INTENSE TRACER T275

140/150mm (5.5/6in) of VPP2 rear suspension, 650b wheels, a burly frame and unmistakable Intense styling make the Tracer 275 one hell of a bike. The new T275 version ups the ante with subtle geometry changes that enhance its downhill capabilities and a switch to carbon fibre that sheds heaps of frame weight.

A slacker 66.5-degree head angle means more confident high-speed handling, the BB’s up from a ground-scraping 338mm to 343mm to reduce pedal strikes, and the seat tube’s a little more laidback too.

A medium alloy Tracer frame weighs a claimed 8lb with shock, but Intense reckon the carbon version is just 5.7lb (2.6kg) – a drop of nearly 30 percent. Other upgrades include an extra-wide press-fit BB shell, 142x12mm dropouts, rubberised down tube guard and internal cable routing.

The T275 is available as a frame kit or one of three complete builds. The top-end Factory bike comes with a RockShox Pike RCT3 fork, Monarch Plus RC3 rear shock and Reverb Stealth post, SRAM XX1 drivetrain, Shimano XTR brakes, ENVE Composites AM carbon wheels and Renthal cockpit for 9,999$, and weighs a claimed 26.5lb.

ENVE M50 29" Wheels

Utah based company ENVE have been making drool-worthy carbon components for some years now. Despite the fact that carbon rims are becoming more and more common on mountain bikes these days, you can guarantee that ENVE wheels will be a talking point when someone is eyeing off a steed. Instantly, the big bold logos on each rim scream "fast", "light" and to some extent, "expensive" The kids call this 'bling'.

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DRC X-Monitor SP1 lap timer

While smartphone apps such as Strava can be a useful way to keep tabs on your mountain bike rides, sometimes you just can’t beat the simplicity and instant feedback that a good old-fashioned stopwatch style lap timer provides.

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Scott Scale 950

The Scale 950 uses the now traditional-for-cross-country 29er wheels to excellent effect, with a fast but fun character that's happy racing or railing.

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CANYON NERVE AL 8.0

S ince their entry into the UK market a few years ago, Canyon have made a name for themselves as purveyors of well-made bikes that exhibit often extraordinary value. The secret (or catch, depending on your point of view) is that the brand don’t have dealers – they ship bikes directly to your door.

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Formula CR3 brakes

The CR3 features a cartridge-type master, which improves power and modulation, plus it is super simple to service: The self-enclosed unit threads directly into the lever body. I took apart our test set and had it back together and bled in 10 minutes with no special tools. Like Formula’s RO brakes, the caliper pistons are actually oval, making more surface area–and thus, more power–than round pistons, but simpler than a four-piston system. The CR3 is best suited for aggressive trail riding.

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All Arround MTB

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