Indholdsfortegnelse for March 2022 i Mountain Biking UK

‘Freeride for [nearly] free’ is an eye-catching cover line, but this issue’s feature with the DadCamTV crew isn’t really about freeride, or freebies. At its core, it’s about how you don’t need the latest, flashiest gear and the world’s best trails on your doorstep to have an absolute blast riding bikes and – if that’s what interests you – become a pretty accomplished rider, no matter what sort of stuff you’re into. Sure, it’d be great to have a shiny new bike or two, a posh van to ferry them around in and enough money for unlimited uplift days, but you can have just as much fun messing around in your local woods with your mates. The article also shows just what you can achieve with the right balance of…

The evenings are getting lighter and spring is just around the corner. Time to put away the winter gloves and plan some longer rides? Atherton Bikes are now available to buy! The Welsh wonder-machines, made from carbon fibre tubes and additive-manufactured (3D-printed) titanium lugs – see MBUK 403– can be purchased directly from the Atherton Bikes website. French madman Antoine Taillefer hopes to follow in the tyre tracks of his illustrious namesake and compatriot Christian Taillefer (oddly, no relation) and set a new MTB speed record on snow. The Megavalanche and Mountain of Hell veteran has set himself an ambitious target of 230kph (143mph). To support Antoine’s attempt, planned for spring 2024, visit https://en.tipeee.com/taillo. Team changes are happening left, right and centre! Riders all over the globe are renewing contracts…

417 BIKE PARK Location: Just outside Gloucester Trails: Green, blue, red and black descents; 4X course; dual-slalom track; indoor and outdoor dirt jumps; indoor pump track Facilities: Cafe; uplift; bike shop https://417bikepark. co.uk REDHILL EXTREME Location: Forest of Dean Trails: Blue, red and black descents; slopestyle course; 4X track; dirt jumps Facilities: Uplift truck on race days www.redhillextreme. com BUGSBOARDING Location: North of Gloucester Trails: Berm track; dirt jumps; wooden trick kicker with mulch landing (plus, big jump line coming spring 2022!) Facilities: Tuck shop; mountain-boarding, dirt- scooting and grass-sledging https:// bugsboarding.co.uk…

There’s no ‘best’ tyre pressure for mountain biking. What pressure(s) to run depends on the terrain, your weight and riding style, the wheel size, rim and tyre width, and even the temperature (read more at https://bit.ly/ bikeradar-tyre-pressure). Lightweight, single- ply XC tyres deform around objects far more easily than heavier dual-ply DH tyres, so you might think they’d require higher pressures, but XC racers often run surprisingly low pressures (down to 15psi) for excellent grip on technical climbs and because a supple tyre rolls faster over rough ground. These low pressures are usually accompanied by a tyre insert to protect against punctures. Enduro and DH tyres can be run at surprisingly low pressures too, for extra grip, without risk of tearing the tyre off in turns or smashing the rim…

NEEDLE-LIKE PEAKS TOWER OVER US AND THE BOSSONS GLACIER CASCADES DOWN IN A CHOPPY SEA OF CREVASSES France’s Cosmiques Couloir is a steep 45-degree, 800m-high, 10m-wide gulley pinched between towering cliffs. I’ve ridden it once before, on a snowboard, and I can safely say I’ll never do that again. It was a sphincter-tightening episode that required ice axes and hope in equal measure – in fact, just the kind of ‘jolly’ day out that’s long been putting Chamonix on the map for folk looking to prove something. But I have nothing to prove any more. If I can finish a descent on a bike or a snowboard without injury and with a smile on my face, then I’m happy. Now, a decade later, I’m standing with fellow mountain bikers Ludo…

MONOCOQUE MAINFRAME In time-honoured Orange style, the Alpine Evo is made from folded aluminium sheet rather than pre-formed tubes. The UK brand have reworked the frame and made the swingarm asymmetrical to provide a claimed 20 per cent increase in longitudinal stiffness over the last Evo LOWER PIVOT POINT By shifting the single pivot down and forward, they’ve been able to refine the suspension kinematics while retaining the Alpine Evo’s iconic ‘Orange’ look BRITISH BUILD This Launch Edition includes parts from fellow UK brands Hope and Renthal IDLER WHEEL High-pivot bikes need an idler to combat chain growth. The Shore’s is mounted concentrically with its main pivot and has an in-built chain guide to prevent the chain derailing over rough ground MOUNTING SOLUTIONS Norco include bottle cage bosses on the…

