The Pinner Pro ATC is a fast-rolling tyre for dry, hardpack and rocky terrain, with reassuring steering and a sturdy carcass. It lacks bite in pretty much any sort of wet or loose conditions, though, so it's very much for dry, rocky days only.

The DHB Trail Equinox MTB gloves give a great bar feel through their reinforced palms, offer useful windproofing, and generally do a great job for an impressive price. They could use a better sweat wipe, but for the price and performance, it's hard to complain.

The Spank Oozy 35 is a no nonsense alloy bar that is strong and reasonably priced, but it has the usual firm feel of an oversize bar and comes in a 25mm rise only – which might limit it a little.

The Fabric Magic Elite Radius is a short, strong saddle aimed at uplift riding and messing about – it's tough and well-padded and yet, unlike full-on jump seats, is also designed to be sat on for pedalling. It's still not for long rides, though, or much more than short spins to the tops of trails.

The Slicy XC-AM Mudguard is the lightest and lowest-profile model in their range. The minimalist design works well, the ten designs are bold, and the graphics are completely customisable if you don't like any of the stock ones. Also, if you suddenly feel you've made a terrible mistake, it's fully recyclable...

The Deore XT 2020 groupset is a confident update to an already great product. With its huge range and 12-speed gearing, it’s shifting is market-leading, yet it sits at a reasonable price for the level of performance and weight. In short, it's one of the best examples of mountain bike drivetrains.

The neat Spank Split 35 Stem strikes a good balance between strength and weight, and has plenty of size options with tidy design features. It feels good when riding, and does the job with no fuss. Can’t ask for much more.

The Race Face Chester 35 Handlebar is a no fuss, no frills, hard-rider's heavyweight bar. Its 35mm diameter and alloy build mean it’s a bit hefty, and it feels pretty unforgiving on the bike. Its defining feature seems to be strength over everything.

The Osprey Raptor is an excellent trail pack with tons of versatile storage. It holds enough for medium to long rides, sits well even when loaded, and includes a 2.5L reservoir. It's well made too – there's very little to fault.

The updated Shimano ME5 trail shoes effectively balance walking efficiency with power transfer. The sole is good for hard surfaces and wet grip is good, though it lacks real bite in mud. They're secure and comfortable, too, but ours are showing signs of early wear due to an odd material choice.