The Brand-X Ascend XL is a well priced, nicely made and cleanly designed cable-actuated dropper post that works reliably. It's simple to fit and has a good remote lever, while the seat clamp is similarly no-nonsense. The long lower section won't suit small or kinked seat tubes, however, and it's relatively heavy.

The Atlas is RaceFace’s high-end flat pedal. It’s a sleek, low-profile design that’s grippy and confidence inspiring thanks to a concave platform and 10 pins per side, and it’s tough. It’s also fully rebuildable for great longevity, though riders with big feet or small wallets may not find it so much to their tastes.

The Race Face Atlas 35 is a very wide, reliably solid aluminium bar, and whilst not the lightest, it keeps a decent level of bar comfort, and is a great choice for harder riders or if you're looking for a bombproof set up.

The O’Neal Trailfinder is a mid-priced trail helmet that has modern looks and plenty of protection. While it offers the essentials, such as a good adjustable peak and a goggle-friendly rear section, it lacks finesse and can get a bit warm thanks to less than brilliant venting.

An update on the classic mushroom style, the Fabric Magic Grip is comfy and offers good bar feel and a solid locking mechanism – but it wears very quickly.

The RaceFace Aeffect is a tough, well made flat pedal with a trail and cross-country focus. While offering decent if not outstanding grip, the platform feels a little small when the terrain gets severe, they're not the thinnest pedals around, and they're pretty pricey. 

The Michelin Wild AM Competition Line is a fast rolling tyre aimed at mixed or soft ground. Unfortunately the tread lacks grip in the wet, and it's vulnerable to damage on rocky trails. They seat easily but struggle to hold air when run tubeless at low pressures – it's best left to the rear wheel only, and even then only for dry, hard surfaces.

The Fabric Scoop Elite Shallow is a Cro-Mo railed saddle with 3 shapes to suit riding style, the shallow style one tested is a very comfortable, well constructed saddle which bench marks what a decent saddle should be.

The Race Face Roam Knee pads offer serious protection in an easy-to-use wraparound design. They're about as cool for pedalling as pads this substantial can be, the fit is good and multiple sizes should cater to everyone – but there's no denying they're expensive.

The Slicy Custom Top Cap can be adorned with any visual you’d like – logos, text or even a photo – and is UV printed on black aluminium. You even get a decent black steel bolt for attaching it. Get one to finish off your dream build, or simply if you've run out of other things to spend money on...