Aldi’s first ever Mountain Bike range will in stores 12 April, available while stocks last.

Featuring everything from clothing to bike accessories at rock bottom prices, we get a sneak peek at the full offering to ascertain whether or not any of it is actually any good. Although we do expect that the traditional pink/ purple combo will raise a groan from some of you.

We managed to get our hands on socks, gloves, waterproof jacket, baselayer, convertible trousers and backpack and we have to say on initial glance, it looked better than we had expected.

First up the socks. At £2.99 they won’t break the bank. Equipped with a nice amount of cushioning under foot and soft to touch they look like they’ll certainly do the job.

At £6.99 the gloves look to be the best bargain of the lot. First they fit… like a glove! No but really, they fit my hands perfectly. They offer a nice amount of stretch, no scratchy seems and gel padding in all the spots needed. There is also a terry nose wipe, and silicone finger and palm grips. All in all, we think these gloves will be a winner when put to the test.

Next up in our package was a baselayer. For £9.99 you expect a slightly scratchy, dodgy looking yoke. But alas it is soft next to the skin. The location of the venting on the outer arm is slightly obscure but looks ok on. Flatlock seams and reflective detailing are also nice touches. I expect this baselayer will actually perform ok under test. Although I do expect there will be a pong factor to deal with due to the absence of microbial treatment, synthetic fabric and slightly off ventilation system.

The waterproof jacket, is we are happy to report pretty waterproof. Although the zips have no been sealed so you won’t survive a heavy shower. We popped the jacket under the tap though and the water did seem to bead away nice and quickly. However one thing this jacket does not offer for the £24,99 price tag is breathability. I suspect boil in a bag will accurately describe this jacket on a warm day or during periods of heavy exertion.

The item we were least impressed with in the range are the convertible pants (£19.99). Available in two sizes, the fit is pretty dire. My UK10 frame was swamped by the size M. They do offer an element of water resistance though and if they do happen to fit your frame might be ok, but I suspect this is the one item I would leave on the shelf if forced to choose my least favourite.

Last up was the backpack. Again we were pretty impressed at what was on offer for £19.99. The pack features a water bladder, a front attachment for you helmet and a padded back panel with what looks like pretty decent ventilation. Our favourite feature however is definitely the roll out tool bag which is integrated in a neatly position pocket at the bottom of the bag. In addition to this the bag was actually pretty comfortable on.