SIZING & FIT Helmet size and (internal) shape varies between manufacturers – and sometimes even on different lids from the same company – so just because you’re a ‘large’ in one design, doesn’t mean you will be in others. This could be especially important if you’re at (or possibly off) the end of a brand’s sizing scale. Different helmets suit different head shapes, too, so always try them on before parting with cash. RETENTION/FIT SYSTEM As helmets only come in a limited number of sizes, you’re unlikely to find one where the liner fits you perfectly. That’s where the dial-fit system comes in, allowing you to fine-tune the size of the internal band (or ‘cradle’) to give a perfect fit, improving comfort and reducing potential for the lid to wallow…

1. Check the wind before dropping in. Flat drops are a nightmare if there’s a crosswind – it can really throw you off from maintaining the neutral, upright position required 2. If you’re not confident the first time you try a drop, find a riding buddy to follow in who’s done it before, so you can emulate their speed 3. Walking to the end of a drop before you ride it, to visualise the knuckle of the landing, is vital, and takes away some guesswork while riding in 4. Get on the brakes as soon as you land. Drops often lead into other features, such as berms, which you’ll need to be prepared for, so don’t celebrate too early!…

Route summary: A wonderful scenic ride around this stunning peninsula, with yellow-flowering gorse bushes wafting their coconut scent, mixed with the crisp, salty sea air. There are some great XC trails – nothing too technical, but some solid climbs and descents along the way Start: Ulwell Road layby parking (postcode BH19 3DG, grid ref SZ 022/809) 1 Turn right on the A351, cross the roundabout then go left (Norden Farm). Ride to a caravan site and head to the far right corner, onto a bridleway. Follow it to, and go left on, a road, then keep ahead/left to the top and turn right on the bridleway (Ridgeway Hill). 2 Head through a gate, keeping the fence to your left. Ride to a track crossing and bear left through a gate,…

MATT JONES SLOPESTYLE SUPERSTAR Matt’s one of the UK’s top freeriders, so he and his mate Grant ‘Chopper’ Fielder were just the guys to turn to for some advice on hitting drops (p100). VICKY BALFOUR WORKSHOP WHIZ Bewildered by bike sizing? Stumped by seat tube angles? Vicky explains all in Grimetime on p104, as well as showing you how to best wash your bike. DAN MILNER INTREPID ADVENTURER Four hours of hike-a-bike sounds like a lot of effort to us, but for Dan the rewards – both photographic and two-wheeled – were worth it. Read the story on p63. JO PENNY MBUK ADS AFICIONADO Our advertising guys don’t often get a shout-out, but without the hard work of Jo and the team, your copy of the mag would cost a…

With winter finally receding and new kit being unveiled left, right and centre, we asked our test team to rack their brains, pore over the latest product launches and consult their crystal balls, tarot cards and tea leaves, to make some predictions about the hottest tech trends for the year ahead. From electronic suspension and kit for pint-sized shredders, through to better frame integration, the continuing rise of ‘downcountry’ bikes and the long-lasting impact of the coronavirus pandemic, turn the page to see what mountain biking may look like in 2022. Just don’t hold us to it! THIS MONTH Olly Wilkins | stealth bikewear | Brage Vestavik | new bikes from Santa Cruz & Focus | a kid-sized Orange Alpine 6 PUKKA KIT FOR PINT-SIZED PINNERS “We’re at a point…

1 Mons Royale McCloud beanie Just the job for stuffing in your pocket to hide that helmet hair, with 50 per cent merino wool for warmth and comfort. £34.99 https://brink.uk 2 7mesh Elevate tech tee A technical, sweat-wicking T-shirt is perfect for hitting the jumps and then hitting the beers. The likes of Fox and Royal have some lairier designs that shout ‘mountain biker’, but we like 7mesh’s more subdued approach. Also available in a women’s fit. £35 https://7mesh.com 3 Scott Trail Flow Check tech shirt This smart-looking shirt – which comes in a women’s version, too – boasts riding-friendly features including a longer back, reinforced elbows and shoulders, and a quick-drying DRYOxcel fabric. £90.99 www.scott-sports.com 4 The Overland Trip Mountain Jersey hoody Another piece that looks casual but still…

