Race Face Love Handle grips

THE LOVE HANDLES are bulged in the middle (they increase in girth from 28 to 30mm) in a bid to offer a more natural fit. They’re made from a tacky silicone compound with a dual-pattern design.

The ribbed section is designed to offer some cushioning and also help funnel away water, while the knurled part adds extra grip where it’s most needed. These aren’t the most forgiving grips on super-rough tracks, but on less beaten-up trails the thin, feedback rich feel is great. We also like the way the grip partially covers both lock-on collars.

Price 30$

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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