WRECKED & RATED
THE LATEST BIKES & MTB KIT GIVEN A THRASHING
PICTURE VELAN STRETCH PANTS £90 www.picture-organic-clothing.com
French winter sports brand Picture, known for their sustainable and ethical manufacturing processes, now offer a line of MTB clothing. The Velan Stretch pants are made from a nylon-Lycra blend for comfort and freedom of movement. They have a more relaxed fit than some, which easily accommodates pads or layers underneath. Tapered legs allow for snag-free pedalling, and the stretchy fabric makes it easy to pull them over your ankles. Perforated holes on the inner and outer thighs enhance airflow. Despite being lightweight, these pants have proved durable, even surviving crashes on rocky trails. An elastic waistband with a ratchet closure offers comfort and security; while the ratchet can sometimes be felt when riding, it isn’t uncomfortable. You can slip a phone into one of the neoprene mesh-lined pockets without it hindering pedalling. These pants stand out for their attention to detail, making them a good option for £90. Rach
TRP EVO12 DRIVETRAIN £994 (without BB) www.upgradebikes.co.uk
TRP’s EVO12 drivetrain introduces the brand’s first (production) cassette and crankset, along with a new rear mech and shifter, to offer a complete, premium-priced alternative to the SRAM and Shimano hegemony. It’s available with a bling gold finish or the more subdued silver seen here, with a choice of carbon fibre or aluminium crank arms. We tested it with the heavier, cheaper alloy arms.
The derailleur is a refinement of the previous TR12 mech, with the same carbon fibre outer cage and adjustable ‘Hall Lock’, which holds the b-knuckle tight against the gear hanger. New on the EVO12 version is a silent, nonadjustable clutch mechanism to reduce chain-slap and noise, plus a cage-release function to aid wheel removal.
Similarly to the TR12 version, the shifter has an adjustable lower paddle, along with a clever switch that lets you make up to five upshifts with a single sweep of the lever. It’s compatible with SRAM’s Matchmaker integrated mounts.
The Micro Spline-compatible cassette has a wide 10-52t range, with closer steps at the top end, matching the 44-52t jump of SRAM’s latest ‘Transmission’ drivetrains. While the smallest 10 sprockets are made from a single block of steel, the largest two are alloy and bolted on. Both the crank arms and the chainring are fairly typical for a modern 1x crankset. The crankset uses a 30mm spindle, while the ring has a distinctive ‘Wave’ tooth profile, licensed from MRP.
A stand-out feature of the EVO12 drivetrain is how quiet it is. Over rough terrain,