Most 10-year-olds are lucky if they get a second-hand bike or a hand-me-down from an older sibling. But not Dougal Ogilvy. As one of Orange’s sponsored riders, the talented youngster from Oxfordshire has been given a brand new Alpine 6 decked out with a full custom build. Not only that, but he was invited up to Halifax with his dad Calum to see the bike being made and add a few finishing touches. How did this all come about? “I’d always seen Orange bikes around and thought they looked sick. Somebody let me ride theirs and that was it!” explains Dougal. “One day a message popped up on my Instagram (@mtbdougal) saying that Orange had started following me. My dream bike brand, following me? I was so stoked! What I…

1 Make/model: Volkswagen LT35 horsebox Engine: 2.4l diesel (non-turbo); 68 horsepower, but some have run away! Drive system: RWD Sleeps: Ten (according to the Morzine tourist board); one queen-size bed, one XL double, one sofa bed, plus floor space Coolest feature: Fold-out garden/ balcony 2 Make/model: Peugeot 306 hatchback Engine: 1.6l 16v petrol, 98hp Drive system: FWD, but goes like a 4WD! Sleeps: Two Coolest feature: Light-bar, skid-plate, lift-kit, snorkel or bike-rack! 3 Make/model: Mazda B2500 pickup Engine: 2.5l turbo-diesel, 94hp Drive system: Full-time RWD; 4WD engaged with hub switches Sleeps: Four in winter, two in summer Coolest feature: Free uplifts!…

THE FIRST THING TO THINK ABOUT IS COMPATIBILITY – IS THIS TYRE THE RIGHT SIZE FOR YOUR RIMS, AND WILL IT FIT IN YOUR FRAME OR FORK? As your contact point with the ground, tyres are crucial to the performance of any bike. They affect how much grip you can rely on in turns, over rocks and roots, and in loose terrain, and also how much pedalling and braking traction you have. They’re the first line of defence against punctures, and can have a major impact on ride feel and comfort. So, it’s important to take more into consideration than just price and weight when choosing which ones to buy. Selecting the right tyre for your needs can seem like a minefield, full of jargon, taglines, obscure acronyms and details.…

KNOB SIZE Bigger and more aggressively-shaped tread blocks generate more mechanical grip, but can make the steering feel vague and your bike roll slower on hardpack. Mud tyres, sometimes referred to as ‘spikes’, are covered with tall tread blocks designed to bite into soft terrain. At the other end of the scale, XC tyres have low-profile centre knobs to reduce rolling resistance, at the sacrifice of some grip, particularly under braking. KNOB ARRANGEMENT Generally, tread blocks aligned side-by-side are designed for braking traction, while those aligned front-to-back are for grip in the turns. Shoulder tread is usually fore-aft for cornering, while centre tread is often aligned laterally for braking and pedalling. SIDE KNOBS Most tyres have a more pronounced shoulder tread, for improved cornering grip. With some designs, there’s a…

LEVERAGE RATIO The relationship between the distance the rear wheel moves and how far the shock compresses into its stroke. A bike where the leverage ratio decreases as it gets further into its travel, making the shock harder to bottom-out, is said to have a progressive leverage rate. VOLUME SPACERS Plastic chips, or ‘tokens’, you can use to tune the volume of an air spring. Adding more increases the force required to compress a shock or fork towards the end of its stroke. AXLE PATH The trajectory of the rear wheel axle as the suspension compresses, dictated by the placement of the main and any secondary pivots. HORST-LINK Four-bar linkage suspension design with a secondary pivot below and in front of the rear axle. This means the axle isn’t directly…

Helmets are firmly ingrained in mountain bike life. We all have one, and they’re far more than just a fashion statement, a rain cover or somewhere to stow your glasses. In the event of a big stack, they could literally mean the difference between life and death. They do this firstly by spreading the force over a larger area – especially important if you hit a sharp rock, for example – and then by slowing it down, causing it to take milliseconds longer to reach your head. This smooths out and reduces the peak impact spike (or ‘impulse’) that’s the cause of brain damage. The fractional delay may not seem like much of a difference, but it works. To extend this impact time, expanded-foam liners, commonly made from polystyrene, are…

