Innehållsförteckning för September 2020 från Mountain Biking UK

The 2020 Crankworx World Tour may have been cancelled, but that didn’t mean the team behind some of the world’s biggest and best MTB events were going to give themselves a break. Instead, they set up the CLIF Crankworx Summer Series, a tour of three of British Columbia’s wildest bike destinations, inviting 25 Canadian pros (15 men and 10 women) to take part in what might be the most intense MTB competition ever held. The series was run in an all-in format, where each competitor had to compete in all disciplines, including downhill, dual slalom, enduro and air downhill, and points were accumulated to count for the overall title. After events at Kicking Horse, Golden, and SilverStar, Vernon, the tour wrapped up at Sun Peaks, north-east of Kamloops. As we…

The MTB industry is booming, with tons of brands to choose from and a huge number of bikes on offer. Just within the realm of full-suspension bikes there are cross-country, downcountry (or ‘rad XC’ as we’ve nicknamed them), trail, all-mountain, enduro, park and downhill as the most common categories. Then there are hardtails, and let’s not forget e-bikes and the role-specific divergence they’re going through. Within these genres, there are different wheel sizes – 650b, 29in or even both on the same bike, plus the classic 26in wheels – and a plethora of suspension designs. Not to mention the numerous different options for hub sizes and wheel axles, bottom brackets, headsets, seat tube diameters, brake rotor sizes, tyre widths (and treads, casings and compounds), stem lengths, bar widths and angles,…

1 SRAM Eagle XG-1299 cassette This rainbow-coloured cassette was launched for SRAM’s AXS wireless electronic drivetrains but it’s compatible with all their 12-speed kit, so if you want to jazz up your GX Eagle gearing you can – but it’ll cost you. £408 www.zyrofisher.co.uk 2 Lezyne Lite Drive 1000XL It’s always smart to have a good light, whether for commuting or trail riding, and this one will add a little extra shine to your steed. £80 www.upgradebikes.co.uk 3 DMR Vault Lacon Edition flat pedals Add a flash of bling to your ‘foot out, flat out’ riding with freerider Andreu Lacondeguy’s signature DMR Vaults. £140 www.upgradebikes.co.uk 4 NS Quantum Lite stem If you’re looking for a light, stiff and easy-on-the-eyes stem, this NS number looks a good shout. Suitable for trail,…

THE GEOMETRY, SUSPENSION AND 29IN WHEELS COMBINE TO CREATE A BIKE THAT CARRIES INCREDIBLE SPEED - ALMOST TOO MUCH ON TIGHTER, FLATTER TRAILS NORCO SIGHT C2 29 £4,695 The Sight is looking a whole lot rowdier While it’s not the burliest bike in Norco’s range (that honour goes to the Range and Aurum), the new Sight packs a much bigger punch than its ‘all mountain’ billing suggests. The frame For 2020, Norco have given their all-round trail bike a big overhaul. By bumping up the rear travel by 20mm, to 150mm, and making the frame considerably longer and slacker, they’ve created a beast more suited to hammering hard descents than covering big miles. The new Sight comes in several different guises, with a choice of 650b or 29in wheels, an…

YETI SB165 £3,799 (frame + Fox DHX2 Factory shock) Ready to get wild The SB165 is Yeti’s burliest frame. It has their slackest head angle, at 63.5 degrees, and the most travel, at – you guessed it – 165mm. Built around 650b wheels (now accepted as the ‘fun’ size) and rated for a dual-crown fork, you could build it into a bike for pretty much any kind of hardcore riding, from enduro, to freeride, to mini downhill. The frame is full-carbon and uses Yeti’s Switch Infinity suspension system, driving a Fox DHX2 Factory shock. he price is steep, but then so are the trails the SB165 is designed for! www.silverfish-uk.com FOX 38 FLOAT FACTORY GRIP2 TAPERED FORK £1,299 Bigger and better? It seems that 38mm stanchions are the latest fashion…

