I’ll miss the Remedy. It’s a lot of bike for the money, and a ton of fun to ride.

After few months in the saddle of Trek’s Remedy 9, few of my first impressions have changed. I’m not going to repeat what I said in December, so you might want to read that if you’re interested in the Remedy. This bike offers an almost ideal ride for the average British MTB enthusiast. Not so porky that it can’t handle fast flowing XC and tight trails, but with 150mm of extremely useful travel that means it can handle even the most extreme trail centres. This is a bike that loves rocky Peak District downhills, but goes up them with as much aplomb as it descends. Although I’m something of a Carbon whore, I’m still smarting that this compares well in every respect with my Ibis Mojo HD160 while costing a whole £2K less. In fairness to Ibis (and to make me feel a bit better), a full carbon Remedy is over £6K. And if you are planning to spend that kind of money, you probably won’t be looking at the Remedy 9 anyway.

Getting your suspension tuned on the trail has never been easier. Fox’s CTD has three positions, and an clearly labelled adjustment dial. Kashima coated Fox Floats have Trek’s proprietary DRCV system to increase volume as the terrain gets bumpier.

In the “first look” article I wrote when I took delivery of this bike back before Christmas, I made much of the DRCV (Dual Rate Control Valve) fork and shock. This proprietary Trek technology, developed in conjunction with Fox, progressively turns the small chamber shock into a high volume shock as the hits get bigger. This means that you get fast acting small oscillation response when you need it, and plush long travel when you need that too.

As someone who often feels that I’m not getting the best from my suspension, no matter how I tune it – this has been a revelation. The Remedy seems to have the right amount of bounce in any terrain. It’s taut on rough, but basically even surfaces, enabling you to turn and brake with confidence, yet when you head downhill, or on technical climbs, it offers the full 150mm of travel without ever seeming vague or saggy. If I set my other bikes to get the maximum travel, they seem to nose dive under braking – but the Remedy stays firm and true. I love it!

The RockShox Reverb dropper is a welcome addition although there are a lot of cables flapping around!

A feature that is not unique to Trek, but is new to this year’s Fox suspension is CTD, which makes setting and using your suspension much easier. There are three platform settings: The firmest is marked C (Climb), the middle T (Trail) and the fully open setting D (Descend) – and while you may not always use them for the activity they are labelled for – they do act as a useful mnemonic – I personally can never remember which is which of the 1, 2 and 3 options on my old RP-23s.

In C mode, the equivalent of lock-out, you can stomp on the pedals without compressing the suspension much. So little of your power is lost, and you can speed along the flat, and power up smooth climbs. T lets you progress along rough ground without the suspension going into full sag, though if the going gets rough, then you have the bounce you need, and D mode puts you into full travel suspension – and it’s here you reap the full benefits of the DRCV system. In reality, technical climbs are better in descend mode too – you lose some power due to compressing the springs – but you more than make up for any lost climbing ability in increased control and traction as the bike keeps the rear wheel firmly planted over every rock and root. I’ve managed technical climbs more successfully on this bike than any other.

Bontrager XR3 tyres are excellent in dry conditions, but can’t handle the very wet nearly as well.

Trek has kitted the Remedy out with a nice selection of Bontrager finishing gear: Rhythm Elite wheels, Race Lite Low Rise handlebars, and the Evoke saddle. Parts that don’t look out of place on a £3K bike. XT drivetrain and brakes and a RockShox Reverb dropper post complete the desirable package, and leave you in no doubt that you’re getting good bang for your buck. But no amount of tasty gear makes up for a lacklustre ride. No fear though! The Remedy’s Aluminium frame combines with their Full Floater suspension to deliver a ride that inspires confidence at every turn.

Early weeks with the Remedy were blissful. We’d spend times rolling around in the countryside, laughing and looking so fine. Then the rain came, and the Remedy’s demeanour changed. From a bike that could handle anything to a bike that could be unnerved by the slight depression you get in the middle of a well trodden dirt path. Seriously. You had to plan and de-weight to be able to get the front wheel out of what was basically a muddy inch-deep rut. Failing to do so could see me canting to turn, and the front wheel ploughing straight on as I tipped over and slammed. The simple yet ruinous problem: clearly the XR3 tyres which had inspired so much confidence on drier days.

I’m not criticising Trek specifically for this. Every bike manufacturer faces the same problem. How to spec a tyre that will work in arid Arizona as well as wet Wetherby. And clearly they can’t. As a result, most off-the-peg bikes sport a tyre that is OK in all conditions, but doesn’t excel in any. This is more of a problem for us Brits, where factory fits are often woefully incapable of dealing with the mud and wet roots that we have to deal with, though they’ll handle dry slickrock perfectly well.

But if you are dropping £3K on a bike, it’s galling that you have to put your hand in your pocket to the tune of another £60 to make it ride-able. Galling, but an inescapable fact of life. The only thing that disappoints me is that Bontrager (part of the Trek Empire) has the XR4 tyre in its stable, and it’s a far more capable beast for Britain’s soggy and boggy trails, arguably a better tyre for this bike in the UK market.

