The latest company to enter the upgrade aftermarket is Straitline Components, based in Sidney, BC, Canada. With a background of 12 years of precision manufacturing the company certainly knows its way around a CNC machine and it shows in these ultra trick components.

If you're dissatisfied with the lever feel of your Hayes, Avid or Shimano brakes, Straitline offers replacement lever blades. They're designed with a broader face, contoured surface for one- or two-finger braking and a more prominent hooked end. And, of course, the mandatory array of colours (pink, red, blue, gold, green, "titanium grey", black and currently-fashionable white) - £49.99.

Also in the Straitline, um, line are pedals with a chromoly axle, 14 stainless steel pins, wide-spaced polymer bearings and a choice of four colours - £89.99. Straitline's super-sweet stem has a really clean design thanks to the steerer clamp bolts being located atop the stem and tightening a vertical wedge located around the steerer tube - the design promises faithfully not to crush your steerer. Available in 31.8 x 50/54mm or 25.4 x 55/70mm and three colours - £99.99. Other widgets include bash rings (£29.99), Lock-On compatible bar caps (£15.99) and an external bottom bracket tool.

Take a visit to www.straitlinecomponents.com or www.mtbdistribution.com