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 Team review](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/CFdYr25b3i2oD6RSHDj4Rb-320-80.jpg)
Lapierre Overvolt GLP3 Team e-MTB first ride review – a dynamic enduro e-MTB
By Graham Cottingham published
Not yet ratedReview Don’t judge a book by its cover, Lapierre Overvolt GLP3’s external battery might look dated but it is one of the best handling enduro e-MTBs out there
![Troy Lee Designs A2 Mips Enduro / MTB Cycling Helmet deal](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/zP3yYYvdBUXyueCpKU4t4g-320-80.jpg)
This Troy Lee Designs A2 MIPS is probably the best Amazon Prime Day MTB helmet deal around
By Graham Cottingham published
Deal Don't miss out on this massive 73 percent off Troy Lee Designs A2 Mips trail helmet
![American Classic Mauka mountain bike tires](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/bJ9GjVGsCwZVhTUTEV8bcC-320-80.jpg)
American Classic Mauka tire review – budget handmade downcountry tire
By Graham Cottingham published
Review American Classic Mauka promises all-condition downcountry performance at an all-time great price, however, can they compete with their pricier peers?
![e*Thirteen Helix Plus 12-speed cassette](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/idWdVytJYLmY7dzXgHTw5T-320-80.jpg)
e*Thirteen Helix Plus 12-speed cassette review – more gear range with less weight
By Graham Cottingham published
Review e*Thirteen boosts your MTB gear range with its 9t equipped Helix Plus 12-speed cassette
![Best budget mountain bike lights](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/XfXxmhetwpcrTxN4k4fPw9-320-80.jpeg)
Best budget mountain bike lights 2024 – ride after dark for less money
By Ryan Simonovich last updated
Buyer's Guide Our pick of the best budget mountain bike lights that give you decent brightness, standard features, and a fair price
![2024 Calibre Line](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/xJNWtASZcQH5AngG8na4Da-320-80.jpg)
Could the 2024 Calibre Line be the best budget hardtail ever made?
By Graham Cottingham published
News For under £1000 you get a RockShox fork, SRAM drivetrain and brakes, and a dropper post
![Fizik Tempo Argo R3 saddle review](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/A9KWpLK4AGk4WNFo9qGgpL-320-80.jpg)
Fizik Tempo Argo R3 saddle review – a versatile long-distance perch
By Graham Cottingham published
Review The Tempo Argo R3 combines excellent shape and well-balanced padding that's suited to fast gravel and endurance riding
![Moots Express e-bike](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/RqxMDXDPGyhGTkjKiwuJQJ-320-80.jpg)
Moots takes a break from titanium to release the Express – a carbon fiber e-gravel bike with interesting spec
By Graham Cottingham published
News Moots' first e-bike is aimed at gravel adventures and comes equipped with Shimano Auto Shift technology
![Kade Edwards whips a massive jump at Red Bull Hardline](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/wCfsDqpLpwKoWvhUaq3jUT-320-80.jpg)
Watch incredible footage of Kade Edwards at Red Bull Hardline – shot by a drone in just one take!
