Hi all, My 11 year old son has outgrown his 24" wheel bike. He's approx. 150cm / 4'11 height. It seems that at the next size up there's now a lot of choice. My first question would be, it seems like 26" kids bikes recommend a max height of 5', which he's nearly at (e.g. Whyte 403*), so would I be better off getting a small frame 27.5" instead, for futureproofing? Previously the advice was to go as light as possible to make riding easier - so bikes like Hoy, Frog, etc. (his previous bikes were the Hoy Bonaly 20" and 24"). Any thoughts now on the best bike to get for a budget of around £500? He ..read more

After an 8 year lay off from using my MTB I'm trying to source replacement parts online, specifically brakes. I owned a 2007 Kona Dawg primo with Hayes HFX 9 brakes, they were good in their day but since have become a real nuisance due to age & wear. I'm looking for alternatives to replace both back & front - probably Shimano. My 'go to' was Chainreaction but as you will know changed hands and then folded, could anybody recommend a reliable dealer? Online or otherwise? Most places aren't interested and just want to sell me a new bike which I can't afford or justify! Any advice would be ..read more

My 17 year old daughter has just picked up a 2nd hand Canyon Neuron CF 8 to replace her XC race bike, as she is no longer racing. She is more into general trails riding and has recently qualified as a MTB coach. The Neuron looks a great bike, but is currently specced a but burly for her, seeing as she is quite light. It has 200/180 rotors, and Hans Dampf/Nobby Nic tyres, and some study cockpit choices. I was wondering about quick fixes to lighten it a bit for her. Firstly, I don't think she needs 200/180 rotors. Maybe switch the 200 front for a 180? Views? Then I guess tyres are a simple switc ..read more

Hi guys, I'm looking to buy a downcountry bike out of the following 3: Canyon Lux Trail CF8 Orbea Oiz M10 Cube AMS ONE11 C:68X TM 29 I'm also open to alternatives up to 4700 EUR (should be shipped from Europe). What I care about the most is climbing performance (from smooth tarmac to gnarly technical rooty trails). Second important factor would be general comfort on the bike, for day-long rides. And third factor would be downhill performance. Currently I have a 470mm reach, 100mm fork aluminum hardtail, that of course climbs ok on non-technical stuff. However, on stuff like roots, where ridi ..read more

Hi all I'm torn between the nukeproof reactor pro or for an extra £300 the reactor elite the other bike is the stumpjumper evo comp . Any advice would be more than welcome ..read more

Greetings everyone here’s my tale which might ring true with others but I NEED to get this off my chest. Being forced to buy a new bike after my much loved 3 mtbs were stolen 5 years ago,I foolishly rushed in to buy what at the time was THE trail/enduro bike to have via an on-line purchase. I bought it “blind” as no shops in Glasgow had any choice of sizes/stock of other models I had also shortlisted. Herein lies the root of my problems resulting in the supplying dealer in England offering to swap/upgrade exchange/whatever to satisfy my needs. So,I took up their offer,hired a car and made the ..read more

I'm (still) on the market for a MTB hardtail, carbon, preferably used because get better value for money. Which one would you buy, and why? Here my shortlist: Cannondale Scalpel HT 4, new https://buycycle.com/en-gb/bike/scal...n-4-2022-74425 Bianchi Methanol CV S 9.1 – GX Eagle 2022 https://buycycle.com/en-gb/bike/meth...gle-2021-27421 Trek Procaliber 9.8 SL 2018 https://buycycle.com/en-gb/bike/proc...-sl-2018-41570 Giant XTC Advanced 29 1 2021 https://buycycle.com/en-gb/bike/xtc-...9-1-2021-92000 Prices, and components, are very similar. I'm very disturbed that Carbon bicycles with apparently ..read more

Hi there. I'm looking to buy an electric mountain bike, I'm 6'3" and weigh about 112 kilos at the moment so there's a lot of me (In my defence I have lost a ton of weight in the last 6 months) and I do ride sensitively, not crashing through stuff like a bull dozer. I'm not interested in trail centres or down hilling, just long flowing rides on single track and fire roads and the like. Where I live there is a lot of climbing so it would be nice to have some assistance. I found this: https://www.theelectricbikeshop.co.uk/shop/bikes/sub/electric-mtb-hardtail/2023-cube-reaction-hybrid-race-750-ele ..read more

My sport #1 has always been running. Used to be better than most. Now I'm 50, often injured, and although I run most days I no longer compete. Road cycling is my sport #2. Now I'm getting into MTB too. Can't see MTB ever becoming sport #1 or #2. Just entered my 1st MTB event, Heroes Dolomites, and I want to buy my first 29" hardtail. I could afford the most expensive MTB on the market. But I don't want to. Not because I'm stingy (I am), but because after a certain level, it's just paying more for the sake of it. It would be "better" as sexier, posher, better looking, whatever. Spending more th ..read more

Still looking at buying my first HT 29". Question: on the Cannondale Scalpel HT, if I am to retrofit a dropper seatpost, can I easily have its cable running inside the frame without having to remove the BB? Thanks ..read more