Indholdsfortegnelse for April 2019 i Mountain Biking UK

As one of the world’s most iconic performance tyre manufacturers, it’s a bit of a surprise that Pirelli haven’t made mountain bike tyres before. After they launched a road bike tyre in 2017, it seemed almost inevitable that an MTB equivalent would follow. Enter the Scorpion MTB, Pirelli’s attempt to redefine how we think about mountain bike tyres. There’s no mud tyre or dry-conditions-only semi-slick in the four-strong range. Instead, the Italian company are asking buyers to forget about the weather and focus on the type of trails they’re going to be riding. Want to ride hardpack? There’s the Scorpion H. What about mixed terrain? The Scorpion M is the tyre for the job. If you’re riding soft terrain, consider the Scorpion S. Lastly, if you’re after a rear tyre…

Sean Green, a rider from Carnoustie, just north of Dundee on Scotland’s east coast, has a lifetime of mountain adventuring under his belt, and he’s just found a new challenge that’s got him hooked. His mission is to ride all 282 of Scotland’s Munros – mountains that are higher than 3,000ft (914m). “I was doing a lot of trail building, and wanted to get up to warp speed on open hillsides, but was constantly surrounded by forests and woodland,” he explains. “Wanting to stretch my legs, I ventured into my nearest glen – which happened to lead to two Munros. I had an incredible day out, reached the speeds I’d been searching for and managed to descend for over 20 minutes. I was onto something.” After tackling some more Munros…

1 B’Twin 500 workstand Cleaning, fixing, greasing, lubing, polishing – you name it, a bike stand makes it a whole lot easier. £49.99 www.decathlon.co.uk 2 Muc-Off Carbon Gripper Always apply assembly paste to carbon parts before clamping, to avoid overtightening and its expensive consequences. £14.99 (75g) www.silverfish-uk.com 3 Park Tool Cleaning Brush Set Perfect for all those hard-to-reach grunge traps. £22.49 www.madison.co.uk 4 Stan’s NoTubes Race Sealant Whether you’re changing tyres for summer or they just need topping up, a sufficient supply of tubeless sealant is a must. £32 (946ml) www.paligap.cc 5 Muc-Off Bio Grease Keep your bike happy with some fresh grease in all the right places. This one’s waterproof and eco-friendly. £12 (150ml) www.silverfish-uk.co.uk 6 Fenwick’s Professional Protective Coating Protect your paintwork and make it easier to clean.…

Oliver Lewis was hoping for a fun little ride at his local, Wind Hill B1kepark, but his day turned out to be more humerus and less humorous. “I dropped into the black DH trail ‘Feed Em to the Lions’ and there was a big techy straight out of a right-hand turn,” he tells us. “I landed it, but I was leaning too far back and ended up going straight over a berm with my bike above my head. I managed to break off the ball of my humerus bone, which wasn’t so funny!”…

FrameReynolds 853 steel, 180mm (7.1in) travel as tested (adjustable up to 200mm, depending on shock) Fork Fox 40 Float Factory RC2, 203mm (8in) travel ShockFox DHX2 Drivetrain Profile No Boss cranks, Profile Spline Drive sprocket (33t, with 15t rear sprocket, as tested) and KMC HL710 half-link chain Wheelset DT Swiss FR 1950 rims on Hope Pro 4 hubs, Maxxis Minion DHF 3C MaxxGrip DH 29x2.5in tyres Brakes Magura MT7, 203mm rotors Bar/stemFunn Kingpin, 810mm/Funn RSX, 45-50mm Seatpost/saddle Funn Arrow/Funn Adlib Weight17.9kg (39.46lb), without pedals…

The ’Puffer is 24-hour racing with a perverted twist. Unlike most events of this type, which are held during the long days and balmy temperatures of midsummer, this one takes place in January and in the far north of Scotland. The race’s grassroots beginnings date back to 2005, but since then its following and reputation has grown. These days, it attracts over 1,000 racers, including many loyal masochists who put themselves through it every year! The challenge is to do as many laps of the 12.5km course as you can in 24 hours. If you’re a really ’ard bastard, you can race it solo, or as a pair (like we did) or a team of four. Kids can do it too, in teams of eight, meaning they can at least…

