Indholdsfortegnelse for May 2017 i Mountain Biking UK

“Go out and have loads of fun, push yourself harder and further, but try not to come a cropper in the process!” Most of us who haven’t ridden for a while – for whatever reason – will have experienced that sensation of hitting the next ride with a little more ‘spirit’ than usual. It’s pretty much what makes you a mountain biker – not ones to ease ourselves in slowly, we tend to attack full-on from the very start, momentarily forgetting our capabilities. Which is great and should certainly be celebrated. Until it goes wrong. As it did for poor Scott Hedges on our letters pages, who, after a decade of not riding, stacked it in pretty spectacular fashion and gave himself an incredible list of injuries as long as…

Convertible full-face helmets are all the rage for enduro riding, but you need to be wearing a pack if you want to stash the removable chinguard for the climbs. Fox have sought to overcome that problem with the Proframe – a full-face that’s so light (725g for the medium) and well vented that you should be able to leave it on all the time. The trail-lid-inspired shell has 24 vents which, combined with air channels in the EPS liner, should keep things breezy. The chinguard has been slimmed down to the bare bones for maximum air intake too. This doesn’t mean Fox have skimped on the protection though. The Proframe is still downhill certified and has a MIPS liner to help reduce rotational impact forces. Several thicknesses of pads are…

IN JUST A few days’ time, the best downhillers in the world will be lined up in the start gate, ready to drop into the 2017 season. The pressure is palpable. Who’s been putting in the hard work in the off season and how are team shake-ups and new bikes going to affect things? It’s the first chance the riders have to show what they’ve got, and a good result here could set them off on a winning roll. But all too easily things can go the other way – take one risk too many or let nerves take control and it could spell disaster. The 2017 World Cup is starting in the same way the 2016 series did, in the French Pyrenean foothills. Although the town of Lourdes is…

ANNE-CAROLINE CHAUSSON KAPRUN WORLD CUP 1999, 13.58SECS 1 Rachel Atherton may have claimed the title of most successful DH racer, but the absolute domination that French legend Anne-Caro had over the sport in the ’90s and early 2000s can’t be forgotten. She won strings of races back to back, many by a hefty margin. CHRIS KOVARIK FORT WILLIAM WORLD CUP 2002, 14.02SECS 2 This was the first year that Fort William hosted a World Cup and the racers were treated to some properly Scottish conditions – gale force winds and rain. But this was nothing compared to the brute force of the Australian, who hammered through the rocks to a beast of a win. SAM HILL, SCHLADMING WORLD CUP 2005, 8.17SECS 3 Schladming was Hill’s first World Cup win and…

1 SPRING The 2018 Pike gets RockShox’s new DebonAir spring, with a larger negative volume and revised spring curve. While they haven’t added as much negative volume as on the longer-travel Lyrik, the increase over the old fork means it’ll sit somewhere between the two in terms of feel, with improved small-bump performance and better mid-stroke support. There’s still the option to tune things further via ‘Bottomless Token’ volume spacers, and RockShox have improved the accuracy of their air pressure charts for easier set-up. 2 DAMPER Keeping everything under control is the updated Charger 2 damper. This has a similar three-position low-speed compression dial to RockShox’s rear shocks, with ‘Open’, ‘Pedal’ and ‘Firm’ modes. The ‘Pedal’ setting is now more usable, and accessed via the bigger of the two dials…

WHAT YOU COULD WIN… Tag your Instagram pics with #mbukletters. We’ll pick four each issue and the best one will win a set of CrankBrothers Stamp pedals worth £129.99, courtesy of www.crankbrothers.com. Usual T&Cs apply. WINNER!…

Ti used to be seen as the wonder material. It’s strong but light, durable but forgiving in feel. The big downside is that it ain’t cheap to buy or work with, so frames generally cost double the price of aluminium or steel. Made up of a single layer of carbon atoms, graphene can be woven into sheets to create potentially super-light and strong frames. Is this the future of bike construction? Road bike makers Dassi think so, and last year unveiled the world’s first part-graphene frame. If the idea of a frame made from sustainable materials appeals, then exponents of bamboo say it makes stiff, durable and comfy bikes. If the Chinese make scaffolding out of the stuff, why not make bikes out of it?…

