CANNONDALE TRAIL 2

TThis bike is a bargain, considering what you get. Cannondale make great aluminium frames, and the Trail is no exception – the frame is light and stiff, with a simple, elegant design.

There’s literally nothing you have to upgrade: the brakes are Shimano Deore hydraulic; the shock is a RockShox Judy Gold RL with 100mm of travel; and the rest of the parts are a mix of 1x11 Shimano XT and SLX, with an 11-46 Sunrace cassette.

All in, you’re looking at a 13kg bike that’s perfectly suited to a mix of riding. It’s not a burly trail bike like the Roscoe 8 (despite its name), but it’s very happy on dirt roads, jeep tracks and less technical trails. The only thing I’d add is a dropper post.