Recognising the demands of riders who are racing on more technically challenging XCO and XCM terrain, the Pique has gained 20mm of front and 15mm of rear suspension. The new builds feature 120mm forks and 115mm of suspension at the rear. 

If you are considering a steel gravel or mountain bike, African brands don’t come to mind. And that’s odd because Africa has arguably the world’s best gravel riding terrain, incredible mountain biking, and brilliantly resourceful craftspeople. All the elements required to create excellent, durable, steel bikes. 

Although the brand has fielded a downcountry bike for the last few seasons, the SB115, Yeti has lacked a dedicated cross-country offering since the previous ASR was discontinued a decade ago. 

It’s shaping to be a big year for Norco, as the Canadian bike brand campaigns with downhill mountain biking’s GOAT (Greg Minnaar), as its UCI racing team lead. Norco’s product team has been busy in the off-season, too. And one of the projects is a trail e-bike with two suspension travel options. 

The latest evolution of Specialized’s 3D-printed saddle is its S-Works Phenom with Mirror. This saddle promises 28% less sit bone pressure and features a structure with more struts and nodes that enhance cushioning and ride support for those long days on the gravel or mountain bike.

So, what's new with Specialized's latest Recon gravel shoes? Well, these shoes feature the brand's proven ergonomic Body Geometry fit, not to mention an overall design that has been enhanced for off-road-walking comfort. Read on for all the details.

The Range and Sight VLTs both feature Norco’s big acronym rear-suspension design: Virtual Pivot Suspension High Pivot (VPSHP). It’s the Canadian company’s interpretation of high pivot suspension, with an additional idler wheel routing for the chain.

Cannondale has developed an all-terrain version of its Synapse Neo, targeting riders who value the potential of a dropbar e-bike for gravel touring and commuting. The new Synapse Neo Allroad features a frame with adequate tyre clearance to roll larger-volume tyres, enhancing traction, comfort and load-carrying ability. 

It's been a little while since we've heard anything from suspension giant Fox but now the brand has hit out with a bang, introducing an all-new 32 Step-Cast fork that features a fresh reverse arch design as well as three new dampers for the rest of the range.

Positioned between the brand’s Intrigue 29 and Intrigue LT models, the X features 140mm of suspension travel and a 150mm fork. It is configured for women who are committed trail riders, requiring something more than a downcountry bike – but not quite an enduro machine.