Innehållsförteckning för April 2020 från Mountain Biking UK

If you were like us and spent your childhood building jumps out of bricks, old bits of wood and anything else you could cobble together, you’re probably wishing you had this portable ramp back then. Designed by skaters and BMX riders, it fits into a backpack, then folds out into a kicker to turn any boring old bit of car park into an instant jump session. Its three-piece design lets you choose how big you want the ramp – use the whole thing for sending it big, or just one or two pieces for building confidence. The Jumpack has fold-out legs with rubber feet and a strap-based suspension system to stop it from sliding about when you hit it. Plus, it can be put together and packed up in seconds,…

Psst… don’t tell anyone, but we’ve just had a tip-off that big things are going to go down this year. We don’t know when or where, but we’ve heard that these suspects might just be involved. Some names you may know already, others you may not have heard of, but if we were to put money on it, we’d bet that this time next year you’ll be way more familiar with them... THIS MONTH Olly Wilkins, MBUK in 2010, luggage, Danny MacAskill, Adam Klimek, 2020 pros, Joey Schusler, Ryan Builds Wheels 1. SAM HOCKENHULL The freest-flowing thing to come out of Buxton since mineral water, Sam (‘Dave’ to his mates) is a core member of the 50to01 crew and Josh Bryceland’s teammate on the Cannondale Sessions team. Over the past…

Joey Schusler is the kind of guy whose lifestyle can make even the most contented mountain biker feel a twinge of jealousy. Earning his keep by circumnavigating the globe as a professional adventure photographer and videographer, you need only skim through the list of destinations on Joey’s Instagram page to feel like you’re missing out – Nepal, Norway, Alaska and Japan, to name just a few. Social media can paint an unrealistic, picture-perfect façade, but in the case of Yeti Cycles’ team-racer-turned-brand-ambassador, you can tell that the photos on his page aren’t collated to manufacture an image. Rather, each one represents a real adventure and there’s a tale to tell about them all. This Yeti SB130 has been Joey’s go-to ride for all his most recent adventures, and 2020 marks…

Finely-tuned, hand-built wheels don’t need to cost the earth. The Ryan Builds Wheels crew will soon be launching their Ready to Roll range of standard wheelsets, which will come with Bitex hubs, Sapim spokes and a choice of DT Swiss M- or E-series rims. Prices will start at £365. Stepping up a level is the ‘ShutUpAndRide’ range (a nod to Ryan’s friend Ross). These more luxury hoops utilise Hope Pro4 hubs, Sapim CX Ray spokes and rims from DT’s top-end PHR range. Prices start from £615 and builds are available for everyone from XC racers to bike-park huckers. Of course, you can always opt for the full Ryan Builds Wheels experience and get yourself a bespoke wheelset, choosing the components from a wide range of manufacturers. www.ryanbuildswheels.co.uk…

BELL SUPER AIR R MIPS CONVERTIBLE HELMET £274.95 Fresh prince of Bell Air Bell have added a new convertible helmet to their line-up – the Super Air R. It has similarly aggressive styling to the Super DH but is lighter, at 684g (medium), and doesn’t meet downhill safety standards. Like the cheaper Super 3R, it’s aimed at the trail/enduro rider who wants that bit more security on the descents. For extra protection, it uses Bell’s Flex Spherical + MIPS system, where an EPP foam liner (for low-speed impacts) slides inside a layer of EPS foam (to absorb high-speed forces) bonded to the outer shell. Eighteen vents on the helmet keep the air flowing, plus the chin bar features eight more. With a host of other features, this is Bell’s most…

With three days of racing ahead of them, Tom needed to lose some timber over the summer of 2019. Fortunately, Nick’s as strong as an ox and took great pleasure in throwing his mate deep into the pain-cave. Long gravel rides up and down the Ridgeway gave ample opportunity to put in some hard efforts, while the MyFitnessPal app ensured minimal nutritional fun on days off. Tom got his own back with a few technical MTB rides, to push Nick to his limit when the trails got loose and dusty. This was perfect preparation for the South African conditions and skinny race tyres.…

