Trek’s Superfly 100 is trail-ready with 110mm rear travel and a decent build kit.

The Superfly 100 of course used to be a Gary Fisher, but a couple of years ago parent company Trek rolled the Fisher bikes into their range and dubbed them the ‘Fisher Collection’. The only clue to this is a tiny GF graphic on the top tube; otherwise Trek logos dominate the frame. I think it’s a shame they’ve eliminated the Fisher logos as significantly as this, but there’s little point in dwelling on it for too long.

What Gary Fisher set out to achieve when he started championing 29ers a decade ago lives on in this bike, and that’s the important thing. It also benefits from Trek’s mighty depth of resources and borrows from their own full suspension bikes.

The AL Elite is the entry-level model in a five bike range.

Its Alpha Platinum Aluminium frame is cold extruded and butted at key points, giving shape and profile where it’s needed most. The down tube is curved at both ends and the cables are slung across the top and bottom making for clean routing. The straight top tube carries the shock mount and the short rocker that is driven by the straight seatstays. A curved tube struts the extended seat tube.

Asymmetric chainstays keep the drive side stay lower and away from the chain, making for a quieter rider. Trek’s clever ABP (Active Braking Point) Convert places the chainstay pivot around the rear axle. It can be switched from 135x5mm to the stiffer 142x12mm setup. Clearance around the rear wheel is impressive, and there’s room for much wider tyres if the fancy takes you. Rare to see such tyre/muck clearance on a US designed bike.

HUGE mud clearance.

Other details include a Press-Fit bottom bracket, direct-mount front mech and an E2 tapered head tube – 1.5in at the bottom and 1 1/8in up top.

The Superfly 100 has a different approach to 29er geometry. Gary Fisher’s G2 geometry uses a custom fork with an increased off-set to get around the problem of slower handling of the bigger, heavier wheels, without resorting to a crazy-steep head angle (imagine the difference in angle from crown to hub with a ‘normal’ fork compared to the G2’s extra off-set/curves at the crown which give the fork a steeper angle without upsetting the head angle or wheelbase of the bike). The fork is a Fox 32 Float Evolution with a 15mm bolt-thru axle and shares the new CTD low-speed compression dial with the Float Evolution rear shock.

Trek made the job of setting sag easier with the provision of plastic clip-on sag indicators. They’re marked with 20 and 25% and you simply fit them to the forks/shock, sit on the bike, and line the rubber band with the desired position on the indicator. It certainly makes the job a lot easier and gets you a very good setup that should be spot on from the first ride.

£2,200 is a lot of money but the Superfly 100 is well kitted out with a predominantly Shimano SLX groupset, but with a downgraded M552 triple chainset. It’s a shame Shimano don’t do a well-priced double 2×10 chainset at this level yet. The rear mech is upgraded to an XT Shadow item and the 11-36 cassette provides plenty of low-end gears. Brakes are SLX as well and the levers feature a nice easy to use lever reach dial.

There’s a lot of Bontrager kit on this bike, as you’d expect, and fortunately it’s all very good stuff. Bontrager Mustang 32-hole rims with alloy hubs with sealed bearings with very fast-rolling Bontrager 29-1 Expert 2.2in tyres. They might be fine in the dry but I can’t see them hooking up much in the wet.

The stem, bars, saddle and seatpost are all Bontrager too. The stem is 105mm so that might be coming off for something a little shorter, and I’ll see how I get on with the 690mm bars.

The Superfly 100 is available in five sizes. This is the 19in and the important geometry numbers look like this:

Head angle: 71.0 °
Seat tube angle: 73.6 °
Chainstays: 17.80 in
Bottom bracket drop: 12.80 in
Effective top tube: 24.29 in
Wheelbase: 44.84 in

So that’s the gist of the bike, I’m going to start thrashing it on my local and more distant trails with an interest to see how it compares to other 29ers I’ve ridden, such as the excellent Santa Cruz Tallboy and Specialized Camber, both similarly equipped 29er full-sussers.

Price: £2,200.00
More information: Trek Superfly 100 AL Elite

The Craft Zero Extreme base layer uses a Gore Windstopper front panel to block cold wind.