Hansjörg Rey, aka Hans ‘No Way’ Rey, helped pioneer mountain bike trials riding in the 1990s, both on the competitive circuit (he was a UCI world champ) and through his many videos. He now travels the world in search of new riding adventures (many of which you may have read about here in MBUK), from searching for headhunters in Borneo to riding the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu. With his wife Carmen, he also runs Wheels4Life, a charity that provides bicycles to people in developing countries who are in need of transportation. Born in Germany but based out of Laguna Beach, California, Hans remains one of the sport’s most recognisable figures.…

Berghaus Expedition Mule 60 £70 SO GOOD… At 1.13kg, this is the second-lightest bag on test. The shoulder straps are adjustable and a chest strap adds extra security. A mesh pocket inside the main compartment keeps things organised. You’ll easy stow a good few days’ worth of kit inside, without it bursting at the seams. It packs down into the pocket at one end. NO GOOD… The material is tough but thin and lightweight, so the Mule doesn’t hold its shape well when slung over your shoulders. It’s difficult to disconnect the shoulder straps. An extra internal pocket would be handy. www.berghaus.com EVOC Duffel 60l £ 124.99 SO GOOD… This sturdy number is built to last (we’ve had one in use for a few years without any issues), weighs just…

The custom tweaks begin! There’s a small vent at the back of the Levo’s motor, intended to prevent it overheating. So far, so good – but it does attract trail debris, which necessitates regular cleaning. My solution uses the same FRX Mudhugger guard as on the front of the bike, positioned to run below the chainstays. This has the added benefit of protecting the shock and swingarm bearings. A Specialized fix is available in the form of a ‘moto foam’ insert, but I’m still loving the versatility of my solution. www.specialized.com…

1 FASTED FUN If you commute to work by bike, then fasted training is easy to integrate into your weekly routine. If you go by car, walk or work from home, then a little creativity is needed. Training before eating has always been associated with weight loss, but the evidence doesn’t support this assumption. It can definitely lead to greater improvements in aerobic endurance than with the same dose of ‘fed’ training though! Using the ‘pre-work’ (and pre-breakfast) opportunity to smash out a quick session is still the most fuss-free way to benefit. 2 INTENSITY AND DURATION This is the key to fasted training – not too hard and certainly not too easy. Dialling in the intensity before worrying about the duration is essential. Aim to work at a level…

1 Before cutting a brake hose, first ensure it’s routed through the frame correctly, with enough slack to accommodate any suspension or handlebar movement. With the bike in a workstand, position the brake lever horizontally to minimise brake fluid loss. 2 Slide the plastic cover that sits at the join of the hose and the lever body off. Using an 8mm spanner, turn the exposed bolt anticlockwise, until it can be turned by hand. Unthread it fully and slide it down the hose. Pull the hose out of the brake lever. 3 Now to decide how long you want the hose to be. Hold it against the side of the brake lever and turn the bar to find the shortest length of hose that still allows enough slack for the bar to rotate…

There isn’t anywhere on the route to get food, but the ride starts, passes through and finishes in Ballater, where there’s a wide choice of cafes and restaurants. A couple of favourites are Bean for Coffee, a lovely family-run cafe offering homemade grub, and The Bothy, which does great soups. Post-ride, there are a few pubs and hotels offering food. A favourite of ours is India on the Green, an Indian restaurant serving up some wonderful dishes in a nice setting and with friendly service.…