Tyres aside it’s very difficult to find anything to dislike about the Remedy. I’m not saying it’s perfect – what is after all? It could be lighter – but then it could (and would) cost more too. But it’s far from heavy. It could be stiffer – but you’d not really want it to be, and certainly not need it to be. In fact its only real failing is mud clearance… and that’s not a failing that is unique to this bike. Giving good mud clearance means changing the geometry in a way that is not kind to either handling, stiffness or cost – and it’s very rarely at the forefront of Californian bike designers’ minds, after all they get 350 good days a year, and don’t bother riding on the other fortnight.

But although the mud clearance is not good, it was never a problem either, and the build-up never caused any problems with the gear changes, or with wheel rotation. And despite being ridden hard in punishing peat bogs and covered repeatedly in grinding abrasive gritstone sand, the Remedy never displayed the slightest bit of chain suck – which plagues both my Mojo and my Tallboy.

A few months with the Remedy 9 has taught me one thing – I want a Remedy 9.9 bad! Look out for a Mojo HD-160 on the Bike Magic Classifieds.

Pros

Handling
Pliant and responsive suspension
Dropper post included
Tuneable geometry

Cons

Comes in any colour as long as it’s green
Factory fit tyres not up to UK winters
Mud clearance could be better

Verdict

If you want to ride a wide variety of terrain, you’d be hard pressed to find a better bike on which to do it. Stiff and sure-footed, the Remedy is light and responsive enough to put through XC paces, and burly enough for the bigger hits and landings of trail centres. Despite the fairly light weight it’s rigid enough to put the power down, and spectacular suspension makes it effective on the ascents and fast and fluid on the descents. One bike to ride them all!

Price: £3100
More Information: Trek Remedy 9

What Trek says about the Remedy 

Remedy is the ultimate trail ride. Light frame, plush 150mm suspension, and precise handling all add up to a stellar technical trail bike that goes up, goes down, goes everywhere.

All photos in this article © Ben Winder

Older riders like me remember when there was one kind of mountain bike. Fully rigid, steel framed and it went everywhere. If you rode off-road, that’s what you rode. Initially front, then full-suspension bikes and aluminium and carbon fibre frames became popular and suspension led to segmentation as manufacturers aimed to give us the perfect bike for each kind of riding.

But further advances in suspension and frame technology have begun to blur the lines, and manufacturers are beginning to realise that most riders’ wallets – and garages! – won’t accommodate a stable of steeds.

Plus, no matter what we enjoy riding most, we typically ride ‘most everything else as well, even if it’s just to get to our favourite trails. With the exception of hardcore gravity riders, who use uplift exclusively – and let’s face it, that’s not a scenario in most of the UK – we need a bike that can go uphill at least adequately. And one that can handle single-track as well as technical descents. As a result, Trek is pushing their Fuel EX as a bike that can deal damage on both the singletrack and the trail. I think they have the right idea. I just think they chose the wrong bike.

This shot contains a glittering array of the tech that makes the Remedy special. The Full Floater system, Magnesium single-piece EVO link, and the DRCV combine to deliver silky plush suspension. XT Drivetrain delivers the power smoothly, and the Mino Link lets you tweak the geometry.

The surprisingly svelte-feeling Remedy is the bike I’d choose if I was looking for one bike to rule them all. Sure the Fuel is a very capable bike, and in the trail centres I ride most often – Dalby, Sherwood Pines and Gisburn, which primarily comprise hardpack singletrack trails – the Fuel has what it takes. But then, so do most lithe, lean cross-country bikes these days. You’d probably put in your fastest time around Dalby on the Rumblefish of all of Trek’s bikes.

But if you’re planning to loop off the red routes, and track through Sherwood’s Downhill Zone, or ride down Gisburn’s Black Slab, or try the rock drops on the right about 1km after Dixon’s Hollow at Dalby – the Remedy is the bike you want to be riding. When the hits get bigger, the surface rougher or the climbs more technical, the Remedy’s quite remarkable combination of suspension technologies really delivers.

Shimano XT throughout the drivetrain delivers smooth reliable gear changes.

Trek combines the Trek’s full floater suspension which sees both the chain stay and the seat stay on pivot with a shock connection them both between the seat tube, Trek/Fox’s innovative DRCV pistons at both front and rear (a first for this year) and their ABP, active braking pivot system, which stops suspension response dulling when you’re hard on the brakes. Clearly, it’s difficult to tell exactly which of these technologies is delivering what benefit, but in trandem, the result is simply stellar.

The DRCV system combines the big hit advantages of a large volume shock with the small bump benefits of a low volume one. Indeed it transitions from being one to the other as the impacts get bigger, by means of having two suspension chambers and a valve that progressively opens the second one as the hits get bigger. The results are simply spectacular on technical climbs. On the rock strewn ascent from the Derwent Inn towards Cutthroat Bridge, the Remedy kept the rear wheel firmly planted on the ground, delivering the traction and power needed to make this tricky climb manageable.

Hydroformed aluminium frames have brought an astonishing amount of rigidity without the formerly associated weight. And the Remedy has an interesting array of burly frame sections. A 15mm quick release at the front and 142×42 rear hub attach the perfectly acceptable Bontrager XR3 wheels while keeping everything rigid. The result is a bike that transmits your steering and power input to the wheels effectively, yet never feels heavy.

