Innehållsförteckning för May 2020 från Mountain Biking UK

There’s no ignoring the fact that cross-country is undergoing a resurgence in popularity. This is thanks, in part, to more technical and exciting racing, as well as advances in bike design. XC bikes used to be somewhat uptight-feeling machines built purely for speed, but they’re now a lot more fun to ride – and RockShox have jumped on this trend with the release of their new XC fork. It’s still called the SID, but this latest Ultimate model rocks 120mm of travel and burlier 35mm stanchions – the same size found on the Pike, Lyrik and BoXXer. Designed to add some extra stiffness and control up front on the new generation of capable XC bikes, the fork doesn’t just have a fresh chassis, but also uses RockShox’s latest Charger Race…

Twenty-five years ago, British mountain biking lost its shining light when Jason McRoy was fatally injured in a road accident. JMC inspired a generation of riders and his pioneering spirit paved the way for future UK stars to follow to international success. While he’s rightfully revered as a hero here in the UK, his achievements are largely unrecognised overseas – and we say it’s time for that to change. Let’s make 2020 the year JMC finally takes up his deserved place in the Mountain Bike Hall of Fame. As downhill racing developed as a sport in the early ’90s, it was largely dominated by US riders. Then Euros took over, but there was still little success for UK riders. Dave Hemming won a silver medal in the Juniors at the…

Dirt not only inspired the UK mountain biking scene to become cooler, but also much of the MTB film culture that followed. Simply put, it’s the video that started it all. Released in 1995, it showcased the biggest stars of the time – Jason McRoy, Rob Warner, Dave Hemming and Scott Dommett – and instantly became the film to watch with your riding mates. Many a VHS copy (ask your parents, kids) was worn out by continuous rewinding! To this day, it captures what mountain biking has always been about – messing around and having a laugh with your mates. Thanks to Pete Tomkins (aka Mr Crud), who filmed the video, it showed us a new and exciting way to document mountain biking, which paved the way for movies like…

THE MOTOR SEAMLESSLY MATCHES THE EFFORT YOU’RE PUTTING IN, GIVING YOU THE FINE CONTROL NEEDED TO REGULATE ANY REAR WHEEL SPIN Four years on from the release of the original Overvolt, Lapierre have updated their enduro-focused e-bike. The ‘GLP 2’ in the name refers to their Gravity Logic Project, aimed at improving handling. To this end, they’ve centralised the position of the battery, and have opted for a mullet wheel set-up too (29in front, 650b rear). The French brand have also taken advantage of the compact format of the fourth-generation Bosch Performance Line CX motor to update the Overvolt’s geometry. We rode the top-end Team model, but there’s a cheaper Elite too (£5,399). The frame The new Overvolt has a full-carbon frame that delivers 160mm of rear wheel travel via…

Exmoor Adventures run guided mountain biking trips across Exmoor National Park. They run private uplifts for all skill levels, and can provide both bike and e-bike hire too. With British Cycling MTB Leadership qualification and 30+ years’ experience of riding on Exmoor, you know you’re in good hands. They also offer watersports, climbing, coasteering and other outdoor activities if you’ve still got a thirst for adventure once you’ve finished mountain biking! www.exmooradventures.co.uk Dan French The founder of Exmoor Adventures, Dan is a mountain biker at heart, and has been riding Exmoor since the early ’90s. He knows this place like the back of his hand and will be sure to show you the best trails for you. Ben Sawyer Chief instructor Ben was our driver for the day, but usually…

Over the past 15 years, mountain biking in the Tweed Valley has exploded. Once home to a small local scene, this beautiful area of the Scottish Borders is now an international MTB hotspot attracting over 350,000 riders every year. Easily within reach from Edinburgh and south of the border, the 7stanes centres at Glentress and Innerleithen are justifiably popular, with award-winning trails suitable for all. But beyond these groomed, manicured ribbons, something else is drawing in a different kind of rider.…

Gawton Gravity Hub This uplift-accessed DH venue near Tavistock in Devon opened in 2012 and quickly gained notoriety for its steep, rocky, technical tracks. The addition of two red flow trails has made Gawton much more accessible now. www.gawtongravityhub.com Woody’s Bike Park Cornwall is famed for its surfing, but if surfing dirt waves is your thing, then Woody’s Bike Park is the place to go. Built on open farmland overlooking the town of Par, there's a snaking maze of tracks here, ranging from blue-graded trails to pro lines, all filled with jumps to boost and berms to rail. www.woodysbikepark.com Wind Hill B1kepark Built under the guidance of freerider and ex-MBUK regular Chris Smith, Wind Hill, by Longleat Safari Park in Somerset, has some of the biggest jumps anywhere in the…