Route summary Not super-easy, but a short and superb little loop out of Ambleside, with beautiful views and fun, draining trails. It gets busy though, so plan your visit wisely Start/finish Ambleside CofE Primary School (grid ref NY 374/044, postcode LA22 9DH) 1 Keep ahead at the end of Vicarage Road, by Ambleside CofE Primary School, following a cycle route into Rothay Park. Go over the bridge to the road and head right, over the cattle grid, then left on a tarmac bridleway, uphill, past Brow Head Farm. 2 Continue on a rocky bridleway. Stay on this main track, forking right towards Ivy Crag. Go straight ahead to Tarn Foot Cottage, turn sharp right at the track crossing, around the campsite, and continue past Loughrigg Tarn on a good track.…

“Swinley is a great place to ride, because there are so many different ways that you can take on the same trail. Each and every one of them has been designed in such a way that anyone can have their fun, regardless of riding style or skill level. The most important piece of advice that I can give a newcomer to Swinley is to make sure that you ride the tracks a couple of times – that way, you’ll be sure to discover new lines through and new features to launch off or negotiate. My absolute favourite part of Swinley Forest has to be the area around red 20 – there are some truly awesome tracks around there that are actually quite easy to miss if you’re not looking out…

WHYTE T-130C RS £3,499 THE T-130 HAS MORPHED INTO A SUPER-CAPABLE TRAIL BIKE THAT RARELY FELT LIKE IT WAS BEING PUSHED BEYOND ITS LIMITS The T-130 has long been a mainstay of our Bike of the Year testing. Once a classic 130mm trail bike with bags of fun-loving character, it’s evolved into a super-modern-shaped bike with extra punch when trails get gnarly. It’s one of the few 650b-wheeled bikes on test, but the 2.6in Maxxis tyres mounted on 30mm-wide Race Face rims mean there’s still plenty of volume – and therefore grip – on offer, so it doesn’t feel like it loses out on top-end speed compared to some of the bigger-wheeled competition. Top-end speed comes easily too, because the geometry includes some pretty progressive numbers. The 480mm reach (large)…

Antur Stiniog, in Snowdonia, is already one of the UK’s top uplift-accessed riding spots, but by this summer it’s going to be even better, with 4.5km of new trails planned. Work is about to start on the reshaping of the existing Drafft red trail, turning it into a new top-to-bottom jump line. This will be followed by the construction of three new descents – a mellow, green-graded flow trail that’ll increase the park’s appeal for beginners, plus two more natural, unsurfaced tracks. We’ve always loved the raw and rugged feel of the riding here, and the trails are set in such a unique location, overlooking old slate mines, that it can sometimes feel like you’ve stepped back into the 19th century. As soon as the new trails are open, we’ll…

This winter has been a blur of travelling for me. I think that’s a good way to live, right? Try to visit hot places when it’s cold in England, and hopefully get to enjoy the British summer at home. That’s the plan anyway! I started this year in Thailand, with a motley crew from around the world for Brendog’s [DH World Cup star Brendan Fairclough] stag do. We committed to 10 days without bikes, but it quickly became apparent that Bren’s best man (and brother), Christian, wasn’t going to allow the trip to be totally ride-free. We swapped our bikes for mopeds, and found ourselves bombing it through jungles and beaches – what an experience! Next up was a trip to South Africa for a couple of exciting projects. I…

1 The new Fortus rim range replaces Hope’s popular Tech series and brings wider widths for cross-country (23mm) and trail/enduro riding (26mm), plus a downhill option with internal reinforcing ribs (30mm) and a 35mm option for riders running wider tyres. 2 All the rims are available in 650b and 29in diameters, and the middle two widths are also available in 26in. It’s nice to see Hope continuing support for the old-school wheel size. 3 Full wheelsets built onto Hope Pro 4 hubs will come in at £425. Alternatively, you can buy the rims, for £90 each, and lace them up yourself using J-bend spokes. 4 Claimed weight for the 30mm 650b wheelset with Pro 4 hubs is 2,305g. The wheels are due to be released in May. 5 An evolution…

