SQlab 611 active TiTube saddle

By far the longest in the test, the Active MTB allows plenty of real estate to move around on–something that might come in handy for some riders on longer slogs. The Active MTB also incorporates a very aggressive down step from back to front, which is meant to relieve pressure as well as provide a sort of buttress to push against on steep climbs.

At first, I found the step-down awkward and had a difficult time settling into a comfortable spot, but after some time I grew to really like the feel and added pressure relief the step-down provided. In addition to the step-down, the tail sways side to side a bit in order to follow the rocking of the hips while pedaling. I’m not sure how much this added to the overall comfort, but it was detectable. Most importantly, this flex didn’t make any noise. Its long length can make it tough to maneuver the bike around underneath you, so I’d recommend this saddle for riders who would rather go out on all-day epics than launch their nearest road gap. The Active MTB is available in 130, 140 and 150 millimeter widths.

PRICE 189$

Merida Big Nine 100

Wit the bikes swapped over, we head out on the same loop again, this time on the 29in Big Nine 100. Whereas the Big Seven was snappy off the line, the 29er takes a couple more pedal strokes to get up to speed. That said, once it's up there, it's easy to keep the big wheels rolling, allowing us to cover ground with ease. The fire road is at times a little rough, and the bigger wheels roll over the imperfections so we barely notice them.

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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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Chromag HiFi 35 (50mm) stem

This is a seriously solid stem. Chromag use 5mm Allen bolts throughout, which makes it that bit easier to fit because you don’t have to swap tools. Once torqued up to the recommended 6-8Nm, it clamps both steerer and bar solidly, with no appreciable flex. We couldn’t get it to twist on the steerer, either in our static test or when riding. It’s also available in a 35mm length and three other colours. At 204g the HiFi is the heaviest stem on test by some margin, despite being one of the more expensive offerings here. Price $112

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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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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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All Arround MTB

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