Indholdsfortegnelse for July 2018 i Mountain Biking UK

We can’t quite believe we’ve been around for 30 years – or the progression we’ve witnessed as mountain biking has grown up Back around this time in 1988, US president Ronald Reagan was visiting the UK, the first Die Hard movie was released and the England team were about to be knocked out of a major football tournament… But all that paled into insignificance when the very first issue of MBUK went on sale! We can’t quite believe we’ve been knocking around for 30 years – or the progression we’ve witnessed as mountain biking has grown up and flourished during that time. In this issue, you’ll find a whole host of references to help chart that journey – the first being right up front on the cover, where we’ve paid…

The trail network at Cathkin Braes, south of Glasgow, has been expanded as the city prepares to host the European Cycling Championships this summer. Architrail have built a new start-finish loop for the original XC track, constructed for the 2014 Commonwealth Games, along with a 1.5km blue loop, 0.5km red descent and 0.6km jump track (pictured here being ridden by Duncan Ferris). There’s also an asphalt pump track, built by Velosolutions, and a series of skills features to warm up on. The design process has taken a couple of years and construction started in September. “The trails are all quite fast and flowy, and made with imported materials, as the site gets super-wet, especially in winter!” says Edd from Architrail. “As the site is quite compact, we wanted to design…

1. LA THUILE ITALY, & WHISTLER, CANADA These are two of the best places I’ve ridden and raced. La Thuile’s just got everything – long descents, gnarly, natural, loamy and rocky bits. It’s proper ‘raw’ mountain biking. In Whistler, I just love the whole vibe. The tracks are good, the grip is amazing and there’s always a good crew to ride with. 2. VALBERG FRANCE Valberg is one of the best Enduro World Series venues we’ve had – good place, good tracks, good atmosphere, everything really. There’s massive variety there too – some of it’s high alpine and some of it feels like big freeride lines, surfing down a mad moon-dust-like surface. 3. THREE ROCK, IRELAND My home trails are just wild. I travel all over the world, but I…

In the early 2000s, the Atherton family broke out onto the downhill scene in a big way, with brothers Dan and Gee and sister Rachel clearing up every trophy that was going. Ever since, the tight-knit family unit have all ridden for the same team – Muddy Fox, Commencal, GT and now Trek. This is the trio’s third year on bikes from the Wisconsin-based giant, but the kit adorning their Sessions has undergone some shake-ups. Longterm sponsors Shimano are gone, and the spec list is now filled with parts from British brands Hope and Renthal. Look good, ride good The one-of-a-kind bikes we see here were created for Rachel and Gee for the Fort William and Leogang World Cups, complete with custom graphics and colour-matched componentry. Rachel’s has a baby-blue…

SNAPSHOTS OF SHREDDING In the days before smartphones, it wasn’t all that convenient to take a camera with you on rides. So we were blown away by the number of great retro riding pics you sent in for our special 30th anniversary issue. Unfortunately, there isn’t space to print them all, but just feast your eyes on the wealth of classic bikes, legendary venues, dubious fashion choices and old-skool tricks splattered across these pages! Write to: MBUK Send it! Tower House, Fairfax Street, Bristol, BS1 3BN Email: mbuk@bikeradar.com Visit: www.bikeradar.com/forums…

Frame 6061-T6 and 6066-T6 aluminium, 206mm (8.1in) travel (long setting) Fork Fox Float 40 FIT4 Performance Elite, 200mm (7.8in) travel Shock Fox DHX2 Factory Drivetrain SRAM GX DH with Truvativ Descendant cranks (1x7) Wheelset NS Enigma Rock rims on NS Rotary hubs, Schwalbe Magic Mary DH ADDIX Ultra Soft 27.5x2.35in tyres Brakes SRAM Code R, 200mm rotors Bar/stem NS Evidence Plus, 800mm/NS direct mount, 40-48mm Seatpost/saddle Kalloy rigid/Octane One Crit Weight 16.89kg (37.2lb), medium size without pedals…