TECH Q&A RAISINGTHEBAR I’ll admit to being a bit of a magpie when it comes to bike kit – I love cool-looking parts! But I also try to make sure I’m getting a performance benefit. I’ve spotted the Syncros Hixon iC SL handlebar – the one with an integrated stem. What do you think of it? Is it worth the cost? Shane, Rochdale We all love shiny new kit, so we feel you there! Integrated bars and stems certainly look the part, but you must be careful when committing to them – not least because the Hixon’s RRP is a rather astonishing £279.99! Let’s assume you want to maintain your bike’s current cockpit feel. Bar width and stem length are easy to recreate, as long as you’re happy with the…

Route summary: A lovely ride through the beech trees and bluebells, or snowdrops or daffodils (depending on your timing), with fun, flowing singletrack, but nothing too technical Start/finish: Henley Rugby Football Club car park, or along the A4130/Fair Mile (postcode RG9 2JZ, grid ref SU 756/832) 1 Go into Henley and follow the one-way system to the lights and crossroads by the bridge (on your left). Turn right here, pass the church and keep straight ahead, past the centre and town hall. Continue ahead, uphill, leaving town, and then make a left on Pack and Prime Lane, which becomes a bridleway. Follow this all the way to another road. Go right then quickly left, on a byway. 2 At the woods, go right at a track crossing then left at…

Locals do… Show patience with slower riders. The trails are busy in summer with everyone from beginners to pros, so make sure you give less-skilled riders some space – they have just as much right to be there as you do! Help out with trail maintenance and litter picks. There’s a stalwart local scene, so make sure you take the time to chat to the people who make this facility tick Locals don’t… Bother the deer Drop litter! Afan has had some issues with rubbish in recent years, so please take yours home…

“Afan Bike Park is one of my favourite places to ride in the UK. It has something for everyone, from 4X to enduro, slalom to dirt jumps. The best part about the park is that it really encourages progression. The 4X track is fun for mates to race against each other on and is inviting for all, from new riders all the way to Elites. Afan’s new slalom track is perfection, an absolute work of art and ready for those head-to-head battles. The skills area is amazing, too. Flowing tabletops and berms make this the place to polish up your riding, and the enduro tracks have everything from easy to very tough sections. A visit is highly recommended for those who put fun at the top of their MTB checklist.”…

JAMES COSTLEY-WHITE EDITOR The ‘JCW premature evacuation’, where I take off before actually hitting the lip JAMES BLACKWELL ART EDITOR The ‘stiff-back pencil air’. I’m an old dog with no tricks, new or otherwise! CHRIS BARNARD PRODUCTION EDITOR The ‘crusty roll’ – my amazing ability to roll slowly over any technical feature JULIA BROUSSIER DESIGNER The ‘accidental one-footer’ (generally followed by a crash into the undergrowth) WILL SOFFE STAFF WRITER The ‘huck’ – taking off guided by high levels of optimism, rather than the knowledge I’ll ride it out!…

Orange have been making bikes since 1988. After initial success with steel hardtails such as the Clockwork and P7, in the late ’90s they turned their attention to full suspension, taking the unusual decision to build bikes from sheet aluminium, rather than pre-formed tubes. They still hand-build all their full-sus frames at their Halifax HQ. Orange have been involved with racing since the ’90s and some of the sport’s biggest names have ridden for them, including Steve Peat, Greg Minnaar and Missy Giove.…

Frame ‘Smoothwall’ carbon fibre, 120mm (4.7in) travel Fork Fox 34 Float Performance Elite FIT4, 130mm (5.1in) travel Shock Fox Float DPS Performance Elite Drivetrain Shimano Deore XT M8100 (1x12) Wheelset WTB ST Light i27 TCS 2.0 tubeless rims on Rocky Mountain (f) and Race Face Trace (r) hubs, Maxxis Rekon 3C MaxxTerra EXO 29x2.4in WT tyres Brakes Shimano Deore XT M8100, 180mm rotors Bar/stem Rocky Mountain AM, 760mm/Rocky Mountain 35 XC, 50mm Seatpost/saddle Race Face Turbine R/ WTB Silverado Race 142 Weight 12.73kg (28lb), medium size without pedals…

