Indholdsfortegnelse for November 2021 i Mountain Biking UK

Our last issue was all about celebrating heroes of the sport, many of them top racers or freeriders, who – after years of hard graft – are now lucky enough to get free bikes and kit, mechanics to look after their gear and professional coaches to get them riding at their best. Sadly, the rest of us aren’t so lucky! So, this month, we’re looking at ways you can get better on a bike, fitter and faster without spending a single penny. We’re also keeping limited budgets in mind with our £1,800 biketest – yes, it’s still a lot of money, but you’re not going to get a decent full-suspension trail bike for much less, unless you buy second-hand. For me, one of the key points in our ‘Get faster…

With electronic shifting, a viable alternative to gear cables has finally emerged, but there were plenty of missteps – or should we say misshifts – along the way. In the mid ’90s, US brand SAFE created a cable- actuated, hydraulically-powered rear mech, but it didn’t catch on. Meanwhile, Mavic were early adopters of electronics, introducing their Zap road system in 1992, powered by the movement of the chain itself (so no need for a motor and battery), and going wireless with its successor, Mektronic, in ’99. Shimano threw their hat into the ring with 1999’s Airlines system, where a pneumatic actuator in the shifter directed compressed air from a bottle to a ram at the mech, changing gears. Despite impressive results, it never went mainstream due to its high cost…

By the time you read this it’ll be over, but we can’t wait for Red Bull Rampage! The gnarliest freeride event of the year always has us on the edge of our seats. Fingers crossed for low winds and fewer ‘course holds’ this time! A brilliant performance by Bex Baraona at the EWS Tweed Valley saw her bag her first Enduro World Series win, with fellow Brit Hattie Harnden in second place. ‘Best packaging of the month’ goes to Riding Culture. No single-use plastic here – the Swiss brand sent us their super-tough bike jeans in a metal toolbox, ripe for reuse. Their ‘Think less – ride more’ slogan is right up our alley, too (the ‘Ride fast – eat ass’ stickers, less so!). If you enjoyed our cover feature…

You might be fooled into thinking Andy Homer survived an encounter with a pack of wolves, but this impressive leg wound was actually caused by pedal pins! Andy explainsv “I was riding some off-piste stuff at Cannock Chase in Staffordshire when I inadvertently hit my foot on a tree stump hidden in the undergrowth. My foot came off my Nukeproof Sam Hill pedal and the pins slashed me straight across the back of my right calf. It stung a bit, to say the least! I didn’t go to hospital because I didn’t think it was serious enough to face the five-hour wait in AbE, so I stuck a (very) big plaster on it and carried on with my day. Hopefully I’ll be back out on the bike again soon (whenever…

Ribble have long been one of the UK’s leading mail-order bike companies, but they’re fairly new to the MTB game. The 650b-wheeled 725 hardtail takes its name from the Reynolds steel it’s built from, and is billed as a “singletrack slayer”. The frame While not as light as Reynolds 853, 725 is still a decently lively-feeling and extremely durable tubeset. The main tubes are triple-butted – their wall thickness is increased in areas where more strength is needed and reduced elsewhere to save weight or introduce a little comfort-enhancing compliance (engineered flex). On the driveside, the chainstay tapers to join a plate near the BB, giving huge tyre clearance and a good chainline. With a 455.5mm reach, 64-degree head angle and 74-degree seat tube angle on the medium size, the…

WORTH £155 EACH Based on a farm at the foot of Skiddaw and inspired by the story of ‘Professor of Adventure’ Millican Dalton, who swapped his London career for a life in the mountains, Millican specialise in “sustainable bags for independent spirits and conscious travellers”. Their stylish Smith 25l pack is designed for everything from treks in the hills to urban commutes, and is constructed from lightweight, waterproof, 100 per cent recycled polyester yarn made from post-consumer waste (the equivalent of 44 single-use plastic bottles per bag). We’ve got three to give away to lucky subscribers, along with copiesof The New Outsiders,abookco-editedbythebrand’s creative director, Jeffrey Bowman, about individuals who’ve put sustainability and social responsibility at the heart of their lives. www.homeofmillican.com HOW TO ENTER For your chance to win a…

