BIKETEST BIKE PARK BOMBERS

Long-travel, mixed wheel-size bikes designed to eat up the laps

There's no denying that mountain bikes have evolved from their original form almost beyond recognition. Technology, materials, geometry and design have all come on in leaps and bounds. However, one thing has remained constant - the thrill and excitement a mountain bike can deliver, especially when riding with mates.

Hand in hand with improvements in bike design, the trails available for us to ride have progressed exponentially, too. We've gone from riding bridleways to manmade trail centre loops and downhill tracks, and now hand-cut enduro lines and purpose-built bike parks. It's the latter that the bikes here have been built to tackle. With ample suspension travel, burly frames and tough parts, they're designed to give you the ride of your life as you tear down the trails with your friends.

All three are direct-sale bikes - that's to say, they can only be bought online. While that has drawbacks, including limited opportunities for a test ride, it cuts out the middle men (distributors and shops), so you should get a better frame and parts for your cash. They're all mixed wheel-size (aka 'mullet') bikes, too, with a smooth-rolling 29in front wheel and a smaller 650b (aka 27.5in) rear. This should up the fun factor, making it easier to get sideways and sendy in the park.

These bikes are going to suit the type of rider who enjoys getting plenty of air, hitting the steepest and roughest trails, and spends as much time drifting turns as they do railing them. Still, they have to cover a lot of bases, be engaging on a variety of trails and get you back to the top without causing you to cough up a lung. Plus, if they're usable for the odd enduro race or all-day epic, all the better.

So, which of these burly bikes will be your best companion in the bike park as you chase your buddies down the hill and share a laugh on the way back up?

INTENSE TRACER 279 EXPERT