Pedro’s Prestige £48.99 SO GOOD… The best feature on the Prestige is the T-shaped pump head, which has a Presta valve hole on one side and a Schrader on the other, plus a solid-feeling locking lever that’s easy to use. With markings every 2psi, the pressure gauge is the most detailed of all the pumps here. NO GOOD… Pedro’s offering just didn’t feel as solid as the other pumps on test and had a bit of a rattly action. It was also the joint slowest inflator, taking 38 strokes to get a 27.5x2.35in Maxxis High Roller II tyre to 30psi. www.silverfish-uk.com TruFlo Airess £64.99 SO GOOD… TruFlo’s Airess is a high-quality product, with a beautifully finished wooden handle, a metal barrel and a smooth pumping action. It reached our desired…

Cranks and bottom brackets (BBs) have one of the toughest yet most unappreciated jobs on your bike. We expect them to turn thousands upon thousands of times while being exposed to wheel spray and filth, yet still spin as smooth as silk. They also have to cope with the maximum wattage you can stamp through them, plus resist every impact from high-frequency carbon-delaminating buzz to massive drops, to chainring impacts that send a shuddering shockwave through the whole bike. If that’s not enough for designers to work around, we want them to combine this mechanical durability and structural strength with a shape that has to squeeze through the most congested part of the chassis. Oh, and we want them as light as possible, please. It’s a lot harder to throw…

Readymade shakes There are loads of options on the market, so how do you choose which to go for? Here are some key things to look out for… • Carbohydrate mix These replenish muscle and liver energy stores. A good drink will contain maltodextrin, dextrose or glucose, which are easily and quickly digested. • Whey protein You want top-quality whey isolate, ideally. It’s highly effective and helps repair muscle tissue and start the rebuilding process. • Chemical free No artificial preservatives, sweeteners or colourings. It’s better for your stomach health and recovery. Homemade shake If you prefer your carbohydrate and protein in a more natural form, it’s easy to make your own shake. Simply blend the ingredients in a liquidiser or similar, and drink. Recovery sorted! 1 banana 1 cup…

SPICING THINGS UP Q I’m the proud owner of a 2010 Lapierre Spicy 516. I love it dearly, but know it’s a little outdated. As I can’t afford to replace it, I was wondering what changes you guys would recommend making to help modernise it. I’ve done little aside from replace the tyres with some Maxxis High Roller II TR EXOs. Gavin Buxton, via email A Obviously this all depends on your budget, Gavin, but we’d start by ditching the 3x10 transmission for something lighter. A full SRAM NX 1x11 set-up would set you back £251 and would work with your existing wheels (SRAM’s pricier groupsets require a special freehub body). If that sounds a touch pricey, you could always stick with the Shimano XT cranks you have now and…

Welcome to all those riders who are just getting into or back into riding a mountain bike. Or maybe you’re already a seasoned rider looking for a bit of re-assurance about some of the basics. In this guide you’ll find all the information you need to make more of every mountain bike trip you go on. Starting with perhaps the biggest question we get asked on a regular basis – which bike should you buy? – we’ll guide you through the different styles of bikes available to you, as well as letting you know some decent options on a reasonable budget. We’ll also help you make the right kit choices, as well as giving you some basic maintenance tips to keep you rolling, skills to help you do it all…

The great thing about the mountain bike is the freedom it gives you and how versatile it is. So it should be relatively easy to experience some good off-road riding in your local parks, woods, moorland or whatever else you may find close to home to get you started. But once you feel you’re ready for a bit more of a challenge, with different route options in one location, a trail centre may well be worth a visit. Trail centres offer a selection of purpose-built tracks and facilities, often with bike hire, a bike wash and a cafe serving food and drink to help fuel your day’s riding. Most have several routes for different levels of ability and some have good beginner and family trails as well as skills areas…

Of course you want the thrill of going fast on your bike but that only comes with the ability of knowing when and how hard to brake. It may sound obvious but applying the right amount of brake will either help you out of trouble or quite possibly throw you into a whole bundle of problems. It’s vital to get this dialled in so you can keep control and flow when the going gets rough on the trails. 1. USE ONE FINGER Make sure your levers are set up so you can comfortably brake with just one digit (most riders prefer to use the index finger). This will give you a better hand position and more overall control. 2. STOP FAST Mark a line on the floor and sprint towards…