AIRDROP BITMAP WORKS £2,799 Fresh supplies for UK hardtail fans Airdrop’s Sheffield-born hardtail spent two years in development while they refined its aggressive geometry. It’s available in four sizes, each with a roomy reach (460mm on the large) and a low standover height that allows plenty of clearance for a long-stroke dropper post. There’s 45mm of bottom bracket drop to help you rail corners and short 420mm chainstays to keep the bike agile despite its 65-degree head angle. It’s available as a frame (£449) or in several 140mm-forked full builds, including the Works model pictured here. Buyers can expect all the features of a modern enduro bike minus the rear travel, including Boost spacing, clearance for a 2.6in tyre and an ISCG-05 chain guide mount. www.airdropbikes.com SDG TELLIS DROPPER POST…

MINT SAUCE Mishun H Sugworth, to give him his full title, made his MBUKdebut at the turn of the decade. And still he defies the average sheep’s life. Proof that MTBing is good for you! LAKE JUMPING  There was just something about jumping into a lake that we all loved. MBUK hosted the inaugural World Lake Jump Champs, won with an impressive 26.5ft! WORLD DOMINATION  Two names totally dominated the DH World Champs in the ’90s – Nicolas Vouilloz and Anne-Caroline Chausson, winning a staggering 16 titles between them BAR ENDS These were everywhere in the early ’90s, when XC was king and bars were narrow. But they just didn’t look right when riser bars took over, despite their benefits on the climbs DIRT VIDEO  Yes, video. With a taped…

“Fort William is definitely a love/hate affair. Everyone’s had their fair share of both here. Personally, I love the track, as it’s pretty similar to back home in the Lakes. There’s nowhere to hide – it’s relentless and sorts the men from the boys. My tactic is just to charge the main line, rely on strength and plough my way down. I’m not one of these guys who’s gonna set up wide here, or be smooth. I’m just gonna hit that main line and hit it hard!”…

El Hierro is part of the Canary Islands archipelago but isn’t as well known as the bigger islands of Gran Canaria, Lanzarote and Tenerife. It’s the first island that’s almost energy autonomous, thanks to a wind farm and two hydroelectric projects. At times it can produce enough green energy to cover all of its residents’ needs, but when demand surges it has to return to conventional sources. The island itself may be eco friendly, but getting there involves an international flight to Tenerife or Gran Canaria and either a local flight (www.bintercanarias.com) or boat transfer. The best place to stay is the village of Frontera. Ralf from MTB Active is the man to talk to about guiding (www.mtb-active.com).…

PAUL SMITH Ex-tech writer Smiffy raced the DH and loved feeling that special Malverns glow again JAMIE HIBBARD Our old staff writer rocked up on Sunday to make sure his daughter got a Mint Sauce selfie IAN COLLINS Former tech ed Collins Boy brought the family along to show them why the Malverns rocks DAVE HEMMING Original Team MBUK member Dave was easy to spot in his Klein kit, and raced all of it! ED MOSELEY Another former team member who showed he’s still got it, taking the Legends title ANDREW TITLEY The rivalry was fierce between our old team riders, with Mr Titley just losing out to Ed…

BEN C’S NUKEPROOF MEGA PRO £3,349.99 When not testing tyres, Ben’s getting them as high in the air as possible Over the past few months I’ve been bitten by the jumping bug and have been having the best time getting airborne on the Mega. The bike’s supportive suspension platform and predictable feel mean I can carve up lips without ploughing through the travel on take-off, and the low-slung frame makes it easy to shift my weight around. Now that I’ve upgraded the wheels – replacing the stock 25mm (internal), alloy Mavic XA Elites with 31mm, carbon Race Face Next Rs – the sturdy build has allowed me to get away with a multitude of flat-landing and casing sins with just my pride bruised. The bearings have started to show signs…

SIPES Small slots cut into the top of the tread blocks to give them some flexibility for increased contact and grip. Some brands vary the shape of the sipes across the tread. BEADS The stiff ‘edges’ at the bottom of the tyre, which contact the rim and, on tubeless tyres, form an airtight seal. All tyres on test had folding beads, which allow them to pack down smaller. SEATING A tyre is ‘seated’ when the bead locates securely around the rim, resulting in an airtight seal (sometimes with the help of liquid sealant). SIDEWALLS The sides of the tyre, between the tread and bead. Making the sidewalls thicker or reinforcing them improves puncture resistance and support. BURPING Name given to the sudden escape of air from a tubeless tyre/rim set-up,…

