Guy Kesteven
Guy Kesteven is Bike Perfect's technical editor-at-large. Hatched in Yorkshire, he's been hardened by riding round it in all weathers since he was a kid. He started writing and testing for bike mags in 1996. Since then he’s written several million words about several thousand test bikes and a ridiculous amount of riding gear. To make sure he rarely sleeps and to fund his custom tandem habit, he’s also penned a handful of bike-related books and he reviews MTBs over on YouTube.
Current rides: Cervelo ZFS-5, Forbidden Druid V2, Specialized Chisel, custom Nicolai enduro tandem, Landescape/Swallow custom gravel tandem
Height: 180cm
Weight: 69kg
Latest articles by Guy Kesteven
Best tubeless tire valves 2024 – top-rated MTB and gravel bike valves tested by our experts
By Guy Kesteven last updated
Buyer's Guide It used to just be about color matching but valve designs have got a lot smarter recently. Are clever cores worth the extra money or will more basic bargains do the job just as well?
Best budget mountain bikes 2024 – our test team's pick of sorted MTBs at affordable prices
By Guy Kesteven last updated
Buyer's Guide We showcase the best budget mountain bikes made for proper trail riding
I rode Merida’s all-new Big Trail 600 hardtail MTB and the fresh geometry makes it a fantastically rad riding freak
By Guy Kesteven published
Review The kick stand compatible daily driver that can totally kick ass on the raddest enduro trails
I've been testing Specialized Stumpjumpers for over 30 years, but this new version is the most awesome Stumpy ever
By Guy Kesteven published
Review Genie shock tech adds extra suspension wishes to Specialized's already awesome MTB all-rounder
Best budget full-suspension mountain bikes 2024 – full-sus MTB performance has never been so affordable
By Guy Kesteven last updated
Buyer's Guide Our expert picks of cheap full-suspension MTBs that will boost your control and confidence on any trail
I switched testing high-performance MTBs to riding a battered B'Twin shopping bike and rediscovered the sheer joy of simply cycling
By Guy Kesteven published
Features Guy Kesteven had a holiday romance this week, falling in love with the simple joys of cycling in its most basic form. He reckons it’s an affair we could all do with having and involving others in too
Best enduro mountain bike 2024 – we test the top options for racing or burly trail and gravity blasting
By Guy Kesteven last updated
Buyer's Guide The best enduro mountain bikes are fast, light and comfortable enough to ride all-day, here are our top picks
Mountain bike suspension forks explained – we break down every technical term and piece of jargon to help you better understand your MTB fork
By Guy Kesteven last updated
Feature Our easy, A to Z expert guide on what all the bits of your suspension fork are called and what they do
Going long on the shortest night – an epic, all-night, solstice MTB ride
By Guy Kesteven published
Feature Guy Kesteven and his mates always head out for an overnight mountain bike epic somewhere around the summer solstice. But what’s so special about celebrating the longest day and shortest night on your favorite singletrack?
Is RockShox relaunched Flight Attendant the ultimate ‘automatic’ suspension for trail and enduro riders?
By Guy Kesteven published
News RockShox is relaunching the latest ‘powered up’ version of its AI-automated Flight Attendant suspension back into the rowdy end of riding by combining it with their latest fork and shock changes
Best mountain bike shorts 2024 – we test the top baggy shorts from budget to premium
By Richard Owen last updated
Buyer's Guide Our team of highly experienced testers give you their pick of top MTB shorts covering every kind of riding situation
Specialized Chisel FS review – awesome ‘economy Epic’ XC mountain bike
By Guy Kesteven published
Review Guy Kesteven has been testing the brand new Chisel FS to find out if the alchemic SmartWeld alloy frame and basic SRAM spec can shine through to create a cost-effective cross-country champion
Bespoken Word – Everybody loves a rebel alliance, but is UK mountain biking playing into the Empire’s hands again?
By Guy Kesteven published
Opinion Guy Kesteven asks if the launch of the UK MTB Trail Alliance is another ‘People’s Front of Judea” Monty Python moment for mountain bike advocacy or something more genuine and significant?
Peaty’s Products are looking to rule the grip game with their new Monarch range, I put them to the test to see how they fared
By Guy Kesteven published
Review DH MTB legend Steve Peat is no stranger to hanging onto bars and Guy Kesteven has been getting hands on with Peaty’s new Monarch grip designs to see if they really do rule
Why do I think the new RockShox Pike Ultimate RC2 is potentially the best midweight trail MTB fork ever?
By Guy Kesteven published
Review What have RockShox done to solve the issues with their last generation of forks and does it work?
Bespoken Word – I’m an analytical addict and Comparing Bike Data is my CBD
By Guy Kesteven published
Opinion Guy Kesteven has been testing bikes and kit professionally for nearly 27 years but he still absolutely loves every click, tweak, footage review and re-ride of the evaluation process
Best cheap MTB pedals 2024 – top-rated flat and clipless options that won't break the bank
By Richard Edwards last updated
Buyer's Guide Our pick of the best cheap MTB pedals you can buy, whether you're looking to go flat or clipless on the trails
I've been riding 'gravel' for more than four decades, but here are 10 things that really suck about gravel biking
By Guy Kesteven published
Opinion For a bike genre founded on opening up boundaries and celebrating freedom, gravel riding seems to really stir up emotions. But what particular beefs does our tech ed Guy Kesteven have about the mostly wonderful world between road bikes and mountain bikes?
Santa Cruz Heckler SL review – is this the Californian brand's most fun e-mountain bike ever?
By Guy Kesteven published
Review Santa Cruz’s latest mid-weight, MX wheel e–MTB is an absolute riot on the trails but is the Fazua motor a potential weak link in terms of all-weather play time?
Best gravel shoes 2024 – we test 10 top off-road shoe options for racers and explorers
By Paul Brett last updated
Buyer's Guide The best gravel shoes that will make your pedaling more efficient so you can ride faster and longer in comfort
Yeti SB140 LR T3 X0 Turq review – pricey and lacking a host of modern features, but it still quietly rips like nothing else
By Guy Kesteven published
Review Is Yeti’s all-round ‘mountain bike’ the ultimate blend of iconic brand and innovative technology? Guy Kesteven has been enjoying the last few months finding out.
Best mountain bike gloves 2024 – top-rated full-finger gloves for every trail and situation
By Richard Owen last updated
Buyer's Guide Our expert pick of the top glove options that give ultimate grip and protection all year round
How bikes can change lives forever by activating kids instead of medicating them
By Guy Kesteven published
Opinion Guy Kesteven is a firm believer in the mental as well as physical benefits of biking at all ages, but now the evidence is so strong even Hollywood is picking up on it
Best mountain bike sunglasses 2024 – we test the top MTB eyewear for protection and clear vision
By Rich Owen last updated
Buyer's Guide Our experts choose 10 of the best mountain bike sunglasses that will protect your eyes from debris, harmful UV rays, and keep you looking stylish on the trail
Bespoken Word – Off-road cycling is hard enough without being abused by keyboard cowards
By Guy Kesteven published
Opinion Mountain and gravel bike riders have to cope with a lot. Rocks, roots, drops, techy climbs, slippery surfaces, filthy weather, stinging, scratching plants, punctures, mechanicals. But whatever level you ride at, sometimes the worst challenge you can face is other people