Chris Ball is a man who’s always spinning many plates, but when you sit down to talk to him, he’s relaxed to the point of being figuratively horizontal. He listens and looks you straight in the eye before delivering a calm, even response – usually ending with something that’ll make you laugh. As for his plates, they spin away in the background. Now and again, his phone will light up and he’ll glance at it, but continue to give you his undivided attention. The rain beats against the windows of his Peebleshire home and, as we chat, a wet day turns into a stormy night. Chris is one of the rare breed of racers who competed at a high level and then went on to actually make a living out…

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 some 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 reviewers,…

CHRIS’S TREK FUEL EX 8 XT £2,800 The Fuel’s stoked Chris’s fire over winter – now where’s that sun? Even though us Brits have just endured one of the wettest and most miserable winters for ages, I’d actually got a fair few extremely enjoyable rides under my belt by February this year – and I think that speaks volumes for the quality of the Fuel EX. Perhaps I just didn’t realise that I should have been aboard a more XC-flavoured trail bike all along. If I had to sum up the Trek in one word it’d be ‘control’. It’s quite simply a brilliant climber, with a frame that’s lightweight enough to be easily manoeuvrable. Following Joe Connell’s advice on our skills coaching day (MBUK378), I’ve dropped my saddle by…

D.W.R. Durable Water Repellent finish – used on the outside of jackets for water resistance. Most jackets will need reproofing after washing. Look for eco versions that don’t contain PFCs. BREATHABILITY Fabrics don’t actually breathe, but this term is used as shorthand to denote how well sweat, in the form of moisture or vapour, is dispersed. ARTICULATED Jackets that are cut to follow your active shape on a bike. They’re usually slimmer in profile, because they don’t need to allow you additional room to move. SOFTSHELL Term used to differentiate the softer weatherproof fabrics from traditional ‘hardshell’ waterproofs. They’re usually highly water-resistant rather than waterproof, but more breathable as a result. FOUR-WAY STRETCH Fabric that stretches in every direction. Combined with a good cut, this allows for movement and additional…

Kids know the score. They play to learn and learn by playing. People have often lost this mindset by adulthood, having had it beaten out of them by the notion that science has the answers to all of our training questions. But some of the world’s best riders have found the right balance between play and work – a seamless transition between the two. Their on-bike warm-ups often reflect this. Try these fun challenges on your next ride to limber-up and get the blood pumping before you start. 1. Skids and wheelies: After pedalling smoothly for five to eight minutes, try introducing a bit of fun. Instead of a warm-up being about specific training zones or cadences, make it about how long you can wheelie for, which obstacles you can…

1  First, remove the shock from the bike (following the frame manufacturer’s instructions). This usually just involves unscrewing an eyelet bolt at each end of the shock. Clean the shock to prevent any dirt getting in. Slide off the red sag-indicator O-ring. 2  Remove the air-valve dust cap and attach a shock pump. Take a note of the air pressure, then press the pump’s air bleed button to slowly release the air. Remove the pump and press a small Allen key into the valve to ensure that any remaining air escapes. 3  Remove the hardware from the shaft (thin) end of the shock. To do this, first tease off the spacers with your fingers. Then, push the pin through with a bushing removal tool. Alternatively, you can use a vice…

Route summary A tough, hilly ride, which takes in the classic trails, including lots of superb, flowing singletrack that gets harder the faster you ride it Start/finish Carding Mill Valley (grid ref SO 448/943, postcode SY6 3JG) 1 Climb the first stony singletrack trail on the right-hand side of the road (with a fingerpost). Continue steeply uphill, pass through a gate and join a wider track (marker post no.15) by the golf course. Keep right over this, uphill. Descend, turn right through a gate and head along a wide grassy track. Cross over another track to keep ahead on some singletrack, uphill. 2 Continue around the hillside, bearing left by a lone house, crossing a stream by a car park and descending to a road. Go left on this. Keep…

