Indholdsfortegnelse for July 2024 i Mountain Biking UK

REFINED BUT NO LESS RADICAL GeoMetron tweak their super-long enduro bike for 2025 When the GeoMetron G1 hit the market in 2019, it was truly one of a kind – a bike born on the steep trails of South Wales that pushed ‘long, low and slack’ geometry to the absolute limit. The result of a collaboration with German manufacturer Nicolai, it was clearly the product of engineers who prized function over (somewhat industrial-looking) form, and soon gained a devout following. For 2025, it’s been given an update, and it’s looking like a case of refinement rather than revolution. Changes include a 25mm lower top tube, a new rear end with SRAM universal derailleur hanger (UDH), size-proportional effective chainstay lengths, a straight ZS56 head tube and an uninterrupted seat tube, designed…

FIRST RIDES £7,999 Can the smallest of revisions keep Transition’s downcountry demon at the top of the pile? SPEC Frame Carbon fibre, 120mm travelFork Fox Float 34 Factory FIT4, 120mm travelShock Float DPS Factory Drivetrain SRAM X0 Eagle AXS Transmission (1x12)Wheelset DT Swiss XRC 1501 Spline 30 wheels, Maxxis Dissector (f) and Maxxis Rekon (r) 29x2.4in tyresBrakes SRAM G2 RSC, 180mm rotors Bar/stem OneUp Carbon, 800mm/ ANVL Swage, 40mmSeatpost/saddle OneUp V2, 210mm/ ANVL Forge CromoWeight 12.53kg, large size without pedals Transition’s Spur has set the benchmark for downcountry bikes since its release in 2020. Now we have the ‘difficult second album’. However, the US brand have avoided the usual pitfalls of following up a successful release, by wisely leaving what made the original Spur almost perfect – the geometry and…

MEET THE TESTERS ROBIN WEAVERTECH EDITOR IN CHIEF With three decades of MTB experience, Rob can identify the kit that works TOM MARVIN SENIOR TECH EDITOR XC/trail/enduro wizard Tom gives his gear a proper hammering LUKE MARSHALLTECHNICAL WRITER Downhiller Luke is always looking for what saves time between the tape RACHEL BENNETSTAFF WRITER Rach hails from northern Scotland and has spent years riding rough tracks NICK CLARKBIKERADAR DIGI WRITER Nick’s based in North Wales and descends those peaks hard and fast WILL POOLEWORKSHOP MANAGER When not prepping bikes in our workshop, Will’s out putting the miles in WHY OUR TESTS ARE THE BEST! Our technical-editor-in-chief Rob Weaver gets new products in as soon as they’re available and coordinates all the testing through our team of tech experts, who have…

If you’re lucky enough to be going on a gravity-assisted riding trip this summer, whether to Antur Stiniog in Wales or Fort William in Scotland, further afield to Morzine and Les Gets in the Alps, or even somewhere as exotic as Whistler, Canada, or Rotorua, New Zealand, you’re going to want a bike that can handle the gnarly, full-speed tracks there. While your trail or enduro rig works great at home, it’ll likely feel out of its depth hurtling down national- or even World Cup-standard downhill runs. Buying a DH bike for a week’s holiday might be in line with the ‘N+1’ bike ownership ethos, but it’s unlikely to be financially viable, so many riders will rent one where they’re staying. In time for this year’s trip, we’ve tested three…

OUT FRONTMy SCARIEST Moment “One of the first times I went mountain biking, I saw a mountain lion, in the Santa Monica Mountains,” Tim recalls. “It was a reddish color and had super-thick ankles, so I knew it wasn’t a dog. I was 40 yards away, going slow, and it turned, looked at me and went down the hill. “I wasn’t really scared. I’m not saying I wouldn’t be in another situation like that, but I was a novice then. I was like, ‘Oh my God, this is the craziest sport, I’m going to see lions and shit!’ It felt like I was going on safari. That sense of adventure is what got me into mountain biking, and I still feel it 30 years on, although I’ve never seen another mountain…

BICYCLES ARE INEXTRICABLY LINKED WITH THE MODERN OLYMPICS It all goes back to 1850, when stern-faced men with big moustaches and long shorts raced the original big-wheelers (penny farthings) around Much Wenlock in Shropshire, as part of the inaugural Wenlock Olympics. Believe it or not, this event would go on to inspire the eventual reincarnation of the then-defunct ancient Olympics as the modern-day Games in 1896 (which is why the London 2012 mascot was named Wenlock). And cycling has been included ever since. It would be another 100 years until mountain biking would make its Olympic debut, though. While people had been riding off-road for decades, the first recognisable ‘mountain bikes’ emerged in the mid 1970s and thriving race scenes had become established across the globe by the mid 1980s,…