It was with shock and sadness that we heard the news that Mike Hall had died after being hit by a car during the Indian Pacific Wheel Race in Australia. The 35-year-old ultra-distance racer inspired many, both with his feats of endurance – including riding around the world in 91 days and 18 hours – and his fundraising. He was a close friend of tester Guy Kesteven, who had this to say: “Mike could ride further than most of us would want to drive in a day, sleep behind a tree for two hours and then do it again for weeks on end, whatever the weather. He’d come home looking like a shipwreck victim and with another record in his jersey pocket, wondering what all the fuss was about. “He…

1. Danny Hart (GBR) You can bet the Redcar Rocket will be going balls to the wall in an attempt to continue his winning streak. 2. Aaron Gwin (USA) The American is hellishly fast, and with seemingly no weaknesses, he’s not going to let his overall title slip without a fight. 3. Loïc Bruni (Fr) So close to the win here last year, on home ground, before a crash in sight of the finish line. You know he’ll be hungry for revenge. 4. Troy Brosnan (Aus) Seemingly always the bridesmaid, Troy is now heading up the Canyon team. It’ll be exciting to see how he performs on his new bike. 5. Santa Cruz Syndicate Never count out the ultra-consistent Greg Minnaar (ZA), who has two new teammates this year. Peaty…

1 Packa Shack Camper Shack van awning There’s no need to bare all in the car park after your ride, or change inside a cramped van – this awning (also available for cars) provides shelter and privacy. Great for making a brew in too! £209.99 www.packashack.co.uk 2 Badger sore muscle rub Soothe aches and pains after a hard day on the trails with this organic balm, containing cayenne pepper, ginger, rosemary and extra virgin olive oil. It’ll keep your skin buttery smooth too. £8.70 www.badgerbalm.com 3 Swarfega Orange hand wash After a quick scrub with this wash, which uses cornmeal instead of environmentally unfriendly poly beads, those grimy paws will look as good as new. £4.99 www.swarfega.com 4 Swarfega Heavy Duty hand wipes Dirty hands? No water? No worries! These…

“THE LOCAL THOUGHT HE’D BE SHOWING US HIS XC TRAILS, ONLY TO DISCOVER WE WANTED TO DO STUFF LIKE THIS INSTEAD.OR BLOW UP HIS WOODBURNING STOVE” 1 gone but not forgotten In the early days there were two exceptionally talented Team MBUK riders who dominated the mag’s pages – Dave Hemming and Jason McRoy. I did a lot of shoots with Dave, a genius on a bike and the consummate showman. It’s too hard to choose just one of him, so I’ve gone for my favourite JMC image, taken during the filming of the Dirt video. He had the look just perfect, the Specialized hardtail and the national champ’s jersey. There’s just something about this shot – the movement, Jason’s position and the simplicity of the colours – that makes…

EVIL THE CALLING £3,199 (frame & shock) Hear evil, see evil, speak evil, ride Evil Evil describe their latest bike as the “delinquent little brother” of The Following, and it clearly follows in the footsteps of their rapid-and-rowdy trail 29er, just with smaller 650b wheels and 10mm more travel (130mm). Like all of Evil’s full-sussers, The Calling is designed around the Delta Link suspension system designed by Dave Weagle, in this case tweaked to work with a trunnion-mounted RockShox Super Deluxe shock. The build consists of an array of top-spec SRAM parts, including a Pike RCT3 fork, 12-speed X0 Eagle drivetrain and Guide brakes. E*thirteen TRSr carbon wheels are a nice match for the svelte composite frame, which comes in two well-named colours – ‘angry dolphin’ (shown here) and ‘muddy…

An ‘epic’ is something usually reserved for the weekend. But what if there was a suitably challenging ride you could tackle in a few hours after the daily grind? That way you could keep the family happy by making it back for tea, have your kit cleaned and still be in bed by 9pm. When it comes to the ‘evening epic’, my brother Joe and I are past masters. Read on and let us guide you seamlessly through the process! A flat-topped beauty We’ve picked Ingleborough, the second-highest peak in the Yorkshire Dales, for today’s ride but there are plenty of other suitable venues dotted around the UK. Ideally, you’re looking for a climb of around 600m (2,000ft), hopefully including some form of carrying (it’s not an epic without some…