Route summary A tough, technical and remote ride, with a lot of hike-a-bike. You’ll need decent weather, good navigational skills, proper equipment, technical ability and plenty of stamina, but there’s an amazing descent as a reward for those brave enough Start/finish Linn of Dee car park (grid ref NO 063/898, postcode AB35 5YB) 1 Head out of the back of the car park on the footpath, until you come to a T-junction with the main track (after 0.6km). Turn left on this, crossing a bridge and continuing to another T-junction. Make a left here to follow this wide track all the way to Derry Lodge. 2 Keep around to the right, past a large hut. Cross the footbridge and go left on a track, which becomes vague as it crosses…

Locals do… Combine the red and black routes for a big day out Join Hamsterley Trailblazers and help out on dig days Get involved in the annual downhill and enduro races Locals don’t… Ride the red route without tools and a pump. It takes you pretty far from the car park Avoid paying if they want to ride – the entry fee is what sustains this place Forget to wear a full-face helmet – them’s the rules! Pedal up at the bike park – they book on for a day of uplifts instead…

PROPAIN HUGENE CUSTOM BUILD £3,561 Frame Carbon fibre, 130mm travel Fork RockShox Pike Ultimate, 150mm travel Shock RockShox Deluxe Ultimate Drivetrain SRAM X01 (1x12) Wheelset Stan’s NoTubes Flow MK3 rims on Propain hubs, Schwalbe Magic Mary ADDIX Soft (f) and Schwalbe Hans Dampf ADDIX Soft (r) 29x2.35in tyres Brakes SRAM G2 RSC, 200/180mm rotors Bar/stem Sixpack Millennium, 785mm/Sixpack Leader,50mm Seatpost/saddle BikeYoke REVIVE, 160mm/Sixpack Kamikaze Weight 13.7kg,large www.propain-bikes. com…

The Megatower boasts 160mm of travel and a reversible chip on the lower shock mount that lets you adjust its geometry – altering the head angle by 0.3 degrees and bottom bracket (BB) height by 3mm – and the progressivity of the rear suspension. Another chip at the dropouts allows you to change the chainstay length by 10mm. We settled on the ‘high’ setting (which gives a head angle of 64.6 degrees and 340mm BB height) and the shorter stays (435mm). The geometry suited our 5ft 8in tester well, thanks in part to the decent-but-not-crazy 450mm reach. With the bulk of the bike’s weight sitting down by the low BB, it feels low-slung and compact, so we had tons of fun railing turns. The well-considered tyre choice helps here too.…

Ethan Craik is a name you might not have heard, but this plucky 17-year-old is GT Factory Racing’s newest signing and is stepping up to take on the Junior Downhill World Cup series. “Bikes have always been in my life,” he tells us. “From three to 14, I was racing BMX and I was world number two at one point. My dad was always riding bikes, so it naturally rubbed off on me. When I was young, I always rode at Rogate bike park. The community there is amazing. However, going into my first World Cup season, we’re regularly making trips to Wales – Dyfi and Revolution – and the Forest of Dean too.” The teenager was talent-spotted while riding for the UK GT Coalition team in 2019. “I didn’t…

Since I last wrote here, I’ve been to a few places, but none stands out quite as much as the Sahara Desert! I’d always wondered whether riding down the dunes was possible, so, on the arrival of my new sand-coloured bike, I set off into the unknown. The results of my trip were inconclusive. Riding down the giant piles of sand varied from completely impossible to perfect, snowboard-style powder runs, just a few feet apart. It was definitely difficult to predict! Maybe next time a fatbike is in order? It was a fun trip all the same and a welcome chance to escape the rain. As you may or may not have realised, it’s been raining a lot. Like, a lot. The dreadful weather hasn’t been easy on the trails,…

