Kross MTB Level 1.0
Price £550 kross-cycles.co.uk
Frame Aluminium
Brakes Disc
Gears Shimano Altus 24
Forks Suntour XCT
Weight 14.5kg
At last week’s London Bike Show there was plenty of cycle candy to catch your eye. But wandering from stall to stall it soon became clear that buying a posh new bike is a very easy way to pull the trigger on your overdraft facility – the prices were frankly ludicrous.
So when I stopped at the Kross stand I was expecting more of the same: brilliant display, great selection of bikes and… hold on… are these prices right? Are they missing a zero from the end? After double checking, I can confirm that the sensational Kross Level 1.0 MTB is £550. There are cheaper bikes on the high street, but considering the build and the spec I think this could be the best-value mountain bike I’ve ever seen.
Kross may not be a brand you’ve heard of before, but it’s big news in Poland. It was founded in 1990 when Zbigniew Sosnowski opened a bike shop. Since then it’s gone on to become the country’s biggest bike brand. Prices start at £340 and head all the way to £6,000 for an on-demand carbon pro frame. But I’d plump for this one: front forks, decent rims, precise handling and a bike that looks like it costs twice as much. It’s win win.
Cool kit
Freezing fingers? These weather-beating bike gloves from Kalf will keep your hands warm. Water resistant and with C40 Thinsulate wadding, these gloves are easily packed away in a jersey pocket when things heat up. Other details include a windproof membrane, a reflective strip across the knuckles and a deep cuff with a Velcro adjuster. Kalf gloves £35 evanscycles.com
Email Martin at martin.love@observer.co.uk or follow him on Twitter @MartinLove166