Use a reusable bottle and don’t buy bottled water (it’s 500 times pricier than tap water anyway!) Reuse where you can, and recycle when you can’t Make homemade energy goodies that don’t come in unnecessary packaging Pack it in, pack it out – take all your litter home with you Clear up one piece of rubbish on every ride Count and share details of the litter that you see on a lap of your local trail centre Share your stories to help raise awareness Join Trash Free Trails – www.facebook.com/trashfreetrails and www.instagram.com/trashfreetrails…

DROP IN WITH GRAVITY ON YOUR SIDE AND THE SENTRY REALLY COMES INTO ITS OWN, ITS STABILITY MAKING YOU PUSH THE BIKE AS HARD AS YOUR NERVES WILL LET YOU After years of scooping accolades for their range of cheaper bikes, Calibre have upped the ante and ventured into the longer-travel trail/ enduro market. Their latest offering, the Sentry, comes in two builds, which share the same frame. The pricier bike will set you back £2,800 (with their £5 discount card), but it’s the cheaper of the two (tested here) that we think is incredibly exciting. The frame Cheaper bikes tend to lean towards the more conservative end of the geometry spectrum. But this isn’t the case with the Sentry, which doesn’t just embrace, but bear-hugs, the current long, low…

1 BIG WHEELS With its fast-rolling 29in wheels, grippy Schwalbe rubber and 170mm of rear travel – courtesy of a proven four-bar linkage suspension system – the latest Swoop should make easy work of tough terrain. 2 MODERN GEOMETRY Radon’s new 29er has the same head angle as the 650b bike but a steeper seat angle for improved climbing. There’s a decent 476mm reach on the 19in size. Longer 445mm chainstays add stability at speed. 3 TOP-VALUE SPEC The Swoop 10.0 seen here has a Factory series Fox 36 fork, Float X2 shock and Transfer dropper post, a SRAM Eagle drivetrain with carbon cranks, and e*thirteen/Race Face/ SDG finishing kit, all for around £3,200 (€3,699 + €29.95p&p).…

BIKEPACKING We had a 25-day window – time enough to lose ourselves in the hills and find some singletrack, a sense of remoteness, and adventures along the way. With a strict budget, the self-sufficiency of bikepacking seemed like the best option, and southern Spain’s abundance of circular cycle routes and long-distance Gran Recorrido trails made it seem like the ideal destination. There was also the allure of warmer temperatures and the prospect of riding in a T-shirt. The plan was simple. My girlfriend Megan and I would fly to Malaga, then three weeks later fly home from Valencia. What was to happen in the middle would include parts of the 2,000km TransAndalus route and was plotted roughly with a GPS device, but would be subject to change. LIVING IN A…

GETTING THERE Expect to pay £250-350 for return flights from Heathrow to Tel Aviv. It's a five-hour flight (allow extra time for bikes to be X-rayed). October to March is the best time to visit the south of the country. INFORMATION Maps and videos about the Israel Bike Trail are available at www.ibt.org.il. There’s bike rental in Sde Boker, close to the Negev Desert https://geofun.co.il/en. Tour operators that offer trips in Israel include www.israelbike.net and www.abenteuerreisen.ch/israel. BEAR IN MIND During Shabat– a day of rest, held from Friday evening until Saturday evening – Israel's Jewish population can’t work, drive or use their phones, so plan around this. Don’t forget to stay hydrated, and pack plenty of sun cream!…

I’ve now had a solid couple of months riding the Ransom and have become very comfortable on it. I’m still impressed with how well it rides and the confidence it inspires whenever I take it out. The initial niggles with the dropper post, shifting and front brake lever are all now sorted, too. There is one big issue that I encountered recently that I need to get out of the way early in this month’s report, though. A jockey wheel fell out of the SRAM NX Eagle rear mech mid-ride, resulting in a bent cage. Fortunately I was able to get a replacement mech, and with the help of some threadlock on the jockey wheel bolts, the problem hasn’t recurred and the gears have stayed pretty sweet. Frustratingly, the Ransom’s…

