VooDoo Bizango 29er: bike review | Martin Love

A tough, well-built and well-priced mountain bike for fearless pros and fretful amateurs

Stamped on the downtube of this MTB is the name Joe Murray. He was a US pioneer in the sport of hurtling down mountains on specially built bikes. He won dozens of races over a 10-year career before going on to focus on design. The hardtail VooDoo Bizango 29er, one of Halfords' bestsellers, comes from his stable.

For the price, you get an astonishingly sturdy, lightweight and agile beast. Front air forks by Suntour Raidon matched with giant knobbly 29in Maxxis tyres destroy the toughest of tracks and trails, while the slick 20-speed Shimano Deore drivetrain means you'll actually be able to cycle uphill, too. The lime paint job does take some getting used to, but the handling, spec quality and sheer rideability of this go-anywhere bike will win you over from the start (halfords.com).