One (chain)ring to rule them all: SRAM’s single-ring-minded XX1 chainset.

SRAM XX1 group

SRAM’s Olympic gold medal winning 11-speed, single chainring transmission is the most single-minded go-faster gearing system ever created for mountain biking. By losing the complication of a front derailleur and double or triple rings, SRAM reduces the number of things that can go wrong, while a wide-range set of 11 sprockets out back provides race-ready gearing.

You don’t get super-low gears but you aren’t going to win any races by winching up hills in 22/34 anyway.

Up close and personal with SRAM XX1

More information from SRAM
UK supplier: Fisher Outdoor

Exposure’s new Reflex light is a genuine advance in light usability.

Exposure Reflex front light

At £450 it’s not quite the most expensive light around, but with self-regulating electronics that dim its three LEDs when you slow down it’s definitely the cleverest.

That functionality means that you’ll usually get three hours of full power out of a charge instead of just two, and the ten other modes on offer give you up to 36 hours of run time. Best of all, the LED display on the back tells you exactly how much light you have left, so you know when it’s time to head home.

Exposure Reflex front light review

More information from Exposure Lights

Shimano XTR Trail pedals are light, shiny and lovely.

Shimano XTR Trail pedals

Sure, you could ask for the Deore XT equivalent, which are only a tad heavier and less nicely-finished, but their hollow axles, top-quality bearings and non-stick finish make the Shimano XTR trail pedals the Bugatti of clipless pedals. Shop around a bit for a deal, and they’re even an affordable luxury.

Shimano XTR Trail pedals review

More information from Shimano
UK supplier: Madison Cycles

Enve carbon fibre rims are light, tough and stiff.

Enve AM carbon fibre rims

If you genuinely want to save weight, your wheels are the best place to start, even though the old claim that weight on the wheels counts double isn’t quite true. As well as saving static and rotating mass, lighter wheels also reduce your bike’s unsprung mass, which can make your suspension work better. Triple win!

But very light aluminium rims are flexible and fragile. Enter carbon fibre – is there anything it can’t do? Carbon rims are stiffer and stronger than equivalent aluminium rims, the best of them even shrugging off the near-abuse that is downhill racing. Enve made the first rims to win a downhill World Cup, and the AM rims are the all-round incarnation of that technology.

More information from Enve
UK supplier: Saddleback

It must be Christmas: time for a new edition of the immensely popular GoPro Hero.

GoPro Hero 3

It’s surely no coincidence that GoPro has launched a new version of its incredibly popular helmet cam just before Christmas for the last couple of years. The latest GoPro Hero 3 Black edition features wifi connectivity, 4k video shooting, 12 megapixel stills, 120fps shooting at 720p, all in a smaller, lighter body than the Hero 2.

GoPro unveil WiFi-enabled Hero 3 camera

More information from GoPro
UK supplier: Madison Cycles

Pedro’s Master Tool Kit is a toolboard in a box.

Pedro’s Master tool kit

With 64 essential, top-quality tools in a waterproof, pressure-resistant case, this is the tool kit you pass on to your grandchildren. There are a few unique items in here, like Pedro’s ingenious Vise Grip sprocket tool, and plenty of space to add extras like a torque wrench.

Best of all, you just open the box and fold out the wings and it’s all laid out and ready to use – it’s like having a toolboard in a box.

More information from Pedro’s
UK supplier: 2pure

Lezyne CNC Dirt Floor Drive is a luxury big-volume pump. Mmmm, shiny!

Lezyne CNC Dirt Floor Drive ABS Track Pump

Brilliantly practical as well as great-looking, the Lezyne CNC Dirt Floor Drive pushes a large volume of air per stroke, so it’s quick to get a mountain bike tyre up to pressure. The guage is at the bottom so it won’t smash when you knock the pump over and the hose is long enough to reach a bike on a stand easily.

Lezyne’s threaded chuck is unusual, but really practical as it holds and seals well, without requiring you to fight with a quick-release lever. If you’re in a hurry, a slip-on Presta chuck is included.

More information from Lezyne
UK supplier: Upgrade Bikes

Asgard’s Large Cycle Shed does exactly what it says on the tin.

Asgard Mb5 Large cycle shed

Every mountain biking bloke and blokess needs a shed. Asgard’s Large cycle shed is exactly what it says on the tin, a three-metre long steel box to protect your rides from the elements and deter the light-fingered from nicking them. There’s room here for several bikes, or, if you can resist the constant siren song of N+1, a couple and room to work on them.

