This is the best downhill fork I\u2019ve ridden. Okay, I admit there are some out there I haven\u2019t tried, such as the latest Manitou Dorado<\/a> and \u00d6hlins DH38 M.1<\/a> forks, but the BoXXer packs a punch and is an extremely capable performer.<\/p> My appreciation of this fork was helped by spending a couple of weeks in Whistler, British Columbia, and several days in Morzine riding it. <\/p> It turns screams of terror as I nearly crash into whoops and laughs, salvaging my sketchy riding as I hurtle down a mountainside pretending I\u2019m 23 years younger than I am.<\/p> The BoXXer Ultimate delivers brilliant comfort, impressive support and a burly new chassis, earning it a place among the best suspension forks<\/a>. <\/p> It was the first downhill fork I really wanted back in my youth, and to this day the BoXXer\u2019s red lower legs stand out as an item of desirability. I\u2019m happy to say this fork’s performance is as good as its heritage. <\/p> <\/p> I suffer from a limited choice of mountain bike shoes<\/a> and, for me, they need to be white. So, when Crankbrothers released its shoe range, it was good to see this colour option become available.<\/p> The Mallet Boa Clip shoes are strong performers with great comfort, moderate breathability and weight, and a gravity-focused cleat recess that allows for plenty of setback. I also like the Boa dials’ ease of use and tensioning. These shoes tick a lot of boxes.<\/p> Since I got them earlier this year, they\u2019ve been on pretty much every ride with me, until I started testing winter shoes late this autumn. Trail rides, downhill laps and plenty of enduro loops, these have tackled everything with a robustness that saved my toes on plenty of occasions.<\/p> Sure, they\u2019re a little stained, but until the next pair of stylish white MTB shoes are released, these will be my go-to pair. <\/p> <\/p> These knee pads<\/a> were supposed to be part of a lightweight trail pad group test. However, they were too robust for the category, making them ideal for the aggressive trail and enduro riding I do most often.<\/p> They\u2019re still lightweight enough for all-day pedalling duties, thanks to their strapless sleeved design, which holds the pads in place well. <\/p> The knitted construction is impressively comfortable with good compression. They breathe well too, especially considering there\u2019s a cut-out at the rear ensuring material doesn\u2019t bunch behind the knees. <\/p> The AirFlex gel protection hardens on impact and the additional hard shell should help your knees skid rather than thud during impacts. <\/p> Fortunately, I\u2019ve only had to put them to the test once, crashing a downhill bike while trying to show off in front of former downhill world cup champion Matt Walker. My hip, elbow, shoulder and ego were shredded, but my knees were fine. <\/p> As a caveat, I don\u2019t recommend these for downhill riding, but as a trail-riding or enduro pad, these are great, if a little expensive. <\/p> It\u2019s strange to have included a non-mountain biking product in my list. However, when I got my mitts on SRAM\u2019s Force XPLR groupset for my gravel bike (read my commuting bike and Tour of Flanders ride \u2013 I don\u2019t ride gravel), it was an electronic gear revelation.<\/p> I don\u2019t have electronic gears on my long-term test bike<\/a>, but I\u2019ve tested plenty of mountain bikes<\/a> with them fitted. I\u2019ve been impressed, but this was the first time I was amazed by how smooth drivetrains can be.<\/p> Maybe it’s because of the rough treatment mountain bike drivetrains<\/a> receive, being bashed, knocked and covered in muck, but they\u2019re still not quite flawless.<\/p>Crankbrothers Mallet Boa Clip<\/h2>
![\"Crankbrothers](\"https:\/\/c02.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/39\/2023\/12\/AM9A1334-scaled.jpg\")
Leatt AirFlex Hybrid knee pads<\/h2>
![\"Leatt](\"https:\/\/c02.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/39\/2023\/12\/AM9A1347-scaled.jpg\")
SRAM Force XPLR groupset<\/h2>
![\"SRAM](\"https:\/\/c02.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/39\/2023\/12\/AM9A1317-scaled.jpg\")