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%2C106, https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/1423840200791-33s4e6h6dyvj-aa3ccb7.jpg?quality=90&resize=320%2C213 2x, https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/1423840200791-33s4e6h6dyvj-aa3ccb7.jpg?quality=90&resize=480%2C319 3x, https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/1423840200791-33s4e6h6dyvj-aa3ccb7.jpg?quality=90&resize=640%2C426 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%2C126, https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/1423840200791-33s4e6h6dyvj-aa3ccb7.jpg?quality=90&resize=380%2C253 2x, https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/1423840200791-33s4e6h6dyvj-aa3ccb7.jpg?quality=90&resize=570%2C379 3x, https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/1423840200791-33s4e6h6dyvj-aa3ccb7.jpg?quality=90&resize=760%2C506 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%2C143, https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/1423840200791-33s4e6h6dyvj-aa3ccb7.jpg?quality=90&resize=430%2C286 2x, https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/1423840200791-33s4e6h6dyvj-aa3ccb7.jpg?quality=90&resize=645%2C429 3x, https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/1423840200791-33s4e6h6dyvj-aa3ccb7.jpg?quality=90&resize=860%2C572 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%2C196, https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/1423840200791-33s4e6h6dyvj-aa3ccb7.jpg?quality=90&resize=590%2C393 2x, https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/1423840200791-33s4e6h6dyvj-aa3ccb7.jpg?quality=90&resize=885%2C589 3x, https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/1423840200791-33s4e6h6dyvj-aa3ccb7.jpg?quality=90&resize=1180%2C786 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%2C90, https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/1423840200791-33s4e6h6dyvj-aa3ccb7.jpg?quality=90&resize=272%2C181 2x, https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/1423840200791-33s4e6h6dyvj-aa3ccb7.jpg?quality=90&resize=408%2C271 3x, https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/1423840200791-33s4e6h6dyvj-aa3ccb7.jpg?quality=90&resize=544%2C362 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%2C103, https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/1423840200791-33s4e6h6dyvj-aa3ccb7.jpg?quality=90&resize=310%2C206 2x, https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/1423840200791-33s4e6h6dyvj-aa3ccb7.jpg?quality=90&resize=465%2C309 3x, https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/1423840200791-33s4e6h6dyvj-aa3ccb7.jpg?quality=90&resize=620%2C413 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=295%2C196" width="295" height="196" 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[/im- gallery -image][im-gallery-image id="129432" title="London Bike Show mountain bike picks - 129432"]Empire’s VX8 downhill frame is available in short and long sizes. With 202mm of travel, it’s UK made and will cost £1,399 with a Vivid coil 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 <img src="https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/1423835345395-1066ucd3u3men-1000-90-aece681.jpg?quality=90&lb=1000,562&background=white" srcset="https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/1423835345395-1066ucd3u3men-1000-90-aece681.jpg?quality=90&lb=940,528&background=white 940w, https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/1423835345395-1066ucd3u3men-1000-90-aece681.jpg?quality=90&lb=728,409&background=white 728w, https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/1423835345395-1066ucd3u3men-1000-90-aece681.jpg?quality=90&lb=556,312&background=white 556w, https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/1423835345395-1066ucd3u3men-1000-90-aece681.jpg?quality=90&lb=355,199&background=white 355w, https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/1423835345395-1066ucd3u3men-1000-90-aece681.jpg?quality=90&lb=340,191&background=white 340w, https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/1423835345395-1066ucd3u3men-1000-90-aece681.jpg?quality=90&lb=320,179&background=white 320w, " sizes="(min-width: 992px) 940px, (min-width: 768px) 728px, (min-width: 576px) 556px, calc(100vw - 20px)" width="1000" height="562" class="wp-image-129521 alignnone size-full