Graham Cottingham
Graham Cottingham joined the BikePerfect team as our senior tech writer in 2020 and has over five years of experience writing about bikes. He is all about riding bikes off-road and based in Edinburgh, he has some of the best mountain biking and gravel riding in the UK on his doorstep. With over 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 BikePerfect.
Rides: Cotic SolarisMax, Stooge MK4, 24 Bicycles Le Toy 3, Surly Steamroller
Height: 177cm
Weight: 71kg
Latest articles by Graham Cottingham
![Lapierre Overvolt GLP3 being ridden down a rocky section of trail](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/W59Xr9nAKpKhXqnyvHLUbA-320-80.jpg)
Six big changes coming to MTB in 2024 – our tech experts make their predictions
By Guy Kesteven, Graham Cottingham published
Opinion Guy Kesteven and Graham Cottingham pick out the most important MTB tech and trends coming in 2024
![Fizik Ferox Carbon shoe review](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/YyLUxGcw6nHY3WpGHErhXi-320-80.jpg)
Fizik Ferox Carbon shoe review – performance shoe with a vaporwave aesthetic
By Graham Cottingham published
Review Fizik’s Ferox Carbon off-road shoes sport a bold aesthetic, but are the colorful looks backed up by performance on the trail?
![Pace RC429 Trail Edition](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/6MedwLTEdSQnCouH4zrSuR-320-80.jpg)
Is Pace's new RC429 hardtail the most versatile MTB around?
By Graham Cottingham published
News Trail riding, bikepacking, or gravel with either suspension, rigid fork flat bars, or drop bars, the Pace RC429 does it all
![Best full-suspension mountain bikes](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/D3QLNYvUDr7PsyEH6tLct-320-80.jpg)
Best full-suspension mountain bikes 2024 – we put the top XC, downcountry, and trail MTBs to the test
By Guy Kesteven last updated
Buyer's Guide Which full-suspension mountain bikes are the pick of bunch for XC, downcountry, and trail riding? We've tested the best full-suspension machines for whatever you ride
![A MTBer rides over some rocks](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/EYwoEFjyRbwHFkPmySDd2Y-320-80.jpg)
You probably have your MTB handlebars set up wrong, but here's how to get the perfect cockpit
By Graham Cottingham last updated
Opinion There's a lot to delve into when it comes to handlebar shape and stem length, so here is the long and short of it
![Privateer Bikes Release More Details of Gen 2 Ahead of Pre-orders](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/c64cHZLpGujPN8SgkYc6hF-320-80.jpg)
Privateer Bikes lifts the lid on its new Gen2 enduro bike
By Graham Cottingham published
News Don't get too excited though, pre-orders won't be available till early 2024
![Gear of the year](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/M9KdenVspwNZP6SPWWFFrG-320-80.jpg)
Gear of the year – Graham Cottingham's top bike products of 2023
By Graham Cottingham published
Feature Our senior reviews writer's favorite bike kit of 2023 – a fast yet affordable gravel bike, bikes with gearboxes, a wacky rigid mountain bike, super compact multi-tool, and more
![Hayes Dominion T4](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/JRpUiUyQUNNWK9AiQMmHtA-320-80.jpg)
Hayes Dominion T4 brake review – light feeling levers with incredible modulation
By Graham Cottingham published
Review Hayes Dominion T4 gets titanium hardware to shed some weight, but how do they perform when you need to drop the anchors?
