Innehållsförteckning för April 2023 från Mountain Biking UK

WHAT ARE YOU BEST KNOWN FOR? Trying to do hard moves on my trials bike. I can’t nail any signature stuff, but I ride along tennis lines, fences and cables, and do random frontflips! WHAT WAS YOUR FIRST BIKE? A Raleigh Burner BMX. DESCRIBE YOUR FANTASY DAY... At the moment it’d be to get all my classic MBUK heroes together – Steve Peat, Rob Warner, Chris Akrigg, Brendan Fairclough and Robin Kitchin [ex Team Animal rider turned filmmaker and photographer] – and go for a slip-and-slide in the woods. WHAT GETS YOU EXCITED TO RIDE? Wet weather! I grew up on Skye, so I got used to riding in the wet. If I’m honest, when it comes to mountain biking, the wilder and wetter, the better. I just love riding…

1 Smith Rhythm MTB goggles Unobstructed vision is vital when you’re riding at warp speed. Smith’s new Rhythm goggles are designed with racing in mind, with clear and contrast-enhancing ChromaPop lens options, plus a wide field of vision. £99.99 www.smithoptics.com 2 Lazer Cage KinetiCore full-face helmet This lid has excellent safety and breathability features, and has been proven by ‘Sick’ Mick Hannah on the toughest tracks. Whether crushing DH runs or smashing enduro stages, it’ll will preserve your precious noggin for that podium shot! £249.99 www.freewheel.co.uk 3 Rockstop Rim Protector insert When you’re riding rough tracks at speed, more protection is always welcome. Made from a shock-absorbing rubberised polymer, Rockstop’s low-profile tyre inserts are designed to keep pesky pinch flats at bay without messing with tyre shape and feel. £65…

If his surname sounds familiar, it’s because this 21-year-old is the cousin of YouTube star and ‘Austrian Danny MacAskill’ Fabio Wibmer. Gabriel is busy making a name for himself in his own right, though, as an up-and-coming downhill and street-trials rider – both of which require being as fit and healthy as possible, which means eating well. “I pay attention to what I eat, because it affects the regulation of your body – if you eat well, then after doing sports, you’re way less tired and sore. When I come home after riding, I don’t want something that takes ages to cook, so most of the time it’s cornflakes with banana, protein powder and apple. “Being away from home so much, it can be hard to cook for yourself or…

MEET THE TESTERS ROBIN WEAVER TECH EDITOR IN CHIEF With three decades of MTB experience, Rob can identify the kit that works LUKE MARSHALL TECH WRITER Downhiller Luke is always looking for what saves time between the tape SARAH BEDFORD TESTER Scotland-based Sarah has access to top trails and years of experience JAMES COSTLEY-WHITE EDITOR Riding since ’92, JCW knows the score and has an eye for the key details WILL POOLE WORKSHOP MANAGER MBUK’s mechanic can handle a bike as well as he wields his toolbox KATHERINE MORRE TESTER A route-maker and guide, Kat is after kit that performs on all-day rides 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…

TECH Q&A YOU X.C. THING I’ve read your reviews of the Canyon Lux Trail CF7 and Scott Spark RC Team, and can’t decide which to buy. I mostly ride cross-country loops with short, steep ups and downs, and want to climb fast but descend with more comfort than on an XC whippet. Sebastian, via email That’s a tricky choice! They’re both good bikes, but with a different feel. The Scott is really supple and smooth, but its suspension is a little more prone to moving while you’re pedalling – although you can use the on-bar lockout lever to counteract this. In contrast, the Canyon has a more direct-feeling pedalling response, which, despite it being the ‘trail’ version, gives it an ‘XC bike’ feel. It has a little more grip…

NETURAL GEM THE CAIRNGORMS This National Park in the eastern Highlands of Scotland has a huge amount of great mountain biking on spectacular wild and remote terrain, where the well-weathered granite serves up extraordinary amounts of flow. The Cairngorm mountain range forms part of the park, along with the Angus Glens, Monadhliath Mountains and some lower areas, all of which provide amazing places to ride. Sitting right in the midst of it all is the village of Ballater, just down the road from Balmoral, the Scottish home of the Royal Family. This is the Queen’s favourite residence, and it’s easy to see why – there’s stunning scenery in every direction. Ballater’s long been a popular haunt of walkers and wildlife lovers, and it’s now a hotspot for mountain bikers, too,…

NATURAL GEM YORKSHIRE DALES The Ard Rock Enduro Festival has helped put the Dales on the MTB map with its signature scenic rocky riding and warm welcome. This upland area of the Pennines has myriad trails across its 2,179km2 of moors, valleys and hills, with glorious riding in all directions and something for all tastes and abilities. The Swaledale area, in particular, has a good network of rights-of-way for mountain bikers, offering an option of different routes through this changeable landscape, which varies from lush green, rolling countryside to desolate grey, rocky moonscapes. Its limestone rock drains well, too. LOCAL KNOWLEDGE GETTING THERE The Dales Bike Centre in Fremington is a great base, with a cafe, bunk rooms, showers, bike shop and bike wash (www.dalesbikecentre.co.uk, 01748 884 908). It’s easily…

