Liam Mercer
Articles by Liam Mercer
5Dev brings robot-made titanium cranks to gravel and cross-country mountain biking
5Dev has carved a niche in the component industry offering super-high-end titanium cranks built using cutting-edge five-axis CNC machining technology. The San Diego brand's latest Titanium Road Gravel XC Cranks are no different and will provide savings of between 1.2- and 4.4 watts at 24mph.
Orbea Laufey H-LTD mountain bike review
The Laufey H-LTD is the range-topping trail hardtail from the Spanish brand, Orbea. It's a fantastic hardtail that I’ve come to adore thanks to its wisely selected and somewhat unique geometry that results in a thrilling and confidence-inspiring ride. However, its price makes it a tough sell against steel and other alloy-framed rivals.
Proxim Nembo saddle review - Tonnes of support let down by stiffness
Delivered by Prologo’s gravity and e-MTB off-shoot Proxim, the Nembo is a base-level saddle that’s impressed owing to its near-perfect shape. It fits me like a glove, providing immediate comfort and support, however, deeper into the ride, the minimal padding and lack of flex becomes a limiting factor.
Trail-specific goggles for open face helmets? Enter the Fox Purevue goggles
Fox Racing is no stranger to pushing fashion boundaries in the name of greater performance. A case in point is the Dropframe Pro which combines open-face construction with the protection of a full-face helmet with over-ear portions. Enter the new Fox Purevue goggles boasting huge ventilation and integration with open-face helmets.
OneUp Components unveils super light and affordable hubs
OneUp Components is known for its clever EDC tool and some of the best mountain bike handlebars on the market but the brand is now producing wheel components – more specifically, hubs. The brand's new hubs revolve around simplicity resulting in reliability, lightweight and an accessible price.
Starling's Murmur goes downcountry with the Mini-Murmur mountain bike
The Murmur is Starling's staple trail bike known for its steel frame and simplicity. The brand has been busy bringing its V3 upgrades and beefing up the travel with the Mega-Murmur. However, Starling has gone the other way and kitted the Mini-Murmur with 120mm and cross-country tyres, positioning the bike nicely into the downcountry segment.
Rondo takes two giant leaps forward with the Gen 2 RUUT
Polish brand Rondo has been making waves with its love-it-or-hate-it aesthetic. The new RUUT now gets a space-age frame design and updates that focus on comfort and ease of life.
All-new Stumpjumper trail bike gets proprietary Genie shock and adjustable geometry
Since 1981, Specialized's Stumpjumper has been a staple on the mountain bike scene. Now, celebrating its 50th year in the trade, Specialized is commemorating the occasion with the very latest edition, the Stumpjumper 15, and the brand says that it combines the benefits of big and small travel thanks to its new Genie technology.
All-new Merida Big.Trail hardtail mountain bike is progressive and affordable
The Merida Big.Trail is a trail hardtail that's repeatedly gone down well with our testers while being loved by mountain bike newcomers everywhere. Today, Merida has graced the bike with a well-deserved update, shifting its sizing towards its Agilometer concept while giving it the most progressive geometry in this price bracket with an incredibly competitive price tag.
DJI enters the e-MTB space with Avinox motor and Amflow bike
Historically known for its pioneering drones and camera technology, DJI has entered the e-mountain bike space not only announcing its new Avinox motor but also a complete Ampflow e-MTB. And the brand isn't doing things by halves either as it says the the motor outputs 105Nm of torque and weighs 19.2kg. Here's everything we know about DJI's surprise entry into e-mountain biking.