I always wear a base layer under my riding kit. They keep you dry by wicking sweat away from your skin, so you don’t get that horrible clammy feeling. Even on a really hot day I’ll still wear a thin base layer. And if it’s cooler, I’ll reach for a thicker base layer to provide some extra insulation.

The Craft Zero Extreme Windstopper base layer is a very smart product because it has a double layer front panel. A Gore Windstopper panel is placed on the chest, which is highly breathable despite being 100% windproof. Underneath and used for the rest of the base layer is a very soft polyester fabric with channels that help to add breathability.

A mix of Gore’s Windstopper membrane and a soft stretchy polyester combines well.

Sizing is a little on the small side. Fitted is probably the best way to describe it. I tested a medium and it felt like a second skin, so it’s worth checking the sizing guide carefully if you’re carrying a few extra pounds. The Windstopper material doesn’t have much stretch, so it’s a little more of a wrestle to get it on.

Once on though, this is an incredible base layer. It transforms your approach to layering, and opens up new options. If windy but too warm for a windproof jacket, wearing this base layer lets you leave the jacket at home, or in your hydration pack, and rely on the base layer to keep the cold wind at bay. I found wearing a long sleeve jersey for warmth over the top has been perfect on the past couple of rides.

You pay a bit more than a regular base layer, but it’s worth it for that tag.

It costs a bit more than a regular short sleeve base layer because you’re paying for the Windstopper material. The flexibility of clothing options it provides you with, not to mention the protection from the cold wind, makes it a very versatile choice. It’s a premium base layer and does work very well; it’s ideal for spring weather.

Verdict

A versatile wind-resistant base layer ideal for cool spring days.

Price: £52

More information: www.craft.se

What Craft says:

Developed to keep you at the optimal temperature throughout any workout in fair , cold and windy conditions. Be Active ExtremeWindstopper® is made of a thin, lightweight and elastic micro polyester fabric and GoreWindstopper® panels. The polyester combines CoolMax Extreme and Thermolite fibers to provide excellent moisture transport and body temperature management. TheWindstopper® panels are placed in exposed areas and move individually, providing wind protection and freedom of movement simultaneously.

Shimano’s XC50 shoes offer a lot of performance for not a lot of cash.

You get a glass fibre reinforced polyamide sole which isn’t quite as stiff as a more expensive carbon fibre version. Unless you’re racing, the sole is plenty stiff enough and I didn’t find myself wanting for extra stiffness when pedalling.

The sole has a reasonably aggressive tread and there’s two rows of two-bolt inserts, with plenty of fore and aft adjustment, so you can get the cleats in your desired position. There are stud mounts up front, handy for riding in the winter when you might have to dismount and clamber up a slippery, muddy bank.

A feature packed shoe at just over a £100 makes them a steal.

The upper is made from a synthetic leather that cleans up well after muddy rides, and there are a couple of mesh panels at the front. Two Velcro straps combine with a micro ratcheting strap, keeping them in place and comfortable on the feet. The fit around the heel is excellent and there’s little heel lift when pedalling, and you don’t’ need to clamp the straps down all that tight to have a secure feeling.

I’ve been wearing them for a couple of months and they have become my regular go-to shoe for all rides, from trail riding enduro sessions to fast blasts against the clock. I’ve got stiffer and lighter carbon race shoes at my disposal, but I haven’t felt any lack of performance in using these shoes at all. They’re really very good.

They’re not top-of-the-range, but offer top-draw performance at a price that doesn’t break the bank balance.

They also look good, well I reckon so anyway, which just adds to the impressive list of features, build quality and outright performance. It would have been unimaginable ten years ago to get a shoe as good as this anywhere near this price, and shows how far mountain bike kit has come. They’re outstanding value for money.

This style of race shoe isn’t for everyone, but if you’re in the market for this type of shoe, which is ideal for trail blasting, cross-country racing and enduro, they’re worthy of serious consideration.

Verdict

An excellent shoe and at great price.

Price: £109.99
More information: Shimano XC50 SPD shoes

What Shimano says:

XC50s offer a palette of Shimano trail technologies at a great value price point. The tough synthetic upper, micrometric buckle closure and glass fibre reinforced sole perform perfectly on all your off-road rides from weekend blasts to races and events.

