London Bike Show mountain bike picks

<source media="(max-width: 320px)" srcset="https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/1423840200791-33s4e6h6dyvj-aa3ccb7.jpg?quality=90&resize=160%2C208, https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/1423840200791-33s4e6h6dyvj-aa3ccb7.jpg?quality=45&resize=320%2C416 2x, https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/1423840200791-33s4e6h6dyvj-aa3ccb7.jpg?quality=45&resize=480%2C624 3x, https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/1423840200791-33s4e6h6dyvj-aa3ccb7.jpg?quality=45&resize=640%2C832 4x" type="image/jpeg"> <source media="(max-width: 375px)" srcset="https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/1423840200791-33s4e6h6dyvj-aa3ccb7.jpg?quality=90&resize=190%2C247, https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/1423840200791-33s4e6h6dyvj-aa3ccb7.jpg?quality=45&resize=380%2C494 2x, https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/1423840200791-33s4e6h6dyvj-aa3ccb7.jpg?quality=45&resize=570%2C741 3x, https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/1423840200791-33s4e6h6dyvj-aa3ccb7.jpg?quality=45&resize=760%2C988 4x" type="image/jpeg"> <source media="(max-width: 425px)" srcset="https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/1423840200791-33s4e6h6dyvj-aa3ccb7.jpg?quality=90&resize=215%2C279, https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/1423840200791-33s4e6h6dyvj-aa3ccb7.jpg?quality=45&resize=430%2C559 2x, https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/1423840200791-33s4e6h6dyvj-aa3ccb7.jpg?quality=45&resize=645%2C838 3x, https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/1423840200791-33s4e6h6dyvj-aa3ccb7.jpg?quality=45&resize=860%2C1118 4x" type="image/jpeg"> <source media="(max-width: 768px)" srcset="https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/1423840200791-33s4e6h6dyvj-aa3ccb7.jpg?quality=90&resize=295%2C383, https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/1423840200791-33s4e6h6dyvj-aa3ccb7.jpg?quality=45&resize=590%2C767 2x, https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/1423840200791-33s4e6h6dyvj-aa3ccb7.jpg?quality=45&resize=885%2C1150 3x, https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/1423840200791-33s4e6h6dyvj-aa3ccb7.jpg?quality=45&resize=1038%2C1349 4x" type="image/jpeg"> <source media="(max-width: 992px)" srcset="https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/1423840200791-33s4e6h6dyvj-aa3ccb7.jpg?quality=90&resize=136%2C176, https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/1423840200791-33s4e6h6dyvj-aa3ccb7.jpg?quality=45&resize=272%2C353 2x, https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/1423840200791-33s4e6h6dyvj-aa3ccb7.jpg?quality=45&resize=408%2C530 3x, https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/1423840200791-33s4e6h6dyvj-aa3ccb7.jpg?quality=45&resize=544%2C707 4x" type="image/jpeg"> <source media="(min-width: 993px)" srcset="https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/1423840200791-33s4e6h6dyvj-aa3ccb7.jpg?quality=90&resize=155%2C201, https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/1423840200791-33s4e6h6dyvj-aa3ccb7.jpg?quality=45&resize=310%2C403 2x, https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/1423840200791-33s4e6h6dyvj-aa3ccb7.jpg?quality=45&resize=465%2C604 3x, https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/1423840200791-33s4e6h6dyvj-aa3ccb7.jpg?quality=45&resize=620%2C806 4x" type="image/jpeg"> <img class="wp-image-129424 size-portrait_thumbnail image-handler__image image-handler__image--aspect no-wrap js-gallery-grid-src-image" src="https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/1423840200791-33s4e6h6dyvj-aa3ccb7.jpg?quality=90&resize=556%2C723" width="556" height="723" data-crop-width="" data-crop-height="" alt="Our picks of the stands at this year's London Bike Show" title="1423840200791-33s4e6h6dyvj-aa3ccb7" style="width: auto; height: 100%;"> Our picks of the stands at this year’s London Bike Show Oliver Woodman/Immediate Media

We’ve already sampled the halls of this year’s London Bike Show and plucked the most interesting mountain bike flavoured news out for you to see.

Empire Cycles VX8 downhill frame <source media="(max-width: 320px)" data-srcset="https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/1423835345395-1066ucd3u3men-1000-90-aece681.jpg?webp=true&quality=90&resize=300%2C169, https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/1423835345395-1066ucd3u3men-1000-90-aece681.jpg?webp=true&quality=45&resize=600%2C337 2x, https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/1423835345395-1066ucd3u3men-1000-90-aece681.jpg?webp=true&quality=45&resize=900%2C506 3x" type="image/webp"><source media="(max-width: 320px)" data-srcset="https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/1423835345395-1066ucd3u3men-1000-90-aece681.jpg?quality=90&resize=300%2C169, https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/1423835345395-1066ucd3u3men-1000-90-aece681.jpg?quality=45&resize=600%2C337 2x, https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/1423835345395-1066ucd3u3men-1000-90-aece681.jpg?quality=45&resize=900%2C506 3x" type="image/jpeg"> Empire vx8 downhill frame, available in short/long sizes, 202mm of travel, uk made and £1,399 with a vivid coil: Bolton-based company Empire Cycles has released an all-new downhill frame. The VX8 will be available in short/long sizes and, despite being made in the UK, will retail at £1,399 with a Vivid coil shock or £1,599 with a Cane Creek Double Barrel.

