As the newspapers are currently filled with the news that our wages are being stretched ever thinner with increasing living costs, and the cycle business facing a tough time with a drop in retail sales last month, it’s evident that we’re faced with increasing pressure on . And that includes parts of your mountain bike.

It’s not all doom and gloom though. While it’s harder to justify those expensive upgrades you’ve likely been dreaming about recently, there are still options for those on a budget. To find out, we scouted around for cheaper alternatives to some of the more popular upgrade choices, and find that you can make your money go a long way.

Found some bargains recently? Let us know in the forum below this article.

SKS Piccolo mini pump £5.99

You should never be without a pump. Everyone knows that. And with this compact little number that hardly takes any space in a pocket or backpack, you’ve got no excuses. It’s light too, but despite its diminutive size it’ll still pump your tyres up in no time at all.