Commencal Meta TR V4.2 Essential

Commencal’s trail-focused Meta is a whole bag of fun that’s most suited to flat-out fast riders looking for a little bike to chuck around. It feels like a 4X bike of old, loving to get airtime and slap its way around tight corners in the woods. The low front end and balanced front-to-rear feel mean you can really load the front wheel to get the 27.5x2.3in Maxxis Minion tyre digging into the dirt, while the Spank Oozy wheels are stiff and direct without being harsh. It’s not quite as composed as some of the 29ers here when the trail gets lumpy, or as rapid at covering ground, but it’s still a serious amount of fun and perfect for messing about on on a Saturday afternoon.

£2,650* www.commencal-store.co.uk