• Tough Synthetic Leather Upper
• Micro-adjust buckle
• Dual offset velcro straps
• Flexible insoles
• Volume performance Last
• Glass fibre Reinforced Polyamide Sole
• Soft arch pad
• Dual Density PU Tread
• Ventilating Mesh inserts

Schwalbe Hans Dampf 29er is a solid, large volume 29er tyre.

The Hans Dampf is a full 2.35in wide and uses the same tread pattern as the 26in version. A combination of large shoulder knobs that can really be leant on in the corners and prove reluctant to give up traction too easily. When they do let go they drift controllably. That allows you to really lean on these tyres in the corners, and that inspires confidence.

A couple of rows of widely spaced square knobs along the central section don’t make for the fastest rolling tyre, but there’s loads of traction when for straight line braking into corners, and equally when you get on the power out of corners. A row of angled knobs form a smooth transition from upright to leaning over.

Chunky tread pattern finds high levels of traction on all sorts of trails.

The downside with these tyres is their weight, but they’re right on the money for an all-mountain tyre of this style. They hit the scales at 860g. They’re available in two rubber compounds, PaceStar and a softer TrailStar. I ran the latter on the front and together this proved to be a good combination. The front tyre is noticeably tackier and finds huge amounts of traction when you’re piling through rocks and over roots.

The Hans Dampf is a very good fit-and-forget tyre. I’ve been riding them through the winter where they coped well in most of the mud, with the occasional drift moments. And on the last couple of dry rides, now that spring is here, they come alive on the drier trails. Ideal for those who can’t be fussed with changing their tyres all the time. The name stands for jack of all trades so it’s spot on really.

Huge 2.35in volume.

All Schwalbe tyres are tubeless ready and on a set of Mavic CrossMax ST wheels they popped up onto the rim with the first stroke of the pump. I’ve added some sealant and they’ve been running just fine for the time I’ve had them.

Durability has also proved good. I’ve run them at 20psi, they offer phenomenal grip at this level, and the reinforced Snakeskin sidewall shows no scars of being pummeled. the blocks are showing a good wear, the harder compound of the PaceStar handling the abuse the rear tyre is submitted to.

I summed up the 26in tyres as “fully capable tyre for a range of conditions, with incredible grip whatever the trail throws your way.” Riding the 29er version for a few months over the winter, my mind hasn’t changed. There’s a growing number of wider aggressive tyres for 29ers, the Hans Dampf is a top choice.

Verdict

The perfect tyre for the growing market of long travel aggressive 29er trail bikes.

Price: £49.99

More information: Schwalbe Hans Dampf 29er

What Schwalbe says:

For a perfect trail ride. Everything has been tuned for control and maximum riding fun. The tread functions with absolute poise and is well behaved in every situation like difficult terrain on singletrack. Grippy TrailStar compound or faster rolling PaceStar as an option for the rear wheel. Light and robust SnakeSkin sidewall. Easy to fit Tubeless Ready. Enjoy the Flow.

The GTC Race 29 is part of a five-model range, all of which share the same carbon frame. You get a full carbon fibre frame; it’s made using Cube’s Twin Mold Technology with what they like to call Agile Ride Geometry. The construction process involves using fixed internal forms at the junctions of the frame to reduce wrinkling of the internal layer of carbon, therefore reducing weight.

Just about every part of the frame is heavily profile with much manipulation of the tube shaping in an effort to extract as much stiffness from the frame as possible. A PressFit bottom bracket allows the downtube to be massive down there. The gear cables are routed internally giving a clean look, and neatly exit the front of the downtube and wrap around the underside of the bottom bracket. It remains to be seen how well the cables fare in the mud in this area.

Internal cables exit at the bottom bracket. Potential mud trap?

The seat tube has a slight curved indent from the front mech to the bottom bracket to increase the clearance between frame and rear wheel. There is a post-mount rear brake and a tapered head tube.

The build kit includes a RockShox Reba RL 29 fork with 100mm of travel, and a 9mm quick release axle. There’s a PushLoc remote lockout lever on the handlebars. It’s Shimano SLX for the front mech, shifters and Hollowtech II triple chainset with a BB91 axle. The rear mech is upgraded to a XT unit for showroom poshness. Magura’s entry-level MT2 brakes with 180/160mm rotors.