WHERE TO APPLY THE BUNNYHOP Now you have it dialled, you can apply this trick to all of your riding. The basic motion always stays the same, you just go faster and hop higher or lower depending on the obstacle, which is something you’ll naturally learn to judge. This trick is the base for endless lines and possibilities, which can easily take your riding to the next level! 1 UP A WALL/LEDGE Being able to hop up a wall/ledge while riding street can be so handy – it can unlock new lines and possibilities that you wouldn’t have been able to access before. The more lines and features you can hit, the more fun you’ll have! 2 OUT OF A FLAT BANK Before learning to bunnyhop, a flat bank would’ve…

With over half a million ready-made routes, OS Maps by Ordnance Survey is the ultimate navigation tool on smartphone, tablet and desktop. Covering the whole of Great Britain, it’s the perfect way to discover rides up and down the country, at any time, and start exploring on your mountain bike. Extremely detailed and highly accurate OS mapping at 1:25,000 and 1:50,000 scales makes it easy to understand the gradients and terrains of each route, and you can preview rides in stunning 3D before even stepping out the door. It’s the ultimate tool for planning some serious dirt missions! OS Maps also comes with Augmented Reality, a new feature that lets you visualise what’s around you using your smartphone’s camera. To top it all off, you can download your maps and…

TRAIL STATS Distance11 gravity trails, approx 0.5km approx each; 1.6km XC trail Climbing Pedal/push-up tracks Time 1min for DH tracks, 10mins for XC trail Grading ’Pink’ (XC), blue and black WHY RIDE HERE? Short but feature-packed trails that are fun on any bike RAD… This small valley is packed with short-course downhills, flow trails and jumps The dirt jump quarry is a great place to progress your airborne skills It’s a beautiful part of the world to hang out and ride in BAD… Elevation is very limited, so don’t turn up expecting epic descents Not all the trails are back running at full health just yet Most of us have to deal with the M25 to get here!…

GETTHERE Penshurst is a 20-minute drive south of the M25. From the village, head south-west on the B2188 for two miles, until a right turn onto Grove Road. Look for signs to the bike park on the left after a mile or so. Follow the off-road track up the hill, until you reach the cafe and parking. FACILITIES Car park, cafe, toilets, uplift. NEARBY BIKE SHOPS The bike park is a 15-minute drive from Royal Tunbridge Wells, where there are two bike shops – Velocipede Cycles (www.velocipedecycles.co.uk) and Wildside Cycles (www.wildside-online.co.uk). CONTACT www.facebook.com/penshurstbikepark WHAT ELSE IS NEARBY? The Bull Track Twenty minutes south of Penshurst is Crowborough, which is home to The Bull Track – a privately-owned bike park, full of jumps and freeride features. www.southeast.bike/trails/sussex/the-bull-track Bedgebury Forest For more…

MALVERNS CLASSIC One of the most anticipated events of the year so far. With so many fond memories from 20+ years ago, could it live up to the hype? – page 88 LONG-STANDING BRANDS We test bikes from four brands that have been around as long as we have, to see how they’ve developed over the past 30 years – page 114 CLASSIC NEW RIDES We ride one of our original routes, in the Quantocks, with the man who mapped it out in the ’80s, plus visit the rejuvenated iconic venue once known as PORC – 146 158 page -SUBSCRIBER ZONE Find out how you can become part of our exclusive ‘Subs Zone’ once you subscribe to MBUK and unlock entry to competitions, special offers, discounts and extra content –…

