BIKE TEST: TRAIL BIKE OF THE YEAR
The most important bike test we do, Trail Bike of the Year pulls together the best and most relevant bikes for UK riders, before breaking them down into our two favourite shredders. This year it’s closer than ever, so we’ve split the test in two, with both shopbought and direct-sales bikes in the running. On test is the Vitus Escarpe 29, Canyon Spectral CF 7, YT Jeffsy Core 2, Privateer 141, Nukeproof Reactor, Focus Jam 6.9,

SKILLS: BUILDING SPEED
Increasing your speed is about more than just hammering into sections faster. It comes from increasing your control on the trail, building confidence in yourself, picking the best lines and putting your body into the right positions. Pro coach Andy Barlow from Dirt School shows us how to take each step..

TAKE FULL CONTROL
Unlock more confidence on every trail.

TRAIL BLAZERS: TIRPENTWYS TRAIL CREW
Can one man make a difference? Ryan Bullimore certainly thought so. He conceived, designed and built a bike park near Pontypool. Ryan died in 2018 but Tirpentwys has blossomed, growing in reputation every year and now drawing in riders from across the UK. mbr goes to South Wales to meet Ryan’s dad, check out the trails and hear first hand how close the locals are to making the tracks official.

RETRO BIKE BONANZA
Saddleback, distributors of Enve, Troy Lee and plenty more, has built up a stunning collection of bikes stretching back 30 years. You won’t find these rigs for sale on any website or in any bike shop, they’re retro treasures that draw a line back through our sport’s history. Join us for a virtual tour through this incredible museum of exotic hardware.

LONGTERMERS
We’re introducing a new longtermer this month, in the shape of the Focus Jam 6.9, a 150mm-travel, shop-bought 29er that still delivers a killer pricetag. James Bracey takes it to the Ard Rock for a baptism of fire. Plus PB’s Haibike gets a wheel upgrade to the Spank Oozy 395+, Ben Smith does some tyre pressure testing on his Kona Process, Sean tries Plus size tyres on the Nukeproof Scout, and Ben Day finally sets about some maintenance after 10 months on his Vitus Escarpe.

STATE OF OUR TRAILS 2021
The past 18 months have seen mountain biking booming, with more riders taking up the sport and more old hands returning. That’s great news, but how are our trails coping, are they cracking up under the pressure or are riders putting back more than they take away? Keen to find out, we got in touch with riders and trail groups around the country to try and get a snapshot of the state of the trails here, now, in 2021.

CHRIS AKRIGG’S E-BIKE SKILLS PART 2
Stop spinning those wheels on tough climbs and listen up! Trials wizard and mbr coach for the month Chris Akrigg talks us through his e-bike climbing techniques – how to moderate power, alter body position, and get maximum grip and fun out of your ride.

SKILLS: E-BIKE SKILLS
Learn how to increase control and power on your e-bike, with one of the world’s best trials riders as your coach – Chris Akrigg. Chris shows us how to set up the bike, pick the best power mode, explains when to go easy and how to use those watts to maximum effect.

BUZZ – BIKEPARK WALES
Trail building continues at a prodigious pace at the South Wales mtb mecca, with four new uplifted trails to tempt you along, from the rocky new blue to a challenging black graded trail. Oh, and don’t forget to gaze in awe at the new Red Bull pro line, rumoured to have been built for a new edit with Laurie Greenland.

SHEFFIELD: CITY OF SHRED
What makes Sheffield such a special place for mountain biking? Local rider Hanna Jonsson tells us of the steel city’s mtb history, what makes famous riding spots like Wharncliffe so good and so varied, and how the riding demographic is changing.

MAKE MTB YOUR JOB
There’s no getting away from work, unless you’re very lucky then most of us spend our adult lives toiling away at it. But what if there was a way to turn the best sport in the world into a career, go from weekend warrior to mtb pro? We speak to six inspirational women who’ve done just that, finding jobs in the biz from physiotherapy to photography.

CLASS OF 2021
Katy Winton, Reece Wilson, Lewis Buchanan… why does the Tweed Valley in Scotland produce more than its fair share of great riders? Sure, there are corking trails up there, but what else is going on? The answer lies not on the trails but in the classroom, where Dirt School runs its Borders Academy of Sporting Excellence college course with the goal of turning out top class riders. We sharpen our pencils and go back to school.

TRAILBLAZERS: STU AND BRENDA PRICE
The genius of the Dales Bike Centre and its founders Stu and Brenda Price was in making existing trails easy for riders. Not boring, or dumbed down, but easy to find, easy to park at, easy to access, easy to repair your bike or easy to grab a cake afterwards. We head out for a ride with Stu to find out where the inspiration came from, how the DBC differs from your run of the mill trail centre, and what’s next for the team.

FIRST RIDES
Now in its third generation, the Specialized Turbo Levo is back, with multiple geometry settings, better sizing and improved reliability – we check out whether the e-bike benchmark has just been raised that little bit higher. Plus, first rides on the Radon Swoop enduro bike, Trek E-Caliber XC e-bike and the latest Atherton trail bike.

SKILLS: GET BACK OUT THERE
Now we are returning to normality it’s time to get back out there with your mates. Don’t demand too much from yourself, argues Andy Barlow, follow the Dirt School roadmap and you’ll be back to your best in no time.

NEW RIDERS
You’ve probably noticed, but mountain biking is in something of a purple patch – huge numbers of newbies or returning riders took up the sport over the past year, fuelled in part by their desire to escape lockdown boredom. Welcome to the club! We went riding with six new mountain bikers to find out whether there’s more to it than mere escapism, what they love about riding on dirt, and how they’ll progress from here as we enter the post-lockdown era (fingers crossed).

