic ridges for knuckle protection

Bike Perfect

Bespoken Word – Specialized Chisel, the ultimate underdog icon MTB?

Our freerange tech editor Guy Kesteven spends too much time testing to get attached to most bikes but he and ‘his’ Specialized Chisel have become firm (if unlikely) best friends over the past few years. Spesh want the frame back now though, so here’s his tearjerking farewell…

Bike Perfect

Hope Union RC pedal review – are these the best clipless XC and Gravel pedals in the world?

Our expert testers have been hammering these UK-made lightweight XC pedals for nearly two years so what’s their conclusion?

Bike Perfect

Norco Optic C2 SRAM review – short travel trail ripper with enduro geometry

Does Norco’s slacked-out Optic with a DH-spec rear shock and longer fork bring the trails into sharp focus?

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Bike Perfect

Bespoken Word – crossing mountains and opening up boundaries

Guy Kesteven is the guidebook writer for the new Cycling UK Traws Eryri MTB bike packing route across Snowdonia. There’s more significance to this wild Welsh adventure than just epic experiences though

Bike Perfect

Trek Supercaliber SLR Gen 2 9.9 XX AXS – highly efficient, super taut XC racer

Trek’s dedicated, XC racer has had a complete overhaul so just how Super is the Supercaliber now?

Bike Perfect

Pinarello unveil new Dogma XC hardtail at MTB World Championships

Pauline Ferrand-Prévot and Tom Pidcock pilot the new Dogma XC hardtail to a very successful debut at the XCC World Championships

Bike Perfect

Bespoken Word – is the Scottish Super World Champs outstanding or overcrowding?

Guy Kesteven asks if packing all the World Championship events into one mega session in Scotland is a good idea or not?

Bike Perfect

Cervelo ZFS-5 frame review – rad MTB racer from speed hungry roadies

Is Cervelo’s ZFS-5 a 'best of everything' cross-country champion?

Bike Perfect

"We didn’t want to make a road bike mountain bike.” Cervelo officially launch their ZFS-5 full-suspension, full-speed MTB

Cervelo’s ZFS-5 race bike has been on the scene under Team Jumbo Visma pro racers all season, but it officially launches to the public today

Bike Perfect

Has Merida kept the XC hardtail fire burning with an updated Big Nine and all-new Big Nine TR?

Merida's new models feature progressive geometry, carbon or aluminum frames, and their Agilometer Sizing System

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