In fact, the Remedy 9 weighs in at almost exactly one kilogram heavier than my similarly specced Ibis Mojo HD 160, but costs a whole £2K less, which I think most people would find an acceptable trade off.

A Rock Shox Reverb dropper post adds a little flexibility to your descending options. It features a rather nifty little cable management loop at the top of the seat tube that neatly guides the cable during height changes. While we’re in that area of the bike, one distinctive feature of the Remedy is the Mino Link, a small cam-like wedge at the rear of the Evo link upper suspension linkage. If this is loosened and rotated, it changes the bike’s geometry, raising the bottom bracket height by 10mm and tightening the head angle by 0.5 degrees. I liked the bike just fine with the factory settings, but the option’s always there.

The benefits of DRCV are carried through to the fork. While the performance benefits are not so obvious here, they certainly don’t hurt. The Remedy’s DRCV Float 32 delivers smooth suspension actionacross the full rang of compression. This was particularly obvious on low amplitude, high frequency oscillation.

Internal routing of the just the seatpost cable is an idiosyncratic choice. It works fine, but external routing would have too, and cost less.

The bottom of the route from Derwent Edge to Ladybower via Grindle Clough ends on a steep path of rough Yorkshire stone slabs. Not your nicely faced and levelled garden variety, but moorland path style. Invariably this last section is taken fast, as a fun finale to a rapid descent. But it’s usually punishing on the hands and arms.

On Sunday as we reached the bottom, my buddy Jonathan was just bemoaning how his arms felt as I was reflecting on how well the Remedy had smoothed out the usually teeth-chattering lower section. You can use every last bit of the Remedy’s 150mm of suspension, yet it never feels wallowy or imprecise.

As a visual package, the Remedy 9 took some getting to love. In fact love is too strong a word. A green theme carries throughout the bike, which lead some of my fellow riders to make “where’s it gone” comments when I set it down in grass or against bushes. All that prevents its camouflage being too effective are some garish lime highlights, most notably on the suspension EVO links, and the fork legs.

Because Trek has unparalleled access to the Bontrager finishing parts catalogue these lime hints are carried throughout the bike, which results in a nicely cohesive bike – as long as you like green. I hate it, and would possibly pay the extra £900 for the Remedy 9.8 just to avoid it.

If unlike me you choose your bike for its value and performance rather than its colour, this is possibly the pick of the bunch, because north of here, prices rise steeply for marginal falls in a weight and componentry improvements.

As a result of riding the Remedy, I’m going to be looking long and hard at the suspension settings of my existing bikes. And if I can’t eke a few performance improvements out of them, I’ll be getting a Trek.

Price: £3100
More information: Trek Remedy 9 

The somewhat garish lime green hints prove helpful finding the bike when in the wilds. The otherwise subdued green colour scheme makes it blend in with bushes and trees surprisingly well. A splash of mud helps.

The most obvious innovation on Shimano’s Unzen pack is the ‘X Harness’ strap. Our initial reaction to this was: why? When every pack in history has used the same two-vertical-strap design, this seemed like pointless fiddling for the sake of market differentiation.

And then I put it on, and was instantly converted. Never before has a pack felt so right. It felt snugger, better fitting and more secure than any other pack I’ve worn. And at just around 600g (Shimano claims 570 for the 10l on test here, my scales say 630) it’s feather light too.

But be aware, the Unzen’s X strap ‘lifts and separates’ like a Platex Cross Your Heart, and it’ll enhance your assets in a similar fashion too. This may be fine with female riders, but guys if you have moobs X Harness will enhance them similarly, and it’s not a good look.

The main buckle sits in the middle of an X-shaped strap arrangement which turns out to be amazingly stable and comfortable.

Shimano’s marketing folks claim that having a separate compartment for the hydration bladder prevents it taking up room in the main compartment. The hydration pack is still within the overall confines of the pack, so which compartment it’s is in makes no difference to how much it reduces overall available volume.

The main compartment looks small, but the stretchable body is capacious. Handy pockets affixed to the back panel prevent items from moving around.

Having it in a separate compartment does work well from a usability point of view. Frustratingly though, the bladder supplied is actually longer than the drop from the bottom of the suspension loop to the bottom of the pack, so once filled, it lolls loosely to one side or other. The suspension loop uses a single press-stud closure which is likely to become less effective over time, and is a little tricky to close as it is located at the very top and centre of the side-opening compartment.

The Unzen can be adjusted to fit to your back length. The adjustment is a little fiddly though – it involves unzipping the hydration bladder compartment and moving a “yoke” up and down the back panel of the pack. The yoke affixes to the back by Velcro, and then a Velcro strap affixes on top of it to further secure it.

Because the hydration compartment is narrow, and you have to access if from the side, doing so curves the back of the pack, making it tricky to get the adjustment exactly right. When the pack arrived, the yoke was buckled, and no amount of adjustment I did would make it lay flat. In reality this did not matter at all. When wearing the pack, which has a padded back-panel, I could not tell that the strap was buckled in the bladder compartment. You only need to perform this adjustment once – so it’s not a major concern, just a niggle.

A large zip either side of the main compartment means you can open it from whichever side suits your dominant hand.