He’s only the most famous trials rider, perhaps even the most famous mountain biker, on the planet. Find out what makes the star ofImaginate,The Ridge and WeeDayOut– among many more out-there riding videos – tick. Who is Danny MacAskill? Just a random guy who loves to get out on his bike. How did you first get into riding? I grew up on the Isle of Skye where there wasn’t much going on, so I rode bikes. My friend’s brother got into MTB in the mid-’90s and when he put on the MBUK video Chainspotting, it blew my mind and got me into trials riding. Where’s home? I live in Glasgow, but ‘home’ will always be Dunvegan on Skye. First bike? A small red-and-black Raleigh Burner. Current go-to bike? Depends on…

When professional photographer Adam Klimek isn’t busy with commercial work for the outdoor sports industry, he finds solace documenting his own self-supported bike trips. “I’m self-taught and don’t take the word ‘impossible’ too seriously,” Adam tells us. From anyone else, that might sound pretentious, but it’s backed up by the breathtaking array of images the Polish snapper has compiled from his many adventures. “Coming from the southern region of Silesia, my home town is full of coal mines and steelworks,” Adam explains. “I’m shaped by this industrial aesthetic, and my objective when I embark on a trip is to tell a visual story and get closer to nature.” Check out Adam’s work at http://bikestudio.eu. 1 THE WHITE RIM TRAIL, UTAH “This is one of the most spectacular off-road routes in…

STAR LETTER MAKING UP FOR LOST TIME My wife and I have just discovered mountain biking. I’m 72 and she’s somewhat younger, but we’re both roadie converts. Your magazine was recommended by our mentor, Zach, at Arragon’s Cycle Centre in Penrith. We took out a subscription and, well, congratulations! It’s full of great articles – reviews, trail guides, hints and tips, all written in an easy, not-too-technical style. We’ve visited Glentress twice now, to attend skills courses, and are heading back for a ‘drops and jumps’ day with Ridelines. The Isle of Arran, where we live, is home to some good trails too. I just thought you’d like to know that MBUK has been the ideal magazine to kickstart our MTB journey. Brian and Amanda Grindall, Isle of Arran Wow,…

Mountain biking is thriving here in the UK, with riders descending on trail centres in their thousands, bike parks springing up along the length and breadth of the country, and new lines being dug in seemingly every disused patch of woodland. Go to any popular riding destination and the accents you’ll hear will be as varied as the bikes you’ll see. To celebrate this diversity, we thought we’d visit BikePark Wales to take a snapshot of the riders there. This is an ode to the regular mountain biker – the sort of characters you’ll see out on any given Sunday at a riding spot near you. As we set up for our portrait shots, the last of the BPW sign-in queue was dissipating, eager to get to the uplift. Stragglers…

ON THE EWS’S PARTNERSHIP WITH THE UCI... “I don’t think it’s healthy to self-govern. It’s maybe uncomfortable to let go of the reins a bit but I think that it’s essential if you want to grow.” ON THE FUTURE OF E-BIKES... “Kids on e-bikes will be a massive thing. Getting a kid up a fireroad is tough going, so providing them with a little electrical assistance is going to be the future.” ON MOUNTAIN BIKERS... “Even people who don’t see themselves as ‘core’ are maybe a lot more invested in mountain biking than they realise. It requires quite a high buy-in price and you’re always communicating to a very informed group of people.”…

With two decades of riding experience, Rob knows what works and what doesn’t The only thing Tom loves more than his clapped-out VW Caddy is hammering test kit No slouch on the race track, Seb’s passion for engineering helps him pick products apart Always on the hunt for new technical challenges, Ed gives his gear some serious abuse Keen racer Luke is quick to identify what helps or is a hindrance between the tape Many years of breaking bikes means Alex can give reliable buying advice…