BRISTOL A 15-minute spin from the centre of MBUK’s home city you’ll find a variety of riding. The two main trails are brilliant for beginners, with nothing too steep or technical, but also fun to ride fast. Closest to town is the Nova trail in Ashton Court, with Yer Tiz in Leigh Woods five minutes down the road. A short ride away is the more natural-feeling waymarked trail in Fifty Acre Woods, which is steeper, rootier and more technical. Nearby at Ashton Hill Plantation (aka Belmont) are some locals-built jumps and downhill runs. Postcode: BS8 3PX (Ashton Court) www.pedalprogression.comwww.ridebristol.org CARDINHAM WOODS, CORNWALL Next to Bodmin Moor, this Cornish gem has a 12km singletrack blue trail with technical climbs and two optional red sections. Postcode: PL30 4AL www.forestryengland.uk/cardinham-woods CROFT TRAIL, SWINDON…

RACHEL ATHERTON DOWNHILL SUPERSTAR She stepped out of the limelight to become a mum but now Rach is back, with big plans for 2023. Find out more on p15 GREG WILLIAMSON REIGNING BRITISH CHAMP Another DH ace, with a decade in the game and three World Cup podiums to his name, Greg joins Tom for his epic night ride on p44 VICKY BALFOUR MECHANIC, WRITER & GUIDE Working away uncredited on our Grimetime guides (p104) and this issue’s multi-tool test (p73), Vicky deserves a turn in the spotlight! STEVE GEALL GODFATHER OF DIRT Our cover star was joined by fellow UK MTB legends Ben Deakin, Chris Smith and Grant ‘Chopper’ Fielder for this month’s Trail Crew. Check it out on p106…

Californian style-mongers TLD have released two new open-face helmets, the Flowline and Flowline SE (pictured). These extended-coverage trail lids replace the A1 and A2, respectively, and offer more features at a lower price. Both feature MIPS slip-plane tech, designed to help protect against rotational impact forces, along with an adjustable peak and 14 vents, which should keep your noggin at a comfortable temperature even when you’re pushing hard. Internally, a 360-degree cradle with three height settings ought to make it easy to dial in the fit. The SE model has a few upgrades, including a Fidlock magnetic buckle, a dual-density EPS foam liner and premium antimicrobial pads. They’re available in multiple colours and three sizes (XS/S, M/L, XL/XXL). Flowline £99.99, Flowline SE £139.99 https://saddleback.co.uk Say what!? “WITH CLOUD HAMPERING OUR…

After every big snowfall in a little town called Summerland in British Columbia’s Okanagan Valley, Carl Peterson hauls out his rubber-tracked Honda snow blower to clear his driveway. Then he just keeps going, into a forest and five miles up a mountain. He doesn’t stop for three days until he’s cleared the bike trail there – even at -30°C and the ripe old age of 70. An MTB-addicted off-road triathlete, Carl built the trail, named Joyride, in 2018 to mimic the XTERRA World Championships course in Maui, Hawaii. He hoped it would help his training – and went on to win his age group in 2021. Then, he decided he wanted to ride Joyride all year long, so bought a Norco Bigfoot VLT e-fatbike. Peterson happily shares the spoils of…

The early days of mountain biking were hit-and-miss when it came to tech innovation. Everything was new, and there was no rulebook or standard to follow when it came to bike and component design. Naturally, this led to a whole heap of leftfield developments, some of which were simply bonkers, while others had an impact on how we ride to this day. Here are eight retro products that made waves when they were launched – some of which proved to be long-lasting wins for mountain biking, while others were swiftly ditched. TIOGA DISC WHEEL Aero looks, scare-o performance Back in the early 1990s there was a rumble in the jungle (or rather, the woods), and that was the unmistakable drumroll-like echo of the ultimate mountain bike component of the era…

LIFELINE 18-IN-1 CO2 £22 www.hotlines-uk.com SO GOOD… This diminutive, lightweight tool includes a 10mm spanner, which doubles as the handle for the chain tool and gives useful extra leverage. You get a built-in CO2 inflator, hooks to hold a chain together when fitting a quick-link and a 2mm Allen key for adjusting the limit-screws on Shimano mechs. NO GOOD… The low price is reflected in the build quality – the spoke keys are shallow and rounded, so prone to rounding off nipples, and we found it difficult to push the inflator onto the valve and screw in CO2 canisters. Because the tools are stubby and their edges aren’t well-defined, they can be tricky to use. BIRZMAN FEEXMAN E-VERSION 10 £23.99 www.silverfish-uk.com SO GOOD… The Birzman tool is the…

