IT'S ALWAYS SOMETHING to shout about when you're the first out of the blocks with the latest innovation. For freeriding the trend for 2005 is the 1.5inch headset design which, aside from the knock-on advantages of larger bearings and a stronger front end, brings double-crown performance to all long-travel single crown fork users

"Four grand on a bike! You could get a car for that!" But where's the fun in that eh? We check out the cream of the boutique brands to help you spend your hard-earned cash