ROB WEAVER With two decades of riding experience, Rob knows what works and what doesn’t ME  CO TLEY-WHIT TOM MARVIN The only thing Tom loves more than his clapped-out VW Caddy is hammering test kit SEB STOTT No slouch on the race track, Seb’s passion for engineering helps him pick products apart LUKE MARSHALL Keen racer Luke is quick to identify what helps or is a hindrance between the tape ALEX EVANS Many years of breaking bikes means Alex can give reliable buying advice JAMES COSTLEY-WHITE MBUK’s editor has 27 years of riding experience and an eye for the details that matter…

Whether it was on long rides out of the door, across town and around our local trails, or fast, repeated head-to-head shootouts further afield, our quartet of carbon XC race bikes surprised us, both in terms of just how darn fast they were at getting from A to B, but also what they could achieve downhill – although skinny tyres and minimal frame weight add up to a ride feel that’s far removed from what you might expect of a trail or enduro bike. The Cube Reaction C:62 SL is a competent bike, with top-performing components and tyres that instil more confidence than most XC rubber on wet, sloppy trails. However, its traditional shape and super-stiff ride meant it was left behind by the others when push came to shove.…

SOLE STIFFNESS To use clipless pedals, you need sole stiffness – less if you’re using pedals with a supportive platform, more if you’re using the more minimal, XC-orientated style with a smaller cage. Flexible soles are more comfortable to walk in. Stiff soles feel less agile over rough ground but improve power transfer and allow a more direct connection to the bike. CLOSURE SYSTEM Traditional laces are fast being outmoded by Quicklace and Boa-style systems. These offer simple adjustment on the move (just add a few clicks of your Boa dial while pedalling, for example) and easier release when the shoes are muddy and you have cold fingers. But laces do have the advantage of being easily replaceable if things go wrong. OUTSOLE If you scramble up muddy hillsides on…

ROLLERS Most blue trails at bikes parks are relatively obstacle-free, but they often feature undulations, which you can pump or jump off to improve your bike handling. Using your arms and legs to absorb a roller and then extending them to push the bike down the backside is a great way to generate speed and keep flow without pedalling. Or, you can try to jump off them, if the landing is smooth and you feel safe doing so. LINE CHOICE Even though there aren’t savage rock gardens and awkward roots to negotiate on smoother trails, choosing the right line can bring a big advantage. Most people tend to ride in the centre of the track, which can become rough from excessive braking. If there’s space enough, you can ride on…

The Dales Bike Centre cafe may win by default (as there’s nothing else out on the route), but it would also win regardless. With master cake-baker Brenda conjuring up countless show-stopping bakes, as well as shortbread, flapjack, brownies, great coffee and teas, breakfast, soup, sandwiches and jacket potatoes, it’s ideal both before and after the ride. If you’re staying here too, the cake is available 24/7! Check out www. dalesbikecentre.co.ukfor more info. For evening meals, The Bridge Inn pub, just over the bridge from the Dales Bike Centre, is warm and welcoming (01748 884224).…

Locals do... Grab a calorific burger and a homemade cake in the cafe, and get warm by the wood-burning stove Ask the friendly staff in the bike shop for advice on the trail loops (and the cheeky off-piste stuff- shh!) Keep their eyes peeled for other riders. It can get really busy at weekends and school holidays Locals don't... Muck about on the fireroads. They're also used by horse-riders and you could freak out the animals Expend all their energy going down, because every ride ends with a climb…

GETTING THERE Lying just east of Dartmoor National Park, Haldon Forest Park can be found easily by heading down the M5 all the way to Exeter, then taking the A38 for a short distance and following the signs. Or, you can just use the postcode EX6 7XR and let your satnav do the work. FACILITIES Parking, cafe, toilets, bike wash, bike hire NEARBY BIKE SHOPS Forest Cycle Hire are conveniently located right by the cafe and offer bike hire, sales, servicing and repairs, and a bike wash. www.forestcyclehire.co.uk CONTACT www.forestryengland.uk/ haldon-forest-park WHAT ELSE IS NEARBY? Gawton Gravity Hub Downhill is on the menu at Gawton, located over the other side of Dartmoor, about an hour west of Haldon. There are eight pulse-quickening DH tracks, all packed with rocks and steep…

