Tumble & Fall Halo light

While it’s got some neat features for mixed road/off-road use, the Halo’s switch menu undermines on-trail flow. The ribbed twin-LED head gives a relatively focused beam and the listed 2,000-lumen output compares to properly calibrated 1-500-lumen lamps on the trail, with good distant reach. Irregularity towards the edges of the beam can be distracting, especially given the tendency of the O-ring mount to waggle on rougher trails. The three power settings are split with consecutive flash and off modes too, making the change from medium to high power a sketchy ‘disco then dark’ panic. Useful visibility is added by the outer ‘halo’ rings that give the light its name. There’s no battery gauge apart from a last-gasp change of switch colour, but its generous six-cell capacity means that’s rarely an issue.

Weight 410g
Run time 2hrs 30mins

Price $165

Gusset Magnum stem

SO GOOD Gusset’s 50mm stem is nicely CNC machined from 7075 alloy and the faceplate and internal steerer clamp are available in a range of five anodised colours to complement the black body. The hidden steerer clamp keeps sharp edges to a minimum and removes stress from the body of the stem. Out on the bike, the stem proved flex free and bombproof.

READ MORE >>

iXS Asper BC shorts

THEY AREN’T CHEAP, but these well made and feature packed shorts are the epitome of classic mountainbike-specific functionality, and on the bike they don’t disappoint.

READ MORE >>

ENVE M50 29" Wheels

Utah based company ENVE have been making drool-worthy carbon components for some years now. Despite the fact that carbon rims are becoming more and more common on mountain bikes these days, you can guarantee that ENVE wheels will be a talking point when someone is eyeing off a steed. Instantly, the big bold logos on each rim scream "fast", "light" and to some extent, "expensive" The kids call this 'bling'.

READ MORE >>

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.

READ MORE >>