Although it’s a very small country, Costa Rica contains six per cent of the world’s biodiversity and 850 bird species. It’s also exceptionally volcanic, with nearly 200 volcanic features and five active volcanoes. In 1948 the nation abolished its army and reallocated a lot of its annual budget to preserving wildlife and providing free education to its population. You can fly to San Jose direct from London Gatwick. Being guided by a company like Ride the Earth (www.ridetheearth.com) is essential in order to enjoy and make the most of your time in Costa Rica. We had a custom-made plan that included a bit of everything, from riding secret, remote trails to chilling out at the beach. Prepare for the altitude by arriving a couple days early. When we searched for…

dhb Troika MTB £80 SO GOOD... These are the stiffest shoes here so power delivery is excellent. They aren’t too bad to walk in thanks to the curved sole. Arch support is reasonable, and the heel box holds firm. Ventilation is good too. NO GOOD.... The fairly shallow and tightly-spaced tread doesn’t give the best traction. Not only is the cleat channel very short but it doesn’t extend far enough back for our liking. The long straps easily overhang the receiving sections of Velcro on the upper. Toe protection is fairly minimal, but then they are arguably the most XC-orientated shoes in the test. www.wiggle.co.uk Specialized Recon 1.0 £95 SO GOOD.. . Spesh’s Body Geometry insoles are comfy enough for all-day epics. Three Velcro straps distribute pressure evenly. The toe…

STEELY LOOKS Chromoly tubing is beloved in the hardtail world, famed for its forgiving ride quality when used in narrow-diameter, thin-walled tubes MAINTENANCE MADE EASY Except for the dropper post, the Piglet’s cables are externally routed, making the bike easier to work on FADE TO BLACK The pink-to-black colour-fade paint job got plenty of positive comments on the trails GETTA GRIP The Vee Flow Snap tyres are exceptionally grippy even over slick rocks and roots. There is a pay-off for this traction though, in terms of increased rolling resistance DIMINUTIVE DROPPER Although the Mantra comes with a dropper post, its 125mm of travel doesn’t let you drop the saddle far enough out of the way LONG, SLACK & LOW Saracen’s LSL geometry makes descending a total pleasure without any notable…

PINS These are the spiky bits that surround the pedal platform and stick into the soles of your shoes. They come in various shapes and sizes, and generally attach to the pedal by screwing in through the underside or straight into the top of the platform. PLATFORM The platform is the main cage-style structure that you stand on. It not only supports your feet, but also has to house the axle and bearings, as well as have the pins fixed into it. AXLE This cylindrical shaft screws into the crank arm and is what the platform rotates around. In order for the pedals to spin smoothly, brands will slot sealed cartridge bearings or solid plastic bushings onto the axle, which the platform then sits upon. CONCAVITY Most platforms have a…

TYRE TRIMMING Q Having been stuck at home for months now, I’ve been trawling through loads of DH race footage and tech coverage. I’ve seen mention of ‘cut spikes’.Could you explain what these are? Is this something I should be doing, and if so, why? Russell Morgan, via email A The term ‘cut spikes’ refers to the practice of trimming down the tread blocks on wet-weather tyres. These tyres are also known as ‘mud spikes’, due to their pronounced, tall and well-spaced tread blocks, which are designed to dig into soft dirt to generate as much grip as possible. The knobs tend to be made from soft rubber too, so that when you ride over rocks and roots the compound still provides some grip. However, with their tall, wide-spaced and…

LOCATION Snowdonia National Park in North Wales covers 2,170km² and is set around Wales’s tallest mountain, Snowdon, at 1,085m. For more information, visit www.snowdonia.gov.wales WHY COME HERE? Although not blessed with copious rights-of-way for MTBers, this area has awesome countryside and scenery, proper mountains, and fantastic natural riding, along with plenty of manmade trails and facilities. The mountain biking isn’t all hardcore, with low-level routes, family-friendly trails and trail centres offering more controlled, safe riding conditions with great facilities. GETTING HERE The best way to reach Snowdonia is via the A55 from the east or the A5 from the south. From the South of England, use the M5 and join the A5 at Shrewsbury (driving up through Mid Wales, while picturesque, is very slow). Parking is fairly easy, with numerous…