Each of these bikes has been designed with a slightly different ride feel and terrain in mind, so will therefore suit a different type of rider. The Liv Intrigue isn’t the perfect trail bike, but it has the fewest performance compromises of all the machines here and is a solid all-rounder. While we’d prefer slightly longer and slacker geometry, it feels agile and playful, and comes specced with some good kit. Riders who aren’t looking for ultimate speed will be happy with the more nimble 650b wheels too. Purely based on its geometry and design, we preferred Juliana’s Maverick, but despite being the most expensive bike here, its budget parts just don’t let you unleash the potential of its modern shape and carbon frame. We also liked the dimensions of…

HIGH NECK A high neck seals in warmth. Look for those that zip up and over the chin for chilly early-spring starts. ZIP GARAGE Little triangle of fabric that stops the zip-pull from irritating your skin – crucial on high-neck designs. VENTS/PIT ZIPS Sections that can be opened up to allow air in and out. If you get hot easily, or want a jacket that can be used in warmer as well as cooler weather, make sure it has vents. DROPPED BACK Mountain bike jackets tend not to have exaggerated ‘tails’ at the back like roadie ones, but make sure that the rear hem is lower than the front to avoid cold spots. OVER-HELMET HOOD Under-helmet hoods have their fans, but the joy of being able to simply flip your…

As a mountain biker, pedalling is your main source of acceleration. It’s probably not something most of us think that much about, but you’ll expend a lot of wasted energy if you mash the pedals aimlessly instead of spinning smooth circles. This is even more of an imperative on full-sus bikes, where bad technique will divert your effort into bobbing the suspension rather than driving you forward. CADENCE We all have our preferred cadence (pedalling speed). Some like to spin, whereas others favour harder, slower strokes. I often see riders in too hard a gear – either up a climb or off from the start of a race. If you push too hard, you’ll accelerate less efficiently. I did some testing and all riders saved up to a full second…

This winter was one of the wettest and most unappealing for riding that I can remember. The skies drizzled slowly and steadily from September onwards, ensuring that the ground stayed a consistently soft, slippery, brown mess for many months. After more than enough slow, endurance-testing rides grinding me (and my bike) down, and a few gravel spins to put some miles in, I was in desperate need of fun. Deciding to head to Shropshire and the Long Mynd, I was surprised to find the sleepy, chocolate-box town of Church Stretton busy. In fact, my usual port-of-call for accommodation – the camping pods at Marshbrook – was booked up. Could this be a sign that this is the place to come when it’s wet? Warm welcome RIDING THE TRAIL IN THIS…

Route summary A good introductory ride to the beautiful Chilterns, with some challenging climbs, but fun woodland singletrack to reward your efforts. It’s easy to leave one of the loops off the route if you want an easier day out Start/finish High Street car park (grid ref SP 869/078, postcode HP22 6DU) 1 Go right out of the car park, on the High Street, and right again at the mini roundabout. Take the first right (signposted ‘The Hale’) and, as it starts to descend, bear off left (signposted ‘Chilterns Cycleway and The Hale’). Follow along here, bearing right and then climbing steeply on a narrow road in the trees. Continue around the bends until the high-sided banks drop and go right on the (Ridgeway) bridleway by Uphill Lodge. 2 Follow…

“Hammers has a good mix of natural and machine-built stuff, with my favourites being ‘Accelerator’, ‘Transmission’ and ‘Boneshaker’. There are also some rock-hard mini DH tracks in Danny Hart’s bike park that are easily the best trails for me and worth the few quid charged. Everything’s well-made and challenging, and there are some bigger jumps too. All that’s lacking is elevation. The trail centre has a wild, remote feel, which probably explains why it can get so bleedin’ cold here in the winter!”…

On the face of it, the Optic C3 looks like a great bike, with some decent kit and a modern shape. However, we were left a little underwhelmed by this carbon front/alloy rear, 125mm-travel bike. Our main issue was with the rear suspension, which didn’t have the smooth composure that we expected, despite the travel. The shock feels over-damped. Even fully open, we still found it harsh on small- to medium-sized, high-frequency hits. At speed and on hardpack terrain this left the Optic skipping over the top of the trail, compromising grip when we needed it most. Also, the bike lacked pop, so the ride wasn’t as fun as it could’ve been. The shock’s inverted position and the bike’s cable routing make accessing the small compression dial tricky too. Up…

