HOT WHEELS!

ROB WEAVER

With over two decades of riding experience, Rob knows what works and what doesn’t

JAME CO

 TLEY-WHITE TOM MARVIN

The only thing Tom loves more than his clapped-out VW Caddy is hammering test kit

LUKE MARSHALL

Keen racer Luke is quick to identify what helps or is a hindrance between the tape

ALEX EVANS

Many years of breaking bikes means Alex can give reliable buying advice

ED THOMSETT

Always on the hunt for new technical challenges, Ed gives his gear some serious abuse

This has certainly not been a normal year by any stretch of the imagination. Who could’ve predicted that we’d be confined to our homes for nearly three months due to a global pandemic as we ushered in 2020? While things were running to plan for the first couple of months, just after our massive Bike of the Year test went into circulation, the world took a turn for the worse. As a result, we weren’t able to run parts of the magazine in their usual format, largely down to the fact that we were unable to get out and safely test bikes. With restrictions lifting and access to trails no longer an issue, we’ve been out and about putting some of the new models that were launched while we were cooped up indoors through their paces.

SOME SHOWCASE CUTTING-EDGE TECH, SOME ILLUSTRATE CURRENT GEOMETRY TRENDS, ONE HIGHLIGHTS AN EMERGING BIKE CATEGORY

This is far from a regular biketest. Not only because these machines differ so vastly in price, but because they’re designed for different types of riding. We’ve managed to squeeze in everything from a lightning-quick cross-country whippet to a heavy-hitting bike park bruiser, and we’ve even got a nice new e-MTB in there for good measure too. Some of these showcase the latest in cutting-edge technology, some help to illustrate current trends in geometry, while one highlights an emerging bike category that we’re big fans of here at the mag. We hope that there’s something in here for everyone. Naturally, because these bikes have been designed with differing intentions in mind, this isn’t a comparative test. Instead, each bike has been reviewed individually and scored on its own merits. So, kick back and get reading about some of the best bikes launched during lockdown.

SPECIALIZED STATUS 160

£2,399The big S unveil their new budget big-hitter, the Status

Our pages haven’t been graced by a Specialized Status since 2014, when it really impressed us. It’s now back in the US brand’s line-up and built with the same aim of letting riders get buck wild for fewer bucks.

The frame

The Status is one of just a few ‘off the shelf’ bikes to sport a 29in front wheel and