The material of the pack is a slightly wet-look elasticated fabric that manages to look both technical and slightly fetishistic. I love it! Some areas have a web/mech texture to them, and this combines with the black/red colour way make this look like one of Spider-Man’s accessories. Pretty stylish.

The ol’ web-slinger couldn’t choose a better pack for close fit and free-movement either. Shimano makes no specific claims to water resistance, but every ride I have taken the pack on has been extremely wet and muddy, and it has kept the contents; including an iPhone, wallet and car key-card in the outer pockets, surprisingly dry. It’s not experienced extended direct rain though, and we suspect the contents will need extra protection in that situation.

The pack looks best when it’s full, since pulling the material taught looks better, and gives the pack a more purposeful shape. When only partly full it has the appearance of a semi deflated balloon, and its shape is less sleek.

Velcro sealed pockets on both straps are a great place to store snacks, cameras and so on. But are not as easily reached as on a conventional pack.

Access to the main compartment is provided from both sides by a vertical zip at either side. Using both together is impractical, because it becomes more of a belt than a bag if you do so. You are expected to choose the side that best suits your handedness, and which shoulder you prefer to sling the bag from, and use that exclusively. Inside the main compartment, but affixed to the back of the bag are thee pouches that can be used for tools, two of them mesh, and one made of the latex-fetish fabric.

There are two additional compartments, at the top a plush lined one for valuables, phones and so on. This would be ideal for media players, but it lacks a headphone cable port. At the bottom, a small pocket has a mesh divider and a plastic clip on a ribbon that can be used to secure keys. All closures feature zips with large cable loops attached, making them easy to operate with gloves on.

Storage is rounded out by two pockets, one on each strap. These have velcro closures, and are ideally sized for an energy bar, but could hold a small phone or a multi-tool. Because of the X-Harness design these end up being a long way round your back, so they are not as easy to access as traditional strap pockets, but they can be reached without needing to take the pack off.

The bundled 3 litre bladder is longer than the compartment, so sags somewhat when part filled.

Drinking from the bundled Hydrapak bladder is much harder than I could tolerate. I had to suck hard to get a flow that was still much less than any of my other bladders. The bladder can be turned inside out to facilitate washing and drying, but that’s not as easy to do as I had hoped either.

The tube can’t be easily detached at the bladder end (as it can with some Platypus bladders and according to their website, other Hydrapak models) so it is a hindrance when reversing the bladder. And the bladder has seams at the bottom, so even when it’s inside out, there are crevices for micro-organisms to shelter. The bladder is also very long, and narrow, so I could not get my (admittedly pretty large) hand into it to grab the bottom to reverse it. It’s a great idea, but not a perfect first attempt. I’d swap this out for one of my Platypus bags immediately, or buy the Unzen without the bundled bladder.

Once dirty, the Unzen sheds dried-on mud unlike any other pack I’ve used. This sounds like a good thing, but in practical terms it wasn’t. I tend to load my pack before a ride in the kitchen or utility room, and as I loaded the Unzen, it dropped and flicked mud everywhere. My current pack doesn’t do that, maybe because it is a top loader, or maybe because it’s made from more traditional woven fabric. Unless you wash your pack down after every muddy ride, or load it up in the garage or outdoors, this could be an issue.

Adjusting the harness is fiddly work, since the opening is slim, and the pack curves more the wider you open it. If you have a gynaecologist in the family, maybe ask them to do it.

The Unzen is an interesting pack. Absolutely comfortable to wear, and stunning to look at. It valiantly tries to move pack design forward with some innovative ideas, most of which are well conceived and valuable, but not all of which are perfectly realised on this version.

I find its combination of good looks, light weight and great ‘feel’ irresistible. To live with it, however, I’d have to swap out the hydration pack, and wash it after every ride. It would be an incredible hassle to dry it when I ride every day, but it does look way better when its clean. Maybe I’d use another pack for commuting, and keep this for weekends.

If you decide to commute with an it, and I generally use a 15-litre pack for that purpose, the Unzen’s stretchy fabric enables it to accommodate the pair of Vans, jeans & t-shirt that I sometimes find a tight squeeze in a nominally larger bag.

Verdict: I am completely smitten by this pack’s looks. Despite a few niggles and a high(ish) price, I’d have one. I’d forego, or replace, the bundled hydration bladder, though.

More info: Shimano Unzen

UK supplier: Madison Cycles

Weight: 570g (claimed) 630g (our sample)

Price: £90

What Shimano says about the Unzen hydration pack

Beneath its deceptively peaceful surface, Mt. Unzen in southern Japan hides the awesome explosive power of a volcano. It was the hidden primal force of this mountain that inspired Shimano to create the Unzen hydration pack collection. With no excess straps or bulk to hold you back, Unzen bags are specifically designed to power an aggressive off-road riding style. After installing your hydration system, just throw in your tools and favorite energy bar. Fasten the Rider Fit X-Harness. And head for the hills. The body-hugging fit of Shimano’s Accu3D technology frees you to follow the path less cycled. So if you’re ready to unleash your own hidden power, try Unzen by Shimano.

Stretchable Body
Thanks to the unique stretchable main fabric, the backpack is expandable without the use of extra fasteners that add unnecessary weight and bulk. The aerodynamic 3D stretchable body makes sure the wind flows smoothly over the pack while riding at high speed.

