Articles by Guy Kesteven, Technical-Editor-at-Large

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 spent a few years working in bike shops and warehouses before starting 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 talks to a GoPro for YouTube, too.

Current rides: Cervelo ZFS-5, Forbidden Druid V2, Specialized Chisel, custom Nicolai enduro tandem, Landescape/Swallow custom gravel tandem

Height: 180cm

Weight: 69kg

Articles by: Guy Kesteven

A bottle of Peaty’s Link Lube Premium All Weather lube

Peaty’s Link Lube Premium All Weather review – the best chain lube available?

By Guy Kesteven published 20 March 23

Review Does Peaty’s Products fanciest lube deliver on it’s super clean, super smooth but easy to use promise?

Fustle Causeway Trail Control is the gravel bike that’s ready to hustle

By Guy Kesteven published 16 March 23

Review Fustle’s lockdown project is designed to unlock every sort of riding by pushing gravel right into the XC MTB space.

Bespoken Word – Is cross country the country & western of mountain biking?

By Guy Kesteven published 15 March 23

Opinion On the eve of the Absa Cape Epic – the biggest mountain bike stage race in the world – Guy Kesteven wonders if the type two fun of XC racing is the equivalent to every cowboy/cowgirl/cowperson’s favorite musical genre?

Is Pinnacle’s Maple MTB shoe worth a look if you’re strapped for cash?

By Guy Kesteven published 14 March 23

Review Can this entry level mountain bike shoe from Evans Cycles compete with more established brands?

Is Carnac’s dialed fit Grit the best value MTB/gravel shoe?

By Guy Kesteven published 9 March 23

Review Carnac’s Grit shoe gets dialed closure at a price where most rivals are strap only, but how does it ride? Guy Kesteven went a globetrotting test spree to find out

Bespoken Word – is 120 still plenty? Or is downcountry the dubstep of MTB?

By Guy Kesteven published 8 March 23

Opinion Guy Kesteven has been testing a ton of short travel trail/long travel XC bikes recently and loving how much speed, control and excitement the best ones deliver. They don’t always make good on their promises though, so why is this the most awkward category to get right?

Could the Scor 4060 ST be the Swiss Army Knife of mountain bikes?

By Guy Kesteven published 6 March 23

Review Guy Kesteven test rides the option loaded trail bike to find out

Bespoken Word – positive bike vibes emanating from Tuscany

By Guy Kesteven published 1 March 23

Opinion Our free range tech ed is in Italy right now, riding a bunch of stuff he can’t talk about just yet at the Bike Connection press event. There’s some really interesting general themes going on at the show though, so we’re now going live to Tuscany for some rigatone-fueled ruminations...

A close up the rear of a gravel bike being ridden

May the (new) SRAM Force wireless groupsets be with you

By Guy Kesteven published 1 March 23

news SRAM launches new look, higher performance Force AXS groups

Mondraker Dusty XR review – unlikely e-gravel blaster from the Spanish MTB brand

By Guy Kesteven published 28 February 23

Review Have the Spanish MTB innovators made a motorised gravel bike worthy of their name?

GripGrab Explorer gravel overshoes review – tough oversocks for tough weather

By Guy Kesteven published 23 February 23

Review Are GripGrab’s reinforced waterproof oversocks tough enough for life off-road? Guy Kesteven has been putting them to the test over winter

A Specialized Chisel MTB by a lake in Snowdonia, Wales

Bespoken Word – Core values

By Guy Kesteven published 22 February 23

Opinion While most of the Bike Perfect crew were feasting on the latest tech at the Core Bike Show this week. Our free range Tech editor Guy Kesteven skived his duties to go and ride a new MTB bikepacking route through Snowdonia instead. But that got him thinking about the two equally enjoyable sides of MTB...

Ortlieb Seat-Pack QR review – an easy on/off storage solution

By Guy Kesteven published 20 February 23

Sick of fighting with saddle rail wrap straps or want a dropper post friendly saddle pack? Ortlieb’s Seat-Pack QR might be just what you’re looking for

Ortlieb Quick Rack review – instant extra cargo capacity

By Guy Kesteven published 20 February 23

Review Ortlieb’s Quick Rack is a fantastic way to add pannier capability to your bike almost instantly – as long as you’re not using big 29er tires

Canyon Exceed CFR LTD review – superlight, brutally stiff race bike for speed fiends

By Guy Kesteven published 16 February 23

Review Canyon’s flagship XC race hardtail frame is exceptionally light but how does the complete bike ride?

Altura Merino 50 base layer review – lightweight and versatile base layer

By Guy Kesteven published 15 February 23

Review Altura has underlined its new Adventure range with this lightweight merino mix base layer and it’s loaded with nice details at a great price

Bespoken Word – accidental game changers

By Guy Kesteven published 15 February 23

Opinion Accidents are an accepted part of mountain biking, but accidental success has also played a big part in some key developments we now take for granted. Guy Kesteven tells the stories of a few happy incidents that changed our world and created some of our most famous brands

Gusset Double Six single-speed convertor kit review – simple, clean, and easy to fine-tune

By Guy Kesteven published 14 February 23

Review Singlespeeding your bike can save weight and simplify maintenance hassles, especially in winter and this Gusset kit makes conversion easy

Giro DND MTB gloves review – tough, comfortable, and grippy

By Guy Kesteven published 14 February 23

Review Giro’s dirt jump glove is a tough and tactile trail performer, but not as digitally savvy as Giro claims

76 Projects HI FLOW ‘No Clog’ valves review – more airflow for faster tubeless inflation

By Guy Kesteven published 10 February 23

Review Tubeless valves with extra airflow are a hot upgrade right now and these HI FLOW ‘No Clog’ units from UK innovators 76 Project are potentially excellent.

Legendary mountain clothing brand Rab launches a new range of gravel cycling gear

By Guy Kesteven published 9 February 23

News After 40 years pioneering and producing outstanding mountaineering gear, outdoor clothing legends Rab are releasing a gravel/adventure Cinder range

Bespoken Word – small changes, big differences

By Guy Kesteven published 8 February 23

Opinion Guy Kesteven often finds that seemingly minor changes can make a proper difference on test bikes. Here’s his guide to the most common hidden horrors where a cheap upgrade or adjustment can deliver big wins

Pinnacle Kapur 2 review – solid MTB performance at a bargain price

By Guy Kesteven published 8 February 23

review With prices rising dramatically recently can you still get a real mountain bike for £500? Pinnacle’s Kapur 2 certainly gives it a good go

Troy Lee Designs Flowline outside and inside views

Troy Lee Designs Flowline 2023 helmet review – two new TLD trail lids

By Guy Kesteven published 6 February 23

Review The two new Flowline helmets from Troy Lee Designs drop the moto graphics but gain extra safety tech and more affordable price tags. We’ve been riding both of them

Bespoken Word – one down, eleven to go...

By Guy Kesteven published 1 February 23

Opinion January might have seemed a slog, but Guy Kesteven reckons there’s more to finding the love in February than waiting for Valentine's Day

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