CUBE STEREO 170 SL 29 £4,099 Frame Aluminium alloy, 170mm travel Fork Fox 36 Factory GRIP2, 170mm travel Shock Fox X2 Factory Drivetrain Shimano Deore XT with Race Face Next R carbon cranks (1x12) Wheelset Newmen Evolution SL A.30 wheels, Schwalbe Magic Mary EVO Snakeskin ADDIX Soft 29x2.35in (f) and Hans Dampf EVO Snakeskin ADDIX SpeedGrip 29x2.35in (r) tyres Brakes Shimano Deore XT M8120, 200/180mm rotors Bar/stem Race Face Next R, 800mm/Race Face Turbine R 35, 40mm Seatpost/saddle Fox Transfer Factory, 150mm/SDG Circuit MTN Weight 15.01kg, 18in size www.cube.eu…

While the French are renowned for their delicious baguettes, this has got to be the first time we’ve heard of them using bread flour in mountain biking! In this photo of slopestyle pro Paul Couderc, the ethereal effect was produced by throwing flour in the air as the rider took off. “The idea had been in my mind for a while,” explains ever-creative photographer JB Liautard. “Paul finished digging this jump the day before so we decided to give it a go. Wooden kickers, dirt jump tyres and flour aren’t the grippiest combination, but we nailed the shot just before the night closed in (and we ran out of flour!).”…

“There’s something beautiful about wheels. The physics behind them is basic, but even in the bike industry there’s a lot of misunderstanding and, in my experience, many shops aren’t building wheels right.” “At Ryan Builds Wheels our aim is to show people that wheels aren’t a dark art. We use our product knowledge to select a combination of rim, hub and spokes that we know will suit the rider, and the rest is just a logical assembly task. The jigs we use allow us to work to a tolerance one quarter of the width of a human hair. We’ve built thousands of wheels, so we’ve perfected loads of little tricks along the way. Tension balancing, for example – correctly tensioned wheels aren’t just stronger, they last longer. This is our…

Tom Cole’s injury has to rank as one of the worst we’ve seen in a while. He was riding down the start of the ‘Y Wâl’ descent at Afan Forest, in South Wales, when he slid off on a corner and ended up riding off a 6ft wall, landing on his head. Tom’s helmet cracked and went into his forehead, peeling the side of his face down. ‘Peeling’ is never an adjective you want to use in connection with your flesh, so we hope Tom’s on the mend. We imagine he may be purchasing a full-face for his next outing...…

The Switchblade was last updated in 2016 and, since then, the trend for longer, slacker and more aggressive geometry has become ever more prevalent. This latest model is built around the premise that one bike should do many things, and seeks to blur the line between trail and enduro with a bump-busting 142mm of rear wheel travel, a 160mm fork and relaxed geometry that’s compatible with both 29in and 650b+ wheels. The frame Both the swingarm and front triangle are built from hollow-core carbon fibre, with a size-specific lay-up used for the mainframe to help maintain the same ride feel. Pivot claim the vertically-mounted shock and relatively straight tubes make the frame compact, light and stiff, as well as allowing plenty of standover height. All sizes have room for a…

This three-day marathon race takes place on the plains beneath the Drakensberg escarpment in South Africa, a few hours’ drive south-east of Johannesburg, every October. Riders cover just over 200km, on a range of terrain, from high-paced, dusty dirt roads to fast and loose singletrack, with the odd jump thrown in. Berg & Bush offer a range of fly-in packages, including airport transfers, mechanical assistance and food bundles, and are, in our experience, very helpful indeed! Details for the 2020 edition can be found at www.bergandbush.co.za.…