By Graham Cottingham published
Video Kade Edwards sends the Red Bull Hardline course and his run is shot in a never seen before way
![A MTB whips the new Kona Process DH over a jump](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/nxKVZyUvPCihRg4KWDSTLN-320-80.jpg)
Kona adds burly alloy enduro racer and radical dual crown bike park monster to its Process range
By Graham Cottingham published
News There's a new more affordable all-alloy Process X and a bikepark-ready alloy Process X DH for "unmatched shred-ability”
![Shimano GRX Unbeatable 12-speed groupset and a set of scales](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/MEPYpXzRCk4bRCxzzgrq8K-320-80.jpg)
Shimano GRX RX820 first look – a breakdown of Shimano’s new 12-speed gravel drivetrain including actual weights
By Graham Cottingham published
Not yet ratedFirst Look We take a closer look at Shimano's new 12-speed gravel groupset and see how the specs and weights compare to the SRAM Force XPLR and Campagnolo Ekar
![A mountain biker doing a trick at Rampage](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/JRzAU2Hanv842zCFo9Tvj8-320-80.jpg)
Red Bull Rampage 2023 line-up and venue announced – Semenuk is out but Gee Atherton is in
By Graham Cottingham published
News Rampage returns to a legendary freeride zone with a stacked roster of athletes and some surprise names
![Two gravel riders climbing past Old Gang Smelt Mill](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/zXZNZCXMCg6TEe2rW2saJ9-320-80.jpg)
Struggle Borderlands ride report – a rough interpretation of gravel
By Graham Cottingham published
Feature Bike Perfect's Senior Tech Writer Graham rode the inaugural Struggle Borderlands event, 100km of challenging Yorkshire gravel
![YT Capra Uncaged 12](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/P3YPtUmGSmeCpSTWxmoPvd-320-80.jpg)
YT Industries' newest Capra Uncaged 12 build comes loaded with cutting-edge tech
By Graham Cottingham published
News If you're looking for the most futuristically specced enduro bikes available, the YT Capra Uncaged 12 is for you – it's extremely good value too
![mountain bker doing a jump wearing new 7Mesh airmap clothing](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/e5kjogrKEoadoetS9SAWAe-320-80.jpg)
7Mesh's Airmap riding gear uses multilayers to put air in its place for perfect temperature and humidity levels
By Graham Cottingham published
News 7Mesh's Airmap promises the perfect balance between weather protection and breathability using a combination of air-permeable and water-resistant layers
![Hunt E-All Mountain wheelset](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/cbwLi8CgN5dphCNG8rRBBA-320-80.jpg)
Hunt's all-new affordable E_All Mountain alloy wheelset is now available to pre-order
By Graham Cottingham published
News Reinforced rims, a new stronger freehub design, and oversized rear axles are ready for the rigors of e-MTB riding
![Charlie Hatton with his limited edition Atherton AM.200 downhill bike](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/P3o3wLaVTfMRUY2GLsE7SM-320-80.jpg)
Atherton Bikes marks Charlie Hatton's World Championship win with an extremely limited edition downhill bike
By Graham Cottingham published
News The full-team replica World Championship AM.200 downhill bike features gold accents and is limited to just 10 bikes
![Scor 2030 X01 bike](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/UawRh6JYcVDAXC64nPaAV9-320-80.jpg)
Scor's new 2030 is a short travel bike with an enduro attitude
By Graham Cottingham published
News Don't call it downcountry, Scor's 2030 is a lightweight trail shredder
![Berria Mako cross-country bike](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/tYjH2zGTPiA5g3gYbmmNqZ-320-80.jpg)
Berria streamlines their Mako cross-country bike with a fully integrated rear shock
By Graham Cottingham published
News Berria has completely redesigned their Mako cross-country format which now comes in XCO and downcountry build options too
![Restrap ROLLTOP BACKPACK - 22L](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/gS3MyzjUwSeoFdivmp2aRP-320-80.jpg)
Restrap releases new travel bag range for everyday carrying
By Graham Cottingham published
News The range features two new roll-top backpacks and a roll-top Utility hip-pack
![Maxxis Reaver gravel race tire](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/R8KS4RLywFvKYhvcBTCmoK-320-80.jpg)
Maxxis' new Reaver gravel race tire features a unique tread pattern designed for speed and grip
By Graham Cottingham published
News The Maxxis Reaver gravel race tire has already seen success at Crusher in the Tushar and Blue Mountains Gravel Fondo
![SUN RINGLE SR329/327 wheelsets](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/VfjsyxxYXWvbKEYcQACS9m-320-80.jpg)
SunRingle's new SR329/327 trail wheels are designed for adults and younger riders alike
By Graham Cottingham published
News The new wide rimmed alloy trail wheels come in sizes ranging from 20 to 29-inch
![Shimano GRX RX820 12-speed mechanical component groupset](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/VWzkce6sR6vuSvtDjYPEqH-320-80.jpg)
Shimano's GRX gravel groupset finally goes 12-speed
By Graham Cottingham published
News The latest evolution of Shimano's GRX groupset (RX820) gets more gears, more range, and a faster set of gravel wheels