After a mixed response to their Wolf Ridge 29er and its ‘R3ACT’ suspension platform, Marin are back with a new, more affordable long-travel big-wheeler. The Alpine Trail looks similar to their shorter-travel bikes but has 150mm of bounce out back and 160mm up front for backcountry epics, enduro racing and everything in between. That travel is delivered by their ‘MultiTrac’ set-up – a linkage-actuated single-pivot design, which offers a supple yet supportive feel and minimal pedal bob. Geometry is modern, but not boundary-pushing, with a reach of 490mm on the XL, matched to short 430mm chainstays. A BB drop of 35mm keeps the centre of gravity low, and a 65-degree head angle adds stability. In Marin’s grading system, the aluminium frame is classed as ‘Series 4’, which means it gets…

SLOPESTYLE NOW HAS a World Championships – or at least, that’s what Crankworx have boldly renamed their existing Slopestyle World Tour. They’re putting their money where their mouth is, stumping up a whopping US$200,000 in prize money across the festival’s four stops. The second round kicked off in Innsbruck, Austria, and it went off! Mountain biking feels at home in this beautiful city surrounded by massive mountains, and basing the event in the nearby village of Mutters puts it right at the bottom of the trails and makes it look like the riders are jumping over Innsbruck itself, from the perspective of the crowd. Practice started early on Thursday morning and the course was no walk in the park even for these very experienced riders, as proven by a crash…

1 SUNringlé Duroc 35 wheelset Ringlé’s stems (the longer, the better!) and hubs were ’90s must-haves. They’re still in the wheel game, and these promise reliability with no weight penalty. £539.98 www.hotlines-uk.com 2 USE Helix dropper post South Downs-based USE have been turning out innovative bike kit since 1990. Their debut dropper uses unique spiralling internals. £284.99 (165mm stroke) www.ultimateuse.com 3 Panaracer PanDura 27.5x2.4in tyre The Smoke and Dart were a legendary pairing, and Panaracer hope their enduro offering will prove just as popular. £54.99 www.zyrofisher.co.uk 4 ProTaper aluminium handlebar Answer’s ProTaper was the first butted MTB bar. This has a similar tapered profile, but is a load wider, at 810mm. £79.99 www.hotlines-uk.com 5 RockShox BoXXer World Cup DebonAir fork The iconic DH fork marks its 20th birthday with a…

STEVE PEAT Peaty became the first Brit to win the World Cup series in 2002, thanks to a final round victory at Les Gets. His first win at Fort Bill in 2005 saw the place go absolutely mental! INTENSE M1 Thedownhill bike to have in the early ’00s, the M1 was so good that racers from other teams insisted on riding rebadged versions, much to the chagrin of their sponsors THE LOOP Freeride legend John Cowan came down Somerset-way and built us a huge wooden loop. It wasn’t dangerous enough, so we set fire to it and then watched him ride it! RED BULL RAMPAGE With the search for the ultimate adrenaline rush in full flow, the first iteration of Red Bull Rampage hit in 2001. Twenty-two riders started and…

“The riding here is so physical, you have to approach it differently, conserving energy and holding outside lines to carry speed. It’s all rocks and harsh stuff, so you can’t be hacking any insides and roosting dirt! Back when I was racing alongside Sam [Hill], he had a monumental crash here, smashing both wheels on a super-high-speed section. That was pretty gnarly to watch. I’ve always struggled here, so I usually try to forget the results, but you can’t deny the atmosphere, and when the sun’s out it’s a pretty amazing spot to be.”…

“There are no really hard parts of the track, but there are some really scary sections, like the big, long rock-slab right-hander before the deer gate. You pretty much have to just hold on and hope for the best! I always feel like a passenger there. It’s a hard track to put together, because you have to be super-smooth everywhere. This year I seemed to make up time where no one else could, in the last flat woods section, so maybe the easy bits are just as important?”…

Speak to anyone who’s been following mountain biking since its early days and they’ll likely mention the Malvern Hills Classic somewhere along the line. This was theUK event to be part of back in the 1990s, giving riders the chance to race their bikes in a chilled-out setting, get up close to their racing heroes and generally get drunk on an intoxicating mountain biking atmosphere (or was that just the cider?). So there was definitely an air of excitement, hope and expectation in the build-up to this weekend’s revived GT Bicycles Malverns Classic, held in mid June at the original venue of Eastnor Deer Park, Ledbury. We camped out on-site for the weekend and, from everything we heard and saw, reckon it came pretty damn close to that original vibe.…

