Really quite a spiffing energy boost on a freezing December day: luxuriously dark and won't freeze iron hard like Dairy Milk as the temperatures plummet. All good food shoppy shops.
Penned by Trash Zen.com's Julien Happich, this small volume is all you need to know about on-bike gymnastics. A full history of trials, details of bike set-up, geometry and necessary kit is included along with ultra-detailed step by step how-tos of every move. This IS comprehensive & though some of the terminology can be a little confusing when trying to describe body language, this superb book WILL make you a better rider! www.tartybikes.co.uk
I remember Halo from the dirt-jumping days and expect this chap to be tough! Fresh from the box, it's blingy, light (960g) and well put together, with a clicky Hope style freehub. Available in QR with 15mm adapters flavour, black or silver, tubeless ready. Check out wiggle.co.uk
Nicely package with no plastic, this eco-friendly bamboo base layer has more ethical credentials than Hugh Fernely-whittingstall. So far it's proving as warm as merino and is a nice snug fit for riding (I'd buy bigger than my usual size to use it as a casual Tee). Well priced and all good really - BUY BRITISH! www.trail42.co.uk
The hard shell Real Jet from eco-lid company Urge packs loads of protection and gives you the 1999 dual slalom look in one package. Full face is overkill for most regular riding, but for nuts-in-the-woods HT duties, this helmet proves reassuringly strong and surprisingly light and comfortable. You do look like you need a Beta moto-trials to go with it though. www.urgebike.com
If you're looking for some solid, super-light flats, these pedals from trials company Echo offer loads of grip with a wide concave platform and 10 fully removable pins per side (mini spanner included). They are a very respectable 332g per pair, come in ten anodized colours and have easily serviceable bearings. Testing them with one pin per corner for maximum weight on each pin seems to offer up loads of grip, and so far they seem 'as tough as.' Check out: www.tartybikes.co.uk
Believe the hype! If you ride on flat pedals Five Ten's 'stealth' rubber works. As a long-term platform pedal user, I've had a go at many shoe and pedal options (inc. the awesome waffle sole of Vans) and the grip offered up by these shoes is the most superior I have found. These guys make rock climbing shoes after all, and boy do they grip to pedals with pins! I personally found earlier models too chunky, but these are nice n flexy, yet still stiff. www.fiveten.com
It's so 2005! Personalize everything with free stickers...cover rubbish paint jobs, poor graphics and disguise hair line fractures! Go on, be 12 years old gain!