Wheels are Sun Ringle Radium, a 32-spoke wheelset with sealed bearing hubs. Tyres are the racer’s fave: Rapid Robs in a 2.25in width. The cockpit comprises a Selle Italia X1 saddle, Syntace F149 10cm stem and RFR Flat Race Bar in a generous 720mm width – we’re really starting to see manufacturers listen to riders who want wider bars, even on a racey bike like the Cube it’s good to see a decent width bar like this. Seatpost is a RR Prolight 31.6mm with a generous 400mm length.

100mm stem and 720mm bars. Even comes with a bike computer already fitted

With no pedals the bike hits the scales to the tune of 26lb (11.79kg). That’s a competitive weight for a bike costing £1,600 and will be attractive to racers and those getting into racing. There’s loads of potential for upgrading and dropping that weight down as well. As it stands it looks like a very fast and sharp handling trail bike for hardtail fans, and those looking to make the leap to 29in wheels this is a very good bike to tempt you into the world of big wheels.

It’s available in five sizes, pictured is the 19in. The important numbers are a 414mm reach and 615mm stack, 440mm chainstays, 1098mm wheelbase, 100mm head tube, 73 seat tube and 70.5 head tube.

Full verdict on how it rides once we pounded it out on the trails over the following weeks.

Price: £1,599
More information: Cube Reaction GTC Race 29

What Cube says:

A high performance carbon 29er hardtail with all the advantages of the bigger 29in wheels but as agile as a 26in bike. The oversized tube diameters of the head tube and the PressFit mbottom bracket guarantee optimum lateral stiffness.

A good fit and excellent fabric make it ideal through winter and spring and into summer.

It’s available in five sizes from small to XL, so getting a good fit isn’t a problem. It definitely comes up small – I tested a medium – compared to other clothing brands, so it might be worth going up a size if you’re not sure.

That tight fit means the polyester fabric wraps the skin and can wick sweat quickly away. There’s a dose of spandex in the material which provides a reasonable degree of stretch. It’s comfortable next to the skin, and the seams have been cleverly placed around the back to avoid irritation.

Everyone needs a good base layer and the Specialized is just that, at a very good price too.

It’s a good deal warmer and more comfortable on the bike than the Mavic Echelon base layer I recently reviewed. The high stretch of the fabric and the snugness ensures it doesn’t move around on your body, and the upshot of the fit is the fabric is best disposed to wick sweat away from your skin. It’s not the warmest of base layer for this cold snap, but with a couple of layers over the top you’ll be just fine.

As we approach spring and summer, this base layer will be a top choice. Making it a good year-round option.

Verdict

Well-priced and very versatile base layer good for year-round use.

Price: £24.99

What specialized says:

The Specialized 1st Layer Short Sleeve Base layer uses a smart blend of stretchable, hydrophobic yarns to enhance the performance and comfortable cycling top.

www.specialized.com

Endura’s Singletrack II gloves really fit the bill nicely.

A Terry towel sweat/snot wipe on the thumb is a generous size. The elasticated cuff is easy to pull on and there’s no Velcro to wear out. This does mean they’re a bit harder to pull on, but once in place they’re more comfortable around the wrist. The 4-way stretch mesh nylon upper is breathable and hard-wearing, they’ve survived crashes and other abuses. They’re a good glove in a range of temperatures, they’re obviously not designed for keeping your fingers warm in the current cold weather, but I was surprised how well they coped.

Tough palm with a bit pf padding and makes them comfortable.

The fit of the gloves is spot-on, and they’re available in several sizes so getting the right fit should be easy. On the bike they’re very comfortable. They’re a thin glove – I like my gloves thin – and the huge silicone print on the palm gives a stupendously high level of grip on the, ermm, grips. They’re robust and after a fair amount of riding show no sign of wearing in the usual weak points for gloves, at the seams and between the thumb and forefinger. They’ve also been through loads of washes with no ill-effects.

Sticky silicone details increase grip on the, emm, grips.

Another classic from Endura, a bombproof glove with some real attention to detail makes them a hit for the trail rider.

