ROB’S NUKE PROOF SCOUT 275 COMP£ 1,699.99

Now winter has set in, Rob’s in need of more traction

Having spent serious time on a number of long-travel trail/enduro bikes over the past few weeks, jumping back on the Scout has highlighted a couple of things.

First off, the lack of rear suspension quickly reminds you that you can’t be sloppy with line choice. That said, I’m always blown away by just how confident the Scout feels, especially when things start to get steep.

Second, the heavy-hitting trail bikes have all been equipped with relatively tacky tyres, and while the Scout’s plump Maxxis Minion DHFs are nice and predictable, the dual-compound rubber just isn’t quite as steadfast now that the rocks and roots are getting a watering from Mother Nature. Don’t get me wrong, they’re still at home on anything

manmade, but on my most recent outing, round a lap of rooty natural singletrack, I soon found myself getting fired across the trail and left scrabbling for control. It only happened a few times, but I’m keen to put something a little stickier up front.

Another thing I’ve noticed when riding mellower terrain, not just winching up hills to hack back down, is that I could do with a bigger chainring. The Scout’s 32t ring has been handy on a lot of the steeper climbs on my local loop, but as soon as the average speed picks up, I’ve found myself close to the bottom of the cassette. While that’s no major drama in itself, it does mean there’s a bit more slack in the chain so it slaps around a bit. www.hotlines-uk.com