No Loose Straps
We made sure that our ACCU3D hydration packs have no loose straps anywhere. The only straps that are necessary to adjust the harness have a storage pocket to make sure they are invisible to the wind.

Easy Side Access
No need to take your pack completely off when you need to access your things fast.

Felt Lined Valuable Pocket
To safely store your valuable items without scratching them, this pocket has a soft felt liner. The bright color helps to locate your things easily.

Key Holder
Front pocket with key holder.

Stretchable Side Pockets
To store your bars and gels for quick access while on the move.

Armor Storage (U10 & U15 Only)
This very lightweight and easy to operate structure quickly holds your protectors or a jacket on the way without adding too much extra weight or bulk.

Loop Zipper Pulls
Very easy to operate even when wearing full finger gloves.

Tool Organizer
Located in the main compartment to keep things organised  Tools, tubes and pumps fit in here to provide quick and easy access on the trails.

Light Loop
Reflective elements and a blinking light attachment loop are essential details to provide a peace of mind when caught in the dark close to traffic.

Separate Hydration Compartment
To prevent the hydration system from taking away storage space from the main compartment and to provide quick access.

Hydration Tube Holder
To avoid the tube from flapping around while on the trail.

Reversible Hydration Reservoir
The Unzen collection is fuelled with high-end hydration systems provided by Hydrapak. The Reversible Hydration Reservoir flips completely inside out, making it very easy to clean and dry. The Slide Seal closure system is simple-to-use and effective. To prevent the growth of bacteria and mould FDA approved BPA free TPU material is used throughout the reservoir, tube, and bite valve. The 45 degree angle Surge bite valve allows drinking without effort.

No one likes brain damage. But head injuries have gone hand in glove with cycling since the velocipede was the hot new ride, and helmets followed swiftly afterwards. At first cyclists sported the ‘It Ain’t Half Hot Mum’ pith helmet, and later, the leather ‘bunch of bananas’ style that persisted until the 1980s.

Mountain biking (and the associated logs and rocks) placed new demands on helmet manufacturers, and they responded with helmets that had a hard plastic shell over an expanded polystyrene inner.

The basic design settled down in the 1990s to the current thin-shell construction and since then helmet development has been mostly incremental tinkering with changes to closure systems, padding, size adjustment straps and overall shape.

The Trabec cuts quite a dash on the head, and drew instant kudos from my riding buddies. Fit is snug and secure, even if you have a slightly odd-shaped head.

Swedish company POC claims to take a revolutionary rather than evolutionary approach to helmet design. And when the nation that brought us Abba delivers a piece of safety equipment, it pays to take notice. Sorry, did I say Abba? I meant Volvo! There was nothing safe about Abba’s brand of sonic mayhem. Sorry, did I say Abba? I meant Paganizer.

The first thing you notice about the POC Trabec is that it does’t look like most other mountain bike helmets. Its shell wraps all the way around the back of the head, and its vents are fewer, and more spaced than on most current helmets.

Out of the box, the Trabec is clearly a quality piece of kit. It comes with its own draw-string storage bag, like a quality motorcycle helmet.

The Race model is hella shiny, and looks slightly like a prop from a sci-fi movie; something future riot police might wear. The image on POC’s website, which looks suspiciously like a 3D render, is far less specular than the real thing.

Only the Yellow MIPS decal differentiates the top of the range model from the others visually.

I’d prefer the helmet to have a more matt finish, but it drew admiring glances, and generally positive comments, from the guys I ride with as soon as I put it on.

The Race MIPS version that we are testing here is the top of a three model range. The base model and the Race model are essentially identical, with the Race having more aramid reinforcement to make it more robust.

The Race MIPS is then fitted with the innovative Multi-directional Impact Protection System. This allows the outer shell of the helmet to rotate a little in the event of a crash, and reduces abrupt rotation of the skull during an oblique impact, which can cause brain damage.

All three models feature the Polygiene odour control treatment designed to prevent sweat induced smells. None of the helmets are cheap, but at £200, the Race MIPS is the most expensive open-face mountain bike helmet on the market.

What’s surprising at the price is how ordinary the rear size adjuster and the chin strap closure are. They are clearly well-made, but their design is traditional, and the chin strap is actually extremely fiddly to adjust. Once adjusted though, it holds the helmet extremely firmly to the head – due in part to the lower rear profile. In fact the suspension system holds it fairly securely before the chin-strap is even fastened.

An all-mountain/freeride helmet, the Trabec Race extends further down the back of your head than cross-country designs. It feels more protective, and looks distinctive.

Adjustment seemed lacking to me. I often find that a helmet that feels comfortable when I set out needs some tweaking after a little riding. With my current everyday Uvex lid, that is easily managed via a push-button ratchet chin-strap adjuster. With the POC it requires the lid and gloves off, and some tedious and frustrating strap wrangling.

Once on it’s not the lightest helmet on the market, but it’s not conspicuous by its weight either. What it is though, is noticeably comfortable.

I have a slightly pointy head. Not so much so that I’ll be invited to star in the remake of Coneheads, but enough that no helmet I have owned has ever felt perfectly comfortable. Until now.

