Cube Reaction GTC mountain bike: preview | Martin Love

This lightweight MTB is agile and strong, perfect for muddy trails or longer rides

After the hottest and driest September in a century, it's hard to believe we'll ever have fun in the mud again" So when the rain arrives you want to be ready, and the Reaction range of mountain bikes is a great place to begin. Made by Cube, the much-lauded German manufacturer, the all-carbon range starts at 1,249 and tops out at almost 2,000. But unless you are a pro trail racer, the entry-level GTC is all you'll ever need in a lightweight hardtail MTB. It's balanced, responsive and very agile. At its core is its super-stiff frame, which uses the firm's 'Grand Tour' composite. The tapering top tube combines with the race-light wheels to give you a wonderful sense that you could skip across gloopy bogs all day. It has decent front shox and reliable disc brakes, too. An easy rider for the hard stuff (cube.eu).

Price: 1,249
Frame: carbon
Gears: Shimano XT 22-speed
Weight: 11.7kg