BIRD FORGE £695 frame £2,900 custom build + p&p

Just launched, the Forge has the most expensive frame here, but the full build is ridiculously good value. Pricing isn’t 100 per cent confirmed as we go to print, but a top-end Formula fork, solid wheels and tyres, and a full SRAM wireless groupset for under £3k is impressive. The steel frame – Bird’s first – has a similar shape to our other contenders, but with a slammed bottom bracket. How much difference does this make on the trail?