Graham Cottingham

Graham Cottingham

Senior reviews writer, Bike Perfect

Graham is all about riding bikes off-road. Based in Edinburgh he has some of the best mountain biking and gravel riding in the UK right on his doorstep. With almost 20 years of riding experience, he has dabbled in downhill, enduro, and gravel racing. Not afraid of a challenge, Graham has embraced bikepacking over the last few years and likes nothing more than strapping some bags to his bike and covering big miles to explore Scotland's wildernesses. When he isn’t shredding the gnar in the Tweed Valley, sleeping in bushes, or tinkering with bikes, he is writing tech reviews for Bike Perfect.


Rides: Canyon Strive, Stooge MK4, 24 Bicycles Le Toy 3, Surly Steamroller

Height: 177cm

Weight: 71kg

Articles by: Graham Cottingham

Manitou Mattoc fork

Manitou's new Mattoc MTB fork offers adjustable travel from 110mm to 150mm and comes in three different builds

By Graham Cottingham last updated

News Manitou claims their cross-discipline fork is 'the people's fork', excelling in everything from XC racing to light enduro

Granite Cricket Bell review with a recommends badge

Granite Cricket Bell review – two-mode cycling bell

By Graham Cottingham published

Review Granite’s Cricket bell has two useful modes, single-strike and auto cowbell covering all your trail alerting needs

A mountain biker riding down a large rock face

Revel future-proofs the majority of its frame range with SRAM UDH hangers

By Graham Cottingham published

News Revel believes SRAM's UDH/T-Type system is the future of MTB drivetrains and has aligned their frames in a sweeping range update

Fasthouse Shredder pants worn with hand in right pocket

Fasthouse Shredder Pant review – casual strides for trail senders

By Graham Cottingham published

Review Fasthouse have created pants with a casual aesthetic that doesn't compromise trail performance

Canyon app graphic

Canyon's new app looks to streamline bike ownership from setup to maintenance and more

By Graham Cottingham published

News The new app offers Canyon bike owners setup guides, maintenance advice, and even bike GPS tracking

Vitus Venon EVO GR gravel bike

Vitus Venon EVO GR Rival gravel bike review – all-road, no compromises

By Graham Cottingham published

Review The new Vitus Venon EVO is an aero, drop bar, all-road bike that's as fast on gravel as it is on the road

The new Wilier Urta Max SLR cross-country mountain bike

Wilier Max out their Urta SLR cross-country bike to meet the demands of modern racing

By Graham Cottingham published

News The new Wilier Urta Max SLR features more travel, more capable geometry, and a new one-piece carbon Urta Max handlebar

CRS C4 brake

Clarks release new 'premium' brakes with trick-looking levers and hope-fully lots of power

By Graham Cottingham published

News Branded under CRS, a new performance wing of Clarks, the familiar-looking brakes come in two or four-pot calipers and floating rotors and a very impressive price point

Tom Pidcock jumping the new Pinarello Dogma XC

Pinarello unveil Tom Pidcock's brand new Dogma XC race bike

By Graham Cottingham published

News After being ridden under wraps by Pidcock & Ferrand-Prévot, Pinarello's new full-suspension MTB will be raced at the opening round of the UCI Cross-Country World Cup in Nové Město

MAAP x Apidura Handlebar Pack

Maap X Apidura Handlebar Pack review – compact and stylish bikepacking handlebar pack

By Graham Cottingham published

Review Maap teams up with bag makers Apidura to produce a bikepacking handlebar pack with some unique features

New Forbidden Druid V2

Forbidden updates its radical high-pivot trail bike with the Druid V2

By Graham Cottingham published

News Forbidden new Druid V2 is an evolution of their high-pivot trail hitter

Mondraker's Summum fitted with Mind telemetry system

Mind telemetry tech on Mondraker's new Summum takes the guesswork out of downhill suspension setup

By Graham Cottingham published

News Mondraker's Mind telemetry and GPS tracking system is now available on their latest Summum downhill bike

Rapha Trail GORE-TEX Infinium Jacket review

Rapha Trail Gore-Tex Infinium Jacket review – stylish bad weather protection on the trail

By Graham Cottingham published

Review Rapha’s Trail Gore-Tex Infinium Jacket is a good-looking and versatile trail jacket for foul-weather riding

POC Omne Lite helmet with a Bike Perfect recommends logo

POC Omne Lite review – a new lightweight helmet from POC

By Graham Cottingham published

Review POC’s new Omne Lite strips out their affordable Omne helmet to make it race-ready

Canyon Cycling Pants

Canyon Cycling Pants review – slim-fitting feature-packed adventure pants

By Graham Cottingham published

Review Canyon’s Cycling pants are comfortable gravel-specific pants with useful features that are great for off-road and adventure riding

Pauline Ferrand-Prévot and Tom Pidcock riding Gueret French Cup

Tom Pidcock and Pauline Ferrand-Prevot race an unreleased Pinarello MTB

By Graham Cottingham published

News Pinarello's full-suspension prototype is raced to victory at the Gueret French Cup, we take a closer look

Zerode Katipo review

Zerode Katipo review – a gearbox-equipped enduro superbike

By Graham Cottingham published

Review Zerode’s Katipo flies the flag for alternative drivetrains, but how does the belt-driven Pinion gearbox enduro bike perform on the trail?

Crankbrothers Synthesis Gravel wheels fitted to a 3t Exploro

Crankbrothers bring their compliance-tuned Synthesis wheel tech to gravel

By Graham Cottingham published

News Crankbrothers take inspiration from their tuned MTB wheels to develop their new Synthesis Gravel wheels

Five Ten Kestrel Pro XC Clipless Boa MTB shoe review

Five Ten Kestrel Pro XC Clipless Boa MTB shoe review – Five Ten's first downcountry option

By Guy Kesteven published

Review Five Ten’s Kestrel Boa shoes combine speed and traction for fast trail, XC, and gravel riders but details let them down

Specialized updated Purgatory tire railing a berm

Specialized's updated Purgatory tire hopefully leads to performance heaven, not hell, for trail riders

By Graham Cottingham published

Specialized updated trail tire gets a new tread and stickier compounds

Specialized's new Dissident 2 full-face helmet

Specialized's new Dissident 2 full-face helmet is ready to race with added protection, improved ventilation, and a new look

By Graham Cottingham published

The new Dissident 2 full-face helmet was developed in collaboration with Specialized Gravity Team riders Loic Bruni and Finn Iles.

New Yeti SB135 bike being jumped over rocks

Are 27.5-inch wheels making a return? Yeti's new SB135 is a small wheeled trail jibber

By Graham Cottingham published

News Yeti's SB135 is a retrogressive ripper designed for creative trail riders

Atherton Bikes new AM170 is a super enduro monster

Atherton Bikes new AM.170 is a super enduro monster

By Graham Cottingham published

News Atherton Bikes release their second enduro bike, a big-hitting, bike park sending, mulleted AM.170

Endura GV500 Insulated jacket

Endura GV500 Insulated jacket review – packable and affordable insulation

By Graham Cottingham published

Review Whether you're looking for an insulated layer for staying warm pre- or post-ride or as an emergency warmth, the Endura GV500 Insulated jacket is a great option

Hutchinson Kraken tires

Hutchinson launch their first downcountry tire, the Kraken 2.4

By Graham Cottingham published

News Hutchinson redesigns its cross-country Kraken, taking inspiration from their enduro tires

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