Production Privee CG Cockpit

PRODUCTION PRIVEE PRODUCE some of the most detailed and painstakingly made components out there, and this limited edition Cedric Gracia replica bar and stem don't disappoint.

The 50mm direct-mount stem takes pointers from classic car design, weights just 130g on our scales (including hardware) and, incredibly, takes nearly two weeks to manufacture. The 780mm bar's two-tone 'DVO green' anodising matches that of the stem to aid in alignment as well as looking pin perfect. The price tags are high, but you can really see what you're paying for with these.

PRICE CG cockpit 230$, LGB CG bar 95$, 548 CG stem 145$

Cannondale Trail SL 29 SS

The fat aluminium tubes are a constrast to the skinny items seen elsewhere in the test, but this rigid Cannondale uses them to create one of the most old-school - and lightest - rides here.

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KONA SHRED

With a reputation for no-nonsense ruggedness and a background in the always progressive and punishing riding of Canada, Kona have been building hardcore hardtails for longer than almost anyone else. The Shred is the most expensive bike on test but it’s a proper trail tank.

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SKS Airbuster CO2 inflator

The alloy Airbuster has a large knob so you can regulate the flow of gas, a mechanical stop to prevent the cartridge being pierced in transit and a dust cap to keep the valve free of debris. While it works with Presta and Schrader valves, switching between them requires a fiddly change of the valve head. The thin rubber sleeve doesn’t provide much protection from cold spent canisters. You can’t insert much of the valve into the inflator head, so you have to be careful to avoid leaks. Price $33 w/16g cartridge

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