Before we get properly stuck into April, we wanted to present you a quick roundup of the most interesting stories and articles on Bikemagic.

1. 29ers continue to gain acceptance as Santa Cruz and Merida both introduce 29er bikes into the respective line-ups.

2. The Absa Cape Epic got underway at the end of March and the eight day stage race is already putting the 1200 competitors under serious pressure as the going gets tough.

3. Shimano updated its Deore and SLX offerings, the effect of the trickledown process making its impact on the more affordable groupsets.

4. Boardman Bikes continue to make inroads into the market with a stunning release of new hardtails and full-suspension bikes that offer cracking good value and a lot of performance.

5. This video, helmet camera footage from the Valparaiso Cerro Abajo urban downhill in Chile, was one of the most popular on Bikemagic in March. And for good reason. If you’re wondering what all the fuss is about, taking a few minutes out of your day to sit back and enjoy this staggering video. 

6. We endeavour to find out if 29ers are all they are claimed to be, by swinging a leg over Giant’s XtC 29er hardtail. We walk away impressed. 

7. The one story that rocked the mountain bike industry, news of legendary component manufacturer Race Face going out of business. The end of an era? Quite possibly.

8. Tickets for the London 2012 Olympics go on sale, and we get a closer look at the completed mountain bike course at Hadleigh Farm.

9. Most inspiring story in March could be Scott Forbes, who has found a novel way of getting around the apparent restraints of being a long-haul pilot: he cut his On-One Inbred in half so he could take it everywhere with him, and never miss out on a cheeky ride or two. Handy when you’re trying to train to race at Elite level. 

10. The Demo Series continues to prove popular as it travels around the UK, the turnout at the Bedgebury round was staggering. As was the high interest in 29ers. There’s certainly a theme developing here…