Aerozine X-ONE A1 crankset

AEROZINE’S SINGLE-RING cranks are a useful option for less aggressive riders looking to save some weight and money.

The broad-but-shallow forged arms and direct-fit ring make them the lightest alloy cranks here apart from Shimano XTR. Reversible pedal plugs allow 170 or 175mm effective lengths (172.5mm plugs are 21$) without changing the actual arms. The price also includes a decent external-cup BB, but there’s no 30mm option. The arms are noticeably flexible when you stamp your foot down under power or rail hard through corners. The rings are flexible too, and the simple narrow/ wide tooth profile is slightly noisier and less secure than others here. The three-bolt fixing is SRAM compatible though, so there are plenty of aftermarket alternatives that’ll fit.

WEIGHT: 584g
ARMS: 170, 172.5, 175mm

Price 210$

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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