Price: £26.99
More information: Endura Singletrack II gloves

• 4-way breathable stretch mesh
• No-fuss elasticed pull-on cuff
• silicon grip prints on palm and finger tips
• lightly padded palm
• Monster Terry sweat wipe
• Backhand silicone design

“Mountain biking gloves have to work hard. We expect them to protect our hands not only during long rides but also in case of a crash; we want them to be comfortable and padded in all the right places to absorb shock and to prevent sore spots – and yet we also want them to fit like a second skin. Oh, did we mention grip yet? Also, it goes without saying – at least here in Britain – that mountain bike gloves should keep the rider’s hands warm but not sweaty. And useful features like a sweat/snot wipe are generally expected as well. So we are lucky that the Endura product team has worked hard to make sure that the Singletrack II Glove ticks all the above boxes – and that it does so in style!”

Anthem X Advanced 29er 1 gets a carbon makeover saving 185g.

And it’s more versatile than ever before. It’ll just as happily race short track cross-country as it will a week-long stage race or a 24-hour solo race. If racing isn’t your thing, and you just want a very fast short travel trail bike for tackling your local trails every weekend, and you enjoy the climbs as much as the descents, the Anthem couldn’t be more perfect. It’s a fantastically capable and versatile all-rounder.

Frame and suspension 

This is the first ever carbon fibre Anthem 29er, but Giant have years of carbon fibre expertise and that shows in the frame. It’s apparently 7% stiffer than the aluminium version and you certainly notice this out on the trail, it feels more responsive when the going gets fast.

Giant are pushing their OverDrive 2 tapered head tube on this bike, a 1.5in lower bearing with a 1 ¼in upper. This contributes to the stiffness detectable in the front of the bike. It has its drawbacks though, you can’t fit any stem you have knocking about, you’ll have to buy a new one from Giant. Currently there’s no other aftermarket offerings, so you’re kind of limited. Giant do a range of stem lengths however, we suggest getting friendly with your local bike shop and ask them to swap it, if you desire, at the point of purchase.

Giant continues to use their proven Maestro suspension design, now in its 4th generation.

The downtube is massive and forms the backbone of the frame’s stiffness. There’s a wide 86mm bottom bracket with press-fit bearings, and the seat tube is kinked away from the rear wheel. The upper linkage of the Maestro suspension platform is fixed to the seat tube and drives the vertically oriented Fox shock. The lower link is sandwiched between the BB and chainstays. A stiffening strut braces the seatstays and chainstays to form a compact swingarm.

Gear cables are now routed internally to continue the smooth looks, though the rear brake hose is zip-tied to mounts along the outside of the downtube. Interestingly, considering this is a cross-country/marathon bike, there’s provision for a dropper post with three zip tie guides underneath the top tube.

The Maestro suspension does by its very nature limit how short the chainstays can be, but on this medium sized bike they measure 462mm, so they’re certainly on the long side. The other important numbers are the 1105mm wheelbase, 23.38in top tube and 71/73 head/seat angles. It all combines for a very sharp handling bike with good stability and decent manoeuvrability at lower speeds between the trees.

Giant offer two models, the top spec Anthem X Advanced 29er 0 gets a SRAM XX drivetrain, RockShox SID fork, carbon fibre wheels and a whopping £5999 price tag. That’s a serious wedge of money.

More appealing is the £3,499 Anthem X Advanced 29er 1 here. A RockShox SID 29 RL fork takes care of bump taming duties up front and has a 15mm bolt-thru axle. Our bike is a sample built up for us to test (full production bikes not being ready in time) so final bikes will have colour match fork decals. Production bikes will also have a RockShox Monarch shock, not the Fox CTD unit on our test bike.

90mm stem and 730mm wide bars makes for a good trail cockpit.

The rest of the build is correct though, and includes a complete Shimano XT groupset. A 26/38 chainset and 11-36 cassette gives a good range of gears. Brakes are XT too and feature very ergonomic levers for one-finger braking and reach adjustment on a tool-free knob. The gears proved extremely reliable and the gear ratios were spot on for fast riding in hilly terrain.

Working with DT Swiss has allowed Giant to spec their P-XCR 1 wheel-set paired with Schwalbe Racing Ralph 2.25in Evo Tubeless-Ready tyres. The wheels, while not the lightest, are stiff and required zero maintenance with a spoke key during the test period.