It’s taken a while to arrive, but my second long-term ride is finally here. With my Marin Alpine Trail covering the budget-conscious, big-wheeled side of things, I’ve not been so constrained by price this time, so I’ve gone for the second-from-top model in Kona’s Process range. It may not offer great value for money, but it looks killer! With 650b wheels, 150mm of rear travel and a 160mm fork, it should not only go fast, but be nice and playful too. I loved the ride of my 2017 Kona Operator DH bike, and am hoping for more of the same. www.konaworld.com…

Buying a new fork is one of the priciest – but potentially most effective – upgrades you can make. Even when buying a complete bike, the fork deserves serious consideration. So, you need to know exactly what you’re looking for in a new one. First, it should sit smoothly into its travel – to keep your front wheel glued to the ground – while offering enough support later in its stroke to keep the bike from pitching and diving too easily. Next, you want a fork that irons out the harshest of trail feedback, allowing you to keep going for longer on the roughest tracks before arm pump sets in. Decent stiffness is important, to provide accurate and predictable steering, but you don’t want it to be so stiff that…

BRAKE FIRST Get any braking done before the turn. Braking negatively affects a bike’s handling and grip, by making it stand more upright and potentially skid out. With flat corners, it’s better to go slow in and fast out, and build up slowly until you’re hitting them quicker and quicker. PICK YOUR LINE Spot a smooth line to follow – bumps will make it harder for your tyres to maintain contact with the ground – and try to set up wide to help straighten out the corner. TRUST YOUR TYRES Leaning the bike over on its side means you’ll be engaging the side knobs on your tyres. Trust them – they’re surprisingly grippy. STAY SMOOTH Avoid quick movements up/down or left/right, because they’ll disrupt your balance and lessen the pressure…

Let’s be truthful, the majority of us want to keep up with – or even beat – our mates when we drop into a trail with them. And whether you’re competitive or not, there’s always that need to not be the one left behind. A lot of the riders I coach come to me saying they want to be able to keep up with someone they ride with. The most common mistake I see when people are trying to keep up is pedalling in the wrong places. I’m sure you’ve been there when you’re chasing someone down the trail and sprinting super-hard on the straights to get back on their tail. This is basically just desperate riding and it has a detrimental effect on keeping up. So, my first piece…

Max loves travelling up and down the country, searching for the best routes for you to ride. He’s the man behind www.roughrideguide.co.uk PLAN YOUR RIDE WITH 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…

Route summary A fast XC-style route over rolling hills, with easy navigation and nothing too tricky or technical, providing a lovely, fast ride with great scenery Start/finish Maiden Castle car park (grid ref SY 669/889, postcode DT2 9EY) 1 Join the bridleway by the car park, ride along the field to a gate and join a bridleway, with the castle to your left. Head downhill over a field to a road and go right, over a crossroads to the B3159. Turn left on the tarmac, climbing uphill to the top, where a bridleway crosses the road. 2 Go right through a gate, onto the South West Coast Path, and head all the way along it to a road. Turn left on the tarmac, cross the cattle grid and take another…

TRAIL STATS Distance Green 0.8km, blue 8.7km, red 13.7km Climbing fireroads and surfaced singletrack Time 30 minutes to 2 hours Grading Green, blue, red WHY RIDE HERE? It’s the closest official riding spot to London RAD… The trails are just a short train ride from the centre of London Mellow terrain is perfect for getting to grips with biking Ongoing trail maintenance and updates keep things fresh Swinley Bike Hub organise regular and hugely popular women’s rides BAD… Lack of elevation limits the scope for technical descending There’s a lot of flat traversing between the interesting sections…

