The Smith Engage is quite simply one of the best priced, comfiest helmets I’ve tested. It’s got good coverage of the head, it feels light when riding, the airflow is effective, and it’s great value. It’s got solid, modern looks and has lasted well.

The Mons Royale Redwood Wind Jersey combines a merino layer with a windproof front and is designed for longer rides. Whilst the fabric is warm and the windproof effective, the oversize cut coupled with a questionable amount of actual time you’d ride with it makes it a bit of a miss.

The Gore Explore shorts are tough, perfect for multi-day riding bikepacking or relaxed gravel days exploring.

The Halo Gravitas MTC Downhill wheels are a tough set of gravity focussed wheels that, if you favour strength over light weight, are a solid choice. They are really well built with readily available spokes making them an excellent choice for hard riding, budget-conscious riders and they have remained true and dent-free throughout.

Bikepacking - Exploring the Roads Less Cycled is a carefully designed and produced coffee-table type book, which has a strong chance of inspiring bikepacking adventures - for either a novice or a seasoned adventure rider.

The KS KG SL Carbon Dropper remote is made for gravel drop bar bikes. Its low weight, super simple design and function make it a nice choice if you are after a drop bar compatible dropper. It is fairly expensive, but otherwise, there is nothing to knock it.

With a new, bigger location for its Basecamp and a heap of films, speaker events, literature, arts and more, the Kendal Mountain Festival kicks off Thursday 18th until the 21st November. 

The Specialized Butcher Grid Trail 2.3 x 29 tyre comes in this special tan wall version, and with its Grid Trail casing and Gripton T9 compound, it claims to deliver dependable strength and grip. I found it to be one of the best all-rounders I’ve ridden recently, especially for a balance of speed, strength and grip.

We managed to wrangle a ride on Mason's new steel hardtail - the RAW. It's a beautifully made, designed, and finished frame delivering a quick feeling, nimble ride that encourages adventure. The RAW keeps the heart of Mason bikes but is more confident and capable when pushed deeper into off-road territory than Mason’s existing lineup.

The PINND CS2 is a beautifully made and finished flat pedal that comes with high-level bearings, materials, and nice looks. They need improvement to their shape and function to be worthy of standing out from the competition, especially given the very high price point.