GT FORCE CARBON PRO £4,700 High-pivot trail slayer GT have updated their Force Carbon enduro bike for 2022. It’s still their flagship 29in-wheeled bruiser, but now has 10mm more rear travel (160mm), updated geometry and an in-vogue raised main pivot with idler wheel. The new Force Carbon retains the previous bike’s four-bar linkage design, but the high main pivot gives it a more rearward axle path. This should help it handle trail chop with aplomb, as the wheel is able to move back to absorb bumps, instead of simply being pushed up by them (for more on the pros and cons of high pivots, see our Biketest on p80). There are three models in the range, all with carbon fibre front triangles and alloy rear ends, plus a frame-only option.…

MTB freeride started in the ’90s when groups of riders wanted to get rad away from the pressure and hype of racing.A cool underground movement was born, encompassing everything from street riding to giant drops, scree slopes to ‘North Shore’skinnies (narrow log bridges), and technical tricks to massive motocross-style jumps. Since the ’00s freeride has gone mainstream, thanks to events such as Red Bull Rampage and the rise of social media. Now, anyone with talent, commitment, a smartphone and a bit of luck has the potential to achieve freeride stardom, and maybe even bag some lucrative sponsorship deals!…

While many bikes still come with inner tubes fitted inside the tyres, most mountain bike wheels and tyres are ‘tubeless ready’. That’s to say, they’re designed to form an airtight seal once you add tubeless rim tape (sometimes pre-fitted) and inflate the tyres to a sufficient pressure. If you want to ditch the tubes, you’ll also need to install tubeless valves and pour in some liquid sealant. This both helps ensure the tyres are airtight and seals any small holes you may pick up on the trails. Puncture resistance is one of the main benefits of a tubeless set-up, but it also saves weight, allows you to run lower pressures for more grip (because there’s no tube to pinch-puncture, although you still need to beware of pinching the tyre against…

ROBIN WEAVER TECH EDITOR IN CHIEF With three decades of MTB experience, Rob can identify the kit that works TOM MARVIN TECH EDITOR XC/trail/enduro rider and tech wizard Tom gives his gear a proper hammering LUKE MARSHALL TECH WRITER Downhiller Luke is always looking for what saves time between the tape MAX WILMAN BIKERADAR VIDEOGRAPHER A new face on these pages but no MTB newbie, Max knows what kit fits the bill RUSSELL BURTON PHOTOGRAPHER/TESTER Big days outdoors mean that snapper Russ needs equipment that lasts WILL SOFFE STAFF WRITER From downhill to downcountry, Will’s hard on parts and gear…

TOM’S REVEL RANGER £3,699 (frame only) Tech ed Tom has gone with a fairly lightweight custom build for his new frame Since last month I’ve been able to get my frameset built up, and put a few miles on the clock. With 115mm of travel at the back, and Revel saying that the bike is built for everything from cross-country to trail riding, quite clearly a light-ish weight build was going to be on the cards. The frame’s built to take a 120mm fork, so Fox’s 34 SC Performance takes centre stage up front. SC stands for Step Cast – referring to the stepped lower legs, which shave weight and give a narrower stance. The 34mm stanchions of the standard Fox 34 remain, though, so chassis stiffness isn’t impacted…

ORANGE ALPINE EVO LE £5,900 Frame 6061-T6 monocoque aluminium, 155mm (6.1in) travel Fork RockShox Lyrik Ultimate, 160mm (6.3in) travel Shock RockShox Super Deluxe Ultimate Drivetrain Shimano Deore XT M8100 with Hope Evo cranks (1x12) Wheelset e*thirteen TRS rims on Hope Pro 4 hubs, Maxxis Minion DHF 3C MaxxTerra EXO 27.5x2.5in (f) and Minion DHR II EXO 27.5x2.4in (r) tyres Brakes Shimano Deore XT M8100, 203/180mm rotors Bar/stem Renthal Fatbar, 800mm/ Hope AM-FR, 35mm Seatpost/saddle SDG Tellis, 150mm/SDG Bel-Air 2.0 Weight 14.33kg (31.6lb), large size without pedals www.orangebikes. com NORCO SHORE 2 £3,399 Frame Aluminium alloy, 180mm (7in) travel Fork RockShox ZEB R, 180mm (7in) travel Shock RockShox Super Deluxe Coil Ultimate DH Drivetrain Shimano Deore M6100 with e*thirteen LG1 cranks and Norco idler chain guide (1x12) Wheelset e*thirteen LG1 DH…