It’s great to see a 730mm wide handlebar and short 90mm cockpit on the Anthem, a sign that Giant are listening. Shorter stems, and longer ones too, are available. A Fizik Tundra 2 saddle with Manganese Rails completes the build, and proved comfortable enough that I wasn’t moved to replace it.

The Anthem will appeal to racers, and the 25lb all-up weight is impressive. There’s plenty of scope for going lighter, the wheels and a tubeless conversion for a start would shift some weight. Without any changes it proves extremely fast over all terrain, and is a very flattering ride, no matter how fit you are.

Ride

The Anthem has long been a favourite with UK trail and cross-country riders, whether it’s for racing or just weekend blasting. In the switch to 29in wheels the Anthem is even faster and better suited to long days in the hills. It climbs better and faster, there’s more traction on the technical rooty climbs, and it descends with more confidence.

Brechfa Forest proves a good testing ground for the new Anthem.

Stability at speed seems to be the Anthem’s trump card. The long chainstays and wheelbase ensure the bike has a planted feel, whether it’s skimming over the top of a rooty section or barreling through a series of switchbacked corners. The wide bar/short stem gives good control for squeezing the most out of the bike.

There’s little drawback when it gets tight and twisty either, I certainly had no trouble carrying speed through my local trails and a handful of Welsh trails with satisfactory speed. The wide bars and short stem provide good handling for this sort of bike as well.

100mm (4in) of travel front and rear might not sound a lot, but it always felt like just the right amount on the trail. The Maestro suspension is very capable, with a good progressive feel that prevents any harsh bottoming when reaching the limits. A sign of a good suspension system is that you don’t really notice it when you ride, and that’s the case with the Giant. It just does its job nice and quietly, with no fuss, allowing you to crack on and enjoy the ride.

£3,500 is a serious wedge of money but it comes fully loaded. Certainly I had to change nothing on it, but if I was buying it I would be investing in a shorter stem. For racing the stem length is fine in tandem with a narrower flat bar. Stick a stubby stem, 750mm riser and dropper seatpost, making use of the supplied cable guides, and you have one seriously rapid and enjoyable trail bike on your hands.

Verdict

If going fast up, down and all over the landscape is your thing, you enjoy climbing as much as descending and have ambitions on a few endurance or shorter cross-country races, the Anthem is a serious contender for your money. From the box it’s ready to go, a very sorted bike with impressive attention to detail and fantastic trail manners.

More information: Giant Anthem X Advanced 29er
Price: £3,499

What Giant says

2013 Giant Anthem X Advanced 29er Giant’s first carbon full suspension 29er was developed to give pro XC racers every advantage on technical courses. Featuring the legendary performance of Maestro suspension, this is the bike that makes fast riders faster. The handcrafted composite frame is engineered for 29-inch wheels. OverDrive 2 steerer tube design offers front-end stiffness and pinpoint steering, MegaDrive downtube and PowerCore bottom bracket boost power and control in the rough stuff.

USE’s new carbon fibre 29er wheels.

The stats

The rims are 30mm in depth, with a 25mm internal rim width, providing a good base for wider tyres. I ran them with several tyres, from 2.1 Maxxis Beaver’s to 2.3 Hans Dampf with no problems. Their own design hubs are CNC-machined and use fully sealed cartridge bearings. The freehub is a six pawl design with 30 point engagement, which provides very quick pickup when getting on the power.

Bladed Sapim CX Ray spokes, 26 front, 28 rear, lace the hubs to the rims with a two-cross lacing pattern. Six bolt hub mount and the front hub can be converted to 9mm quick release or 15mm bolt through. I tested the latter setup. They’re tubeless and will be sold with the necessary rim strip and tubeless equipment, but these were pre-production samples and didn’t come with the rim strips, I tested them with inner tubes. They include their own quick release skewer for the rear wheel..

USE designed their own hubs with sealed cartridge bearings.

The high-tech bit

Their unique feature of the rim is the Nano Surface Technology, essentially a super slippery coating applied to the surface of the carbon. British Cycling used a similar technology for the equipment used in the 2012 Olympic mountain bike race. The idea is similar to Teflon non-stick frying pans, mud can’t stick to the rims so you pick up less weight when you’re riding.