ACCOMMODATION Where to base yourself Betws-y-Coed makes the ideal base, with it being the gateway to and principal village of Snowdonia National Park. It’s easily accessed via the A5 and has lots of accommodation and places to eat that welcome outdoor enthusiasts. Furthermore, it sits right among the trails, with the Marin trail to the north, Llyn Cowlyd to the north-west, Snowdon due west, Antur Stiniog south-west and Coedy-Brenin to the south. Budget & groups The Rocks at Plas Curig hostel (01690 720225,www.the rockshostel.com). Small groups, self-catering Beddgelert House is lovely and ideal for up to six adults (07773 981203,www. beddgelerthouse.com). B&B Bryn Llewelyn Guest House (01690 710601,www.bryn-llewelyn.co.uk). Bike-friendly hotel Best Western Waterloo Hotel (01690 710411,www. waterloo-hotel.info). Camping & Pods Campsite and bunkhouses at Gwern Gof Isaf.(01690 720276,www.gwerngofisaf.co.uk). FOOD &…

TRAIL STATS Distance Wroughton pump track 300m; West Woods 400m; Croft Trail 5km Climbing Gravel and forest paths Time Wroughton Pump Track 30secs; West Woods 30secs–1min; Croft Trail 20-40mins GradingBlue and red, some off-piste stuff in West Woods WHY RIDE HERE? These trails offer fun and enjoyment for a lot of people who live in the vicinity. They’re ideal for beginners and novice riders looking to improve. RAD… Wroughton Pump Track is excellent The Croft Trail (blue-graded) is great for introducing beginners and kids to mountain biking West Woods can provide a lot of fun if you’re sessioning it with your mates BAD… West Woods can be absolutely lethal in the wet Experienced riders will find the trails uneventful…

GETTING THERE Wroughton Pump Track Use postcode SN4 9JF West Woods SN8 4EG Croft Trail SN3 1TX FACILITIES Parking and local amenities NEARBY BIKE SHOPS Hargroves Cycles, Swindon www.hargrovescycles.co.uk Mitchell Cycles, Swindon www.mitchellcycles.co.uk CONTACT www.facebook.com/ BMXWroughton www.mbswindon.co.uk OTHER RIDING Tidworth Freeride Push-up bike park just under an hour’s drive north of Swindon with jump tracks and tech trails for all skill levels The Ridgeway A 44-mile ancient route across southern England, considered to be Britain’s oldest road. One for the XC orientated!…

What do you do if you’re a former world champion and the current European cross-country marathon champion, when there are no races to attend or titles to defend? Easy. You make your own punishing new event, of course! Portuguese cycling star Tiago Ferreira may just have set a new world record for the number of vertical metres conquered in 24 hours on a mountain bike. Just outside São Pedro do Sul in central Portugal, on a track with approximately 214m of elevation gain, Tiago completed 83 climbs on rough gravel, with a total ascent of 17,753m – more than double the height of Everest. “I’m thrilled to have achieved this goal! Tiago said afterwards. “I thought the night phase would be the most complicated, but dawn ended up bringing the…

Can you believe it’s been more than a year since I snapped my Achilles tendon? It’s not like anybody else has done much racing this year though! I certainly didn’t expect that it would take a year to feel good again. I’ve been feeling much more confident on the bike but I still feel sore at the end of a day’s riding and even a small crash makes me super-anxious about potentially setting back the healing process. I still can’t quite get full range in a single calf raise, but it’s getting closer every day. We’ve all been pretty flat-out getting Dyfi Bike Park ready to re-open, but that doesn’t mean we haven’t been riding! With the start of the new, 2020-style race season approaching and the first retail bikes…