It’s also warm. The large open vents do let air circulate, but not with the same free-flowing feel of a more conventional helmet design. As a result, on a cool November night ride, I was never cold of head. But I suspect that in July, or if you find yourself riding in Moab, this would be warmer than a conventional helmet. But given its halfway between traditional and full-face feel, that’s expectable, and acceptable.

The MIPS (Multi-directional Impact Protection System) cradle grips your head, but the outer shell can move slightly to absorb rotational impacts. The padding is plush and the helmet ships with a replacement set ready to fit when the original wears out, or for you to swap out at wash time.

This is a trail or all-mountain helmet to be sure. It will probably be most popular with people who want increased protection without stepping up to a full face.

I’m one of those people, and the only thing that would put me off the POC is the price. I sprang for their excellent body armour because sit was lighter and more comfortable than any other I tried. The Trabec is better than the competition too – but I’d struggle with the £200 price tag of the Race MIPS. As my friend TIm said when I told him the price: “Your brain isn’t worth £200!” And he may be right.

It’s not traditional when reviewing a helmet to intentionally stack in order to test its protective performance. But one of my frequent local rides has a tricky descent, a steep off camber slope. Nature has seen fit to place an almost horizontal tree trunk across the trail at the steepest point, positioned well-below head height.

On a warm summer’s day, it’s a tricky spot, requiring a shimmy, and a dropping of neck to just above the stem in order to pass cleanly. On a muddy night ride, on a 29er without a dropper seatpost, it required dexterity beyond me, and with both wheels sliding, my head and the tree tried momentarily to occupy the same co-ordinates in 3D space.

The helmet took what many Yorkshiremen (but never previously this one) would call a ‘reet clout’: exactly the kind of glancing blow that MIPS was designed for. And the Trabec performed admirably. In another helmet, I believe I’d have been off, or at least had to dab. But the POC protected me and I rode on rather stylishly.

The Trabec does not feel as innovative as POC may wish you to believe. While the Aramid (kevlar) reinforcement adds to the durability, and the Polygiene odour control treatment helps it stay fresher for longer, other aspects like adjustment and closure, are traditional and not even at the leading edge when compared to other helmets.

But where it counts, in terms of quality and performance, it’s right up there with the very best.

Fit adjustment is provided by a high quality, but traditionally designed pinch ratchet mechanism.

All-in-all, the Trabec is an extremely compelling package. If I were spending my own money though, I’d have to look pretty hard at the Fox Flux, Giro Xar or 661 Recon all of which cost less than half of the Trabec’s, and can often be picked up for a third the price. But none of those lids sport MIPS.

If MIPS floats your boat (and why would something scientifically proven to reduce brain injury not?), The Scott Taal and Lin offer MIPS for less than half the price of the POC, albeit in a more traditional helmet design. If you want the whole package: the rear-wrap shape and the MIPS technology, the Trabec is the (only) helmet for you.

Criticising the Trabec for its price is ultimately futile. If you need to worry about such mundanities, this clearly isn’t the helmet for you. But if, like the Porsche driver, having the ultimate product is more important to you than the price tag, this is probably it. It’s an emotive decision, predicated on intangibles… but for once this is a decision you can make with the heart that will be good for your head.

Verdict

If money was no object, this is the helmet I’d buy

Pros

Provides excellent protection
Distinctive looks
Aramid reinforced durability
Extremely comfortable

Cons

That price tag
Fiddly chin-strap adjustment
Slightly compromised ventilation

Weight: 440g
Price: £200
More info: POC Trabec Race MIPS Helmet
UK supplier: 2Pure

What POC says about the Trabec Race MIPS helmet

The Trabec Race MIPS in-mold helmet combines functionality and performance for single track and enduro riders who are in need of the highest degree of protection. The construction is similar to how a skeleton is build for both resistance and durability.

The inner Aramid filament reinforced EPS core is tough and resilient while the outer PC shell is constructed with the seems located in the areas of least exposure. The helmet is equipped with the patented MIPS system to reduce the rotational forces to the brain in the event of an oblique impact.

An aerodynamic channel system and 16 vent slots provides great ventilation while the fit is designed to be around the head versus on top, which promises superior protection.

Polygiene anti-odor treatment included.

Sizes: XS–S, M–L & XL–XXl.

Your typical mountain biker has a list of things at the back of our minds (or in my case, synced across all my devices in EverNote) that we want to buy. And another list of things that we need. The problem is, the more we spend on the things we need the less we have to spend on those we want.

One of the things on your need list may well be the humble backpack. Unless you want to get caught miles from anywhere without a spare tube, tools or jacket, it’s are a necessity. Wouldn’t it be great if you could save money on your backpack, to put towards that nice new dropper seatpost you’ve been coveting?

DHB Luggit Slice hydration pack is well-featured for its modest price.

There’s not too much to a good backpack. If it holds your stuff, feels comfortable to wear, carries your hydration bladder and looks okay, then you’re good to go. Sure you can spend loads on a super light one, or a waterproof one, and if those are your criteria, then move along There are plenty on the market to take your pick from, but the DHB Luggit Slice is not one of them.

If you want something plain and simple that does the job and doesn’t break the bank your choice is surprisingly limited. But that’s precisely the market DHB is aiming at with their Slice range.