Penshurst Bike Park (formerly Penshurst Off Road Cycling, aka PORC) is sadly no more. Opened by Mike Westphal in 1991, it was a staple of the South East England mountain biking scene for nearly 30 years. Running on Mike’s boundless enthusiasm and energy, there were a few bumps along the way, but PORC provided a great venue for countless young riders to sharpen their skills and test their racing and dirt-jumping mettle. Located in Kent, it was one of the first bike parks in the UK and hosted regular races and events. Steve Peat and Rob Warner (pictured) both raced there in the early days, and many successful racers and dirt jumpers have called it home since. Daryl Brown is one of them. “PORC shaped my career, from riding for…

Every year, the Marin Museum of Mountain Biking, situated in the sport’s Californian homeplace, inducts four new members into its Mountain Bike Hall of Fame. Selection is definitely biased towards North Americans, although Steve Peat did make it in a couple of years ago. This year’s nominees will be announced on 18 April – unless the spread of coronavirus delays things – but JMC’s nomination rolls over from last year (along with the also-deserving Tym Manley, founder of MBUK, and trail centre pioneer Dafydd Davies). Voting is due to open from 1 May to 1 June, with the successful inductees set to be announced on 15 June. To vote, you have to become a museum member, which costs US$30 (approx £25), but helps support this valuable resource. For further details,…

We’ve been exploring some great UK trails recently. JCW, Jimmer, Luke and Sarah went down to Exmoor for a day of uplift-assisted riding and came away buzzing. Check out the feature on page 54. As well as building a new blue trail at Cwmcarn in South Wales, Architrail (the UK arm of Claudio Caluori’s Velosolutions) are putting the finishing touches to a full-scale pump track in Bristol. Our lunchtime sessions just went up a gear! It’s great to see brands doing their bit for the planet – the latest being Scottish kit manufacturers Endura, who’ve committed to planting one million trees a year to help offset their carbon footprint. Good for them! We’re all living in fear of the lurgy as COVID-19 spreads worldwide. Working from home is proving challenging…

STAR LETTER PRESCRIPTION OR SUBSCRIPTION? This starts as a bit of a sob story, but it has a happy ending, I promise! Four years ago, I was a keen MTBer – any chance I had, I’d be out riding. Unfortunately, that ended when I got sepsis from a rusty nail going through my flipflop. I collapsed a few days later and was rushed to hospital. Although I recovered, the incident left me with anxiety and PTSD (my silly brain had seen it as a near-death experience), and the anxiety led to depression. Over the next few years, I decided to try and overcome this without medication – helped by the amazing support of the NHS – but still, mountain biking was something I thought I’d never have the confidence to…

Frame Carbon fibre, 160mm (6.3in) travel Fork RockShox Lyrik Ultimate, 160mm (6.3in) travel Shock RockShox Super Deluxe Select+ Drivetrain Bosch Performance Line CX motor w/ 500Wh battery, SRAM X01 Eagle AXS drivetrain (w/ NX cassette) w/ e*thirteen E-spec+ cranks (1x12) Wheelset Lapierre eAM+ carbon rims on Lapierre hubs, Maxxis Assegai 3C MaxxTerra EXO+ TR 29x2.5in (f) and Maxxis Minion DHR II EXO+ TR 27.5x2.8in (r) tyres Brakes SRAM G2 RSC, 220/200mm rotors Bar/stem Lapierre, 760mm/Lapierre, 45mm Seatpost/saddle Lapierre dropper/ Lapierre Weight 21.5kg (47.4lb), large size without pedals…

KONA PROCESS 134 CR/DL 29 £6,199 Process-ing power The new 134 is Kona’s first full-carbon Process, and it also now rolls on 29in wheels. Sporting – you guessed it – 134mm of rear wheel travel, paired with a 140mm RockShox Pike Ultimate RC2 fork, it falls slap-bang into the trail bike category. Its geometry hints at it being a competent machine with an instinct for cornering – we’re talking a relatively slack 66-degree head angle, short 427mm chainstays and a 33mm bottom bracket drop. None of the kit on this top-spec model looks like it needs upgrading, unless you want tougher tyres than the stock EXO-casing Maxxis rubber. We’ve got a feeling this bike will keep Kona fans very happy, and may well bring them some new ones too. www.konaworld.com…