XC and DH racers have been back between the tape at several regional events before the World Cup series starts. It’s been great to see top names like Nino Schurter, Loïc Bruni and Vali Höll racing again! Our more vertically challenged staff (that’s you, Rob and Luke) are happy to see that mullet downhill bikes are a thing now and aren’t just reserved for the pros. Specialized, Santa Cruz and Canyon have all released 29in/650b DH bikes and we expect others to follow suit. Scottish rider Gary Macdonald managed to complete the 154km (96-mile) West Highland Way in a record-breaking nine hours, 28 minutes and 34 seconds on his first attempt. Top effort! Looks like he needed a good old nap at the end of it, and who can blame…

FrameCarbon fibre with aluminium alloy chainstays, 150mm (5.9in) travel ForkFox 36 Performance Elite FIT GRIP2, 160mm (6.3in) travel Shock Fox Float X2 Performance DrivetrainShimano Deore XT/SLX with e*thirteen TRS Race chain guide (1x12) WheelsetStan’s NoTubes Flow D rims on Shimano Deore XT hubs, Maxxis Minion DHF 3C MaxxTerra EXO+ (f) and Minion DHR II 3C MaxxTerra EXO+ (r) 29x2.5in WT tyres Brakes Shimano SLX M7120, 200/180mm rotors Bar/stem Deity Ridgeline 35, 800mm/ Norco, 40mm Seatpost/saddle TranzX YSP-39JL 170mm dropper/Ergon SM10 Sport Weight15.56kg (34.3lb), large size without pedals…

SARAH’S SCOTT CONTESSA RANSOM 910 £4,949 Sarah got a mullet just in time for summer I’ve finally had to retire my RockShox Reverb dropper post after three years of use. I’d fitted it to the Scott because the 150mm Fox post the bike came with was way too long for me. But the seat tube is about 10mm longer than on my old bike, so even the 125mm Reverb put my saddle just slightly too high. On top of that, it was becoming uneconomical to keep servicing the RockShox post and it was starting to show signs of wear. Luckily, there was a OneUp Components V1 dropper in the garage, with adjustable travel and a 25mm lower stack height. This is working better for me, letting me slam my…

ASYMMETRICAL CHAINSTAYS The chainstays are shaped differently on the drive side and non-drive side to accommodate the chainring without it hitting the frame. STACK HEIGHT The vertical distance from the centre of the bottom bracket to the centre-top of the head tube. This determines the minimum handlebar height. BACKSWEEP The angle at which a handlebar’s tips curve backwards from the centre point of the bar. SINTERED BRAKE PADS Pads made from a metallic rather than organic compound. These will typically last longer in wet and muddy conditions, and provide better stopping power in more extreme scenarios. O.T.T. Off The Top – DVO’s Allen-key-adjusted solution to tuning the fork’s initial stroke to help improve comfort and grip without compromising mid-stroke support and bottom-out resistance. REACH The horizontal distance from the centre…

GRIP The point of a good set of flat pedals is to keep your feet glued in place. Traction doesn’t just come from the pedal though, and your choice of shoes can make a massive difference. Five Ten still lead the way when it comes to tacky rubber for unrivalled grip on the pins, but there are now great alternatives from the likes of Bontrager, Shimano and Ride Concepts. PINS Shorter, fatter pins won’t dig into the soles of your shoes as well as thin, tall ones, but they may handle the hits better and are less likely to bend. Grub-screw-type pins are threaded and have an Allen key fitting on the top of them. This design becomes problematic to work on when the tops of the pins become filled…

The Welsh language is as beautiful as the country itself, but can be pretty daunting to outsiders. Here are some common words to help you get by: aber – river mouth afon – river allt – hillside/cliff bachorfach– small bont or pont – bridge bryn – hill bwlch– gap, pass carreg– stone coch– red coed– wood cwm– valley ddu/du – black dyffryn/glyn – valley fawrormawr– big ffordd– road glas – blue/green goch– red gors– bog llyn – lake maes – field moel – rounded hill mynydd– mountain pen – top rhyd – ford rhaeadr – stream diolch – thanks hwylfawr– goodbye…

