In a world of carbon fibre everything, is Canyon's Spectral AL all the bike you really need? Plus more cool stuff from Orbea, Muc-Off, Funn + Leatt
A simple alloy mountain bike, e-gravel goodness and an electronic inflator as well as this week's best stories.
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Posh bikes, fresh drivetrains and the best stories of the week.
As well as this week's best stories.
The five coolest things to come into the office alongside this week's top news.
This week's Five Cool Things and the top stories of the week.
With this week's Five Cool Things, we're bang on trend as we check out Canyon's latest alloy mountain bike, Orbea's e-gravel ripper, and Muc-Off's electric tyre inflator as the brand jumps on cycling's latest gravy train. But that's not all, as we've got fresh clipless pedals from Funn, as well as Leatt's trend-setting lightweight but breathable goggles.
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But first, let's recap what happened in the world of off-road cycling this week, and it's been a biggie with perhaps the biggest news being the unveiling of Orbea's all-new Rallon. It's a bike that's already won a UCI Downhill World Series event, but in an exciting twist, it remains as the Basque brand's flagship enduro bike thanks to its GravityLink. Ride Concepts then unveiled its first-ever mountain bike helmets, and Mondraker brought alloy-framed models to its Arid gravel bike.
In other news, we check out what might be the best motorsports-inspired mountain bike we've seen yet in Andi Sykes' Alfa-Romeo-inspired Privateer 161 build, and sadly, the legendary Stif Mountain Bikes has announced its closure in September.
As for features and reviews, we get up close and personal with Canyon's suspension-equipped Grail and dive deep into everything RockShox forks in our 'Which RockShox fork is right for you in 2025?' guide. Anyway, on with the cool things.
Canyon Spectral AL 6
£2,800
2025 canyon spectral AL 5ct.jpg, by Liam Mercer
Is this all the mountain bike you really need? Well, it may well be as Canyon has taken its very well-received Spectral CF platform, and has given it a simplified alloy frame. I say simplified because while getting the same geometry as its carbon fibre range-mate, it doesn't get all of the bells and whistles, which we argue you don't really need anyway. Then, thanks to that frame, it's set to bring the performance of the most up-to-date Spectral platform to a more accessible price, with prices starting at £2,150.
However, the bike we have on test sits pretty in the middle of the new Spectral AL range, and it features a build kit that's very tough to sniff at for the money. It's got everything you need, and nothing you don't. Its 150mm of front suspension is provided by the Fox 36 Performance Elite with its now dated, but still rather effective GRIP2 damper. The 140mm of rear travel is handled by Fox's Float X Performance Shock.
Components from Shimano's SLX range sort the going and slowing duties while DT Swiss provides its XM1900 wheels, which are wrapped with a pair of Maxxis DHR II tyres with EXO casings and MaxxTerra rubber. Complete with a cockpit and seatpost from Canyon's G5 range, I bet that the bike delivers a solid ride but without all of the pricy frills.
Orbea Denna M20i
£7,300
2025 orbea denna 5ct.jpg, by Liam Mercer
Although the brand has a strong reputation for its e-mountain bikes, the Denna is its first dip of the toe into e-gravel. It's built for exploration thanks to plenty of range provided by its 420Wh battery that powers its RC Tuned, Shimano EP8-RS motor.
On an e-gravel bike, you're going to be travelling faster, so Orbea has tuned the Denna's carbon layup with controlled flex both in its frame and its very own Denna carbon fork. Further vibration damping is provided thanks to its clearance for up to fat 50mm tyres.
The M20i model we've got here is sorted with a Shimano Ultegra/XT drivetrain, so you've got drop bar shifters combined with a mountain bike derailleur and cassette, which is often referred to as a mullet setup between gravellers. Orbea's components brand Oquo brings the wheels, and they're sorted with a set of Vittoria Terreno Dry tyres.
As expected from Orbea, the Denna's colourway is configurable through the brand's MyO system, and our test bike is a great example of what can be done with it...
Muc-Off AirMach Electric Mini Inflator - Pro
£100
2025 muc off inflator 5ct.jpg, by Liam Mercer
Electric pumps are all the rage at the moment, and we're here to see what the fuss is all about. Although Muc-Off's AirMach Pro is quite a bit more expensive than a mini pump, it's set to do all of the hard work for you. Designed for 'riders who prefer riding to pumping', the AirMach Pro is built with aircraft-grade aluminium and claims to inflate up to 120psi.
It's compatible with both Presta and Schrader valves thanks to its knurled and anodised head, and with its small screen, it can show you the tyre's current pressure in real time. Muc-Off then says it can inflate up to four tyres on one charge.
Funn Ripper2 clipless pedals
2025 funn ripper 2 pedals 5ct.jpg, by Liam Mercer
Funn has revamped its Ripper clipless pedals and has unveiled the Ripper2. While it's still a platformed clipless pedal that uses the Shimano SPD mechanism, the brand has awarded it with an all-new shape. Now, it's larger, which should provide more support, and it gets more pins per side - eight, in fact.
As it uses the SPD mechanism, it gets the very same tension adjustment but it uses what Funn calls the AES, or Angular Engagement System, so like some older Shimano pedals, the mechanism tilts within its platform for easy engagement but once engaged, the platform is said to provide support and excellent pedal feel. The platform is then shaped with chamfered edges in a bid to increase clearance and help the pedal slide over trail obstacles in the event of a pedal strike.
It's built from forged and CNC machined 6061 aluminium, it spins on a cartridge bearing and a DU bushing and uses a CrMo axle. It's then available in dual and single sided options.
Leatt Velocity 4.0 X-Flow goggles
£70
2025 leatt xflow goggle 5ct.jpg, by Liam Mercer
Before Fox's open-shell specific Purvue goggles were Leatt's 4.0 X-Flow goggles. Although they're not strictly built for use with open-face helmets, they're built to bring serious airflow to the goggle game. That's thanks to vents at both the top and bottom of the goggle and a mesh strap that promises helmet ventilation, even when the vents are covered.
These goggles get Leatt's RideViz lens, which is a three-layer laminate lens that gets anti-fog and anti-scratch coatings. It's then available with either the brand's Iriz lens or the standard clear lens.
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