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
RockShox overhaul the BoXXer DH fork, but existing owners can get most of the new upgrades for way less $$$
By Guy Kesteven last updated
News The latest BoXXer may look familiar, but the chassis, spring, damper and other details are all totally new
Bespoken Word – is mountain biking friendly?
By Guy Kesteven published
Opinion If you think joining a new mountain biking group might be intimidating, Guy Kesteven reckons that most times you’ll find it way more welcoming than you think
Mason Bokeh 3.0 review – original gravel star gets even better
By Guy Kesteven published
Review Mason’s deliciously detailed, evolved alloy frame might be the perfect agile adventurer
Feedback Sports Team Edition Tool Kit review – a bike fettler's delight
By Guy Kesteven published
Review Is Feedback’s Team toolkit the best portable workshop you can buy?
Feedback Sports Pro Mechanic HD Bike Repair Stand review – heavy-duty e-MTB compatible work stand
By Guy Kesteven published
Review The legendary Feedback Sports Pro Mechanic work stand has been bulked up to handle heavier bikes with ease
Bespoken Word – Don’t go viral on Tick Tok
By Guy Kesteven published
Opinion There's a blood sucking vampire horror show hiding on the trails. So how do we riders stop ticks from becoming a real health hazard?
SRAM Level Ultimate Stealth 4-Piston brake review – XC weight, trail power?
By Guy Kesteven published
Review Does matching SRAM’s new Stealth XC lever with the proven G2 trail brake deliver best of both worlds performance?
E-bikes are revolutionising modern transport, but is their rapid growth unleashing a firestorm of deadly problems?
By Guy Kesteven published
Feature Electric bikes are the hottest things in cycling right now, but often in a more dangerous way than just their surging sales. Guy Kesteven takes a look at how they are already killing people at an alarming rate and how they might also be lethal to increased acceptance of cycling
Bespoken Word – pinning the tail on the donkey
By Guy Kesteven published
Opinion Guy Kesteven has recently been having interesting, revealing, and perception-challenging chats with suspension specialists and bike designers. So what goes into creating the ride they want? And can perceptions of where performance comes from sometimes be completely wrong?
Hutchinson Kraken Racing Lab 66 tire review – not what it looks like
By Guy Kesteven published
Review The fastest downcountry option from the French brand is still seriously tough and controlled
Hutchinson Wyrm Racing Lab tire review – French downcountry toughness
By Guy Kesteven published
Review Is this new French downcountry tire the ideal balance between speed, control, and toughness?
Industry Nine Trail S Wheelset review – handmade in the USA
By Guy Kesteven published
Review Are Industry Nine's alloy all-rounder wheels worth the high price?
Bespoken Word – It’s good to be back on the bike
By Guy Kesteven published
Opinion After two weeks off the bike on holiday, Guy Kesteven is properly back in love with the simple emotions and sensations of riding
Orange’s new Stage 7 is their smartest, fastest enduro bike ever
By Guy Kesteven published
News So what are the smarter, faster details behind the latest handbuilt hardcore gravity racer from Halifax UK?
Bespoken Word – Tech yourself before you wreck yourself
By Guy Kesteven published
Opinion Apple finally put cycling on their app map this week and Guy Kesteven has been pondering what increasing amounts of tech means for biking
Leatt Knee Guard AirFlex Hybrid Pro review – knee pads with extra protection
By Guy Kesteven published
Review The Pro version of Leatt’s AirFlex Hybrid knee pads add extra impact resistance but is it at the expense of fit?
Is YT's Capra Core 1 the best value enduro bike?
By Guy Kesteven published
Review Capra’s 170mm travel Core 1 looks a total bargain enduro/park bike, but how does it ride? Guy Kesteven has been sending it hard to see if you should be buying it
Bespoken Word – the price of everything...
By Guy Kesteven published
Opinion After the crazy cost increases of Covid, bike businesses are hacking prices everywhere trying not to be the ones that go bust after the boom. But Guy Kesteven reckons there’s more to whether something is really a bargain or not than the amount of money saved on the price tag
Rab Cinder Ridgeline Jacket review – disappointing top from the usually excellent brand
By Guy Kesteven published
Review Have Rab leveraged their legendary outdoor gear reputation in this potentially versatile top or would a recommendation be stretching it?
Formula Cura brake review – reliable two-piston stoppers
By Paddy Tolan published
Review Can Formula’s light, powerful, feel rich and affordable Cura brake challenge bigger brands as the best all-round mountain bike brake?
Bikestow Stance stand review – display your bike in style
By Guy Kesteven published
Review Bikestow’s Stance is a handmade UK single bike stand that’s ideal for high style, low profile bike storage/display
Kenesis Fend Off Shorty review – full metal gravel fender
By Guy Kesteven published
Review This tough, metal, rear mudguard from Kinesis is designed to keep gravel butts clean and dry, but fit issues are frustrating
Bespoken Word – get out and ride while the going is good
By Guy Kesteven published
Opinion Guy Kesteven reckons it’s the perfect time to get outside right now, so just go and do enjoy the goodness while you can, however you can
I rode all 225km of the new Traws Eryri MTB bikepacking route across Snowdonia and here's how you can do it too
By Guy Kesteven published
Feature Cycling UK and National Resources Wales have spent three years researching, negotiating and planning the project and mountain bikers are going to love this new addition to Cycling UK’s collection of multi-day adventures. Guy Kesteven has ridden the route and written the guidebook, so what’s waiting for big country bikepackers in Wales?
Classified Powershift review – we test the tech packed gear system on a gravel Campagnolo setup
By Guy Kesteven published
Review Guy Kesteven has been testing Classified’s radical Powershift 2-speed hub in a premium Mason Exposure, Hunt carbon wheel, Campagnolo Ekar gravel bike format. So are 26 speeds better than 13 and is that worth double the price?