Stand by to see a growth in the popularity of shorter travel 29er mountain bikes this year, and one good example that eschews the popular 140mm of travel in favour of 110mm is the Marin Rift Zone.

While a whole lot of travel is great for gnarly mountain descents and enduro racing, if we’re completely honest with ourselves most of us don’t ride this kind of terrain every day. Although long travel bikes are lovely, they’re a little OTT for the majority of riding the majority of riders do in the UK, which means they can suck some of the fun out of the trail.

Bikes like the Marin Zone are spot on. Shorter travel keeps them responsive and lively feeling, while the big 29er wheels retain that stability and smooth ride feel that allows you to roll over obstacles easily.

More info: Marin Bikes 
Price: £1500 to £4500