GET THERE Swinley Bike Hub and the trailhead for the official loops are located at The Lookout Discovery Centre, just outside Bracknell. The postcode RG12 7QW will take you there. FACILITIES Car park, cafe, bike shop, bike hire/test centre, skills coaching NEARBY BIKE SHOPS The Bike Hub is well stocked with riding gear and spares CONTACT www.swinleybikehub.com WHAT ELSE IS NEARBY? Peaslake – This small village, 50mins south-east of Swinley, is the epicentre of mountain biking in the Surrey Hills. Most of those Instagram videos you see of Brendan Fairclough or Bernard Kerr are filmed around there, and the hills are packed with sneaky lines to discover. www.surreyhills.org Aston Hill Bike Park – Just over an hour’s drive north into the Chiltern Hills is this classic spot, which has been…

Frame Carbon fibre, 130mm (5.1in) travel Fork RockShox Pike RC, 140mm (5.5in) travel Shock RockShox Deluxe RT Drivetrain SRAM GX Eagle with Truvativ Descendant 7K cranks (1x12) Wheelset Race Face AR 30 wheels, Maxxis High Roller II 3C EXO TR (f) and Maxxis Rekon EXO TR (r) 27.5x2.6in tyres Brakes SRAM Guide RS, 180/160mm rotors Bar/stem Whyte, 760mm/Whyte Gravity, 35mm Seatpost/saddle KS LEV Integra, 150mm/Whyte Weight 13.89kg (30.62lb), L www.whyte.bike Frame6013-T6 aluminium alloy, 140mm (5.5in) travel Fork RockShox Pike RC, 150mm (5.9in) travel Shock RockShox Super Deluxe RC3 Drivetrain SRAM GX Eagle with Truvativ Descendant 7K cranks (1x12) Wheelset DT Swiss E 1700 Spline wheels, Maxxis High Roller II 29x2.5in WT (f) and Maxxis Minion DHR II 29x2.4in WT (r) tyres Brakes SRAM Guide RS, 200mm/180mm rotors Bar/stem Kore OCD,…

With its towering peaks, moonscape terrain and infamous ‘anti-grip’ dust, Chile ticks a lot of MTB boxes and, with the help of high-profile races like the Enduro World Series, it’s becoming a popular shredding destination. Some 120 riders from 19 countries came to this challenging landscape for the sixth Santa Cruz Andes Pacifico – a five-day enduro race from the heights of the Andes to the Pacific coast. Racers battled heat and altitude over 17 stages and 90km of timed runs, which saw them descend 13,000m to the finish line on the beach. The locals had cause to celebrate too, because for the first time in the event’s six-year history, Chilean riders swiped the gold medals across all categories. Pedro Burns fought hard to beat France’s Romain Paulhan and François…

MERIDA 12-HOUR ENDURO, 2004 Mat Brett, the new boy at the time, was thrown into the deep end of a solo 12-hour marathon race, all in the name of one-upping MBUK’s sister title What Mountain Bike, who’d entered a full team. He forgave us eventually! MEGAVALANCHE ALPE D’HUEZ, 2011 We sent Rob, Jimmer and our senior staff writer at the time, Ric McLaughlin, to line up at the top of a glacier for the infamous mass-start enduro DH race. They came away battered and bruised, but stoked on having completed the legendary event. E-VERESTING, 2017 Climbing the equivalent height of Mount Everest – 8,848m – off-road is quite a challenge on its own, let alone doing it in one day. We gave then features editor Alex Evans an e-bike, but…

REFLECTIONS AND BACKLIGHTING ARE TWO THINGS I LIKE A LOT, BUT SOME SPECIAL CONDITIONS ARE REQUIRED TO GET THEM French photographer Jean-Baptiste Liautard has only been on our radar for a few years, but in that time he’s seriously impressed us. His skilful use of light and composition has resulted in some incredible images. The 23-year-old fell into photography when, aged 16, a crash on his bike forced him to take some time off riding. He started shooting his friends, which led to him abandoning his engineering studies to pursue it full-time. “It’s all about capturing a moment,” JB tells us. “Each photograph is like a canvas. It’s a way to tell a story, document a sport or lifestyle and show the world what you have in your mind.” 1…