What can you say about Brett Tippie? The man who put the ‘free’ in riding, as he helped start the scene we love to watch today. From those early days careering down scree slopes in Kamloops, BC, to the heroics of Red Bull Rampage and his modern role as irrepressible man-on-the-mic, the ‘Director of Good Times’ has remained a larger-than-life character, living and riding beyond limits. At one point, the Tip took a path downhill, but like any good freerider he rode it out. A true legend of the sport, we thought it high time we caught up with him to get the full behind-the-scenes story. Roots in the ’Loops Tippie grew up in Kamloops, where he had a happy childhood, playing all kinds of sports and roaming the hills…

No one goes to Iceland to get a tan. But snow? At the beginning of September? Fat flakes slap my face. Drips collect on my helmet peak, threatening to turn into icicles. My fingers and toes are numb. Every breath clouds the route ahead. As a Canadian I’m used to unseasonable weather, but this is a bit much. On my way to Iceland I’d imagined rolling hillsides painted in 50 shades of green, glacier-fed rivers plunging into dark canyons, dramatic northern sunlight, trailside hot-spring soaks and, through it all, a snaking black trail of dirt. These were the images that had filled my Instagram feed until I couldn’t take it any more and I signed up for a week-long, hut-to-hut mountain bike tour, accompanied by my photographer friend Ryan Creary.…

REMOTE CONTROL Some models have bar-mounted remotes (either wired or wireless). These make the light safer to operate because you shouldn’t need to remove your hand from the bar to reach the buttons. EXTENDER CABLE For lights with a separate head unit and battery, extender cables are usually included to improve versatility and allow for bar- or helmet-mounting of the head unit. Battery packs can be stored in your backpack if you want to put the light on your lid, or mounted anywhere on your frame for handlebar use. BAR MOUNT Lights can be heavy so most bar mounts are plastic or metal and secured with an Allen bolt or quick-release lever. Some less weighty options use O-rings, while others have a ladder-style rubber strap. Check the light’s clamp is…

Write down when you plan to ride (even just one evening a week) and invite a mate. This will establish commitment Long and steady is often more effective than very hard and very short, especially for those who aren’t I n a regular training programme. Time a route and try to match it over the weeks. This sets expectations and pacing for the ride Mobility is important. You can do an effective all-body stretch by following a 10-minute YouTube video Don’t overlook the most basic strength exercises. Push-ups, planks and chin-ups will improve your upper body with no outlay…

POWER PACK Many e-bike kits require you to surrender your bottle bosses or fit a rear rack to attach the battery. Swytch use a bar-mounted bag instead, which also houses the ‘brains’ of the system and the mode selector. Their standard Eco kit has a 180Wh power pack but pictured here is the 250Wh Pro version (+£125, if preordered), which has a greater range (50km, claimed, on half power) and a built-in front light. PEDALLING SENSOR This is the fiddliest part of most kits to fit, especially if you want a neat finish. Swytch provide various mounts for the magnet ring, and we could’ve used the universal one that zipties to the crank arm, but opted to take a Stanley knife to one of the clip-on options instead. The frame…

ACCOMMODATION Comfy and affordable The Ship Inn (01643 862507, www.shipinnporlock.co.uk) and the Lorna Doone Hotel (01643 862404, www.lornadoonehotel. co.uk) in Porlock are both good dsf . Try the Bottom Ship in Porlock Weir, too (01643 863288, www.shipinnporlockweir.co.uk). Budget Minehead YHA is nearby, near Dunster (0345 371 9033, www.yha.org.uk). Camping There are campsites at Burrowhayes Farm near Horner (01643 862463, www.burrowhayes.co.uk) and in Porlock village centre at Sparkhayes (01643 862470, www.sparkhayes.co.uk). Best for families or groups Hire the Lighthouse Keeper’s Cottage at Foreland Point, to the west near Lynmouth (0344 800 2070, www.nationaltrust.org.uk). FOOD & DRINK Cafes & tearooms At the start of the easy route in Porlock there are plenty of cafes. Highlights include The Big Cheese, Bramdowns and Home Cook Cafe. On the medium/hard routes, Horner Tea Gardens at…

