VW ID.BUZZ £56,244

From bargain British Gas Caddys to expensively tricked-up Transporters, mountain bikers love a VW van. And having electrified your riding with that expensive battery-assisted bike, how better to express your lifestyle credentials than arriving at the trailhead in a fully electric VW van?

The Id.buzz turns heads for its cute retro styling, riffing as it does on the iconic hippy campers of old. It’s even got the engine in the back and driving the rear wheels just like the original, though in this instance it’s a powerful and silent electric motor rather than a spluttering petrol-fuelled one. Which is probably for the best.

No doubt, the Id.buzz looks super-cool. And the fanboys will be licking their lips at the potential customisation options. But is it any good for getting your bike to where you want to ride it?

Although it identifies as a van, the Buzz is actually based on passenger car foundations shared with the VW ID.3, ID.4 and others. So, the space inside isn’t as generous as you’d hope and you can forget dreams of sliding your bikes in, wheels on. Not to mention the havoc oily chains, muddy tyres and spiky pedals will wreak on that fancy, pastel-hued interior trim. With a starting price just shy of £60,000 and options like the two-tone paint adding additional thousands to the cost, it’s hardly cheap, either.

The (slightly) more affordable Cargo version is probably of more interest, but the cab will be a squeeze for three, and better in its two-seater configuration. The space behind the bulkhead will be perfect for two bikes clamped lengthways on some custom racking, and VW has some nifty detachable bags that clip to internal rails to stash your riding kit. But, realistically, the load capacity is still more Caddy than Transporter.

With a real-world range of a little over 200 miles on a fully-charged battery, the Buzz should get you to where you want to ride as well. And compared with that rattly diesel in your current van, the silence and refinement of the electric drive will be a revelation.

But will you be able to get back? Given our experiences of flaky infrastructure in places like Wales and Scotland, you may have to keep your riding local until trail centres start installing chargers as a matter of course –

Cwmcarn is among those leading the way. Once that becomes the norm, the idea of your Buzz charging up for the journey home while you shred the trails looks very appealing.

For well-heeled empty nesters living the electrified dream on two or four wheels, fashion statements don’t come much louder. volkswagen-vans.co.uk

QUANTUM LEAP

Rab is getting into mountain biking in a big way, with a dedicated Cinder range coming in 2023. In the meantime, the Vapour-rise Alpine Light Jacket is made from Pertex Quantum, is built to be windproof and breathable, and has a DWR coating for light rain. £145, rab.equipment

HEAD LOCK

Abus has two sharp new gravity-focused helmets in its range. The Cliffhanger is an open-face design with extended head coverage at the rear. It features all the usual high-end helmet features such as MIPS, magnetic Fidlock buckle, height-adjustable tightening system, an adjustable peak that allows you to park your goggles out of the way on the climbs (branded Goggfit!), and EPS moulded into the outer shell.

The Airdrop is a full-face enduro helmet with a focus on ventilation, and a breakaway peak. Swappable cheek-pads tune the fit, as does the ‘Zoom Ace FF’ adjustment system, and there are softer EVA sections on the outside that are said to protect your collarbone in a crash.

Both helmets look and feel pretty premium and are compatible with Abus’s own QUIN crash detection system. The Cliffhanger comes as a NON-MIPS version too for £20 less. £179.99 (Cliffhanger MIPS),

£259.99 (Airdrop MIPS), extra.co.uk