Currently there are only four of these frames in existence as the company prepares to scale up its production. Empire also had its MX6-EVO trail bike on display, a UK made trail tamer that retails for £2,599.

Charge Cooker Midi 27.5+ prototype <source media="(max-width: 320px)" data-srcset="https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/1423835345359-1dmtg1f585mp3-1000-90-9d3da43.jpg?webp=true&quality=90&resize=300%2C169, https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/1423835345359-1dmtg1f585mp3-1000-90-9d3da43.jpg?webp=true&quality=45&resize=600%2C337 2x, https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/1423835345359-1dmtg1f585mp3-1000-90-9d3da43.jpg?webp=true&quality=45&resize=900%2C506 3x" type="image/webp"><source media="(max-width: 320px)" data-srcset="https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/1423835345359-1dmtg1f585mp3-1000-90-9d3da43.jpg?quality=90&resize=300%2C169, https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/1423835345359-1dmtg1f585mp3-1000-90-9d3da43.jpg?quality=45&resize=600%2C337 2x, https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/1423835345359-1dmtg1f585mp3-1000-90-9d3da43.jpg?quality=45&resize=900%2C506 3x" type="image/jpeg"> Charge had this 27.5+ cooker midi protoype on display, the bike will almost certainly make it to production: Charge has gone all 27.5+ on us with this prototype Cooker Midi. Sitting pretty on WTB’s 2.8in Trailblazer tyres, the prototype boasted a cheekily restickered MRP fork. The Charge boys were happy to confirm that this one will be making it to production but by the time it does it’ll bear little resemblance to this test mule.

New bits from Superstar Components <source media="(max-width: 320px)" data-srcset="https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/1423835345369-8m4vjrxh78go-1000-90-0ac0b40.jpg?webp=true&quality=90&resize=300%2C169, https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/1423835345369-8m4vjrxh78go-1000-90-0ac0b40.jpg?webp=true&quality=45&resize=600%2C337 2x, https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/1423835345369-8m4vjrxh78go-1000-90-0ac0b40.jpg?webp=true&quality=45&resize=900%2C506 3x" type="image/webp"><source media="(max-width: 320px)" data-srcset="https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/1423835345369-8m4vjrxh78go-1000-90-0ac0b40.jpg?quality=90&resize=300%2C169, https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/1423835345369-8m4vjrxh78go-1000-90-0ac0b40.jpg?quality=45&resize=600%2C337 2x, https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/1423835345369-8m4vjrxh78go-1000-90-0ac0b40.jpg?quality=45&resize=900%2C506 3x" type="image/jpeg"> Top is superstar’s new helium carbon bar, coming in at a claimed 174g the 750mm flat bar retails at only £70: Superstar Components had more of its bargainous UK-made alloy components on display including a long awaited 30t version of its I/O narrow-wide style chainrings; like the other sizes they’ll retail for just £26.99. Prototype narrow/wide oval rings were also on display but as yet we’re unsure if these will make production.

Superstar also now offers a 40t ratio expander – designed for use with Shimano cassettes – which retails for £29.99, while a SRAM compatible version is still in the pipeline. A new handlebar was also on display – the Helium is a 750mm flat carbon bar that comes in at a claimed 174g, and it’ll only be £70.

Fibrax silicone spirals <source media="(max-width: 320px)" data-srcset="https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/1423835345410-oup2odzf9nls-1000-90-b634c22.jpg?webp=true&quality=90&resize=300%2C169, https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/1423835345410-oup2odzf9nls-1000-90-b634c22.jpg?webp=true&quality=45&resize=600%2C337 2x, https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/1423835345410-oup2odzf9nls-1000-90-b634c22.jpg?webp=true&quality=45&resize=900%2C506 3x" type="image/webp"><source media="(max-width: 320px)" data-srcset="https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/1423835345410-oup2odzf9nls-1000-90-b634c22.jpg?quality=90&resize=300%2C169, https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/1423835345410-oup2odzf9nls-1000-90-b634c22.jpg?quality=45&resize=600%2C337 2x, https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/1423835345410-oup2odzf9nls-1000-90-b634c22.jpg?quality=45&resize=900%2C506 3x" type="image/jpeg"> These silicone spirals from fibrax should quieten things down and minimise cable rub, that’s the idea anyway.. we’ve got some in to test: Fibrax had these new and nifty silicone spiral frame protectors on display. Designed to minimise rubbing from cables and hoses, these removable and washable parts are sold in packs of six for a fiver. You can have them in white, red or black.

Flick through our gallery above for more picture highlights.