Hydration packs have fallen in and out of fashion over the years, but for riders straying a bit further from the beaten track, they’ve always been a practical way to carry everything you need for a big day out in the hills. The medium-sized packs we have on test, with a capacity of between 3.5l and 11l, can fit a modest selection of tools, a mini pump, spares, a capable waterproof and maybe even a light insulated jacket for those unforeseen mechanicals in cold weather. Add to that the equivalent of three large water bottles or more, and you can see how they cover a lot of trail eventualities, from hot day-long slogs to exposed winter rides. To survive and thrive in these conditions, they foremost need to be tough,…

AE FOREST, DUMFRIES & GALLOWAY Three XC loops – a green, a blue and a red (the 24km Ae Line) – and two DH runs, one natural and technical, the other jumpy and flowing. Postcode: DG1 1QB https://forestryandland.gov.scot/7stanes CALLENDAR ESTATE, FALKIRK Between Edinburgh and Glasgow, with family-friendly trails, a small bike park, plus a shop and a cafe. Postcode: FK1 3AZ www.callendarestate.co.uk CARRON VALLEY, LANARKSHIRE A 20-minute drive north of Glasgow, Carron’s red trail has some great features and a freeride-style final descent. Postcode:FK6 5JL www.forestryandland.gov.scot/visit/carron-valley CATHKIN BRAES, GLASGOW Urban riding spot with jump lines, DH runs, short XC loops and a world-class pump track. Postcode:G45 0HR www.facebook.com/CathkinBraesMountain Biking COMRIE CROFT, PERTHSHIRE An hour north of Glasgow and Edinburgh, these short but feature-packed trails include red and black singletrack, a…

SPOTLIGHT ON... FOREST OF DEAN The Forest of Dean Cycle Centre is a popular and busy riding spot, with a real buzz at the main trailhead. It’s known for its slippery, rooty DH tracks, but also has a great family trail and two well-established XC routes, plus miles of natural trails to explore. There’s a fantastic skills area, too, with a jump line and a drop line to practise on, plus a pump track. The downhill runs are easily accessed via FlyUp’s slick uplift service or a fireroad climb/push-up, and the FOD hosts regular mini DH and enduro events. All the tracks are maintained by the Dean Trail Volunteers, so do support them. The cafe is open until 9pm on Thursdays all year and there are free guided shop rides…

SPOTLIGHT ON... COED Y BRENIN The UK’s original trail centre, which opened its first waymarked MTB route back in 1996, Coed y Brenin is still one of the best. With Eryri as a backdrop, it has a great selection of all-weather singletrack, with some infamous features to test your skills. Six of the eight trails are graded red or black, so there’s plenty of tech for experienced riders to enjoy along with the superb scenery. LOCAL KNOWLEDGE GETTING THERE Coed y Brenin is off the A470, five miles north of the town of Dolgellau. Postcode: LL40 2HZ FACILITIES Bike hire, bike shop, cafe, pay-on-exit parking, shop, showers, toilets, visitor centre, skills coaching (through Beics Brenin). NEARBY BIKE SHOP Beics Brenin (on site), 01341 440728, www.beicsbrenin.co.uk MORE INFORMATION Visitor centre, 01341…

SPOTLIGHT ON... BIKEPARK WALES The UK’s first large-scale bike park, BPW is a massive success thanks to its fantastic range of constantly-maintained descents. It has an ever-growing network of 46+ downhill runs that you don’t need a DH bike to enjoy, graded from green to purple (pro). Classified as Flow, Tech or Blend, you can link them up in various combos. Buy an uplift pass to get in maximum runs, or pedal up the singletrack climb if you have the legs. The latest run, currently being built, is Boomslang, a black trail with some epic berms. BPW has a great cafe/bar, as well. LOCAL KNOWLEDGE GETTING THERE Just outside Merthyr Tydfil, BPW isn’t far from the M4. Postcode: CF48 4TT FACILITIES Bike hire, bike shop, cafe, bike wash, uplift, coaching,…

Write to: MBUK Send it! Eagle House, Bristol, BS1 4ST Email: mbuk@immediate.co.uk Visit: www.mbuk.com STAR LETTER WINS... Lezyne Pocket Torque Drive torque wrench kit & Alloy Drive (M) mini pump worth £105 THAT’S GOTTA HURT WINS... 661 Recon Advance knee pads (M) & Rail Classic gloves (L) worth £125 SHOT OF THE MONTH WINS... DMR OiOi saddle, Deathgrip (Thin) grips & V11 pedals worth £123 INSTA-BANGERS WINS... Lezyne Super Drive 1600XXL & KTV Pro Smart lights worth £160 STAR LETTER AGE IS JUST A NUMBER When I opened the February issue I noticed on the welcome page the small box that states “mountain biking is for everyone” and your mission to seek meaningful change in the diversity of our sport. At 66 years old, my competitive nature makes…