SPORTFUL PRO £50 www.sportful.co.uk SO GOOD… The double-layered front offers great coverage and moderate support. Not only is the chest band wide, but it has a soft, absorbent backing, with flatlock stitching throughout to minimise skin irritation. On top of the band, the thicker, foamy cup section works well for modesty. The close fit and thicker front cup panel are ample and the mesh of the rear panel works well to enhance breathability. NO GOOD… We had to size up from our usual medium to a large, which cut in under the shoulder blades, due to the stitching on the back panel being less elastic than the mesh. There’s no larger size, so riders with a bigger chest won’t be able to wear this bra. The fit is short on…

Last year, our staff writer Rach entered her debut cross-country race, and she’s been hooked ever since. Your first event can be daunting. Not knowing what to expect, how it’s run or where you need to be and when are all challenges to be overcome. Drawing from her recent experience as a newcomer, Rach shares what she’s learned about getting started and what to expect at your first race. Spoiler: it won’t be as scary as you might think! FIND A RACE This is a crucial step to take. With a quick search, you’ll easily locate an event near you. The British Cycling website is a good starting point, or sites such as SiEntries and More Dirt provide comprehensive event lists. Don’t hesitate to ask at your local bike shop…

“When I’m off the bike, I literally don’t stop,” says 2021 XC world champ and Olympic hopeful Evie Richards. “My mum tells me she gets exhausted just watching me, because when I finish riding I’m dashing around the house non-stop and constantly doing things.” The super-speedy Brit, who’s based in Malvern, Worcestershire, loves sewing and makes a lot of her own clothes. “Mum says it’s like I’m against the clock when I’m on the sewing machine as well as on the bike, because I’m always racing to get things finished!,” Evie tells us. “WHEN I’M NOT TRAINING ON THE BIKE, I’D RATHER BE WORKING ON MY SEWING MACHINE” “Anything I look at, I’ll work out how to make it. I can create pyjamas, bags and bucket hats. When I’m not…

Now that the trails are drying out (sort of), it’s the perfect time to visit some of the not-so-far-flung islands dotted around the coast of the UK. A boat trip always lends a frisson of excitement. Add a bike into the equation and you’ve got a recipe for a properly inspiring adventure. Our first destination is England’s largest island, lying just off the south coast. The Isle of Wight is easy and affordable to get to, via a short ferry ride from Southampton, Portsmouth or Lymington. This route is a 100km mission that circumnavigates the island. It can be done in a day, but also makes a great weekender. Whatever you decide to do, you’re in for a treat, with great trails, big hills and stunning views. The bridleways are…

SPEC Frame ‘Series 4’ aluminium alloy, 160mm travelFork Fox 38 Performance Elite, 170mm travelShock Fox DHX2 Performance EliteDrive system Bosch Performance Line CX motor with Bosch PowerTube 750Wh batteryDrivetrain Shimano Deore XT rear mech, Shimano SLX shifter and cassette, e*thirteen e*spec Plus cranks, KMC e12 chain (1x12)Wheelset Marin wheels, VEE Tire Co Attack HPL E-CTRL Override Core 29x2.5in (f) and 27.5x2.5in (r) tyres Brakes TRP DH-R EVO, 203mm rotors Bar/stem Marin Trail, 800mm/Marin CNC, 35mmSeatpost/saddle Tranz-X JD-YSP39 dropper, 170mm (large)/MarinWeight 27.55kg, large size without pedals The Alpine Trail E Bosch is Marin’s first e-MTB to use a four-bar linkage suspension design and a non-Shimano motor. It has more suspension travel than the original Alpine Trail E, too. With its DH-ready spec and large battery, this top-of-the-range E2 model is a…

It’s early March and we’re tackling ‘Adobe Jack’, one of the many jaw-droppingly scenic and technical trails surrounding the Sedona Mountain Bike Festival site. This is one of the most unusual rides we’ve ever been on. Not just because there are 50 of us taking part, and trying to get that many riders to listen to words of instruction is nigh-on impossible. But also, because this ride has been organised, led and is more than half-populated by women. The rocky, technical slab trails of Sedona aren’t a walk in the park at the best of times. Right-angled ledges, spiny trailside plants and sometimes terrifying exposure can combine to make even the simplest of rides more complicated than you’d think. So, the idea of sharing the trails with 49 strangers –…

The lush forested valleys and friendly villages of Carmarthenshire have long been on the MTB map, thanks to the well-established trail centre at Brechfa Forest and the hidden gem that is the Cwm Rhaeadr descent. We headed over to this unspoiled corner of the UK to check out Wales’s newest bike park – Hafod Trails. A family business Hafod is the product of Alex and his sister Charlie, along with Charlie’s husband Tom – a dynamic trio driving the vision for this bike park. You’ll often find Tom and Alex crafting trails, when the latter isn’t busy conjuring up ingenious ideas for their uplift trailer. Meanwhile, Charlie ensures seamless operations behind the scenes, juggling the myriad tasks that come with birthing and nurturing a venue like this. And, as Charlie…