img-container__image" alt="1423835345395-1066ucd3u3men-1000-90-aece681" title="1423835345395-1066ucd3u3men-1000-90-aece681"> 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 <img src="https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/1423835345359-1dmtg1f585mp3-1000-90-9d3da43.jpg?quality=90&lb=1000,562&background=white" srcset="https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/1423835345359-1dmtg1f585mp3-1000-90-9d3da43.jpg?quality=90&lb=940,528&background=white 940w, https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/1423835345359-1dmtg1f585mp3-1000-90-9d3da43.jpg?quality=90&lb=728,409&background=white 728w, https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/1423835345359-1dmtg1f585mp3-1000-90-9d3da43.jpg?quality=90&lb=556,312&background=white 556w, https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/1423835345359-1dmtg1f585mp3-1000-90-9d3da43.jpg?quality=90&lb=355,199&background=white 355w, https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/1423835345359-1dmtg1f585mp3-1000-90-9d3da43.jpg?quality=90&lb=340,191&background=white 340w, https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/1423835345359-1dmtg1f585mp3-1000-90-9d3da43.jpg?quality=90&lb=320,179&background=white 320w, " sizes="(min-width: 992px) 940px, (min-width: 768px) 728px, (min-width: 576px) 556px, calc(100vw - 20px)" width="1000" height="562" class="wp-image-129524 alignnone size-full img-container__image" alt="1423835345359-1dmtg1f585mp3-1000-90-9d3da43" title="1423835345359-1dmtg1f585mp3-1000-90-9d3da43"> 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 <img src="https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/1423835345369-8m4vjrxh78go-1000-90-0ac0b40.jpg?quality=90&lb=1000,562&background=white" srcset="https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/1423835345369-8m4vjrxh78go-1000-90-0ac0b40.jpg?quality=90&lb=940,528&background=white 940w, https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/1423835345369-8m4vjrxh78go-1000-90-0ac0b40.jpg?quality=90&lb=728,409&background=white 728w, https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/1423835345369-8m4vjrxh78go-1000-90-0ac0b40.jpg?quality=90&lb=556,312&background=white 556w, https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/1423835345369-8m4vjrxh78go-1000-90-0ac0b40.jpg?quality=90&lb=355,199&background=white 355w, https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/1423835345369-8m4vjrxh78go-1000-90-0ac0b40.jpg?quality=90&lb=340,191&background=white 340w, https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/1423835345369-8m4vjrxh78go-1000-90-0ac0b40.jpg?quality=90&lb=320,179&background=white 320w, " sizes="(min-width: 992px) 940px, (min-width: 768px) 728px, (min-width: 576px) 556px, calc(100vw - 20px)" width="1000" height="562" class="wp-image-129526 alignnone size-full img-container__image" alt="1423835345369-8m4vjrxh78go-1000-90-0ac0b40" title="1423835345369-8m4vjrxh78go-1000-90-0ac0b40"> 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 <img src="https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/1423835345410-oup2odzf9nls-1000-90-b634c22.jpg?quality=90&lb=1000,562&background=white" srcset="https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/1423835345410-oup2odzf9nls-1000-90-b634c22.jpg?quality=90&lb=940,528&background=white 940w, https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/1423835345410-oup2odzf9nls-1000-90-b634c22.jpg?quality=90&lb=728,409&background=white 728w, https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/1423835345410-oup2odzf9nls-1000-90-b634c22.jpg?quality=90&lb=556,312&background=white 556w, https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/1423835345410-oup2odzf9nls-1000-90-b634c22.jpg?quality=90&lb=355,199&background=white 355w, https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/1423835345410-oup2odzf9nls-1000-90-b634c22.jpg?quality=90&lb=340,191&background=white 340w, https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/1423835345410-oup2odzf9nls-1000-90-b634c22.jpg?quality=90&lb=320,179&background=white 320w, " sizes="(min-width: 992px) 940px, (min-width: 768px) 728px, (min-width: 576px) 556px, calc(100vw - 20px)" width="1000" height="562" class="wp-image-129528 alignnone size-full img-container__image" alt="1423835345410-oup2odzf9nls-1000-90-b634c22" title="1423835345410-oup2odzf9nls-1000-90-b634c22"> 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.