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 TOM MARVIN The only thing Tom loves more than his clapped-out VW Caddy is hammering test kit SEB STOTT No slouch on the race track, Seb’s passion for engineering helps him pick products apart ED THOMSETT Always on the hunt for new technical challenges, Ed gives his gear some serious abuse BEN CANNELL Ben rides hard and fast, and has a keen eye for the technical details too…

TREAD The knobs attached to the tyre carcass. Taller blocks cut into softer terrain better, generating mechanical grip, but can make the steering feel vague and your bike roll slower on hardpack. SIZE We tested conventional 2.25-4in trail tyres for this test, to keep consistency. Many are also available in larger sizes, for use on modern wider rims. CARCASS The fabric base structure of the tyre, which controls how it deforms under impact or at lower pressures. Stiffer tyres tend to be tougher but deform less, offering reduced grip on hard ground compared to more supple, thinner carcasses. COMPOUND Brands use different softnesses of rubber to tailor the grip offered by a tyre. Softer rubber mixes offer more grip but wear faster, so a combination of two or more compounds…

LOOK UP This seems like an obvious tip, but it’s often the hardest skill to conquer when the trail gets rough. Looking up helps your balance, allows you to spot lines and tricky sections, and gives you more time to react. PROTECT YOUR EYES At high speeds, the air flowing past your face can cause you to squint, making it harder to see upcoming obstacles. Glasses or goggles will prevent this, as well as protecting your eyes from bugs, dust and trail debris. PUMP AND PEDAL To gain and maintain speed on rough or fast sections of trail, it’s safer to pump than try to pedal. Make yourself heavy on downslopes, by pushing your body weight through the bike and into the ground, to gain extra speed. When the trail…

PACKING HEAT Q I’m relatively new to mountain biking but keen to ride further and further each time I head into the hills. I’ve just bought a CamelBak MULE pack, which is great. Aside from filling the bladder with water, what other stuff should I be carrying on all-day rides? Rory Andrews, via email A Packing properly for a big day out on the bike can really make a difference if something goes wrong. Start with the essentials. Get yourself a good multi-tool and check its Allen keys fit all the bolts on your bike. If you can afford it, buy one with a decent chain breaker attached, and be sure to carry a spare quick link too. Pack at least one spare inner tube and a decent mini pump…

To celebrate our 30th birthday, we decided to revisit one of the first routes published in MBUK– a jaunt around the Quantocks. We also persuaded UK mountain bike legend Tim Flooks to join us as he was the man behind the original route! Tim was born and raised around the Quantocks, where he could be found bombing down the combes, emulating his motocross heroes. He then went on to organise some of the earliest MTB races in the UK, before going on to race for distributors Caratti, Halfords – and even Team GB! Afterwards, he became the technical mechanic for RockShox, before eventually setting up the TF Tuned shock-tuning company. These days, Tim’s back on the road with SRAM, doing what he loves best – fettling racers’ suspension and creating…

Amaury Pierron proved he was no one-hit wonder by following up his debut World Cup victory in Fort William with a back-to-back win in Leogang, Austria. The on-form Frenchman beat the USA’s Aaron Gwin (battling a dislocated thumb) by 0.508secs and wrested the leader’s jersey from him. Fellow American Luca Shaw looked to spoil the Commencal rider’s party, but a crash in the woods meant that, for the second week running, the fastest qualifier had to concede to bad luck. Drama unfolded in the women’s finals too, as fastest qualifier Tahnée Seagrave went outside the tape and was disqualified. Fellow Brit Rachel Atherton took her first victory since Lourdes in 2017 after a long wait in the hot seat. France’s Myriam Nicole gave her a scare, but a mistake at…

It’s mad to think that MBUK is 30 years old. I can remember seeing the magazine as a 10-year-old and being amazed by the riders and the jumps and tricks they were doing. Those mad stunts from back in the day, like riding underwater – that’s the stuff that really stands out. I guess I’d been a riding a bit before then, but when my dad brought the mag home, it really got me inspired. My first proper bike was a Muddy Fox, but I’d owned some dodgy second-hand bikes before that. It was through reading MBUK that I learnt more about bikes and how to develop my skills. I used to love reading anything with Grant ‘Chopper’ Fielder in, and Chris Smith and Steve Geall were always an inspiration…

