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3 weeks ago | 
bikeradar.com | Robin Weaver
SQUIRREL_13206758I was fortunate enough to ride the new Specialized Stumpjumper 15 on the launch last summer and really fell for it, hook, line and sinker. It climbed well, and felt agile and fun, but could hold its own when things got rowdy. As someone who generally rides an enduro bike in my own time, making this switch to a lighter-weight trail bike with less travel felt like a bit of a gamble. But maybe this is the type of bike I really should be riding.
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2 months ago | 
bikeradar.com | Robin Weaver
Specialized’s Turbo Levo enters its fourth generation with a new motor and a completely overhauled frame. With tyres in the dirt, this ludicrously expensive S-Works model is a force to be reckoned with. The balanced suspension feel, coupled with the easy-to-tweak geometry, delivers a ride that’s simply gobsmacking. The S-Works Levo delivers confidence in spades on the descents, then gets you back up to the top of the hill as quickly as you want.
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2 months ago | 
bikeradar.com | Robin Weaver
I don’t think I’m compatible with Strava – I’ve tried it and I didn’t like it. It’s not Strava’s fault – this is very much a me problem. As much as I’ve denied it over the years, I know I’m a competitive person. I’m not sure I want to be, but I am. That means when I flirted briefly with bagging KOMs and flexing my annoyingly competitive side, I had less fun on my bike.
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2 months ago | 
bikeradar.com | Robin Weaver
SQUIRREL_13190537The Skyline Chill trousers take the approach used in Troy Lee Designs' popular Skyline model and add some winter-focused features. Tory Lee Designs says the Skyline Chill trousers are intended for those chilly rides where protection from the cold is key. They're also designed to suit eMTB riders who want warmer trousers for autumn and early spring. The Skyline Chill trousers have an RRP of £170 / $169.
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Mar 7, 2025 | 
bikeradar.com | Robin Weaver
Riding the DJI Avinox motor is like looking into the future of electric mountain bikes. While the Amflow bike it’s bolted to might not be quite as futuristic or special as some of its competitors, the motor truly is. I’ve tested a lot of the best electric mountain bikes, right from when they first entered the market.
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Mar 6, 2025 | 
bikeradar.com | Robin Weaver
We all know a helmet's primary job is to protect your head in the event of a crash. It’s impressive, then, that Fox's new Speedrame RS tops the table in Virginia Tech’s independent helmet-safety rankings. In fact, all three of the new Speedframe helmets get a full five-star rating, with the £224.99 RS and £164.99 Pro topping the table in first and second respectively, which is impressive stuff, considering they're up against some stiff competition out of the 258 lids that have been tested.
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Mar 5, 2025 | 
bikeradar.com | Robin Weaver
SQUIRREL_13190501The Endura MT500 Polartec jacket is designed to be a warm mid-layer for winter use. Thanks to the fabric working so well, it not only helps you stay warm, but also breathes well when you start working up a sweat. That means, despite this being a solid option for really cold days, it’s not limited to those when the mercury won’t budge above 0ºC, assuming you nail the layering.
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Feb 17, 2025 | 
bikeradar.com | Robin Weaver
wSQUIRREL_13184270The Drift Windbreaker jacket is designed to be whipped out of your pack when the weather takes a turn for the worse out in the hills. It comes in five sizes (S-XXL) and is made from a ripstop fabric, coated in a Teflon EcoElite H20 finish and designed to keep out as much rain as possible. The rear of the jacket drops down low in a bid to better protect your backside from rear-wheel spray, while the hem is fully adjustable so you can ensure it fits nice and snug once on.
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Feb 15, 2025 | 
bikeradar.com | Robin Weaver
The 2025 UCI Downhill World Cup will feature more belt-driven gearbox bikes than ever before. Riders from Intense Factory Racing, the Continental Atherton Race Team, MS Zerode and AON Racing will all line up in Bielsko-Biala, Poland in May for the first round of the series on bikes that don’t have a rear derailleur. That’s double the number of teams using a belt-drive system in 2024. So, why the sudden increase?
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Feb 13, 2025 | 
bikeradar.com | Robin Weaver
SQUIRREL_13184248The MT500 Waterproof Bib Pants from Endura offer excellent coverage and protection for wet-weather riding, with some highly useful features that make them easy to live with. Bib-style trousers, dungarees, or whatever you want to call them, are now the go-to for riding in the wet, and for good reason. Not only should they keep your legs and backside dry, but the front and rear panels cover a good chunk of your torso, too.
