Alan Muldoon

Bike Test Editor

Alan Muldoon

Position: Bike test Editor

Mostly rides: Surrey Hills

Height: 5ft 11in (180cm)

Weight: 83kg

Al raced BMX for years before picking up a mountain bike in the early ’90s. After a brief stint racing XC, he switched to DH and 4X, competing at an elite level in the UK on one of the first Intense M1s in the country.  He’s worked for MBR magazine since 2001 and and tested, on average, 50 bikes a year since then. Which means he’s reviewed somewhere in the region of 900 mountain bikes – no mean feat.

Extremely well respected in the industry, he has an in-depth knowledge of the market and an exceptional ability to assess a bike’s handling and performance.

  • January 6, 2023

The Jamis Dakar has always been a strong contender in our entry-level, budget full-suspension bike test. But with the category shifting to embrace the improved rollover and stability that bigger…

Polygon Siskiu T8

  • January 4, 2023

The Polygon Siskiu is a hard hitting 29er trail bike with 135mm of travel and a 140mm fork. Dig a little deeper however, and you quickly discover that this isn’t…

Vitus Mythique 29 VRX

  • December 22, 2022

When we tested the original Mythique 29 back in 2019, we were blown away by the suspension performance, build kit and frame quality. But we criticised the 29in version for…

  • November 24, 2022

Lightweight, mid-power e-bikes are the hot ticket right now, and none are coming in hotter than the new Shuttle SL from Pivot. Based on a 29er trail bike platform that…

Yeti SB160

  • November 10, 2022

The first generation Yeti SB150 was an instant classic and one of the best enduro bikes of its time, winning our hearts and minds from the very first pedal stroke.…

  • November 1, 2022

The Specialized S-Works Turbo Kenevo SL works its magic in many different ways, but at the root of them all is its superb blend of stability and agility.

  • October 31, 2022

While there’s a long line of brands promising lightweight, mid-powered e-bikes, Forestal has already delivered not one, but two models, both with 29in wheels. There’s the 150mm travel Cyon for…

Cotic Rocketmax 150 Gold XT

  • October 24, 2022

Cotic is probably best known for its hardcore steel hardtails, originally the Soul and more recently the BFe. And what started out in the Peak District over 20 years ago…

Orange Switch 7 SE

  • October 21, 2022

When it comes to manufacturing bikes in the UK, no one can accuse Orange of simply flag waving. Based in Halifax, and with over 25 years of manufacturing knowhow, it…

Hope HB916

  • October 19, 2022

Hope has a lofty aim. It doesn’t just want to build bikes in the UK, it wants to make every single component right on its doorstep in Barnoldswick. So while…

Bosch e-bike ABS brakes

  • September 5, 2022

Anti-lock braking has been pitched at mountain bikes before, but always skidded wide of the mark when it came to performance compared to the best disc brakes. Will the latest…

Canyon Lux World Cup CFR mountain bike standing in forest

  • August 26, 2022

With the paint barely dry on the brand new Lux World Cup CFR Team, it should come as no surprise that it’s a modern XC race bike packed with all…

Intense Sniper T Expert

  • August 25, 2022

The Intense Sniper T Expert costs £3,899.99, has 120mm travel front and rear and comes with a dropper post fitted as standard. But at 13.7kg, is it too heavy to…

Vitus Rapide FS CRX

  • August 23, 2022

The Vitus Rapide is a pure XC race bike, just not in the traditional sense. Yes, it’s got 100mm travel, the full carbon frame weighs only 2,080g and it wants…

ARC8 Evolve FS

  • August 12, 2022

This new featherweight whippet from little-known brand ARC8 aims to compete with the best XC race bikes on the market. And with progressive sizing, low mass and some clever engineering,…

Trek Roscoe 6

  • August 8, 2022

Launched back in 2019, the Trek Roscoe 6 is definitely showing signs of ageing. Yes, it’s had a fresh lick of paint and some specification updates since then, the biggest…

Specialized Rockhopper Elite 29

  • August 5, 2022

The Specialized Rockhopper is a stalwart of the hardtail world, and the 29in version is well designed with an impressive spec list that almost places it amongst the best hardtail…