Review ratings explained

About

Every bicycle or product that is reviewed on The Cycling Meister is given a star rating out of five. 

There are many elements taken into account but the overall score is primarily determined by its performance (and especially how it compares to its rivals), cost, desirability, durability and how it delivers on its claims. With over a decade of riding and industry experience, you can be assured of The Cycling Meister‘s expertise and authoritativeness.

Review ratings can mean different things to different people (and, indeed, can vary between publications) so here’s an overview of what the scores mean. Note half scores are awarded where a film’s scores falls between the below definitions.

Rating: 5 out of 5.

5 stars – Exceptional

This product is class-leading in its category, delivering above i

Rating: 4 out of 5.

4 stars Excellent

This is one of the best products you can buy in its category, but certain flaws prevent it from being a class-leader.

Rating: 3 out of 5.

3 starsGood

This is a positive review and the product works as intended but is not the best in its category.

Rating: 2 out of 5.

2 starsPoor

This is a below average product that is flawed in some way.

Rating: 1 out of 5.

1 starTerrible

This product isn’t worth buying.

About The Cycling Meister

Uncategorized
Oscar Huckle riding Basso Palta Ekar GT bike off-road

I’m Oscar Huckle and I’m currently the technical writer at BikeRadar – one of the world’s leading cycling websites. You’ll also find my work published in Cycling Plus and MBUK magazines.

I’ve been an avid cyclist since my teenage years, initially catching the road cycling bug and riding for Thames Velo, my local club. I was then indoctrinated into gravel riding and have more recently taken to the dark art of mountain biking. My favourite rides are epic road or gravel routes, and I love nothing more than getting away and exploring new areas while bikepacking. More recently, I’ve become fond of audaxes and ultra-distance gravel races. I completed both the Seven Serpents and Badlands in 2024 and Mother North and Across Andes in 2025.

I have a BA degree in English Literature and Film Studies from the University of East Anglia and I have over a decade of cycling industry experience, initially working in a variety of roles at Evans Cycles before joining Carbon Bike Repair.

I’m particularly fond of workshop tool exotica and a proponent of Campagnolo groupsets. I prefer lightweight road and gravel frames with simple tube shapes, rather than the latest trend for aerodynamics and full integration. I’m obsessed with keeping up to date with all the latest tech, fixated with the smallest details and known for my unique opinions.

I started The Cycling Meister in 2015 as a place to pen my thoughts on the latest cycling gear and some of my long-distance adventures. It was always my ambition to forge a career in cycling journalism and this website acted as a portfolio of my work. I now use this website for articles or reviews that don’t get commissioned elsewhere and as a home for my inner musings.

Outside of cycling, I’m an avid cinephile and enjoy travelling and music. If you’d like to keep up with my film exploits, head to The Film Meister.

To keep up to date with my work and adventures, or to get in contact with me, you can find me on the following platforms:

BikeRadar profile
MuckRack journalist profile
Dotwatcher.cc profile