And it works, but it’s not earth shattering stuff. Racers, especially those focusing on endurance events, will appreciate the benefits more than trail riders. There’s also aero benefits, they tested them in a wind tunnel, but their aero efficiency applies more to road cycling. The lower speeds in mountain bike mostly negate such aero concerns.

Full carbon construction with a very special coating…

Strength to cost ratio… 

They’re strong wheels, and stood up to the demands of my local trails just fine. They’re fast riding riding wheels, though certainly not the fastest. You can chuck them through rock gardens and they hold their line with little discernible flex, though push them deep into a corner with plenty of speed and you can get them bending.

At 1743g, they’re far from the lightest option. For comparison, the Reynolds wheels I tested last year, another carbon fibre wheelset, hit the scales at just 1500g. The Reynolds also felt much stiffer as well. They are another £250 however.

Are the USE’s worth the money? I don’t think so. They look lovely, they ride well and they’re reasonably stiff. But compared to the Mavic Crossmax ST’s I tested last year, which are stiffer, lighter and half the price, they don’t stack up so well. The nano coating does noticeably keep them cleaner in winter riding though.

Bladed spokes and easily accessible nipples.

Verdict

They’re a very nice looking pair of wheels and offer good ride performance, and the nano coating is an impressive feature, but there are lighter, and cheaper, wheelsets out there.

Price: £1,249

More information: USE XC Carbon Fibre wheels

USE says:

USE’s roots are in performance Mountain Bike products so it’s only right that we produce a MTB specific wheelset. The USE 29er wheelset utilises the latest carbon technology paired with USE’s Nano Surface Technology to provide a light, stiff and strong wheelset. The Nano Surface technology comes into its own on this carbon wheelset. The nanoscopically smooth surface sheds mud to allow the wheels to plough on unhindered so you can race at full speed. These wheels are tubeless ready for straight out of the box ease and the wide rim profile will have you flying round the corners with confidence. At 1743g these wheels give a lightweight, strong, reliable and eye catching wheel set sure to be the ultimate 29er upgrade.

Electrolyte-enhanced sports drink is tastier than drinking plain water and is calorie free.

You can drink water. Or you can use one of the many energy drink products available. Or you can use Nuun. The concept behind Nuun is simple, a small effervescent tablet that is low in calories, six for every tablet, with no sugar or carbohydrates, just packed with electrolytes and other vitamins you lose though the process of sweating. If you get your carbohydrates from solid food or gels, you don’t necessarily need an energy drink as well, and Nuun is a good choice.

With 11 flavours to choose from, they’re tastier than drinking plain old water. My favourite is Fruit Punch, it has quite a sweet flavour, reminding me of a sweet from my childhood days. Can’t quite place my finger on the exact sweet though, my memory isn’t that good. Anyway, you get the point, it makes your water taste lovely. And that makes it easier to drink when you’re riding. And easier to stay properly hydrated.

Nuun tablets are packed with minerals and electrolytes.

The tube is small enough to be stuffed in the pocket of a hydration pack so you can carry them with you on longer rides. You get 12 tablets in each tube, and they recommend one tablet for 500ml of water. That would suggest four tablets for a 2-litre bladder, but I happily go with two tablets for a slightly diluted taste.

They’re a little expensive at £6 a tube though, adding squash to your bladder would be a cheaper alternative, but Nuun is designed for cycling with electrolytes and minerals so they’re probably better for you. Choose one of the caffeine flavours and you’ll also get a mental boost when you’re flagging on longer rides.

Verdict

Tasty and low in calories but regular use can be expensive.

More information: nuun hydration tabs
Price: £6

What nuun says:

nuun is light and refreshing with no sugar and is non-sticky so it’s great in bottles and hydration packs

nuun is just electrolytes – it is not a source of sugar or carbs, which allows adventurers to independently manage energy needs with their favourite choice, be it bars, gels, bananas or brownies. (after all, on a hot day, you need to replace more fluids and electrolytes than on a cold day, but you don’t need all the extra sugar and carbs.)

• 12 tablets in a single tube with each tab making 500ml
• optimal salt balance prevents cramping and maximises hydration
• no sugar and a light taste means it’s easier (and nicer) to drink
• used by the very best athletes on the planet