TRAIL STATS Distance A full run is about 1.6km (1 mile) Climbing 103m (338ft) per lap Grading Blue WHY RIDE HERE? Beginner-friendly flowing trails, friendly staff and a quick uplift service make this the perfect place to improve your descending skills RAD... Long blue trails offer thrills for beginner and intermediate riders of all ages Good value – half-day uplifts are only £12 and coaching costs are subsidised Easily accessible from the M5, via the A470 BAD... Bumpy uplift – hold on tight! No green trails for less confident newbies and no reds to work up to (although nearby BPW has plenty)…

BRETT TIPPIE FREERIDE PIONEER Malcolm Mclaws sits down with The Tip for the full tale of his rise to fame, descent into addiction and how MTBing helped put him back on the straight and narrow (p59) RYAN CREARY PHOTOGRAPHER Lured to Iceland by the images on his Instagram feed, Ryan discovers a riding destination that’s even more incredible than it looks in the photos (p67) SARAH GAMSJAEGER MBUK TESTER Ski racer turned enduro ace Sarah is an integral part of our test team – head to p82 for the latest on her Vitus Sommet long-term bike ALEX EVANS BIKERADAR TECH EDITOR Sharing tests with our sister title, we’ve been able to call upon the services of notorious kit-wrecker Alex to put lights and sub-£2k bikes through the wringer…

Swiss adventure rider Alban Aubert had a simple aim – to summit the highest mountain possible on his e-bike. However, things didn’t quite go to plan. This is his story… BEST-LAID PLANS “After detailed research into suitable peaks, I decided on the 6,012m Laguna Blanca in Argentina – a little-known volcano that was only climbed on foot for the first time in 2000. A long flight later, I reached Buenos Aires raring to go – only to find that the battery I’d arranged for my e-bike (you’re not allowed to fly with them) hadn’t been delivered, despite weeks of preparation. What a disappointment! This meant I’d have no chance of riding all the way to the top. But there was no turning back now, and at least my Merida wouldn’t…

1 Finisterre Fisherman beanie A ribbed merino wool beanie that’s perfect for keeping your noggin warm during the cooler months – and achieving that hipster look! £30 www.finisterre.com 2 POC Kortal helmet Available in a suitably autumnal colour, this goggle-compatible enduro/trail lid offers up fantastic coverage, decent airflow and a cool look. £180 www.pocsports.com 3 Specialized Trail Series Wind jacket Made from recycled polyester, this lightweight, breathable jacket should block the breeze and shrug off showers, too. It packs up to fit into a pocket or pack. £110 www.specialized.com 4 Mons Royale Icon LS top A blend of merino wool, nylon and elastane makes this top comfy in a range of temperatures and means you can wear it time and time again without washing. Also available in a women’s fit.…

Finnish brand Pole first came to our attention in 2016 with their Evolink 140. One of the longest and slackest bikes on the market at the time (hell, even today the large size’s 64.5-degree head angle and 510mm reach are unusual for a mid-travel 29er), it garnered rave reviews. Pole (Finnish for ‘pedal’) followed it up with their first CNC-machined aluminium bike, the Machine, two years later. They then went back to the drawing board and refined the concept to create the Stamina you see here. The gold finish may be what first catches your eye, but there’s a lot going on underneath, too. The two monocoque halves of the Stamina’s front triangle (1&2) and all the suspension links are machined in-house in Finland, from solid billets of aluminium. Why…

THE REAR SUSPENSION IS SO FLUID AND SMOOTH IT’S EASY TO HAMMER THROUGH ANYTHING AN ENDURO BIKE WOULD UK-based Whyte consistently put out sorted bikes, and this new long-travel trail rig is no exception. It replaces their S-150, but unlike that bike isn’t available with a carbon fibre front triangle. There are no high-end carbon long-travel Whytes this year – instead, they’re focusing on effective parts packages and keeping their pricing competitive. The frame Boasting a new design with more standover room and rejigged suspension, the T-160 has slightly more travel than the S-150, with exactly 150mm of rear bounce. Confused? Whyte name their bikes after fork travel, so the 160mm RockShox Lyrik defines this model. Stiff and solid, the T-160 chassis may be all-new but it’s packed with principles…