To help us celebrate our 30th birthday, we’ve partnered with three of the biggest brands in mountain biking to bring you a fantastic opportunity to win a brand new bike. Yep, that’s right – not content with one bike, we’ve got three to give away, worth over £9,000! That’s one for every decade we’ve been around, and means you’ve got three great chances to win one of them. Entering the competition is simple – just answer the question over the page. After the closing date, we’ll randomly draw three names, who’ll each be allocated one of the prizes at random. We’ll then arrange a date to present the winners with their bikes and get some photos for a feature right here in MBUK. Turn over to find out more about…

Frame‘C:68’ carbon fibre, 150mm (5.9in) travel ForkFox 36 FIT GRIP2 Factory, 160mm (6.3in) travel ShockFox Float X2 Factory Drivetrain SRAM GX Eagle with X1 carbon cranks (1x12) Brakes SRAM Code R, 200/180mm rotors Wheelset Newmen Evolution SL A.30 wheels, Schwalbe Magic Mary (front) and Hans Dampf (rear) ADDIX Soft SuperGravity 29x2.35in tyres Bar/stem Race Face Turbine R 35, 780mm/ Race Face Æffect R 35, 50mm SeatpostFox Transfer Factory dropper/SDG Fly Mtn 2 Weight14.68kg (32.36lb), 20in size without pedals…

ISSUE 1 The very first issue of MBUK hit the newsstand in 1988 and explained, among other things, exactly what a mountain bike was. We've always been the informative type STEVE BEHR This legendary South African MTB photographer did most of the snapping for MBUK from as early as issue two and is still a regular contributor SHIMANO DEORE II Deore II was a revolutionary bit of kit back in 1988 with its two-finger rim braking. Things have moved on a bit since… MALVERNS CLASSIC We had our first experience of the Malvern Hills Classic and weren’t impressed by the dangerous DH track or the infamous bombhole! CLIFF JUMP It didn’t take long for MBUK to start doing slightly senseless things on bikes. Like riding off an 80ft cliff into…

DANNY HART On the mud-stricken mountainside of Champéry, Danny Hart eclipsed everyone else with a blinding World Champs run that sent Rob Warner wild in the commentary box WHEEL SIZE With the introduction of 29ers, then 650b (or was it 27.5in?) wheels, and 26in still in the mix, just what the hell should we be riding? It kept us talking for ages BIKEPARK WALES The UK’s first full-scale, trail-bike-friendly bike park opened in Merthyr Tydfil, South Wales, and was a roaring success from the start. It now has over 40 trails, and plans for more to come STEVE PEAT RETIRES After being the ‘people’s rider’ for the best part of 20 years, Peaty hung up his race boots, but still remains heavily involved in the DH scene E-BIKES Is it…

Chris Kovarik’s run at the first Fort William World Cup in 2002 still stands as the biggest winning margin of all time. Just how did the Karver do it? What were your first impressions of Fort Bill? When I first raced here, the track had just been built and was still soft, even with the gravel they’d laid down. There were a lot of areas that didn’t have surfacing, though, and were pretty muddy, which made it hard to ride. Did you think the track would suit you? It’s always refreshing to ride something new and different, and I was stoked to race somewhere that put everyone on an even playing field. Initially, I didn’t think it’d suit me, but as it got more blown out and the ruts got…

Riders have always loved heading to the Malverns to race, for the chance to get one over on their mates and earn bragging rights for the weekend. The dual slalom kicked things off on the Friday night with plenty of thrills and a fair few spills on the slippery track as riders went head to head down the grassy course. Then a packed field entered the cross-country, heading out on the Saturday morning for multiple loops around the beautiful grounds of Eastnor Deer Park. That was followed by enduro racing, and the quad eliminator that kicked into action as the sun went down on Saturday night. Sunday’s action was dominated by the downhill racing. The crowds turned out en masse by the legendary bombhole to watch the action and the…