HOW WE TEST THE KIT Starts with a detailed product check in the workshop. We strip and rebuild, checking for any problems. Next we hit the trails… hard! We test in real riding conditions for the complete picture. And finally we re-test with another tester. WHY OUR TESTS ARE THE BEST! Our test team is made up of the most respected bike and kit testers in the world. We have unrivalled knowledge and experience, and spend a vast amount of time making sure we get it right. We tell you the truth and aren’t influenced by PR or advertisers. ABOUT OUR TEST TEAM Our Technical Editor in Chief, Rob Weaver, gets new products in as soon as they’re available and coordinates all the testing through our vastly experienced band of…

JONNY’ NSSNABBT1 £3,550 The man with the laziest style on the mag is working on his set-up When a video of me riding a Bristol pump track was posted on MBUK’s Instagram feed recently, someone commented that I was a “lazy rider”. I’m fine with this for two reasons. One, if it looks like I’m not doing anything and still going fast, then I must be doing it right! Two, I ride to have fun, and most of the time I’d rather ride mid pack with a bunch of mates than try to drop them and get to the bottom first. The last few rides on the Snabb have been all about the fun. After plenty of rain, the trails around my home in Bath have become unpredictable clay slides,…

PRO-FILE JOE RAFFERTY JOB Mountain bike coach CREDENTIALS Elite level racer Joe heads up his own coaching business, Pro Ride, and has been passing on his expertise to riders for over 10 years as a full-time skills coach. 01 APPROACH You’re going to need more speed than on a tabletop jump of the same length, because you’ve got to get up onto the top of the landing. Otherwise, you’ll case it. Approach stood up, pedals level, head up and knees bent. The key to a successful jump is taking off properly, and that means being in perfect balance and judging your speed and pop so you land smoothly on the downslope. 02 POP To get maximum height, you need to pop off the top of the lip. Pump the face…

1 Drop your heels This may seem like a relatively small thing, but when your bike is stopping with you on it, your body (which has no brakes) will decelerate at a slower speed than your bike (which does). If you’ve got your heels dropped, your feet will push into the pedals as the bike slows and your body tries to move forward, and you won’t pitch over the bar. The harder you brake, the more you’ll want to dip your heels – this will begin to feel natural after a few attempts. For more grip, you can push through your feet and load the bike. This will make the tyres bite into the ground harder, stopping you more quickly. 2 Keep arms braced Your arms will also need to…

1 Secure the (clean) bike in a workstand. Remove the front wheel and detach the front brake lever from the handlebar. Undo the headset top-cap bolt, loosen the stem’s steerer clamp bolts and slide the fork out of the headset. Strap/ziptie the bar to the frame. 2 Push a ‘rocket’ headset removal tool up through the head tube until the splayed end snaps into place. Check that the end sits flush against the lower headset cup and the tool is central in the tube. Tap it sharply with a mallet until the cup pops out. Repeat on the upper cup. 3 Grease the concentric upper cup of the angled headset and sit it on the head tube. Drop a headset press through the cup and tube, then…

WE’RE FACED WITH A CHOICE - DIVERT ONTO THE RED ROUTE AND STAY IN THE TREES OR BRAVE THE INCESSANT WELSH DRIZZLE FOR A BIG NATURAL MOORLAND LOOP When you’re out in hammering rain at 5.30am loading bikes into a van, it’s pretty hard to get excited about the prospect of going riding. Today we’ve made plans to check out the Mid Wales trail centre of Nant yr Arian with local downhill racer Meg Whyte. The forecast is bleak, but it’s too late to back out now. And besides, we don’t want her to think we’re scared of a bit of rain. Despite the dreary start, once we hit the Brecon Beacons we can’t remain in low spirits for long. The landscape is simply breathtaking, even through bleary eyes and…

