If you’re after a new bike, you really need to ride the contenders. And properly, too, not just round the block from the bike shop. Inspired by the demo days at the annual Interbike trade show and events like the Roc d’Azur, Saab Salomon Mountain Mayhem organiser Pat Adams got together with Giant Bicycles to launch a UK equivalent.

Called D3, it’ll be held on Friday June 25 at Eastnor Castle Deer Park, Herefordshire. If that date and venue looks a little familiar, that’s because it’s the day before Mountain Mayhem – you don’t have to be doing MM to attend D3 though, or the other way around come to that.

And don’t think that it’s just Giant bikes, either. The whole point is to get as many brands as possible there – already signed up are Giant, Trek, Specialized, Gary Fisher, Cotic, GT, Klein, Kona, Litespeed, Marin, Merlin, Mongoose, Nicolai, On-One, Planet-X, Raleigh, Scott, Titus, Tomac, Santa Cruz and Saracen. So there should be something there to whet your appetite…

More details will shortly be available at www.ssmm.co.uk or call Giant on 0115 977 5900.