Route summary A huge, tough ride out to conquer and then descend Wales’s tallest mountain. Time it right for a seriously epic sunrise or sunset ride. Start/finish Llanberis car park (grid ref: SH 580/601, postcode: LL55 4UR). There is a quieter alternative starting point, on the southern side of the mountain, taking the Ranger Path, but it has an additional climb and descent on a loose, deep stone surface. NOTE Voluntary restrictions on cycling on Snowdon mean you shouldn’t ride on the mountain between 10am and 5pm from 1 May to 30 September. Please respect this or you could risk a complete ban for mountain bikers. 1 Head through Llanberis, past the railway station. Turn right on Victoria Terrace and cross a cattle grid. Climb steeply and, shortly after the…

JOHN OLDALE MARIN BIKES “The trails here aren’t too wild, so you don’t need to over-bike yourself! A short-travel full-sus or a hardtail is fine. It’s a place that’ll appeal to more novice riders, so if you’re a badass, don’t get your hopes up. However, there’s no getting away from the fact that this place has a lot of potential to thrill new riders and families alike, and mountain biking needs those facilities as much as the big bike parks. If they’re closer to towns, all the better.”…

The original Yeti ARC was created in 1991 and, thanks to its race-inspired design and some handy team riders (Missy Giove and John Tomac to name two), it saw more than its fair share of success. While the new version clearly pays homage to the original, it’s not designed for racing, but to show just how versatile a hardtail made with the latest carbon fibre tech and modern geometry can be. Yeti are only offering the ARC frame in their highest-grade T-Series carbon fibre (rather than the cheaper C-Series carbon, which is just as stiff but slightly heavier). There are six builds to choose from (if you include the T3, which isn’t available in the UK, and the limited edition 35th anniversary edition). The cheapest C1 bike costs £3,799 while…

“I grew up riding bikes in Peebles, a haven for mountain biking up in the Scottish Borders. My passion for photography came later, when I started getting into winter climbing and skiing while I was studying at the University of the Highlands and Islands in Fort William. As I progressed further with each sport, my passion for photography grew. Four years later, I’m now a full-time photographer and filmmaker.” 1 THE SPICE OF LIFE “I’ve been lucky to travel to some amazing places and Israel was one of the best. I was there on a Specialized Soil Searching trip to document trail building. This photo was taken in the Makhtesh Ramon crater. What an amazing day, riding with the locals on ancient camel routes and learning the history of the…

Frame 6066-T6 aluminium alloy, 161mm (6.3in) travel ForkRockShox ZEB Ultimate, 170mm (6.6in) travel Shock RockShox Super Deluxe Ultimate Drivetrain SRAM GX Eagle (1x12) Wheelset Crankbrothers Synthesis Alloy (r) and DT Swiss EX 471 (f) wheels, Schwalbe Eddy Current 29x2.6in tyres Brakes SRAM Code RSC, 200mm/180mm rotors Bar/stem Race Face Atlas, 800mm/Race Face, 40mm Seatpost/saddle Vecnum Nivo 212mm dropper/Specialized Power Weight 4.6kg (10.1lb), frame and shock/ 16.5kg (36.5lb) as built, without pedals…

