Aussie Grit Flint Kit

MTB gear with F1 pedigree

Headed up by Australian Formula One driver Mark Webber, new outdoor clothing brand Aussie Grit boast of design “with an absence of negatives” – and we certainly hope that’s the case, given the eyewatering prices. Shown here are their Flint bike shorts, which are made from a four-way stretch fabric and have a built-in liner that’s joined to the outer through its elasticated, drawcord-secured ‘Anchor’ waistband. The matching jacket is fairly minimal in terms of features, and made from a three-layer breathable and waterproof fabric. It’s got shaped sleeves, a zipped chest pocket and an offset main zip. Does all this warrant the cost? We’ll find out soon when we put it to the test.

Price $225 (shorts), $330 (jacket)

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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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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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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Anthony Messere’s Morpheus Vimana Slope

A flying chariot built with one thing in mind – slopestyle domination

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All Arround MTB

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