Nukeproof Horizon Sam Hill Ti pedals

IF THE STANDARD Horizon Sam Hill flat pedals aren’t quite trick enough for you, then these might be just the ticket. What do you get for the extra 142$ though? Quite simply, these don’t weigh as much, offering a saving of around 75g thanks to the titanium axle.

That aside, you get the same well shaped, concave 100mm platform that’ll host a wide Five Ten shoe with no fuss. The length of the three pins at the front and rear can be adjusted by removing a washer at their base, so there are no worries when it comes to the level of grip on offer. In fact, these are some of the grippiest flat pedals we’ve ever tried. Even after we ripped one of the pins out in a crash they still provided glue-like traction in the rough.

You’ll need to be a real weight weenie with deep pockets to take these over the much cheaper Horizon Sam Hill (120$) or Horizon Pro pedals (112$) though.

Price 262$

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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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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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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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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All Arround MTB

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