![Best mountain bike brands](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/M6xG9cuZthTbM8ZcmTJFLM-320-80.jpg)
Best mountain bike brands 2024 – our pick of the top companies with reviews of their best bikes
By Graham Cottingham last updated
Feature From the pioneers to the new kids on the block, Bike Perfect uncovers the brands that have shaped the mountain bike discipline
![Bike Perfect Gear of the year 2023](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/YvBKgtmEUJYNMrW6essXof-320-80.jpg)
We've tested over 200 pieces of MTB and off-road cycling kit in 2023, here's our pick of the very best
By Richard Owen published
Feature Gears, gloves, e-MTB motors and much more, the Bike Perfect test team nominate their top choices for Gear of the Year
![Insta360 Garmin intigration](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/gHdiPHBxCFSrBeWEcUXyaU-320-80.jpg)
You can now easily integrate Garmin ride data with your Insta360 footage
By Graham Cottingham published
news Add real-time data to your riding footage to show how hard you're shredding
![Ergon GDH Team grip](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/WVW2GW7DZ6kiB6UnEGPGyS-320-80.jpg)
Ergon's GDH Team grips are said to enhance control by utilizing a downhill-specific ergonomic design
By Graham Cottingham published
News Ergon worked closely with two-time Downhill World Champion Vali Höll, and pro riders Troy Brosnan and Fabien Barel to develop the GDH Team grip
![Berria Cayman e-MTB](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/QwXzgf2uebV44QhCqbM8bC-320-80.jpg)
Berria launches its first Bosch-equipped e-MTB, the Cayman
By Graham Cottingham published
News Berria's new Caymen all-mountain e-MTB features a fancy alloy frame, a large 750Wh battery, and a Bosch Performance Line CX motor
![Fizik Gravita Tensor shoe review](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/BH8xUMmWyJZgUS3hyuqTkb-320-80.jpg)
Fizik Gravita Tensor shoe review – lightweight performance gravity shoes
By Graham Cottingham published
Review Fizik has taken a unique approach with its Gravita Tensor shoe but has this lightweight design philosophy come at a cost of descending performance?
![YT Decoy MX Core 5](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/5Fdgyz8A648eTPR5VzPzj8-320-80.jpg)
YT Decoy MX e-MTB now features Shimano's FREE SHIFT technology
By Graham Cottingham published
News YT released updated Decoy MC Core 1, 3, and 5 builds, with the top model featuring Shimano's FREE SHIFT functionality
![Reynolds Blacklabel 329 Trail Pro wheelset review](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/3Tcr6B78LxKdAtYvUV2apU-320-80.jpg)
Reynolds Blacklabel 329 Trail Pro wheelset review – lively and capable trail wheels
By Graham Cottingham published
Review Reynold’s Blacklabel 329 Trail Pro is a wonderfully versatile high-performance wheelset, but are they worth the investment?
![Brand X Ascend Wireless dropper post](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/kdFyAFpJHgvsky5MSPPLHE-320-80.jpg)
Brand X releases the cheapest wireless dropper seatpost on the market and it's got more travel than a Reverb
By Graham Cottingham published
News Brand X's new Ascend Wireless dropper post comes with 200mm of drop and offers wireless technology at a more affordable price point
![Fulcrum's new flagship Red Zone Carbon+ wheelset](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/WrvjPuSDQnw77xXTBSmFnY-320-80.jpg)
Fulcrum's new flagship Red Zone Carbon+ wheelset gets a new carbon layup for enhanced performance
By Graham Cottingham published
News Fulcrum says the new Red Zone Carbon+ XC/marathon wheelset is lighter, stiffer, and more reactive
![3T Extrema Italia gravel bike](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/bXgBbGSnnhrfSS4RdhBhT4-320-80.jpg)
3T's new Extrema Italia gravel bike is equal parts extremely capable and extremely aero
By Graham Cottingham published
News 3T's Extreme is designed for the toughest race courses and fastest adventures
![Cyber Monday 2023 deals image](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/N5aQ4EadduUgcdJwToW9Dn-320-80.jpg)
Cyber Monday mountain bike deals 2023 – savings still live on all the best MTB and off-road cycling deals
By Paul Brett last updated
Cyber Monday Cyber Monday may be over but the deals from all the biggest mountain bike and off-road cycling brands are still going strong
![Competitive Cyclist Cyber Monday 2023 deals](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/EDZrSLgBKNsiGUTW9GTtuj-320-80.jpg)
I've searched through the Competitive Cyclist Cyber Monday sale and these are the best deals
By Graham Cottingham last updated
Cyber Monday Competitive Cyclist has top MTB discounts on bikes, parts, helmets, and shoes in its Cyber Monday sales
![Cyber Monday budget full-suspension mountain bikes](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/dEUfTVCaa7izYi6gq6hxrP-320-80.jpg)
Best Cyber Monday budget full-suspension mountain bike deals 2023
By Graham Cottingham last updated
Cyber Monday These budget full-suspension mountain bikes are even better value with these massive Cyber Monday discounts
![Cyber Monday 2023 MTB light deals](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/ZErNda5dQ6qeiiyjciQrLH-320-80.jpg)
Our top four mountain bike light deals to brighten up Cyber Monday
By Graham Cottingham last updated
Cyber Monday Lots of lumens for less money, these are the four brightest trail-ready bike lights with Cyber Monday weekend discounts