CRASH REPLACEMENT SCHEME If you stack it and damage your helmet, some manufacturers will guarantee a discounted replacement. Basically, it’s a kind of insurance to protect your investment. M.I.P.S. Multi-directional Impact Protection System. An additional low-friction layer fitted behind the pads that’s able to move independently of the helmet liner, reducing the rotational force if your lid catches the ground. FIDLOCK A modern alternative to the traditional push-home/squeeze-release helmet strap clip, the Fidlock is a magnetic-fastening, single-handed-release buckle, which is easier to handle. FIT SYSTEM These often have proprietary names, such as Roc-Loc for Giro, but ultimately do the same thing – with the aid of a dial, they allow you to tighten an internal band around the helmet to fine-tune the fit to your head. M.I.P.S. SPHERICAL Another product…

1. Always scope it out first. As well as the size of the drop and the slope of the landing, you need to know what’s coming up next 2. Make like a gorilla – keep your elbows and knees slightly bent, with your backside off the saddle and slightly behind it 3. Suspension set-up can be important, too. If you’re doing a lot of drops, you’ll want to have your rear shock’s rebound damping set up fairly slow, so your bike sticks to the ground for a longer time on landing. If you’re on a hardtail, be prepared for a bit of a bounce, and rely on your arms and legs to be the suspension 4. Look ahead, not at the front wheel, if you want to avoid hugging trees!…

TRAIL STATS Distance Seven 100m dirt jump lines, 1km enduro descents, plus DH, 4X and dual slalom tracks, and more being dug Climbing Push-up track to the top Time 30secs to 2mins per jump run Grading The traffic-light system roughly equates to blue (one blob), red (two) and black (three) grades WHY RIDE HERE? With dirt jumps, short bike- park runs, a national-standard 4X track, dual slalom and some off-piste bangers, it’s impossible to get bored! RAD... It’s free to ride Trails for all abilities, from basic to bonkers Compact layout means you can get lots of runs in BAD... No uplift means you have to push/ride back to the top – but that’s not necessarily bad!…

SCOTT ‘BOOM BOOM’ BEAUMONT International 4X racer and British Cycling BMX and MTB coach, who brings a wealth of enthusiasm and experience SI PATON Former head of the British Downhill Series and now running the relaunched Malverns Classic, it’s a wonder Si has any time for riding! DAVE RICHARDSON Veteran 4X racer and occasional enduro rider Dave is always willing to send jumps or roadtrip to adventure! DAVE ‘DAVI’ ROBERTS One half of Action Sports Timing, elite 4X and enduro racer Davi lets his riding do the talking WILL SOFFE Our staff writer loves sending big jumps on everything from a 4X bike to a DH rig…

GET THERE By car: Afan is 15 minutes from junction 40 of the M4. Take the A4107, turn down the B4287 towards Tonmawr and follow signs for the bike park. The postcode SA12 9SP will get you there. By train: The nearest station is Port Talbot Parkway, 12 miles away (a 15-minute taxi ride for you and your bike). FACILITIES Parking, showers, bike wash, bike rental, canteen, accommodation (camping, glamping pods, bunkrooms, ensuite rooms and log cabins at Bryn Bettws Lodge). NEARBY BIKE SHOPS Afan Valley Bike Shed On site at Afan Forest Park Visitor Centre. 01639 851406, www.afanvalleybikeshed.co.uk Lodge Cycles Based in Cwmavon, a few miles from Afan. 01639 886139, www.lodgecycles.co.uk CONTACT www.mbwales.com OTHER RIDING Glyncorrwg MTB Centre Afan’s Skyline, Blade and White’s Level XC trails start from here,…

MBUK KEYRING A stylish fob for your garage, bike lock and car keys ALL OF THIS 4X FOREVER! It’s gone underground, but four-up racing is still some of the most fun you can have on two wheels. We find out why and show the skills you need BIGGER = BETTER? Does super-long, low and slack geometry really work, or have some brands taken it too far? Find out in next month’s Biketest ALSO FEATURING... Part two of our tyre buyer’s guide; how to stop creaks; flat pedals and workstands rated; rides in Cornwall and Switzerland; loads more!…