We all know mountain biking can be good for your mental health, but for Aneela McKenna, a bikepacking trip through the Outer Hebrides was life-changing. She tells her story in a new film, After The Storm, set for public release on 21 March. A few years back, Aneela was at breaking point, after years of racial discrimination at work. As a Scots Asian woman, bikes hadn’t been part of her life growing up, but her husband Andy had introduced her to MTBing and the beautiful Scottish islands, so she decided to escape her worries and head out on a solo adventure. It wasn’t easy going – “It was my first experience of having to sleep rough… eat off a stove… midges! I was a city girl” – but Aneela returned…

BMC FOURSTROKE 01 TWO £8,800 The ultimate cross-country race machine? With 100mm of travel front and rear, and progressive geometry, BMC have designed this bike to take on the hardest XC tracks in the world. The Swiss brand have kept the proven frame design of their previous Fourstroke bikes but updated the geometry, giving the 2023 model a slack (for XC) 66.5-degree head angle, steep 76.7-degree seat tube angle, low bottom bracket and long front end, to improve climbing efficiency and descending control. They’ve also added cutting-edge tech, in the form of their Autodrop seatpost. Thanks to an air tank in the down tube, this integrated dropper doesn’t require any pressure to compress, so drops as well as extends with the touch of a button. This third-from-top 01 TWO model…

SARAH’S SANTA CRUZ BLUR XC C S £5,599 Tester Sarah’s been seeing whether her Blur lives up to its name Living in the heart of the Tweed Valley, which will host the cross-country elements of the MTB World Champs this summer, a lightweight, full-suspension XC bike was the perfect choice for me this year. It’s high time I explored the vast network of XC routes here, and the Santa Cruz should be perfect for that. Hopefully, it’ll also work well for overnight bothy trips – I’m imagining riding through epic countryside, and beautiful sunsets around an open fire with a beer or two. In the Blur XC’s first week, I’ve racked up 100 miles, and am already falling for its charms. While I knew I’d have fun on Santa Cruz’s…

NATURAL GEM NORTH YORK MOORS They may not be as well-known as the Yorkshire Dales, but the more easterly North York Moors have National Park status, too. One of the largest expanses of heather moorland in the UK, they cover an area of 1,436km2 and are criss-crossed by some great singletrack. Both climbs and descents tend to be short, sharp and punchy, while the moorland riding offers long, flowing trails, often accompanied by stunning panoramic views over vast swathes of open countryside. In late July, the heather flowers provide a glorious splash of colour across the rolling hills, which are interspersed with rocky crags and drystone walls. LOCAL KNOWLEDGE GETTING THERE The rider-run Yorkshire Cycle Hub in Great Fryup Dale makes a great base, offering accommodation, a bike shop, showers,…

ASTON HILL BIKE PARK, BUCKINGHAMSHIRE This fantastic bike park has been closed because of ash die-back, but they plan to be back with a bang later this year. Postcode: HP22 5NQ www.astonhill.co.uk BEDGEBURY FOREST, KENT More than 10km of family trails plus a 13km red route with plenty of berms, rocks and drops. Postcode: TN17 2SJ www.forestryengland.uk/bedgebury BIKE PARK BISHOPSTOKE, HAMPSHIRE BPB, near Southampton, is run by local riders in partnership with Forestry England. They’re currently in the process of setting up a new club to manage the site, which has a number of jump lines and trails that are evolving all the time. Postcode: SO50 6BW Search for ‘Bishy MTB’ on Facebook THE BULL TRACK BIKE PARK, EAST SUSSEX A pay-to-ride venue, the Bull Track has multiple lines renowned…

SPOTLIGHT ON... ROSTREVOR Boasting Ireland’s first purpose-built downhill runs, Rostrevor is known for its exhilarating singletrack descents and stunning coastal views. Located on the banks of Carlingford Loch, it also has two quite long XC trails, so isn’t really suitable for novices. Rostrevor also plays host to some enduro rounds. If you want to make a weekend of riding, visit Castlewellan, Davagh Forest and Gortin Glen Forest Park trail centres, too, all within a couple of hours’ drive. LOCAL KNOWLEDGE GETTING THERE Rostrevor Mountain Bike Centre is in Kilbroney Forest Park, on the northeast coast of Northern Ireland, about an hour’s drive from Belfast. Postcode: BT34 3AA FACILITIES Parking, cafe, toilets, showers, camping, skills coaching (bike hire and uplift expected soon). NEARBY BIKE SHOP Bridge End Bikes, Newry, 028 3026…