We’re willing to bet that when BPW opened in 2013, not even the people behind it could’ve imagined how popular it’d become. If you live in the UK and are into mountain biking, then you’ve probably been there, or are planning to go in the not-too-distant future. With 40 trails to ride and more in the pipeline (they’re building a new green run, visitor centre, camping pods and more), this unique venue near Merthyr Tydfil in the Welsh valleys has become the destination for more than 80,000 MTB fans every year. And they come not just from every corner of the UK, but further afield too – on the day of our visit, there were (camera-shy) visitors from Germany and New Zealand.…

RD 1 MARCH 27 MANIZALES, COLOMBIA “Superb, fast-flowing and tightly-forested trails with a febrile crowd. I can’t wait to go back.” RD 2 APRIL 4 LO BARNECHEA, CHILE “Basically like riding bikes on the moon but with what feels like less oxygen. Last time we were here we served up the longest stage we’ve ever run, with 12km of descending.” RD 3 MAY 23 MONTAGNES DU CAROUX, FRANCE “Pound-for-pound maybe the most technical race of the year with plenty of rock. Should be a classic!” RD 4 JULY 4 VAL DI FASSA, ITALY “A returning venue from 2019 and one that made a lot of fans. Spectacular riding in the middle of the Dolomites.” RD 5 JULY 11 PETZEN/JAMNICA,AUSTRIA/SLOVENIA “There aren’t many bike races where you have to pack your…

Outdoor Provisions £27 for 18 SO GOOD… Made primarily from fruit and nuts, not oats, these 45g bars don’t pack as many calories as the others, but the carb content is still high for easily digestible fuel. They get the thumbs-up for natural vegan ingredients, no refined sugar, compostable wrappers and a portion of profits going to green projects. NO GOOD… The distinctive flavours of these bars split opinion. Choc Kendal Mint Cake was unanimously disliked, but the cake-like Parkin and Bakewell Tart were delicious. They make mid-ride snacking more interesting, but you might struggle to chow down too many of them. www.outdoorprovisions.co.uk Clif Bar Nut Butter Filled £1.99 each SO GOOD… These 50g bars are definitely tastier than the original and rather stodgy Clif Bars. They really cram the…

Advances in fabric technology have created materials that are more breathable than ever, even when insulating or providing weather protection. Lighter, stretchier and more packable, they’ve also led to changes in bike style – a bike jacket no longer has to look like, well, a bike jacket. There’s a huge range that can not only be worn across a range of conditions, but off the bike or for a range of other outdoor activities too. Why buy two jackets when one will do both jobs? The assumption that you always need a full-on waterproof as part of your kit is now being challenged. If you’re riding on exposed terrain and will be out all day, then you need to be equipped for the worst weather. But for most of us,…

Heather & Batch Coffee House in Church Stretton is a great independent coffee shop, serving up locally-roasted coffee, speciality teas and fresh, wholesome food. They offer breakfast, lunch and afternoon meals in a relaxed and friendly environment – perfect for before and/or after a ride – but are closed on Sundays (https:// heatherandbatch.co.uk). If you want something en-route, there’s a cafe at the Midland Gliding Club, but we’d recommend calling into Van Doesburg’s delicatessen in Church Stretton instead, before you start your ride. They sell a range of delicious food including a ‘lunches to go’ range, which could easily turn a ride into a full-blown picnic. They’re also closed on Sundays.…

Route summary A tarmac climb leads you up into remote moorland, where the rest of the route is nearly all off-road, over a variety of terrain, with some good singletrack and challenging climbs Start/finish Kildale station car park (grid ref NZ 606/095, postcode YO21 2RJ) 1 Go left out of the car park, right at the island/fork and right again at the T-junction, onto Cleveland Way. After leaving the village, ride past the phone box and roadside parking, and turn left on a dead-end road (signposted ‘Baysdale Farm’). Follow this for 3km. When the lane bends sharply left, keep straight ahead, past a gate on a track (signposted ‘Cleveland Way, Bloworth 4 miles’). 2 Pass through the next gate shortly after and continue for just under 1km to a fork.…