The 15-litre model we’ve been testing is the smallest of the three-bag range, and it’s perfect if you’re looking for a day-pack to hold your waterproof, snack tube and tools or a compact commuting pack. I rammed a pair of jeans, Vans and a t-shirt into it and had I been more efficient, I’d have had space for a few more things.

My everyday pack is a much more expensive Deuter model, and compared to that, the DHB does feel cheaper in some undefinable way. But it also it feels lighter too and that’s no bad thing. Feature wise, there’s little to choose between them, the Slice comes with a 2l hydration bladder that’s strikingly similar to the Deuter one, though with a markedly different but perfectly effective bite valve.

The bladder is suspended in the bag with the kind of single loop Velcro strap that works with most bladders if you already have a preferred one – and if you do the Slice is available without a bladder for £29.99. (In usual Wiggle style, it’ll actually cost you £20.99 at the moment.) Hydration tube routing is by means of two loops on the shoulder straps. The loops are not elasticated, and are close fitting to the strap, so getting the bite valve through them is slightly tricky.

The straps themselves seem quite insubstantial, but they do a great job of holding the pack close and stopping it moving around. The waist (lower chest) strap is removable, though I found it helpful in preventing pack wobble when heavily loaded.

The hose is held in place by non-elastic loops on the shoulder straps.

As you’d expect for the price, there’s no clever ventilation system, but they can be heavy and reduce pack volume. The main space is undivided as is typical for a pack of this size. There’s a small external pocket which rather thoughtfully has a series of elastic loops that’ll keep tools, energy bars etc upright and stop them rattling around. The stretchy mesh side pockets (one on each side) also have a very useful elasticated loop retainer at the middle of each one. These will reduce the chance of something like a pump falling out as you ride, but they also turn out to be great for securing drink bottles – not just cage compatible bottles, but plain old soda-pop bottles you buy in stores. You can also use them to clip your keys or garage door remote into place.

Reflective stitching and printing is liberally but tastefully distributed around the pack, on the sides and on the straps round your front too. It’s not in your face, but where being seen is concerned every little helps. And the result is a rather tasteful looking pack.

The handy tool pocket

The 15l Slice has no helmet pouch nor waterproof cover. We can live without the waterproof cover; a sil-nylon pack liner does a much better job of keeping things dry. But a helmet pouch comes in useful, and we’d love to see one on this pack.

My existing pack has been taking a beating for years now, repeated soakings, lashings of mud and a fair few falls. I’m not sure the Slice would be in such good shape after such abuse, but the Slice costs around a third the price of my current pack.

Verdict

The Slice’s USP is its price, and at the price, it delvers a pretty much unbeatable combination of features and value. If I was looking for a replacement today, I’d look very hard at this pack.

Pros

Looks good
Three compartments
Great Value
Tool organiser in external pocket.

Cons

No ventilation system
No waterproof cover
No helmet carrier

More info: dhb Luggit Slice 15L Rucksack with Hydration Pack
Price: £34.99
Options: 25-litre version: £44.99. 30-litre version, £54.99

What dhb says about the Luggit Slice 15L Rucksack with Hydration Pack

The smallest member of the dhb Slice pack range. This compact, 15L pack is suited for riding the trails or commuting with a modest amount of gear. This pack option includes 2L Hydration Bladder.

Air mesh channel back system
Anatomical harness shape with 3D mesh
Main Zipper entry compartment
Internal sleeve for 2-Litre hydration bladder
Fleece lined top zipper pocket for valuables
Lower front tool zipper pocket
Stretch mesh side pockets – with elastic loop retainers
Reflective web light loop
Reflective print details
Elasticated, adjustable chest strap
Removable webbing hip belt
YKK external zippers
600D + Nylon Ripstop fabric

The compact 15L Slice has been designed to hug the body whilst riding. The slim silhouette allows you to hit the trails with minimal ‘overhang’ on your back. If you are belting through the traffic on your daily commute, the bag feels close compact and unrestrictive.

This is a medium weight pack made from durable materials (600D Polyester and Triple ripstop 210D Nylon) with slim harness. YKK zips provide robust access to the main compartments and pockets. Engineered NIFCO side release buckles provide reassuring quality on the web tensioners, shoulder, chest and compression adjustment webs.

The pack features a selection of design details to make it function well: easy-grip moulded zipper pullers, top grab handle – to make handling the pack when off the body easy, elastic web retainers to help you keep the adjustable web lengths under control, reflective details in key areas.

Great value at just under 50 quid, the dhb M1.0 shoes are also comfortable and very functional.

Sure, the uppers are a little bit plasticcy, but other than that, they look good and have a few splashes of reflective material that just might make that motorist spot you on a dark night. I’ve been sporting the white ones during testing for this review, but if I were buying them I’d opt for the black – not just because I prefer how they look, but because they’ll stay cleaner looking too.

Despite the uppers being patently synthetic, they are flexible and seem tough enough. The nose has a tough reinforced panel to deflect the knocks, and they do a good job of it.

Decent toe protection.

The weather is getting colder and there was one of the year’s first frosts as I set out on Sunday morning, yet despite a sizeable mesh section on the uppers, these shoes are acceptably warm. If your rides include lots of puddles, those panels mean that your feet will get wet, and you’ve little chance of proofing them. Combine these with with a pair of SealSkinz socks though, they’ll prove serviceable on all but the coldest winter rides.