Pumping your tyres up by a few psi will improve rolling speeds. Just be careful not to exceed the manufacturer’s stated pressure limit. If you have rear suspension, use the shock’s lockout lever to provide a firmer pedalling platform for hitting the streets. Mudguards are as useful on the road as off it. To have the most efficient bike possible, the drivetrain is the best place to start. Clean, degreased, gunk-free and freshly-lubed gears that are indexed correctly and in good working order will save you a ton of effort. Got access to showers at work? Carry a travel towel and basic wash kit. We use travel-sized bottles and refill them at home. If not, something like Muc-Off’s Dry Shower or a pack of wet wipes is useful. Dress for…

a way of living based on the idea that life is short, so you may as well spend it being happy. It sounded like the perfect place to head in search of the simple life – and some prime trails, of course. DO YOU KNOW THE WAY THROUGH SAN JOSE? “Today we’re riding at a bike park!” says Julie, the owner of Ride the Earth. “She’s got to be kidding, a bike park? In this thick jungle?” I ask my companion, the Portuguese DH and enduro racer Emanuel Pombo. He shrugs as we move through the traffic in San Jose. As we escape the city, the streets get narrower and so steep that Marco, our driver, has to put the car in first gear to get to the top. “This…

ROB WEAVER With two decades of riding experience, Rob knows what works and what doesn’t ED THOMSETT Always on the hunt for new technical challenges, Ed gives his gear some serious abuse SARAH GAMSJÄGER Skier turned enduro racer Sarah is always on the lookout for kit that gets results 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 ANDY MCCANDLISH Based near Scotland’s toughest trails, Andy rides his kit to hell and back…

For some riders, flat pedals are simply the only option. The freedom they offer and the confidence they can instil really helps to elevate the whole riding experience. Being able to quickly hang a foot off mid-turn or eject from the bike when things go wrong simply isn’t possible when you’re attached to the bike via clipless pedals. Then there are the diehards who insist that riding on flats will help you learn the correct techniques for manoeuvres like the bunnyhop – a fundamental of mountain biking. But even if you do spend most of your time clipped in, flat pedals can add fun and confidence come winter, when the trails are as slippery as a greased-up eel. Knowing that you can slide down the hillside without the fear of…

Wales is made for mountain biking. With a great selection of manmade trails, it offers rides of specific difficulty levels for all weather conditions. That’s handy because Snowdonia has one of the wettest climates in the UK (Capel Curig has over 250cm of rain a year!). There are plenty of natural trails too, bringing some wild and remote rides containing epic views. With lots of facilities for outdoor lovers, it makes an ideal getaway destination, which is why we find ourselves in Snowdonia National Park for our summer Dirty Weekender. The area is arguably the best-known region of Wales, thanks largely to Snowdon itself. Volcanic and glacial activity created this stunning landscape with deep glacial valleys, high peaks and mountain lakes. Much of it is well-draining volcanic and sedimentary rock,…

Coed-y-Brenin has eight superb, all-weather MTB trails for a wide range of abilities, plus a skills area and state-of-the-art visitor centre with showers, cafe and bike shop. Just north of Betws-y-Coed is the Gwydir Mawr Trail – a fun, red-graded, waymarked MTB trail. To the south is Penmachno with a further two waymarked trails. Both locations have routes with a very natural feel. Antur Stiniog, right in the middle of Snowdonia, offers some rocky and technical downhill riding, with a minibus uplift service. Beddgelert Forest has two family- orientated trails – the 6km Bedwen Trail, along forest roads and past a picturesque lake, and the 10.1km Derwen Trail, which takes in some bigger hills and slightly more challenging trails. Not far off the drive to/from Wales is the popular Coed…

Route summary A beautiful, remote ride through a lesser-known area of Snowdonia, taking in the stunning Llyn Cowlyd reservoir. Start/finish Capel Curig car park (grid ref: SH 720/581, postcode LL24 0EN). 1 Head off along the (Old Ogwen) road/bridleway, which led you to the car park, heading north and parallel to the A5. Ride for 4.4km to pass through Gwern Gof Isaf campsite and come to a crossroads, where you go right to the A5. 2 Turn right on this road and proceed for 0.6km, then bear left on a track (possibly still signposted as a footpath, but it is in fact a bridleway). Follow the signs past the house at the end, where the path has been diverted, and continue uphill along the worn trail, to Llyn Cowlyd reservoir…