TRAIL STATS Distance:Blue trail 14.5km, red trail 23.5km, black trail 13km + several 0.5km DH runs Climbing: Fireroad and surfaced singletrack plus uplift service Time: 1.5-3 hours for a lap Grading:Blue, red, black, orange WHY RIDE HERE? Miles of official trails, a bike park owned by a DH world champ and plenty of sneaky off-piste stuff RAD… Lots to keep you occupied, no matter what level you’re operating at The sandy dirt rides well whatever Mother Nature throws at you Danny Hart’s Descend Bike Park is awesome! BAD… By ’eck it ain’t half chilly ’ere! Make sure you pack some warm layers Some of the relatively new sections of the red route don’t flow as well as they could…

GETTING THERE Depending on what you want to ride, there are several different options for parking. For the trailhead at the visitor centre, go right in Hamsterley village and follow the forestry signs. For the red trail, the Grove car park is better situated, but doesn’t have any facilities. To get there, continue straight through the village along Windy Bank Road until a signed right turn down the hill. For Descend Bike Park, go past this right turn and continue for two miles until you see the bike park on your right. FACILITIES Parking, cafe, toilets, uplift service NEARBY BIKE SHOPS Infinity Cycles in Durham www.infinitycycles.co.uk Wheelbase in Darlington www.wheelbase.co.uk CONTACT www.forestryengland.uk www. hamsterleytrailblazers.co.uk www.descendbikepark.com WHAT ELSE IS NEARBY? Kielder Forest –Home to an extensive trail centre, with eight trails…

GT’s latest trail bike uses a four-bar suspension linkage to deliver its 130mm travel. The Expert model’s spec impressed in some areas, but left us wanting in others. We felt that the RockShox Deluxe Select+ shock was over-damped, perhaps to compensate for the relatively low anti-squat and aid the bike on the climbs. This led to an uninspiring feel through its back end on flowing trails, where we wanted more pop. Despite the amount of damping, the Sensor was also a little less responsive under power than expected. On singletrack ascents or steep pitches, the GT climbed pretty well. The back end sits fairly high in its travel, giving good bottom bracket (BB) clearance over rocks, and the Schwalbe Nobby Nic rear tyre doesn’t drag much. On steeper descents, the…

The 150mm-travel RocketMAX is one of the more extreme bikes here when it comes to geometry. Our medium test bike has a super-long reach of 467mm, a head angle that we measured at 63.7 degrees and lengthy 448mm chainstays. There’s plenty of standover height, and the short 425mm seat tube, coupled with the 150mm-drop post, means the saddle stays well out of the way when dropped. We opted for the RocketMAX Gold Eagle build, which includes 12-speed SRAM GX Eagle and punchy Shimano XT four-piston brakes. Although a touch weighty, the WTB Vigilante/Judge tyre combo means you won’t need to worry about traction or punctures. They come set up tubeless on Hunt Trail Wide wheels, which offer a 29mm internal width, a great ride feel and rapid freehub engagement. On…

WHYTE G-170C RS 29ER £3,799 Frame Carbon fibre front triangle, aluminium alloy rear end, 165mm travel Fork RockShox Lyrik Select+, 160mm travel Shock RockShox Super Deluxe Select+ Drivetrain SRAM GX Eagle with Truvativ Descendant cranks (1x12) WheelsetRace Face AR 30 wheels, Maxxis Minion DHF EXO+ 3C MaxxTerra 29x2.5in WT (f) and Aggressor DD 29x2.5in WT (r) tyres BrakesSRAM Code R, 200mm rotors Bar/stem Whyte alloy, 780mm/ Whyte Enduro 35, 35mm Seatpost/saddle Bike Yoke DEVINE, 160mm/Whyte Weight 15.24kg, medium www.whyte.bike…