Go-Where Scotland have been running guided MTB trips to the Highlands for years, visiting the likes of Torridon and Skye, but owners Aneela and Andy McKenna are now looking closer to home. “We’re not saying these places aren’t epic,” explains Aneela, “but we want to show people the mind-blowing riding on our doorstep. Don’t underestimate the Scottish Borders!” Go-Where’s Enduro Raid Lite trip is a two-day introduction to the valley’s gnarlier side, aiming to show you some hidden gems, connect you with like-minded riders and coach you along the way. If that sounds like your bag, head to https://go-where.co.uk. A percentage of the cost goes to the Tweed Valley Trails Association, the volunteers responsible for maintaining and building trails in the area. Find out more at https://tweedvalleytrails.org.…

ION Transom 16 £134.95 (w/o bladder) SO GOOD… The Transom has lots of storage options, including space for knee pads. Its rain-resistant fabric is easy to clean. ION’s adjustable airflow system helps keep you less sweaty. NO GOOD… Even when unladen, the bag is bulky and heavy. Fine-tuning fit and storage is tricky. There’s only one main compartment, so you can’t separate food, tools and valuables. The bladder sits deep down and needs a long tube. Access to jacket pockets is blocked by the padded hip strap. The airflow system is hard to operate (you need to stop to activate it) and the bulk it adds isn’t worth it. www.ion-products.com O’Neal Romer £75 (w/ bladder) SO GOOD… O’Neal’s offering is relatively inexpensive, and comes with a bladder. Multiple pockets are…

As your major contact point with the bike, it’s no surprise that a good pair of shoes makes a big difference to your ride. If you use clipless pedals, there’s a huge range of compatible footwear out there, in a range of styles and with all sorts of features, so what should you be looking for? The truth is that clipless trail shoes are as individual to you as a pair of prescription glasses. What sort of riding do you do? Is it all about powering up hills in the saddle? Or do you venture into the wilds, onto terrain that could have you shouldering the bike? Perhaps you’re an aggressive rider whose front wheel sends up showers of rocks as you muscle your way downhill? Each of these disciplines…

PRESSURE POINTS Q I’ve been running 28psi in my front tyre – a 2.6in Michelin Wild Enduro – and have been struggling for grip. Obviously, the wet conditions we’ve had haven’t helped, but I’m debating whether I can go down to a lower pressure. I weigh about 17 stone and my wheels aren’t exactly designed for big impacts. Jon McDonald, via email The Wild Enduro is a great tyre with bucketloads of potential grip, even in mucky conditions. Tyre pressures come down to personal preference – how you like them to feel, the type of terrain you ride, as well as the widths of your rim and tyre. If we assume you have a fairly wide rim (say, 28-30mm internal) then you should be able to get away with lower…

The Dales Bike Centre cafe may win by default (there’s nothing else out on the route), but it would take the victory regardless. With master cake-baker Brenda conjuring up countless show-stopping bakes, as well as shortbread, flapjack, brownies, great coffee and teas, breakfast, soup, sandwiches and jacket potatoes, it’s ideal both before and after the ride. If you’re staying here too, the cake is available 24/7! For evening meals, The Bridge Inn pub, just over the bridge, is warm and welcoming. www.dalesbikecentre.co.uk…

BEN DEAKIN ‘The Deakinator’ attacked the trails with a shedload of skill and a massive grin on his face JAMES COSTLEY-WHITE Far be it for our editor to brag about having an e-bike to help with the climbs… but the whine of the motor did that for him JAMES BLACKWELL Fresh off a bout of winter illness, Jimmer was an eager beaver – even more so than usual! CHRIS BARNARD Chris wasn’t about to let the odd hailstorm stop him from riding – not with a homemade flapjack in the offing!…

elcome to MBUK’s ultimate guide to getting your bike dialled. This isn’t your usual fusty maintenance manual, filled with puncture-fixing tips and lectures on keeping your chain oiled. Neither are we going to be delving into really advanced stuff that’ll get your head spinning, such as tinkering with suspension shim stacks. Instead, we’re going to be focusing on set-up tweaks and workshop techniques that anyone can do, don’t require too many specialist tools and will make your bike fit you better, handle the terrain with more control and run more smoothly, all of which should make your rides even more enjoyable! GET IN TOUCH! mbuk@immediate.co.uk @mbukmagazine www.facebook.com/mbukmag…

