Stendec EXT Storia & ARMA Extreme shocks

IT'S RARE TO see a coil-sprung shock on anything but a DH bike these days, with most riders using lighter and more easily adjustable air shocks.

EXT hope to change this with the STORIA, which is aimed squarely at the enduro market. Along with theARMA downhill shock, which shares similar internals, it was developed by Franco Fratten, an Italian motorsport suspension guru, and Dave Garland, mechanic for the Giant Factory Off-Road Team and owner of UK suspension tuners Stendec.

Key features include a low-pressure piggyback chamber, which helps minimise the force needed to get the shock moving, and a high oil flow rate, aimed at preventing hysteresis - the damping lag that occurs when a shock switches between the compression and rebound phases. EXTsay this allows them to capitalise on the coil shock's inherent small-bump sensitivity.

The compression tune has been designed to firm up towards the end of thetravel,compensatingfor the linear spring and preventing a harsh bottom-out. So effective is this that in place of the usual large rubber bump-stop, EXT fit one that's just 4mm thick. The three-way adjustable damping (high- and low-speed compression, plus rebound) is designed to be intuitive to dial in, and the purchase price includes a bespoke base tune tailored to your bike, wheel size,weight and riding style. Each STORIA comes with three different weight "superalloy" springs so you can fine tune your spring rate. Mounting hardware and a first service are also included. That price doesn't look so bad right now, eh?

PRICE 900$

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 Stego MIPS helmet

Scott’s top-end aggressive trail helmet is only available with MIPS, as the Swiss brand were early adopters of the system. The EPS extends low at the rear without clashing with the retention system and the strap attachment points are external to the liner, maximising the amount of material around the temples. This is the closest-fitting helmet on test, with very little clearance inside the liner. Despite this, and although the Stego has fewer vents than some other lids here, we never felt too hot-headed. Scott spent time developing the ventilation system using a wind tunnel and it seems to have paid off. The thin pads don’t offer quite as much comfort as some competitors’, and while the short peak is removable, it doesn’t offer any height adjustment. Weight 340g Sizing S, M, L Price $180

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SANTA CRUZ NOMAD

Santa Cruz’s new enduro focused dream bike While the Santa Cruz Bronson has been causing a commotion on the enduro scene as one of the lighter and more capable bikes, the Californian company have been working on something better suited to the more gravity orientated courses.

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Fulcrum Red Power XL wheels

THESE WHEELS CERTAINLY don't look like some of the cheapest on test, and the adjustable-preload bearings are some of the smoothest and longest lived at any price.

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All Arround MTB

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