All Arround MTB

With its heart-rate monitor, Strava Live Segment alerts and compatibility with power meters and speed/cadence sensors, the M460 offers plenty of functions for the statistics geeks out there. Its four buttons, clear backlit screen and up to 16 hours of battery life make it easy to use, and it even has a built-in front light for emergencies. When you’re recording your ride, a feast of information is available, including speed, distance, time and altitude gained. They’re all easy to toggle between and clearly presented. The supplied heart-rate strap is comfortable to wear and easy to connect to the GPS unit too. If you want to connect the M460 to your computer or phone, you have to download Polar’s FlowSync software. Your data is then displayed on Polar Flow, the company’s proprietary fitness site/ app. This works well and allows syncing with Strava, as well as giving you statistical analysis of your rides. The device can store 20 Strava Live Segments, but you’ll have to pay for...

While smartphone apps such as Strava can be a useful way to keep tabs on your mountain bike rides, sometimes you just can’t beat the simplicity and instant feedback that a good old-fashioned stopwatch style lap timer provides.

This new DH machine went from design board to the World Cup top 10 in just a matter of months

SO GOOD This feature-laden GPS unit uses GLONASS satellites to improve signal reliability. You can upload your ride to Garmin Connect, which is easily linked to your Strava account.

SO GOOD If you’re a technophobe or a weight weenie this could be the GPS unit for you. It weighs just 36g including the mount and set-up faff is minimal.

SO GOOD Coming complete with a heart-rate monitor and speed and cadence sensors, the CatEye represents pretty good value for a GPS unit. ANT+ technology connects everything wirelessly and allows additional sensors such as power meters to be added.

SO GOOD The CM 109 sits at the cheapest end of the bike computer spectrum but still offers help when navigating. The wired spoke-magnet sensor records your current speed and total and trip distances.

SO GOOD The ROX 6.0/CAD lacks GPS but offers a huge range of other features – great for those who want to train hard but don’t feel the need to brag on social media afterwards. The included heart-rate, cadence and speed sensors connect wirelessly with little faff.

SO GOOD A single Bluetooth sensor detects both cadence and speed, making Topeak’s offering relatively painless to set up. It displays up to five metrics simultaneously, and it’s easy to toggle through the other data. An optional smartphone app adds GPS tracking, without shortening the computer’s superb battery life.