Cwmcarn Forest has been a staple of the Welsh trail centre scene for 17 years, providing a challenge for more advanced and adventurous riders with its two demanding red loops (the original Twrch trail is a particularly tough affair) and two official downhill tracks. During that whole time, it’s been missing a blue trail to open up the hillside to less experienced riders. That’s all changed now, because a new blue-graded, flowing descent has been built to connect the first section of the Twrch trail back to the car park, giving a fun, rolling ride to reward you after the initial climb. Other new sections of track will also be opened up, connecting the Twrch and Cafall trails to make one big loop. This welcome update is excellent news for…

When it comes to MTB films, we’re big fans of high-production cinematic masterpieces such as Deathgrip or Return to Earth, but if the gauge of two thumbs-up is how strong an urge you feel to grab your bike and get out there, then often it’s the rough-cut, filming-your-mates sort of ‘shreddits’ that get us most stoked. This is the exact reason why so many of us loved Tommy Caldwell’s Slice of British Pie series. It was the perfect recipe for success – take a bunch of wild riders, throw them into the midst of British winter and press record. That’s why, when news reached us that Tommy was teaming up with Misspent Summers (the team behind the Hurly Burly DH yearbooks) to make a new feature-length film, we were eager…

As someone who’s raced bikes every summer from the age of 14 to my current age of 31, it’s certainly a surreal time with the restrictions on sport this year. At the same time, it makes me truly appreciate the reason I found this passion and took this path in the first place – which is purely for the love of rolling on two wheels. You don’t need a stopwatch or a competitor to enjoy the ride. You don’t even need to be meeting mates or indulging in the social aspect of the sport to enjoy the ride. Just cruising along with a fresh breeze blowing in your face, taking a turn down a new road you haven’t been on before, cutting through a previously unridden woodland, raising that front…

When unheard-of French downhiller Morgane Charre stormed to a World Champs gold medal win in Austria in 2012, it was a surprise. But with a talent born out of BMX and an upbringing on steep alpine tracks, perhaps it shouldn’t have been. Although undeniably skilful on the bike, Morgane has never quite managed a repeat of that first world-beating performance, but in recent times, since making the switch to enduro, her results are edging ever closer to the podium. Sam Hill’s already proven that it’s possible for a diehard flat-pedal rider to smoke the competition without clipping-in and, with a new team backing Morgane in 2020, we’ve got a sneaking suspicion that this might be her year! Who is Morgane Charre? A Frenchie who likes to play around on bikes…

Equally handy with either a pen or a camera in his hand, West Yorkshire-based photographer, film-maker and illustrator Sam Needham has been honing his craft for almost a decade now. From starting out snapping his mates riding their local tracks up on Ilkley Moor, Sam has gone on to explore the limitless possibilities of where bikes can take us. And the doodles? “Well, they’ve been part of the fun ever since I could hold a crayon,” Sam tells us. In the last few months Sam has joined forces with Joe Bowman of Steel City Media (think This is Peaty, Gamble and more), so we expect to see loads more great content come out of this meeting of minds! 1. BRENDAN FAIRCLOUGH, LES GETS, FRANCE “This was one of two worthy…

Adam Dix’s leg-break at Twisted Oaks Bike Park is one of the most gruesome injuries we’ve seen in a while (and the video he sent us of the paramedics wrenching his bones around nearly made us throw up!). He was following his mates through some jumps when he realised, too late, that he was going way faster than the rider in front. “I avoided a mid-air collision, but that left me over the rear wheel so I dangled my leg out to help balance my landing,” he explains. “I remember looking down at my foot, wobbling around with a mind of its own. Suffolk Accident Rescue Service put me under while they tried to stick the bone back in place, then took me to Ipswich Hospital. A couple of surgeries,…

Introduced at the end of 2019, the Mythique is a 130mm-travel trail bike available with 650b or 29in wheels. It’s the 29 VR model’s low asking price that piqued our interest. The frame Built around a Horst link suspension system with 130mm of travel, the 6061 alloy frame features Boost rear axle spacing and a threaded BB. Cables are routed externally, along the top of the down tube, where you’ll also find a bottle mount. We tested the large frame, which has a 468.3mm reach, 621.9mm effective top tube length and 1,224.7mm wheelbase, with 445mm chainstays that are shared across the sizes. The head angle is 66.63 degrees and the effective seat angle is 76.26 degrees. The kit The most notable omission from the spec is a dropper post. You…

