The Brands

Lapierre has a high profile in its native France, a profile in no way hindered by being the bike of choice for multiple World Champion Nico Vouilloz (who's enjoying one of those Ned Overend-style "retirements" that doesn't appear to involve giving up bike racing). We've encountered Lapierre at trade shows but its expanding export portfolio hadn't reached the UK. Until now - Hotlines Europe has stepped up the plate with a distribution deal that will begin with the 2008 range .

Lapierre has a long history, having been founded in 1946 by Gaston Lapierre in Dijon, France. The company's production and R&D is still based there. Obviously it wasn't doing MTBs in 1946, but today there's a full range of mountain and road bikes.

German brand Cube are slowly setting up a UK dealer network. We've been impressed by the bikes we've seen so far, especially the 'choose your own finishing parts' options. You can either go for a frame and fork with headset and stem, or a complete bike with your choice of groupset, fork and brakes. Either way, value for money is excellent and build quality is superb.
Check them out you will not be dissapointed!

Many bike companies say they have an uncompromised commitment to innovation, quality and performance. But how many of them can back that up?
Giant's Global group of creative-thinking, rider-focused designers, engineers and crafpeople have free rein to forge cycling's future. They're able to put unique resources like the C-Tech composite factory, the Techno-Center engineering think tank, and Giant's dedicated manufacturing facilities to work day or night, no matter when an idea comes to them or inspiration stikes.

Intense Cycles is known for its handcrafted, championship-winning race frames, and is regarded by many as the “Ferrari of the mountain bike industry.” How does a company born in 1992 gather such a prestigious reputation in such a short period of time? Let’s take a quick trip back in time to see how one man’s idea flourished from the kitchen table to UCI podiums.

In 1991, Jeff Steber designed and constructed his first full suspension mountain bike in his garage, and the following year would see new additions to the frame such as CNC machined parts and sealed bearings. Then in 1993, Jeff decided to try his luck and go public with his product at the 1993 Interbike trade show, and his gamble paid off. Jeff sold every frame he had and then some. His success with the short travel frame fueled the passion to construct a downhill specific model, and the unparalleled history of the M-1 was born. The M-1 needed some serious testing and exposure before it went public, so Jeff went to work on rounding up his first factory DH team. Little did he know that his team and its members would become legendary: Randy Lawrence, Mike Metzger, and Shaun Palmer. Palmer brought to the DH racing world an attitude and race style that will never be forgotten, and one that rarely lost races. The spirit of the original DH team set the standard for Intense Factory Racing for years to come, as well as raising the bar for other manufacturers to step up to. It still has yet to be met.

Intense race frames saw an ever-increasing demand with other racers and manufacturers, and established a new standard for competitors to follow. The M-1 saw action under the likes of Brian Lopes, Eric Carter, and Leigh Donovan of Mongoose, John Tomac of Giant, Gregg Minnar of Haro, Toby Henderson of Iron Horse, and of course John Kircaldie, Colin Bailey, and April Lawyer of the multi-championship winning Maxxis DH Team. Indeed, Intense Cycles’ image and heritage in the industry is unmatched by any other racing or factory effort as they continue to establish the benchmark in product development and design.

KTM launch their 2009 bike range at London's Cycle show in October 2008.

KTM frame-technologies are designed in the R&D department in Mattighofen. KTM has cutting edge facilities in Austria, where the bikes are also painted and assembled to a very high standard. It is possible for 780 bikes to be built per day at the purpose built facility, which has produced around 160,000 units in 2008. The premises were enlarged last year and now house a bespoke design and testing facility which has given rise to Carbon monocoque bikes in the road and mountain bike ranges, these frames carry an impressive 3 year manufacturer�s warranty.

The exciting new range encompasses Mountain Bikes, Road race and Hybrid/Commuter models