Superstar Electro Alpine 30 Trail wheels

Superstar’s wheels have always been top value, but these are proper premium performers too. The Alpine30 rims are asymmetric to reduce the offset of the 32 ultrabutted Sapim Laser spokes, and the pre-taped ‘LockR’ profile means tyres pop easily and securely into place. Built by hand, the wheels track precisely but have enough give to let you carry speed and avoid trouble on long rocky descents. We’ve not had any ding or burp issues, and top-quality SKF bearings underwrite long-term smoothness. The instantreaction Electro rear hub offsets the relatively high weight of the wheel when it comes to snapping back up to speed. Considering the quality, the price is excellent, and Superstar include a two-year warranty, a crash replacement scheme and free spoke re-tensioning for life.

Weight 910g+1,020g= 1,930g
Width 29mm/35mm
Freehub lag 3°
Sizes 26in, 650b, 29in

Price $600

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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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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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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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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