Rumours of the steep, rock- and root-strewn test-pieces hidden among the dense conifers of the Tweed Valley have spread far and wide, making it the UK’s first enduro epicentre. For some, the lure of these challenges is irresistible, but for others, the idea of straying off the waymarked trails into dark and foreboding terrain is a daunting prospect. However, I’m a firm believer that, if armed with the right skills – and a few gentle pointers here and there – everyone can enjoy the delights of the trail less travelled. “Ride like a boss,” shouts my fellow Go-Where Scotland coach Jules, as Lisa sizes up the drop ahead of her. There’s a brief moment of tense anticipation, which quickly turns into excitement as Lisa flies through the air and touches…

SARAH’S SCOTT CONTESSA RANSOM 910 £4,949 Sarah’s got her first 29er and is looking to get it race-ready Scott’s Contessa Ransom features the same geometry as the standard (unisex) model. Having raced a Ransom last year, for a feature in MBUK 368, I knew the size and dimensions would suit me. What’s new for me is riding it on 29in wheels though (the Ransom family of bikes is designed to fit both 650b and 29in wheels). The Contessa version is expensive, but comes specced with women’s-specific Syncros grips and a Fox Nude shock that’s tuned for female riders. And, obviously, it comes in a different colour. I’m not so keen on the somewhat stereotypical paint job, but it’s equipped with some decent parts and an aggressive 170mm of travel,…

UPPER Everything above the midsole. For the constant wet-and-dry cycle that mountain biking often is, synthetic materials are best, providing durability against tears and abrasion, and holding little water when they do get wet. ANKLE COLLAR Made from padded material, this protects the ankle from impacts with the crank arm or terrain. Some brands add thin neoprene sections on top, which surround the ankle and keep debris from entering the shoe. TOE BOX/BUMPER Reinforced area on the forefoot, which creates a strong box-like cavity to protect your toes from flying rocks on fast descents. CLEAT SLOTS Parallel cutouts in the outsole for attaching your cleats. We prefer longer slots, which allow you to position your cleats further back so that you can push your feet forward on the pedals, reducing…

1 Remove the shock from the frame, following the frame manufacturer’s instructions. This usually involves undoing the eyelet bolts at each end of the shock. Give the shock a good clean, then remove the sag indicator. 2 Unscrew the air-valve dust cap, then attach a shock pump. Note the air pressure, then press the pump’s air bleed button to release air from the shock. Remove the pump and press an Allen key onto the Schrader valve to allow any remaining air to escape. 3 Remove the metal hardware from the thin end (shaft) of the shock by first teasing the spacers off with a screwdriver. Next, push the pin through, either by hand, with a bushing removal tool or by using a vice to push it through with an 8mm…

TRAIL STATS Distance:Spicers blue route 3.7km, Kiddens blue route 6.4km, Ridge Ride red route 9km, Ridge Ride Extreme black loop 1km Climbing: Fireroads and singletrack Time: 1-2 hours for a lap of the red Grading: Green, blue, red, black WHY RIDE HERE? Decent blue and red-graded trails (with an optional black loop on the red), plus a pump track and skills area, offer solid riding for all ages and ability levels. RAD… Pretty much any rider will find something to suit them here, so it’s perfect for families and group outings There’s some great homemade food on offer at the cosy cafe, and an on-site bike shop provides bike sales and hire The car park is at the top, so you can drop straight into a descent when you arrive…

“This was the first time I’d ridden Haldon in a long time and it’s clear they’ve put a lot of funding behind the venue. There’s a good workshop, a big range of bikes to hire, clearly-signposted trails of various difficulties and – most importantly – a cafe selling amazing cakes! It’s the perfect place to take the family, put in the miles to keep fit or have a blast with less experienced mates, but if you’re a gravity rider or craving some airtime, it probably isn’t for you, even if we did find some off-piste gems. The main trails are made to have fun on, not scare you!”…

1 Bar height is an adjustment that takes experimentation to get right, so that your body is in a good position and your weight is well-distributed. For trail/enduro riding, a good starting point is to set the bar so that the grips are level with (or slightly below) the saddle at full pedalling height. 2 To adjust the bar height, remove the headset top-cap bolt, loosen the stem clamp bolts and slide the stem off the fork’s steerer tube. Put spacers below the stem to increase bar height or vice versa. Refit the stem, tighten the top-cap, align the stem and tighten the stem bolts. 3 Consider bar roll. Rolling the handlebar forward puts your weight towards the front of the bike and vice versa. Start with the bar tips…