Rich Owen

Rich Owen

Editor, BikePerfect

Rich Owen has led the Bikeperfect.com team since he joined in 2021. He's worked as a journalist and editor for over 24 years, with 12 years specializing in cycling media. Rich has previously been the editor of What Mountain Bike magazine, and has written for many cycling magazines and websites, including – Bikeradar.com, Mountain Biking UK, MBUK.com, Off-Road.cc, and Cycling Plus. Rich bought his first mountain bike (a Scott Tampico) in 1995 and has been riding MTB for almost 30 years. He likes hitting flowy yet technical trails and is a jack of many MTB trades, competing in cross-country, enduro and long-distance races over the years. A resident of North Devon, he can mostly be found pedaling furiously around his local trails, or slightly further afield on Exmoor and elsewhere in Britain's southwest.


Current rides: Merida One-Forty 6000, Banshee Paradox, YT Jeffsy Core 3, Saracen Ariel 30 Pro

Height: 175cm

Weight: 69kg

Latest articles by Rich Owen

A Canyon flat pedal fitted to an e-MTB
Canyon's brand new Performance MTB Flat Pedals aim to compete for the 'best flatties' crown

By Richard Owen Published

News The German direct-sale brand releases its first ever pedals which go on sale today

News
On One Rujo
New deal saves Planet X bikes from the threat of closure

By Richard Owen Published

News Investment in the UK brand secures the company and all 33 jobs

News
A downhill mountain biker riding a trail
Could Lazer's new Chase KinetiCore be the most protective downhill MTB helmet available?

By Richard Owen Published

News The brand's new DH-specific full-face gets top marks from Virginia Tech safety labs

News
Banshee Paradox MTB frame in front of a wood pile
Banshee Paradox V3 first look – a hardtail frame designed for the trails

By Richard Owen Published

Not yet rated

First look We take a close look at this frame-only option before Bike Perfect's Editor Rich builds it into a long-term test bike

First look
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

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

News
On One Wrekker
British bike brand Planet X looks likely to go into administration

By Richard Owen Published

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

News
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

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

Video
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

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

News
The Forme Bamford Junior bike
Massively discounted kids MTBs, gravel bikes and more in huge online auction ending today

By Richard Owen Published

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

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

By Richard Owen Published

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

News
A female athlete riding a gravel bike along a trail
Fastest Known Times – what are they and do they matter?

By Ryan Simonovich last updated

Features Fastest Known Times originated in trail running and have risen to popularity in mountain biking. We look at the background of attempting FKTs in MTB

Features
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

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

Review
A selection of shoes and fruit on a table
Specialized relaunches its flat shoe lineup with bonkers Renaissance style photos

By Richard Owen Published

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

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

By Richard Owen Published

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

News
Cyclists riding a long a beach
New movie Cracked Earth highlights cyclists living with the daily realities of climate change

By Richard Owen Published

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

News
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

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

News
A DMR Vault MTB pedal on a log
DMR Vault SE pedal review – a proven design that's still hard to beat

By Richard Owen Published

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

Review
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

News The renowned wheel manufacturer branches out into headsets

News
Shimano CUES 9-speed drivetrain
Goodbye Altus, Acera, Alvio, 10 and 11-speed Deore drivetrains. Hello Shimano Cues

By Richard Owen Published

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

News
Two polar bears on the ice
Toxic chemicals used in waterproof clothing found in animal species across the globe

By Richard Owen Published

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

News
Sian A’Hern hurtling down a trail
YT's Mob team returns with an expanded line up that goes beyond DH MTB racing

By Richard Owen Published

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

News
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

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

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

By Richard Owen last updated

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

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

By Richard Owen Published

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

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

By Richard Owen Published

Review A top option for low temperature mountain bike maneuvers

Review
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