Avid Code R brakes

THIS COMBINATION OF Avid's last-generation Elixir lever and four-piston Code calliper has been around for a while but it's got plenty of loyal fans.

The simple lever is more reliable than some Elixir offerings if it's hanging around on uplift trailers, etc, and the hidden hose mount on the big calliper is impressively robust. The body syncs neatly with SRAM shifters and shock/fork/seatpost remotes too. Power isn't massive but it's progressive and easily controlled through the natural-feeling lever sweep so it works well in slippery UK conditions. Pairing it with the new Centerline rotor reduces noise compared to older Avid rotors, but it also comes as a separate brake for 165$. Reliability is generally good but stock up with pads if you're going on a roadtrip - they can be hard to find.

WEIGHT 472g

POWER 111m/s^-2

PRICE 245$

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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