A week of pizza munching, espresso guzzling and gelato slurping on our big Bike of the Year shootout in Finale Ligure (see this month’s supplement). Race season is here and staff writer Luke will be getting in the gate at a selection of UK DH and enduro events this year. Say hi if you see him! ScotRail trains on the Glasgow to Oban line will be fitted with new bike and ski storage carriages this summer – opening up loads of potential for greener MTB adventures in the Highlands. We’re all drooling over SRAM’s futuristic new electronic bling, but we’ve got to decide which arm and leg to sell to get a set. Likewise, we’re itching to ride our Great British Hardtail, but it’s still at the painters. We can’t…

STAR LETTER REDISCOVERING THE RADNESS How did I forget the amazing feeling of being out on a mountain bike? When I was a kid, my fitness, recreation and relaxation revolved around mountain biking. Growing up in the Forest of Dean, I was lucky enough to have some superb routes on my doorstep, and I’d be up at the Cannop Cycle Centre whenever I could blag a lift. As I got older, my degree, marriage and fatherhood got in the way and 15 years later, I realised that my body and brain should be fitter. While we were on holiday together, my lifelong friend Rob handed me an issue of MBUK that he’d finished reading. It coaxed me back onto the bike, and after a couple of rides on my 26in,…

THE THERMOMETER IN THE FRONT OF THE VAN IS READING MINUS FIVE. THE DASHBOARD CLOCK ALSO READS FIVE – IN THE MORNING, THAT IS. I’ve only got 20 minutes until it’s time to get back on my bike and ride another lap around a frozen Scottish woodland. Curled up in the foetal position, shivering under a pile of coats, the prospect isn’t particularly appealing. It’s my choice to be here though, so I’ll be damned if I don’t see it through. I rouse myself and shake my head – which sheds the fatigue, but doesn’t banish the dull ache from my legs. Walking over to my bike, I notice that the sweat-soaked windproof hanging on my bar is crusted into hard, icy folds. I hang it over the fire for…

How Duncan carried his bikepacking gear – visit www.mbuk.com to see his full ‘everything but the kitchen sink’ kit list. On body – General riding kit; one set, including lots of naturally antibacterial (non-stinky) merino wool Accessory bar bag – wet/cold-weather riding kit; for easy access Main bar bag – warm camp clothing and sleeping bag Backpack (15l) – camera equipment (Sony a6300 with four lenses, spare batteries and memory cards), down jackets (one for riding in, one for off the bike), food Top tube bag – phone and USB power bank Feed pods on bar – snacks Fork bags – tent and sleeping bag liner Frame bag – toiletries (inc diarrhoea pills, loo paper and shovel!), bike tools and spares, small bike lock Seat pack –…

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…

I know it looks like I’m pulling rank, but I really didn’t intend to get such an expensive long-termer. Cannondale were short of XL bikes at the lower spec levels, so I reluctantly (ahem) agreed to spend a year on a full-carbon frame with Shimano XTR bits and Fox Factory suspension. The good news is that you can get the same frame with less flashy parts for nearly £3k less (Habit Carbon 3, £3,300). This bike looks like it ticks all the boxes for me – 29in wheels, decent reach, mid travel, lightweight – so I can’t wait to hit the trails. www.cannondale.com…

RockShox Lyrik RC2 £989 The Lyrik won our fork test last year, and the 2019 model is better still. Its DebonAir spring has reduced friction and much more negative volume to soften the initial stroke, while the new Charger 2 RC2 damper option adds high-speed compression adjustment. Like with the Yari, we found the two factory-fitted volume spacers made the fork too progressive; it sagged too low into its travel, yet wouldn’t use all of the available stroke. We prefer the Lyrik with one or both spacers removed and significantly more pressure than RockShox recommend (around 110psi for our 86kg tester). This gave us 21 per cent sag (34mm), with best-in-class off-the-top sensitivity and mid-stroke support. Setting it up like this keeps the front wheel tracking, whether floating over roots…