NORCO SHORE 2 £3,399 Long-travel, high-pivot behemoth from the land of maple syrup The Shore 2 takes its name from Vancouver’s North Shore, where it was developed. Its burly 180mm-travel frame combines a Horst-link suspension design with a high main pivot, plus an idler pulley to keep chain growth in check. Norco claim this design “provides grip and support on the world’s most treacherous trails with minimal pedal kickback.” Its geometry is suitably aggressive, including a mega-slack 63-degree head angle and a low 346mm bottom bracket height. Norco’s Ride Aligned concept sees the chainstays grow and the seat tube angle steepen as you go up the size range, to keep the bike’s front and rear ends in proportion. This “ultimate freeride rig” is equipped with a single-crown fork (a burly…

“When I competed in Rampage in the early 2000s (below) it was so raw, without much time to scout, build or practise. You’d have bushes, rocks, too-soft landings and people walking all over your line, trampling your take-offs and direction markings. Now you have more time to dial things in – with the size of the jumps and technicality of the tricks, this is crucial for safety and to keep the flow from top to bottom. The limited number of riders means people aren’t poaching each other’s lines and stepping on each other’s toes, keeping that friendly ‘bro’ vibe alive. It’s much better – although there’s something to be said for shredding and sending it on a raw, untouched canvas! “There’s unspoken pressure to keep your sponsors happy, of course,…

WHY OUR TESTS ARE THE BEST! Our technical-editor-in-chief, Rob Weaver, gets new products in as soon as they’re available and coordinates all the testing through our team of tech experts, who have unrivalled knowledge and experience. Every test starts with a detailed product check in the workshop. Next, we hit the trails… hard! We test in real riding conditions, incorporating feedback from multiple riders, and don’t stop until we have the complete picture, no matter how long it takes. Our testing is staunchly independent and not influenced by PR or advertisers (sometimes to their great discomfort). We’re never afraid to tell you the truth. HOW WE RATE We base our scores on value for money and performance RAPHA TRAIL SHORTS £110 | www.rapha.cc Roadie favourites Rapha have done an impressive…

TOM’S MARIN EL ROY £2,375 Marin categorise their aggro hardtail as an enduro bike – so Tom’s put that to the test The El Roy is billed as an enduro/all-mountain hardtail, so it felt fitting that, before the year was out, I raced an enduro on it. The event in question was The EX, a three-day race on Exmoor, in South West England. I know the area fairly well, having ridden there a few times, but with access permitted to private land, the race gives participants the opportunity to ride some tracks never normally open to the public. Over three days we pedalled over 100km and descended close to 5,000m, so there was plenty of time to get my groove on! With a mix of super-fast flowy, steep and…

Night riding is an awesome way to transform familiar trails into fresh challenges. The contrast between light and shadow increases the sense of speed, while roots, rocks and other obstacles fly at you with exhilarating unpredictability. Good lights not only help reduce the risks, but also enhance the experience, by making it possible to ride even faster without imminent peril. The more power your lights have, the more detail you’ll be able to see, both in front of you and, crucially, to the sides, to give the trail context. In our experience, 1,500 lumens is the lowest output you can get away with and still feel comfortable riding blue-graded trail centre-style runs. The more technical the terrain, the more lumens you’ll need. All the lights here have a claimed minimum…

1 TAKE TIME TO SECTION & SESSION Before bike parks offered quick and easy uplift services, it was common for riders to ‘session’ a single section of trail, repeating the same sequence of obstacles again and again, then pushing their bike up alongside the track they’d just descended. The reason for sessioning a trail section is twofold. Firstly, it enables you to analyse your line choice. And secondly, practice makes perfect! By riding the same piece of trail repeatedly, you’ll eventually find that you progress from ‘just riding down it’ to attacking it with purpose and aiming for perfection. Having the feeling of ‘I know this bit’ creates confidence, which allows your body and mind to relax, and gives you the headspace to consider how best to ride the section.…

