The High Roller has been a personal favourite of mine for some time now, and it hasn't let me down once regardless of what I've thrown at it. I'm expecting that the ST Minions will take the dry-weather performance that I've come to expect from the High Rollers to an all-new level.

The directional ramped knobs have proved to be very capable so far, although they have been a little quick wearing on dry trails. But the true test of the Minions will come when the heavens open up and the trails turn into creeks. Tech note - the 2.7 fits on an older Bullit rear triangle, with a little modification to the chainstay protector.

GRC Shorty replacement levers Photo © Yodo Distribution 2003

Gravity Racing Components Shorty replacement levers Cam tested out a set of GRC's Hayes replacement levers a while back, and decided the DH Moto lever was the most appropriate for his two-fingered braking style. Well, I'm not Cam and I prefer to slow the sled with one finger (except in those moments of extreme terror, when I'll squeeze two fingers onto the lever).

The Shorties are considerably thicker than the stock Hayes levers through the middle part of the blade, which should make for a stiffer braking experience and cut down on the likelihood of snapping a lever. All GRC levers are CNC machined from 6061 billet stock aluminum, and are interchangeable for either front or rear brake. The matte black finish, combined with a really sweet etched logo, also make for an aesthetically appealing product. The Shorties are only compatible with Hayes disc brakes.

SixSixOne Racebrace Pro Ankle Brace Anybody who's ever blown out their ankle riding will tell you (at length) about how much it sucks, and how long it takes to recover. And when you've finally recovered, how easy it is to hurt that ankle again. The inelegant solution to the problem is to buy rolls and rolls of trainer's tape and wrap your ankle up like a linebacker, but that can be a pain in the ass when the ride's over and it's time to take all that crap off. A more practical alternative is SixSixOne's line of ankle braces. The Racebrace Pro goes one step further than sliding over the ankle and lacing up as us the case with most braces. It incorporates a set of straps that cross across and under the brace before attaching with hook-and-loop closures for additional support. There's also one main strap that attaches around the top of the brace to keep everything secure.

The Racebrace Pro Photo: Stuart Kernaghan