Articles by Richard Owen, Editor, Bike Perfect

Richard has worked as print and internet journalist for 22 years. He's the editor of the Bikeperfect.com team, having previous been editor of What Mountain Bike magazine and written for Bikeradar.com, MBUK.com, Off-Road.cc, Mountain Biking UK, Cycling Plus, as well as many other magazines and websites. Rich has been riding mountain bikes for over 30 years and mostly likes hitting flowy yet technical trails that point downhill. A jack of many trades, Rich has competed in cross-country, enduro and long distance MTB races, not to mention also now adding gravel to his riding repertoire. A resident of North Devon, he can mostly be found pedaling furiously around his local trails, or slightly further afield in the Quantocks, the Mendips or Exmoor.

Current rides: Canyon Spectral:ON, Jamis Faultline A1, Vitus Substance VR

Height: 176cm

Weight: 70kg

Articles by: Richard Owen

Best Garmin watch for MTB 2023 – smartwatches tough enough for the trails

By Richard Owen published 8 June 23

Buyer's Guide We've picked out the best Garmin smartwatches for recording your mountain bike rides and following routes

A cyclist riding next to a parked car and a telephone box

A damning new report says the UK Government is failing in its plans to get more of us cycling and walking by 2025

By Richard Owen published 7 June 23

News The National Audit Office report blames the failures on years of persistent underfunding and a lack of influence

British bike brand Planet X looks likely to go into administration

By Richard Owen published 5 June 23

News Official documents suggest the British brand responsible for On-One appears to going under after 35 years of producing bikes

A young man straddling a mountain bike in the countryside

Watch 'Monte: Can't Stop. Won't Stop', a new film depicting a young man who uses MTB to overcome life's hardships

By Richard Owen published 31 May 23

Video This new documentary from Patagonia depicts Monte Cosby, a student from the housing projects of Richmond, Virginia who discovers a love for mountain biking

Brightly colored Ass Savers Win Wing designs

Ass Savers team up with Paul Smith, Rapha, Bicycle Pubes and others to create cool new Win Wing designs

By Richard Owen published 24 May 23

News The gravel and road micro-mudguards now come with a range of sweet looking designer graphics

Massively discounted kids MTBs, gravel bikes and more in huge online auction ending today

By Richard Owen published 17 May 23

News With the bicycle distributor Moore Large going under, there are loads of biking bargains to be had. Bidding ends at 7pm BST tonight, so don't hang about if you're interested

Canyon boost the Spectral:ON e-MTB with extra travel, a new motor and more

By Richard Owen published 16 May 23

News The 2023 Spectral:ON line-up gets the benefit of increased fork travel and Shimano's lighter and more powerful EP801 motor

The Canyon Grail CF SL 7 eTap gravel bike on a double track lane

Canyon Grail CF SL 7 eTap review – gravel bike with a need for speed

By Richard Owen published 26 April 23

Review We put one of Canyon's fast and light gravel bikes to the test and see how it rides outside its comfort zone

A selection of shoes and fruit on a table

Specialized relaunches its flat shoe lineup with bonkers Renaissance style photos

By Richard Owen published 20 April 23

News The 2FO Roost Flat gets an update and Specialized introduces the street-style 2FO Method

Mavic make sub 10kg e-bikes a reality as it launches the ultra-light X-Tend drive system

By Richard Owen published 12 April 23

News X-Tend's 1.2kg weight means that complete e-bikes under 10kg are now possible

New movie Cracked Earth highlights cyclists living with the daily realities of climate change

By Richard Owen published 16 March 23

News This environmental cycling film premiers on 22 March, then goes on tour with dates through March and into April

Jack Wolfskin Morobbia bikepacking bags on a bike

Jack Wolfskin fully embraces bikepacking with its new range of adventure-focused gear

By Richard Owen published 8 March 23

News The German brand launches a new range of eco-conscious bike gear that includes bikepacking bags, plus male and female-specific outfits

DMR Vault SE pedal review – a proven design that's still hard to beat

By Richard Owen published 3 March 23

Review DMR's Vault may now have a new fancy finish option, but it remains the same super sturdy, benchmark flat pedal

A close up of the new Industry Nine Irix headset

Could Industry Nine's new iRiX headsets rival those produced by Chris King?

By Richard Owen published 1 March 23

News The renowned wheel manufacturer branches out into headsets

Goodbye Altus, Acera, Alvio, 10 and 11-speed Deore drivetrains. Hello Shimano Cues

By Richard Owen published 28 February 23

News Shimano announces big changes to its middle tier MTB, gravel and road drivetrain components and makes 1x available for entry level mountain bikes

Toxic chemicals used in waterproof clothing found in animal species across the globe

By Richard Owen published 23 February 23

News New analysis shows dangerous fluorocarbon contamination in hundreds of animal species that range from plankton to polar bears

YT's Mob team returns with an expanded line up that goes beyond DH MTB racing

By Richard Owen published 31 January 23

News The new team will now compete in enduro, freeride, slopestyle and downhill

The new Ibis Exie bike surrounded by woodland

Ibis announce the new Exie, a more affordable version of its existing cross-country bike

By Richard Owen published 24 January 23

News The US brand launches three new versions of the Exie and rebrands the existing range as Exie USA

Best cheap MTB pedals 2023 – flat and clipless options that won't break the bank

By Richard Edwards published 20 January 23

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

Pre-orders for the Saracen Ariel 50E e-MTB mullet/29in range are now live

By Richard Owen last updated 20 January 23

News If you're hankering for any e-bikes from the three model range, you can pre-order them right now

Aero cycling socks really do exist and Cycology have just launched some very cool looking designs

By Richard Owen published 17 January 23

News We're not sure how many precious watts you lose from wrinkled socks, but this new range is designed help prevent such horrors from happening

100% Brisker glove review – warm MTB gloves that don't dull control or feel

By Richard Owen published 13 January 23

Review A top option for low temperature mountain bike maneuvers

Hope announce the F22 – a MTB pedal with an asymmetric design

By Richard Owen published 10 January 23

News The British manufacturer add to their flat pedal lineup with a brand new model

Could listening to mellow music help boost your cycling recovery?

By Richard Owen published 6 January 23

News Switching from booming bass lines to blissed out beats has been shown to speed up recovery levels

The EX Enduro announces dates for 2023 and a new e-MTB only format for 2024

By Richard Owen published 30 December 22

News This one-of-a-kind enduro confirms details for 2023 and a major change in the pipeline for 2024

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