This week's tech news has been a mix of all things mountain biking. We've seen new tyre inserts from CushCore, an XC bike from Berria, a new Raleigh Chopper reissue, new tyres from Hutchinson and a motor from Bosch. We've also had a proper look at what makes SRAM SX and NX drivetrains great budget-friendly options and had an in-depth look at how upgrading your wheels is best done - and let's not forget our ongoing competition! Here are all the best tech news stories of the week. 

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Win £440 worth of Gusset Components prizes

This is not tech news as such, but the prizes in our latest competition are too good for any tech nerd to miss... 

The competition has 1st, 2nd, and five 3rd place prizes up for grabs worth a total of £440, ranging from grips to saddles and handlebars.

To see all the details and enter the competition - you have until 3 July to do so, click the link below. 

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CushCore adds an e-MTB-specific tyre insert to its roster

CushCore, one of the leading tyre insert makers, has added yet another insert to the line-up. The CushCore E-MTB is meant for electric mountain bikes that are often heavier and slightly speedier than regular mountain bikes.

The new tyre insert looks much like the other tyre inserts in CushCore’s range and is even made of the same foam composition. It’s the profile of the insert, however, which has been tweaked to better absorb any bumps. 

The E-MTB version is available in 650b and 29in wheel sizes and will fit tyre sizes from 2.3in up to 2.8in. 

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SRAM SX vs NX – budget Eagle drivetrains explained

When you are starting out with cycling, it’s often the drivetrain numbers and models that can be extremely confusing. In this feature, we look at SRAM’s two most budget-friendly mountain bike groupsets: SX and NX. 

If you’re looking at the most affordable option to upgrade your 9, 10 or 11-speed drivetrain to something that has become the modern standard - 1x12 system - SRAM Eagle NX and SX are some of the best options. 

If you want to know what the advantages and drawbacks of these two drivetrains are, read the full feature below. 

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Bosch releases lightweight Performance Line SX e-bike motor

Bosch is a well-known maker of e-bike motors, and its Performance Line is the crème de la crème of the lineup. Now, the German brand has introduced a new motor to the range: the SX, boasting a light 2kg weight and when paired with the new battery, the system weighs about 4kg. 

The battery that Bosch has launched In conjunction with the new Performance Line SX motor, is the CompactTube 400 with 400Wh power, weighing another 2kg. The battery can be paired with a 250Wh range extender for even longer miles. 

The new products are targeted not only at e-mtb’s but also e-gravel bikes and urban e-hybrids. The customisable motor tunes now include ‘SPRNT’ mode, which is specifically aimed at gravel sprints, and Bosch has also added a drop-bar compatible Mini Remote Dropbar controller, which attaches to the left side of the stem on drop-bar bikes. 

There have also been a few updates to the Bosch Smart System products, most notably in the form of the Purion 200 high-resolution colour display. Find out all the details by clicking the link below. 

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Hutchinson unveils the Wyrm - a trail-specific MTB tyre

Hutchinson has introduced its newest tyre Wyrm, which is bridging the gap between the Kraken 2.4 and the enduro-focused Griffus. With its aggressive but low-profile tread pattern, it’s a tyre aimed towards those who are after a grippy all-weather set-up or a faster rolling rear tyre.

Despite falling between two mountain bike disciplines, Hutchinson says the Wrym can be run on its own or paired with faster rolling tyres from the brand's cross-country range - or even the enduro range. 

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Berria's Bravo XC soft tail MTB gets vibration-damping tech

This season, we’ve seen mountain bike brands bring out cross-country mountain bikes that seemingly would not be too out of place on some much rowdier trails, either. Berria's latest launch, the Bravo, is a cross-country mountain bike that in essence packs a lot of the features of a full-suspension bike into a hardtail package.  

The Bravo XC is made with a high-modulus HM2X carbon fibre monocoque frame that has a claimed weight of 999g.

The frame is designed to take a 110mm suspension fork and you should be able to fit on 2.4in wide mountain bike tyres. All cabling is fully internal on the Bravo, keeping them away from the elements, and Berria has also added in 'AMS' (Anti Mud System) which it says stops the frame from accumulating mud in order to reduce the resistance mud build-up can create.

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Raleigh Chopper now available in 70s-inspired colourways

We have for sure lost track of how many times the 60’s iconic Raleigh Chopper has been re-released. There isn't too much to say here except the bike is back again, this time in two limited-edition colourways.

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The hub of the matter: why new wheels – and especially Elitewheels' Frequency hub – could reinvigorate your ride

Arguably the most significant upgrade you can do to your trusty bike is levelling up the wheels. The rather simple upgrade is made harder only because of the sheer number of options available out there. 

We’ve partnered up with Elitewheels to unravel what you really should pay attention to if you want to elevate your old hoops to the Elite level. 

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