CLEAR SIGNPOSTING AND MAPS MAKE IT EASY TO PICK THE RIGHT RUNS FOR YOUR SKILL LEVEL Since it opened in August 2013, BikePark Wales has done exactly what its four founders intended. And that’s attracting hordes of mountain bikers to Gethin Woods, just outside Merthyr Tydfil, to ride the UK’s first full-scale bike park complete with amazing uplift-accessed descents for all abilities. The project really is something special, with the team behind it pulling together to constantly and consistently improve things. The uplift vans – and singletrack climb, for those feeling like they want to stretch their limbs – deliver riders to the trailhead at the top of the hill, where clear signposting and a map make it easy to pick the right runs for your skill level. There’s a…

Everyone loves a wheelie. It’s the first ‘trick’ most people want to try and do on a bike. They’re a great way of helping you learn balance and control but come in really handy when out on the trails too. wheelie is a useful skill on A technical climbs and can help you get up on ledges. Select a high gear so you don’t spin out and you can put a lot of power down with just half a pedal stroke. COMPRESS With the saddle at full height, lower your chest by bending your elbows, then quickly push down with your hands to compress the front and lift your chest. EXPLODE While extending your arms, push hard on one pedal from the top of the stroke (make sure you’re in…

Redhill Extreme has just been taken over by World Cup DH racer Katy Curd and her partner Jake Ireland, of Sprung Suspension. We’re long-term fans of the small Gloucestershire bike park, which has hosted rounds of the British 4X Series, so we caught up with Katy to get the full lowdown. “When we heard Redhill was going up for sale, it was an opportunity we couldn’t pass up,” she says. “Jake was one of the first people to start building there, way back in the day, and for me it’s always the go-to place for a fun session on the bike with a good bunch of people. “The laidback atmosphere is what makes it, and we want to keep that feeling going. We’re not planning on doing anything fancy. We’ll…

Adventure is a hot topic right now, and the mountain bike is a prime starting point for not just transport, but transport to little-known corners of your local trail centre or even the globe! We’re fortunate because we can ride in whatever Mother Nature throws at us. Take skiing as a comparison – it’s amazing, but you need a certain kind of snow, need a good amount of it, need it to cover all the rocks and, more than anything, need it not to all slide on top of you! The word ‘adventure’ means different things to different people. Five years down the line from discovering ‘epic’ rides like the Borrowdale Bash and the Lake District Four Passes, those same rides now feel a bit tame to me, with extra…

Profile Founded 2000 Key personnel Alistair McLean (founder), Bex Booth (general assistant), Joel Fearick (part-time assistant) First product Custom-painted motorcycle helmet featuring Tigger from Winnie the Pooh Latest product A sparkly dark blue paintjob with orange-to-pink fade details (doesn’t sound like it should work, but it really does!) on a Sarto road frame Fat Creations have created custom paintjobs for some of the biggest names in mountain biking, from Steve Peat to Aaron Gwin. But more importantly, the business has given founder Alistair McLean new hope after heart problems left him unable to ride his bike. Ali’s passion for mountain biking was ignited in the late 1980s, when he won his first XC race at Eastway in London. He was soon making good money racing and testing components for USE.…

WINNER! STAR LETTER ELECTRIC AVENUE Having returned to mountain biking after a 14-year spell of road cycling, I’m stunned by the advances in technology. The last MTB I had was a GT LTS. I swapped the stock RockShox fork for an awesome Marzocchi Bomber – I can’t recall how much bounce it had but I do know it was very orange and very heavy! Braking was gamely attempted by V-brakes. By today’s standards it was primitive, but it felt like the dog’s bollocks. Coming back to the sport two years ago, I was – and still am – lost. Wheels have got bigger and then bigger still, and tyres have bloated and then ballooned. There’s the Boost standard and dropper posts (seriously, how did I get by without one?), through-axles…

Where to go Part of the art of the evening epic is selecting the perfect combination of time, distance and ride quality. You don’t want too much of a drive because that cuts into valuable riding time, but don’t settle for what’s closest, as it’ll result in an unsatisfying experience. Crack open a map and do some weekend exploring, to find the perfect local route. Get yourself some elevation and fast, flowy singletrack. Most of all, pick a trail that’ll make you grin. Who to invite A crack team of like-minded individuals is key to a top-quality evening experience. You need to weed out the typical ‘bailers’ – those who chat about the ride all week but, when push comes to shove, don’t quite have the moxie. They only bring…

