ALTERNATIVELY... OR GO ELECTRIC...SAVE CASH!
The Cycle to
Work scheme
could save you
up to 42% off
a new bike and
accessories.
There’s nothing
to pay up front
and instalments
are drawn from
your salary. Ask
your employer
for details.DON’T GET LOSTSTUFF PICKS
71
TRANSPORT HUB
Boost110 and Boost148
hubs sit wider on the
wheels than normal, so
the rear tyre can be
moved further forward
for a snappier ride and
better handling.First off, a common-sense
disclaimer. Just because
they’re called mountain
bikes, doesn’t mean you’ve
got a licence to go hurtling
down the side of Scafell Pike.
Neither you nor the NHS
needs this right now, so ride
within your limits.
Still, should you want to
tackle rough ground and
challenging gradients, it
helps to have a machine
that won’t put your back
out in the process. Trek’s
Procaliber 9.7 uses an
IsoSpeed decoupler in its
carbon frame that allowsthe seat tube to move a tiny
fraction. That little bit of give
is enough for added comfort
over regular hardtails, and
without the need for weighty
full rear suspension.
You do get fork suspension
up front, provided by the
lightweight RockShox Reba
SL, sitting atop Bontrager
Kovee Elite 23 carbon
wheels. And should you
need to stop suddenly to
avoid coming a cropper with
a sheep, Shimano MT500
hydraulic disc brakes will do
their utmost to bring you to
a dignified halt.Specialized
Rockhopper
Expert 29
The aluminium
Rockhopper
Expert 29 is a bit
of a bargain, with
RockShox front
suspension and
a TurnKey damper
deftly dishing out
travel for extra
comfort while
SRAM’s SX Eagle
drivetrain keeps
you moving.
£1099 /
specialized.comDecathlon
Rockrider
E-ST 900
Decathlon’s E-ST
900 propels you
up peaks with a
250W motor for
assisted pedalling.
Electric range isn’t
an exact science
on mountain
bikes, but the
500Wh battery
should be good
for around three
hours of riding.
£1800 /
decathlon.co.ukTrek Procaliber 9.7
£2550 / trekbikes.comMOUNTAIN
Suunto 7
A distraction-free
cockpit while
you’re out getting
filthy is a must, so
wrist-mounted
is best for MTB.
See how rad you
got by checking
your peak heart
rate, buy a nice
cup of tea with
Google Pay, then
route yourself
back to the start
to do it all again.
£429 /
suunto.com