LifeLine AirBlast £69.99 SO GOOD… LifeLine’s AirBlast is the cheapest combined pump and inflator here. The tubeless chamber inflates to the highest pressure on test, 240psi, and releases a blast of air that seats thin-sidewalled XC/trail tyres easily. NO GOOD… The volume of air released is small compared to some of its rivals, so the initial blast doesn’t last long. This means it struggles to seat stiffer tyres, especially on rims with tight bead seats. The crowded gauge makes it harder to accurately inflate tyres to normal pressures. You can buy a separate inflator and track pump for not much more. www.wiggle.co.uk Topeak JoeBlow Booster £ 139.99 SO GOOD… This unit’s large air chamber can be inflated to 160psi and worked seamlessly with the thinner-walled trail tyre/rim combinations we tried.…

While new geometry trends, damping cartridges and wheel standards steal the headlines, it’s often the contact points between you, your bike and the ground that can make or break your ability to nail a section of trail. Tyres are perhaps the most important of these – they’re the only interface between you and terra firma. That’s why we covered them in the very first issue of MBUKand why, 30 years later, we’ve rounded up 14 of the latest options to find the ultimate pairing for UK trail bike shredding. We’ve split this test in two, between seven tyres we think work best up front, for reliable corner tracking, and seven we’d recommend for use on the rear, where you can get away with less grip and priotise faster rolling. To…

Berms Greg does all his braking before entering the turn. He spots the sweet spot for applying pressure early and, coming in relaxed and balanced on the bike, ‘punches’ it with the perfect amount of pressure needed, depending on how tight the corner is. He rides with his feet level in most berms, and shifts his vision to the exit of the turn very early. Flat turns The trail surface (grip and obstacles) dictates how Greg handles a flat turn. He leans more in tight bends and uses more finesse in open corners. As always, he brakes early and, as soon as he sees the corner, he’s looking for the best place to put his tyres, to avoid obstacles that’ll affect the bike’s lean angle. Switchbacks Riding linked turns is…

1 Check your tyre pressures, using a digital pressure gauge or the gauge on a track pump. Air will leak out of the tyres over time, so they’ll need topping up regularly. Attach a pump (a track pump is easiest/quickest) and inflate to your preferred pressures. 2 Make sure the wheels are secure. Quick-release levers – whether on a skewer or through-axle – should be pushed in towards the spokes until they stop, otherwise they can work loose. This should take a little force to achieve. If not, adjust the lever/axle. 3 Holding the frame with one hand, wiggle each rim from side to side with the other to check for play in the hubs. Run your hand over the spokes to check for loose or broken ones. Spin the…

Paisley’s Farm Shop & Cafe (01278 732207), on the A39 near Nether Stowey, is perfect for a pre- or post-ride bite. With plenty of parking and being en route for most people, it’s easy to get to and provides great locally-sourced food, including their famous Farmer’s Breakfast. Food and drink is served all day, from coffee and cake to light bites and full-on evening meals. Alternatively, the Plough Inn in Holford is very near the start/finish of the ride and also offers good food and drink.…

The site of Penshurst Bike Park is steeped in history. From the mid-19th Century up until the Second World War, it was the estate of Viscount Hardinge, the Governor-General of India. When the war came, the manor house was stripped of materials and declined into ruin, and the extensive gardens grew into a jungle. All remained that way until 1991, when Mike Westphal, an eccentric software developer from Brighton, bought the land and turned it into possibly the UK’s first bike park – Penshurst Off Road Cycling. “It all started because my daughter was hit by a car while cycling in Brighton,” Mike told us over a brew, after rocking up on his three-wheeled recumbent e-bike. “I couldn’t find anywhere safe to teach her to ride, so when I saw…

“There are tracks here that cater to all abilities and there are some big booters too, if you’re feeling keen! PBP has been a huge part of my career and I’m stoked to see it booming again. We had a sick time shooting for this feature, shredding turns and pulling some shapes. If you like the look of what you see, then get yourself along. All the locals are passionate, friendly and would be more than happy to help you out!”…