Latest Mountain Biking Kit

Mountain bike kit evolves year-by-year, and who better to guide us through the latest trends in mountain biking than the guys down at Zero G, Chamonix's bike shop.

2009 is here, and with it comes a variety of different bits and bobs with which to spec out - or even replace - your bike. It's a confusing time of year, with some companies just giving last year's product a quick spraypaint, and other companies changing everything from scratch.

Let's take a look at some of the new big themes in mountain biking and assess their worth.

Let's face it; biking gear has never been particularly sexy. Slim-cut shirts have a habit of hanging onto flabby bits, shorts that are not quite long enough, scratchy seams. Thankfully, due to two new lines, that's all ancient history.

Mavic bike clothing, which is brand new this year, comes from the fine minds at Mavic down in Annecy, not 80km from Chamonix. A byword for strength and durability from their standard-setting bike wheels, Mavic's clothing is flattering, incredibly comfortable and light, and dead technical. Our favourite piece is a sleeveless wife-beater undershirt, which goes under your biking t-shirt and increases performance by increasing your core balance and stability.

Gore Bike Wear has been around a while but is being noticed more and more by the biking cognescenti; its technical fabrics, flatteringly-cut shorts and tops and windproof jackets feel exceptionally comfortable for biking.

Track pumps have now become so affordable there really shouldn't be a biking household without one. Fairly basic innovations, these foot-stabilised, dual-hand pumps inflate bike tyres in a fraction of the time taken by a hand-pump, and have a handy pressure gauge on them. With tyres at correct pressure, punctures become a thing of the past. Get one!

WE RECOMMEND:
Specialized Airtool Sport - €35

Call it a recession, call it an 'adverse economic climate', call it what you like. Right now people are still buying bikes, but instead of going for fads, people want value. And there's plenty of value out there right now. It's a great time to practise your negotiation skills to attempt to knock a couple of percent off the cost of a new bike. This year's Specialized Pitch Comp enduro for example, comes with tasty componentry vastly upgraded from last year's model...for the same price tag. Specialized's new Tahoe shoe is a shoe in which you can ride clipped-in, or with flats thanks to their excellent sole.

When you do decide for a product, plump for one that lasts. Simple & strong are watchwords. Look for companies with years of experience making quality materials, and ones that back their frames for at least five years. We're still servicing Hardrock mountain bikes that we sold back in 1994!

WE RECOMMEND:
Specialized Pitch Comp MTB - €1699

This is the bike that turned Christoph Sauser's debut test-ride into a World Cup Championship win.

The Epic, Specialized's ultra-lightweight cross-country attack weapon, has got a brand new frame for 2009. They've changed the shock position so it's horizontal and between your legs, rather than angled back on the seatstay. Rumour has it the 2010 Stumpjumper is going to look something like this...but for now, the Epic's sporting the Championship colours, winning not just the World Championship as well as Vélo Vert's Bike of the Year awards.

WE RECOMMEND:
Epic Comp MTB - €2499

The SX has always been Spec's bombproof middle-of-range 'options' bike - this year it's got even better. Sam Hill specced one out for a 4x race with a triple-crown Boxxer fork on the front; we've seen them sent very light with long stems for enduro-type riding: we've seen them go heavyweight for Whistler-style jump trails. The colour of the SX Trail 2 has got to be seen to be believed; a spectral mix between orange, bronze, ochre and gold. The top tube has the curves of a mermaid, and the whole package simply makes your eyes feel good.

WE RECOMMEND:
SX Trail II - €3699

Once you've got your bike, why stop there? Make it yours by adding a bling pair of pedals, some custom valve caps to the wheels, upgrading your brake hoses, putting a funky-coloured handlebar on or simply changing your seatpost clamp or grips.

British parts company Hope lead the way with bike-pimping; if a custom laser-etched brake lever isn't your thing, how about a brake disc with your name cut out around the outside?

WE RECOMMEND:
www.hopegb.com

Finally, rumour has it that there's a Club forming for this summer to help bikers to get around the valley; organised rides, lifts to Vallorcine, Les Houches and the Merlet park. It's true that the maximum-five-bikes rule on the train really limits one's ability to get around, so the Club's van and trailer will be a welcome relief.

So, there's plenty of stuff to get excited about, even in these purse-string-tightening times. Biking's never been such good value, and by checking out the above bits-and-bobs, you'll be able to cruise around on your reasonably-priced, long-lasting new Epic, wearing bum-flattering attire, with correctly-pressured tyres, with pimped out pedals and brake discs. The Petit Balcon Sud won't know what hit it.

All the products mentioned above are available in-store at Zero G, or through their website at www.zerogchx.com. Zero G is open 09.00-12.30, 15.30-19.00 every day of the year. They do bike rental, bike sales and have a renowned four-mechanic bike workshop for road biking and MTB.