ROB WEAVER With two decades of riding experience, Rob knows what works and what doesn’t GUY KESTEVEN Our Kes’s relentless test schedule quickly exposes kit that doesn’t measure up ALEX EVANS Al’s back in the UK after seven years in the Alps and has a rep for wrecking bikes ED THOMSETT Always on the hunt for new technical challenges, Ed gives his kit some serious abuse TOM MARVIN Bacon aside, there’s nothing Tom likes more than pushing kit to its limits on monster rides SEB STOTT No slouch on the race track, Seb’s passion for engineering helps him pick products apart…

FINAL VERDICT While a good full-suspension bike will definitely let you tackle harder trails more easily than a hardtail, this test has shown that it’s hard to find a sorted one at an affordable price. All the bikes here have some great elements that could be carried forward into a capable, enjoyable all-rounder. But they all suffer from varying levels of compromise too. The Giant has the best frame and wheelset, in terms of meeting modern axle, stiffness and geometry expectations. But it’s a way off achieving its potential, due to substandard suspension performance and a subpar transmission. The Polygon squeezes a lot of smoothly efficient, well balanced ride quality into the cheapest package on test, but the skinny QR fork holds it back when things get tasty. It’s the…

1 Ramped tread Many tyres have ramped centre tread blocks. The leading edge, which contacts the ground first, is tapered to smoothen the transition and so reduce rolling resistance. That’s the idea, anyway. The trailing edge is square, to maximise braking grip. 2 Siping ‘Siped’ tread blocks have a groove (or grooves) cut into them that allows the rubber to splay out when pressed into hard surfaces, a bit like a goat’s hoof. This increases the amount of surface area in contact with the ground, and so improves grip, particularly in the wet. 3 Tread gaps Tyres designed to work well in muddy conditions use tall tread blocks (this is why mud tyres are sometimes referred to as ‘spikes’) with large, consistent gaps in between. This allows mud to escape…

GET THERE From the A470 take the A44 west to Aberystwyth. Go through Ponterwyd and, after two miles, the visitor centre is on your right. FACILITIES Parking, visitor centre, cafe, toilets and bike wash NEARBY BIKE SHOPS Summit Cycles in Aberystwyth. www.summitcycles.co.uk CONTACT www.mbwales.com WHAT ELSE IS NEARBY? Dyfi Forest About 30 miles from Nant yr Arian and five miles from the town of Machynlleth, Dyfi Forest is home to Cli-MachX, a 15km purpose-built singletrack loop, as well as several other volunteer-built trails. www.dyfimountainbiking.org.uk Coed-y-Brenin The original Welsh trail centre is still a hotspot for riders of all ability levels. With full facilities and multiple trails, it’s an ideal spot for a weekend away. www.beicsbrenin.co.uk VERDICT The natural singletrack style of the trails favours riders who want a big day…

1 First aid kit This should be a basic kit with plasters, bandages and antiseptic or disinfectant cream for quick patch-up jobs for when the inevitable happens. 2 Phone Make sure it’s charged before you set out and keep it safe and dry. 3 Emergency food Something like a banana, energy gel, cereal bar or flapjack is great for giving an energy boost mid ride. 4 Water You should have a decent supply of water, either in a bottle attached to your bike via a bottle cage or in a bladder in your pack. 5 Pump A decent lightweight mini pump will come in handy if you get a puncture or need to adjust your tyre pressure. 6 Tools Carry the minimum you might need for fixing common mechanicals –…

This looks and feels good to do but is also really useful for popping over obstacles on the trail. You need to shift your weight quickly and apply pressure through both the bar and the pedals to jump the bike. You can practise this anywhere to build your confidence, ready for use on the trails. SCOOP Point your toes downwards and scoop back and up on the pedals with your feet to bring the bike level in the air. Relax, then extend your arms and legs to absorb the landing. PUSH OUT Push the bike out in front and get the wheel up high. Use more force with your hands and feet so you don’t have to move your hips right down towards the rear tyre to get the front…