A spot of cross-country will improve your fitness and climbing. If you’re a wheels-on-the-ground type rider, find some tabletop jumps to practise on. And if you’ve never ridden trials, turn a flat area into a skills course, marking out a route to navigate without putting your foot down, then adding 3D features such as logs or pallets. XC riders will be well-served by riding some downhill runs or sessioning some turns. Bikepacking is a great way to boost endurance, and you don’t need expensive gear – a backpack with food, basic tools, sunscreen and a waterproof is enough for a day trip.…

We have three cracking Exmoor routes lined up – short and sweet, middling and challenging – which can be ridden on their own or combined into a great weekend away. It’s the ‘easy’ ride we’re tackling first, heading out from the village of Porlock. As the pungent whiff of hot brakes lingers from vehicles descending the infamous 1:4 Porlock Hill, it’s sobering to think we’re about to climb this same slope, but off-road. Gaining some 400m over just 4km, the ascent is anything but ‘easy’, but after a little warm-up along the road it climbs on good tracks. We eventually emerge where the A39 and an alternative toll road converge, and can relax in the knowledge that we’re at the top now, with the rest of the ride being basically…

“Pedalabikeaway was set up in 2011 by Ian Officer and me. We run the cycle centre, cafe and bike hire shop in the Forest of Dean, and later expanded to run the Mallards Pike Cafe and Wye Valley Bike Hire operations. Dare Valley Gravity Bike Park is our newest venture, aimed at families, beginners and intermediate riders. We also own the WyeMTB coaching and guiding company, and Ace Bicycles in Monmouth. “Dare Valley Country Park (built on a former coal mining site) has hosted MTB racing since the early ’90s, including the British Hillclimb Champs up what’s now the uplift track. The vision for the bike park came from the local council, Rhondda Cynon Taf, who wanted to attract mountain bikers, local and visiting, to the country park. “The trails…

GETTING THERE Head for Aberdare town centre, then join the A4233 (Maerdy Road). Go up the steep road (Monk Street), take the fourth right turn into Highland Place and the second left (adjacent to the play area). After 50m you’ll see the entrance to the country park on your right. The visitor centre is approximately a mile along the road. FACILITIES Parking (free), toilets, uplift, bike hire and repairs, coaching, restaurant/takeaway cafe, adventure playground, camping (with showers and electricity), on-site accommodation (with family, wheelchair-accessible and dog-friendly rooms). NEARBY BIKE SHOPS The on-site shop is operated by Pedalabikeaway and offers bike hire and repairs, uplift bookings and coaching. CONTACT 01594 729007, https://darevalleygravity.co.uk OTHER RIDING BikePark Wales The UK’s largest bike park is just up the valley and boasts a full-length uplifted…

JAMES COSTLEY-WHITE EDITOR Suppress those memories of steep-angled ’90s bikes trying to kill you and weight the front wheel more! JAMES BLACKWELL ART EDITOR Look ahead. Always look way down the trail, and before you know it you’ve cleared that section. CHRIS BARNARD PRODUCTION EDITOR Loosen up your body and let the bike do the work – that’s how man and machine become one! JULIA BROUSSIER DESIGNER Confidence comes with experience. Session key sections to overcome whatever holds you back. WILL SOFFE STAFF WRITER Slow in, fast out – be patient, set up, brake before the turn and roll through the corner.…

“I designed my first set of pedals over 20 years ago, for my degree. They used magnets to allow the rider to ‘clip’ in with unlimited float and no moving mechanism, and I got an Audi Design Foundation award. I’ve ridden bikes as long as I can remember, and I raced BMX and downhill in my teens. After graduating, I realised I wanted to start a company. “The name Pembree is both a play on Pembury in Kent, where my son was born, and an acronym of the names of key people who’ve supported me. The company is still just me, but that’ll soon change thanks to the success of the first year. To make it as a small brand in the cycling industry you’ve got to produce great products,…

Welcome to the MBUK Subs Zone! As a subscriber, not only do you get a big discount on the shop price and every issue delivered direct to your door (along with any cover gifts or supplements), but you also have access to this special membership area of the mag, where you can obtain exclusive benefits every month. Ranging from subscriber-only competitions to special offers, discounts and bonus content, there’s something different each issue to reward youforbeingaloyalreaderof MBUK. This month, Lake District-based Millican have provided us with three of their ecofriendly Smith 25l roll-top backpacks to give away, so you can hit the streets or the slopes in style, knowing you’re doing your bit for sustainability, too. Each winner will alsogetacopyof The New Outsiders – who knows, it could be the…