It weighs a third of a tonne and needs a flat concrete base, so this is a serious invstment in storage, but surely your ikes are worth it? We’d be tempted to combine it with a Pragmasis metal shed shackle or ground anchor for ultimate security.

More information from Asgard

The top-spec edition of the fi’zi:k Gobi saddle is a featherweight 149g.

Fi’zi:k Gobi 00

At just 149g, the Gobi 00 is one of the lightest cross-country saddles you can buy. It’s swoopy shape provides support for big efforts, while its carbon Wing Flex shell moves with you to make it one of the comfiest seats for day-long efforts.

Most of the weight saving comes from replacing metal rails with braided carbon fibre and how can you resist a saddle with “glossy thigh slides”. Ooooh, missus!

More information from Fi’zi:k
UK supplier: ExtraUK

Saris Bones RS rack is brilliantly designed and simple to use.

Saris Bones RS bike carrier

Hanging bikes off the back of your car keeps fuel costs under control and it’s easier than hefting them up on the roof. But many boot-mounted bike racks are faff of straps and hooks to fit.

The Saris Bones RS holds three bikes and is held in place with ratcheting steel straps that can be locked into place. Once it’s set up, it’s a doddle to pop off and on.

More information from Saris
UK supplier: Paligap

Transport and accommodation all in one. Beach not included.

Danbury Caravans VW Camper

For the very deep of pocket and self-indulgent, here’s some retro transport that combines a way of getting to the trails with somewhere to stay once you’re there. Prices start from about £25,000.

More information from Danbury Caravans

We reviewed and liked Shimano’s Deore XT M785 trail pedals a while back and got to wondering whether the world really needed an XTR version, given how good is the Deore XT edition. Turns out you do get some useful extra features for your money, but you pay a lot for them, unless you shop around a bit.

The idea of Shimano’s SPD trail pedals, as opposed to the compact race SPDs, is to provide more surface area to support the sole of your shoe. It all began with the big red M636 pedals back in the 90s. These were the first pedals with a pop-up mechanism surrounded by a platform and were extremely popular with downhill racers. The current M647 DX pedals similarly provide extreme riders with a more stable platform than a compact SPD.

There’s a wide range of release tension adjustment.

But those pedals are overkill for most riders, who want some extra support but not the 568g heft of the DXes. With trail centres featuring more ‘interesting’ obstacles on their loops, the reassurance of some extra support underfoot is useful, and that’s where the Deore XT and XTR trail pedals come in; they provide some extra support but without the weight and mechanical complication of the pop-up mechanism.

As usual, Shimano launched the XTR pedals first, and the Deore XT incarnation came not long after. These XTR pedals are £40 more expensive than the Deore XT version, at least if you pay full price, so is it worth investing your hard earned cash in the higher spec model?

The axle is hollow, which saves a tiny bit of weight.

You certainly wouldn’t spend the extra just to save weight. The claimed weights of the Deore XT and XTR pedals are 408g and 398g respectively. The XTR pedals have a teflon coating to reduce the amount of muck that clings on, and after using them in very grotty conditions we can say does exactly that. The XTR pedals get their weight saving from hollow axles and we suspect the exra machining accounts for most of the extra cost.

We tested the Shimano XTR trail pedals over a few weekend trail sessions and an enduro race. It quickly became obvious that these are a very usable pair of pedals. Your foot finds the engagement point far quicker than on compact SPD pedals and the platform gives improved support for extra stability. The Teflon coating did a great job of inhibiting dirt attachment and the sleek looks complete the aesthetics of any bike.

The all-important label.

There are some other differences ‘under the bonnet’ between the Deore XT and XTR trail pedals in areas like bearing surface coatings and materials. The finish and looks of the XTR pedals are just spot-on and who doesn’t like to get envious comments from riding mates?

The cost remains an issue, but as we mentioned, do a bit of searching and you can find deals around 25 to 30 percent off from the usual online suspects – or you can pay £165 from one eBay seller we found, if you’re a complete mug!

Verdict

If you think your bike deserves the best, the Shimano XTR trail pedals are worth every penny.

Price: £119.99
More information: Shimano PD-M985 XTR trail pedals

Pros

Easy engagement
Clears mud fast
Look incredible
Only 88g heavier than non-cage version 

Cons

Quite a bit more expensive than Deore XT option
88g heavier than non-cage version