THIS WAS THE BIKE THAT GOT US CLOSEST TO RIP PING OFF THERE ARTY RE OR HAULING HIGHER AND FURTHER OFF JUMPS

Seven hundred quid gets you a fair bit of bike these days, but where’s the best place to buy and which of these four is best?

There was a time when cheaper mountain bikes tended to be heavier rehashes of brands’ cross-country (XC) race bikes, with upright, uptight geometry, sketchy tyres and twangy forks. Pushing them hard was a sure-fire way to get white knuckles – and possibly put you off riding for life. Things have changed though. Product managers have realised that riders on lower budgets still want to shred, and decent geometry doesn’t add much, if any, cost. Add the gradual trickle-down of tech from pricier models, and it’s now possible to get decent kit on a progressively shaped frame for well under £1,000.

But where to buy? The pricing advantage of online-only brands and chain ‘superstores’ over independent bike shops is obvious at all levels, but particularly within this bracket, where you get a much better spec for your money. Don’t underestimate the importance of being able to take

a bike for a test ride though, and decent after-sales support can also pay dividends, especially if you’re new to the sport.

All the bikes in this test have alloy frames. These are relatively light, and the tube shapes can be manipulated to get what the manufacturer wants out of the bike. Geometry varies – what we’re after are dimensions and angles that don’t leave you terrified at the sight of a loose corner. In equipment terms, 1x drivetrains, bolt-through forks and grippy tyres are obvious plus-points. At this price, we’re also keen on bikes that are ripe for upgrading, so that as your riding improves, or your budget grows, you can bolt better bits onto the frame instead of having to buy a new bike.

We thrashed all four bikes round our local steep, woody, rooty tracks to get a feel for grip and shape, and did some harder-paced efforts at trail centres to see how comfy and confident they felt at speed.