RockShox’s new Flight Attendant system controls the compression damping in your fork and rear shock, automatically adjusting it to give the most efficient ride possible. It took seven years to develop, and consists of a fork control module, a motor module on the shock and a pedalling sensor inside the crank axle. The fork module is where the set-up and customisation happens, and there’s also an AXS app to walk you through things and adjust the settings. At the heart of the system is a complex algorithm that does all the decision-making and ensures you’re in the right setting (‘open’, ‘pedal’ or ‘lock’) at the right time, based on data from the pedalling sensor and accelerometers housed within the fork and shock modules. According to RockShox, this was the toughest…

Bjorn Enga, Kranked director: “Tippie embodies the Kranked spirit of full-tilt, balls-to-the-wall riding. He showed us the gnarliest lines in Kamloops and was crazy-eager to carnage down them till he nailed them. He was always hyper-animated, spewing tales of off-the-wall adrenaline exploits before dropping in with that now-famous cackle. He loved the camera and it loved him. A legend!” Wade Simmons, fellow Fro Rider: “He’s a wild man! Travelling and riding with him for over 15 years, there’s never been a dull moment. Tippie’s funny as shit, takes the piss out of you and is ready for action at any time. Imagine the antics that went down with us as punk kids ripping around Europe… I wish I could tell you the stories!” Richie Schley, fellow Fro Rider: “Always the…

ROBIN WEAVER TECH EDITOR IN CHIEF With three decades of MTB experience, Rob can identify the kit that works TOM MARVIN TECH EDITOR XC/trail/enduro rider and tech wizard Tom gives his kit a proper hammering LUKE MARSHALL TECH WRITER Downhiller Luke is always looking for what saves time between the tape JAMES COSTLEY-WHITE EDITOR JCW has 27 years of riding experience and an eye for the key details ALEX EVANS BIKERADAR TECH EDITOR Many years of breaking bikes means Alex can give reliable buying advice RUSSELL BURTON PHOTOGRAPHER/TESTER Big days outdoors mean that snapper Russ needs equipment that lasts…

SPOT A powerful, focused beam of light, good for seeing far ahead up the trail and picking out individual obstacles. Spots don’t extend far to the sides of the track, though, so give little peripheral vision. FLOOD This wider beam of light provides less detail than a spot but illuminates more of the surroundings to improve context. A diffuser lens gives an even wider spread. LUMENS The SI unit of luminous flux, a measure of the amount of visible light emitted by a source per unit of time. In short, lumens equals brightness, so the more lumens, the more powerful the light. LED Light Emitting Diode. These have replaced inefficient halogen bulbs because they use less power and have a longer life span. THERMAL MANAGEMENT An internal protection system that…

RIDE LOCALLY Paying to ride at bike parks or park at trail centres adds up. There are amazing tracks all over the UK that you can ride for free, and they’re so varied it’ll make you a better rider, too. DO SHUTTLE RUNS If you’re lucky enough to know of a venue with a road from top to bottom, do your own uplift! Get more riding done and share the fuel costs. FORGET THE ALPS & PLAN A UK BREAK We love riding abroad but there are top trails right here in Blighty. Pack a tent, hit the road and live the bike bum life! BUY SECOND-HAND It’s possible to source good quality kit second-hand. Just be careful not to buy worn-out parts or get scammed! PRIORITISE UPGRADES Don’t blow…

LOCATION Exmoor, named after the River Exe, straddles Somerset and Devon in South West England. This former royal hunting forest covers nearly 700km² and is mostly owned and managed by the National Trust. The wild, hilly terrain is home to nearly 500km of bridleways and the NT are keen to ensure access is available to everyone, so have even introduced a number of permissive cycling trails. WHY COME HERE? The National Park has a great mix of terrain, offering some wild-feeling riding, but without being too remote or risky. Covering a significant area with lots of trails, it doesn’t get too busy away from the popular combes, and provides a range of riding, from big XC epics over the moors to tough, technical descents in the steep, wooded combes. The…