Our picks of the stands at this year's London Bike Show - Oliver Woodman/Immediate Media
Empire's VX8 downhill frame is available in short and long sizes. With 202mm of travel, it's UK made and will cost £1,399 with a Vivid coil - Oliver Woodman/Immediate Media
A built-up example of Empire's new VX8 downhill rig - Oliver Woodman/Immediate Media
By switching this hardware in and out the VX8 can be ran with either 26in or 650b hoops - Oliver Woodman/Immediate Media
Agricultural looks won't please everyone, but it certainly appears tough - Oliver Woodman/Immediate Media
The high pivot point on the single pivot AX8 makes this idler wheel necessary. It was carried over from Empire's AP-1 downhill bike - Oliver Woodman/Immediate Media
Charge had this 27.5 Cooker Midi protoype on display, which will almost certainly make it to production - Oliver Woodman/Immediate Media
2.8in rubber such as this WTB Trailblazer could well become a regular sight - Oliver Woodman/Immediate Media
The Superstar Components ratio expander is UK made and will set you back just £30. It's Shimano-only for the time being, though - Oliver Woodman/Immediate Media
The long awaited 30t version of Superstar's I/O narrow wide style chainring is now available - Oliver Woodman/Immediate Media
Superstar is toying with the idea of ovalised narrow/wide rings - Oliver Woodman/Immediate Media
Top is Superstar's new Helium carbon bar. Coming in at a claimed 174g, the 750mm flat bar retails at only £70 - Oliver Woodman/Immediate Media
Empire's MX6 Evo trail bike still represents good value at £2,599 - Oliver Woodman/Immediate Media
These Silicone Spirals from Fibrax should quieten things down and minimise cable rub. That's the idea anyway.. luckily we've got some in to test - Oliver Woodman/Immediate Media
Fibrax Silicone Spirals will also be available in these workshop sized tubs - Oliver Woodman/Immediate Media
Brendog's Gambler is a beast - Oliver Woodman/Immediate Media
Stanton's Switchback Ti is what happens when you love hardtails and have serious wonga to blow - Oliver Woodman/Immediate Media
The police were on hand to demonstrate the difficulties lorry drivers face when it comes to driving alongside cyclists, understanding that this is key to keeping safe on the roads - Oliver Woodman/Immediate Media
Intense levels of bikeporn were on display - James Tennant/Immediate Media
Hope's prototype cassete was once again on display -it has a wide 10-40T range, with nice and even 20 per cent increments between the gears - James Tennant/Immediate Media
Hope are pretty close to providing a complete drivetrain solution - James Tennant/Immediate Media
The Sarma Shaman full carbon fat bike is as eye catching as ever - James Tennant/Immediate Media
.. even more so at this angle! - James Tennant/Immediate Media
We've already sampled the halls of this year’s London Bike Show and plucked the most interesting mountain bike flavoured news out for you to see.
Empire Cycles VX8 downhill frame
Empire vx8 downhill frame, available in short/long sizes, 202mm of travel, uk made and £1,399 with a vivid coil:
Bolton-based company Empire Cycles has released an all-new downhill frame. The VX8 will be available in short/long sizes and, despite being made in the UK, will retail at £1,399 with a Vivid coil shock or £1,599 with a Cane Creek Double Barrel.
Currently there are only four of these frames in existence as the company prepares to scale up its production. Empire also had its MX6-EVO trail bike on display, a UK made trail tamer that retails for £2,599.
Charge Cooker Midi 27.5+ prototype
Charge had this 27.5 cooker midi protoype on display, the bike will almost certainly make it to production:
Charge has gone all 27.5+ on us with this prototype Cooker Midi. Sitting pretty on WTB’s 2.8in Trailblazer tyres, the prototype boasted a cheekily restickered MRP fork. The Charge boys were happy to confirm that this one will be making it to production but by the time it does it’ll bear little resemblance to this test mule.
New bits from Superstar Components
Top is superstar's new helium carbon bar, coming in at a claimed 174g the 750mm flat bar retails at only £70:
Superstar Components had more of its bargainous UK-made alloy components on display including a long awaited 30t version of its I/O narrow-wide style chainrings; like the other sizes they’ll retail for just £26.99. Prototype narrow/wide oval rings were also on display but as yet we're unsure if these will make production.
Superstar also now offers a 40t ratio expander – designed for use with Shimano cassettes – which retails for £29.99, while a SRAM compatible version is still in the pipeline. A new handlebar was also on display – the Helium is a 750mm flat carbon bar that comes in at a claimed 174g, and it’ll only be £70.
Fibrax silicone spirals
These silicone spirals from fibrax should quieten things down and minimise cable rub, that's the idea anyway.. we've got some in to test:
Fibrax had these new and nifty silicone spiral frame protectors on display. Designed to minimise rubbing from cables and hoses, these removable and washable parts are sold in packs of six for a fiver. You can have them in white, red or black.
Flick through our gallery above for more picture highlights.
Former BikeRadar staffer Oli is passionate about anything with wheels and/or an engine or motor. A keen eye for technical detail and a general curiosity for how things work often gives Oli a unique insight into products he's either testing or writing about. An unhealthy interest in older motor vehicles keeps him poor but happy.
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