DHB insists that the glass-reinforced soles offer the right balance between stiffness for power transfer and flexibility for walking. And that may be true, but the aggressive front tread and stud pattern means that it’s a bit of work to get from heel to forefoot, akin to walking uphill even on the flat. But those same treads come into their own when you’re ascending muddy bankings, providing ample traction when you need to get out of the saddle and hoof it. During testing, I took them through some truly horrendous mudbaths, and they gripped admirably. As well as any shoes I have worn, and better than most.

The glass fibre-reinforced sole comes with cleat plates installed, so you just need to bolt on your cleats and you’re ready to go.

My perpetual concern when wearing heavily treaded shoes is how they’ll engage and release with my pedals. These did both just fine on both my Crank Brothers Egg Beaters and Candy pedals. The M1.0s are definitely intended for cleats. Unlike some other shoes where you need to punch out a section of the sole, and fit your own attachment plates, the DHBs come with the plate pre-fitted, so attaching your cleats and being ready to ride is a moment’s work.

Fastening is handled by three simple Velcro straps, one more than most budget shoes provide. These combine fast and convenient closure with good fit adjustment, though they are attached to the shoe with simple wire loops, but they seem quite sturdy. Fit itself is generally quite wide. I have very very broad feet, and often have to go up a size or two to get into shoes, especially firmer ones such as cycling shoes or snowboard boots. But I could go down a (European) size or two from my usual Specialized shoes, in these quite comfortably. Despite this, the shoes held my feet well, and heel lift was not apparent even when cranking hard. The comments about size refer to width only, the shoes are true to length for their size.

Three straps provide a firm closure and plenty of adjustment.

I’ve been looking for new shoes since I began to develop hotspots under the ball of my left foot after 20 miles or so of riding. These have eliminated the problem and in them I can ride hard for half a day with no discomfort. Your mileage (and your feet) may vary, but the M1.0′s offer the power transfer, comfort and adjustability to deal with whatever you throw at them.

A good sole, decent design and great traction combine with a wide fit to make these shoes favourites of mine at the budget end of the market. There’s little to touch them on price in the cleated MTB shoe market, and only the slightly plasticcy finish on the uppers, and the basic wire eyelets that the closure straps loop through hint at their budget nature.

A reflective patch in the heel helps with on-road visibility. 

Though I like a bargain, I’d struggle to buy these because I don’t like the looks, but aesthetics are an incredibly subjective thing, and you may love them, or simply be able to live with them. If you can from a features and value perspective they are unlikely to disappoint.

Verdict

The DHB M1.0 is placed in a fiercely competitive market, but it offers features and quality that belie its price as pretty much the cheapest cleated MTB shoe money can buy.

Pros

Rugged
Good traction in mud
Well ventilated

Cons

Plasticcy uppers
Little water resistance

More info: dhb M1.0 Mountain Bike Cycling Shoe

Price: £49.99

What Wiggle says about the dhb M1.0 Mountain Bike Cycling Shoe

The colour options.

Get off road with the very sturdy mountain bike shoe from dhb. The M1.0 features a Simple 3-strap closure and a rubber outsole with internal glass reinforced Nylon structure for excellent traction and great power delivery.

Glass reinforced Nylon polymer sole with rubber traction grip
Synthetic Upper
Quad core air mesh inserts
All-round ventilation holes
Internal thermo plastic heel counter
360 degree reflective detailing
2-hole cleat ready
Cleats – 2 Bolt SPD Type
Forefoot Studs
Sole Material: Glass Reinforced Nylon, Rubber overmoulded tread
Use: Off road

The design of the sole on this shoe has been engineered to strike a balance between the right level of stiffness for power transfer when on the bike, and ‘comfort’ when running or walking with the bike. The inner Glass reinforced Nylon core structure is topped with a high durability, high traction rubber compound with aggressive tread design to provide excellent grip on rocks, mud and road.

The sole is bonded to the synthetic upper which features the same quad core inner structure as the dhb road shoe. This mesh structure has excellent 3D mapping properties to achieve a form fit to the foot but provides almost zero stretch – which keeps input energy loss on the upstroke to an absolute minimum. The exterior upper is a durable Synthetic skin, which will absorb the knocks and grazes of general use. The reinforcement panel on the toe tip is double stitched for extra durability.

The simple 3-strap configuration allows the wearer to control the fitting across the full length of the shoe. By tightening the strap positions the wearer can achieve the correct balance between close fit (best power transfer) and comfort.

Mesh inserts across the upper on the instep and outer side of the upper allow air to circulate through the shoe helping to keep you temperature regulated as you generate heat.

At the ankle end of the shoe there is an internal thermo plastic heel counter, which is sandwiched between the cushioning layers of the shoe. This added support and stiffness allows the rider better control when engaging and disengaging from their clip-in pedal system.

Contrast red inner lining, and embossed printing provides a clean aesthetic, complimented with reflective detailing along the length of the shoe in-step and outside to enhance the rider’s safety in low-level light conditions.

The shoe is pre-drilled ready to use with MTB-style, 2-hole cleat-pedal systems (SPD, Crank Bros, Time MTB)