GET A GRIP Q I’ve recently bought my first full-suspension bike, having had enough of getting a battering aboard my hardtail. I went for a second-hand Focus SAM, which was a bargain and came with a load of great components. There’s a problem though – I’ve found myself struggling to keep the front wheel from washing out in turns. A friend suggested this could be due to the suspension set-up. I’m a bit of a novice in this area, so I’ve done my best to set the sag at the front and rear, but that’s about it. Am I missing something? Please help! Arthur Gotobed, via email A Don’t worry, Arthur! Bike set-up can make a huge difference when it comes to traction and how your body weight is distributed…

Route summary A big and varied route, providing wild, remote riding across the mountains; long, technical descents through rooty woodland singletrack; and huge rock-face inclines Start/finish Ballater car park (grid ref NO 369/957, postcode AB35 5QQ) 1 Go left on the main road out of town, and right onto a minor road (signed Lary) shortly after a right turn to Aberdeen. Follow this up the valley, then keep ahead/right by a house, into the hills on a rougher, uphill track. After 2.5km, at the second fork, bear right to cross the water. 2 Continue left, alongside the burn, on a good track. This bears right between the mountains, where you proceed for 4km, then join the singletrack on your right by a white sink. Pass through the gate, onto an…

Route summary A relatively short route, but it packs a punch – with plenty of climbing and fast rocky descents, right to the end Start/finish Cilcain Village Hall car park, (grid ref SJ 176/652, postcode CH7 5NN) 1 Go right out the car park, and head right, then left opposite the last house, on a road, uphill. Pass a car park, and go left at a crossroads. Keep left, and after a farm the road becomes a track, which you climb to the top. Go through a gate and keep ahead on a rocky track, heading downhill. 2 Head through the gate, then bear left onto a bridleway shortly after. Beyond another gate, follow the fence down to a gate in the bottom right corner of the field. Proceed through…

ED THOMSETT Ed was aboard his new long-term test bike and was excited to give it a hammering TRISTAN TAYLOR The driving force behind Swinley Bike Hub and instrumental in trail advocacy here TOM REYNOLDS Sam Reynolds’ younger sibling – and riding talent definitely runs in the family THOM POTZ-RAYNER Long hair, don’t care.TH lets it all hang out on the bike RHIANNON GUNNER Don’t let the pink gear fool you – Rhi is seriously quick JOSH WILLIAMS Bike Hub team rider Josh has been riding Swinley all his life and knows every turn…

NORCO SIGHT A1 29 Frame 6061-T6 aluminium alloy, 130mm (5.1in) travel Fork RockShox Pike RC, 150mm (5.9in) travel ShockFox Float DPX2 Performance Drivetrain SRAM NX Eagle with Truvativ Descendant 6K cranks and GX Eagle rear mech (1x12) Wheelset DT Swiss 370 hubs on WTB ST i29 rims, Maxxis Minion DHF 29x2.5in WT (f) and Minion DHR II 29x2.5in WT (r) tyres Brakes SRAM Guide R, 180mm rotors Bar/stem Race Face Turbine R, 800mm/Norco, 50mm Seatpost/saddle TranzX Stealth, 150mm (L) Weight 15kg (33.07lb), L Price £2,800 www.evanscycles.com YT JEFFSY 29 CF PRO Frame Carbon fibre, 140mm(5.5in) travel Fork RockShoxPike RCT3,140mm (5.5in) travel Shock RockShox DeluxeRT3 Drivetrain SRAM GXEagle(1x12) Wheelset e*thirteenTRSPlus wheels,e*thirteen TRSPlus29x2.35in tyres Brakes SRAMGuide RS,200/180mm rotors Bar/stem Race FaceTurbine, 800mm/RaceFace Turbine,50mm Seatpost/saddle e*thirteen TRS Plus, 150mm/SDGFly Mtn Weight13.85kg (30.53lb), L…