PIEDMONT, THE ALPS
Rumour has it there’s a hidden valley, high in the Alps and nestling between France and Italy, containing some of the best and most beautiful singletrack in the world. We journey above the treeline to the Maira Valley and find villages stuffed with delicious food, welcoming locals, sublime and near endless trails, and a real sense of adventure.

THE RANGE OF THE AWFUL HAND, SCOTLAND
Doesn’t sound great, does it? The Range of the Awful Hand is almost certainly somewhere you’ve never heard of; we hadn’t either, and that’s precisely why we headed there last summer for an adventure. Lockdown has narrowed our horizons, forced us to ride closer to home, in isolation, which makes it more important than ever to head to pastures new when we can. Will this strange and unknown mountain range in Scotland prove as awful as it sounds? Time to find out...

SNOW RIDES, THE ALPS
If you’ve ridden your bike this winter then chances are you’ve dabbled in the white stuff, sliding on trails you know are down there somewhere. For Alpine resident Dan Milner snow is more of a way of life; usually he swaps bike for board at this time of year, but with the ski lifts closed and a thirst for adventure, it’s the year to Just Get Out and Ride… perhaps with spiked tyres though.

RIDE SMART!
How to pick the best lines and keep the flow.
The gearbox enduro bike from... Holland!
Marching orders - battling for access on army land
Waking up to the dangers of concussion

How to ride indoors and still have fun.

The secret southern bike park you’ve never heard of.

Canyon’s bargain hardcore hardtail and more...

FIRST RIDES
The new Specialized Status 160 proves that good design and clever component choices can still deliver a fun bike without breaking the bank. Plus, we ride Cotic’s new 140mm-travel trail bike, the Jeht, complete with 29in wheels and a steel frame; the new Bullit from Santa Cruz, the brand’s second e-bike this year, now with more travel and the latest Shimano EP8 motor; and the new carbon-framed version of Vitus’s brilliant Escarpe VRX trail bike, now with a choice of wheel sizes and revised geometry.

LONGTERMERS
We introduce the new Giant Trance X, with 20mm more travel and a flip-chip; Jamie preps his Cannondale Habit for winter; Laura cracks the frame on her Scott Contessa Ransom, and PB sums up the pros and cons of the Bosch display aboard his Radon Render.

FIRST RIDES
The Specialized Stumpjumper has been breaking new ground for decades, the latest S-Works Evo continues that tradition with more geometry adjustment than you can shake a protractor at. Plus first rides on the Pyga Hyrax trail bike, new Nukeproof Mega 290 Pro, and the Vitus Nucleus 27 VR hardtail.

BIKE TEST: E-BIKE OF THE YEAR
The pace of e-bike development is astonishing, year on year we see better motors, more battery- life, superior integration and all-round superior bikes. If you’re in the market for an e-bike then our review is essential reading: on test is Merida’s e-One Sixty 8000 with the latest Shimano EP8 motor, the Trek Rail 9, Specialized Turbo Levo Comp, Cube’s Stereo Hybrid 160 and the Whyte E-160 RS..

American Flyers
Trail rippers from Evil and Transition on test...

NEW FOR 2021
The world is awash with brand new bikes and fresh models – we ride the Canyon Exceed and check out a clutch of other new XC race bikes, the revised Trek Slash enduro bike, Merida’s Big Trail 600 hardtail, the latest Shimano EP8 motor, and e-bikes from Merida, Kona and Ghost.

BIKE TEST: FULL MOTO E-BIKES
It’s all about descending prowess this month: which takes you to the bottom fastest and dishes out the most fun, Cannondale’s Moterra Neo SE or the Specialized Turbo Kenevo Expert? Both are mini downhill bikes packing long-travel dual-crown forks and raked-out geometry too, and both have motors, meaning you can uplift yourself back up again afterwards.

TRASH TALKING
There’s a rubbish epidemic breakout out on our trails, as more and more people escape to the countryside. The solution to the problem is right in front of us though – outdoor users need a sea change to reconnect with the countryside, and Trash Free Trails knows how to make it happen.

LONGTERMERS
The Cannondale Habit develops some teething issues with its shock, but gains an extra 5mm travel under the tape measure; Laura moves to the FoD with the express intention of packing in more riding on the Contessa Ransom; PB gets friendly with his Radon Render e-bike; Ben sums up the strengths and weaknesses of his NS Synonym; Benji converts the Nukeproof Reactor back to 29 from mullet; and Ben Smith gets his Strive back from Canyon… fi xed at last?

HONG KONG HEIGHTS
One of the world’s most densely populated cities, Hong Kong is home to over seven million people all packed into a peninsula just over 1,000km2. Hans Rey and Martin Maes go in search of the surprising wealth of mountain bike trails sharing the real estate and snaking through the country parks.

LONGTERMERS
The Render is Radon’s first go at an e-bike, with 140mm travel, 29er wheels, a carbon front triangle and 625Wh battery it’s a healthy addition to the longtermer fleet. Plus updates on the Scott Ransom Contessa, NS Synonym, Canyon Strive, Nukeproof Reactor and Cannondale Habit.

SAM HILL AT THE EWS
In true nail-biting style, last year’s EWS came right down to the wire in what was arguably the most exciting enduro season ever. It wasn’t until the final stage of the final race that we found out who would be crowned world champion. We go behind the scenes with Sam Hill and find out how the race unfolded.

FIRST RIDES
YT’s Izzo does things a little differently, blending short travel, light weight and a suspension lockout, with trail bike geometry – read our first impressions. Plus we swing a leg over Merida’s similar One-Twenty RC and Scott’s even racier Spark RC.

THE 50 BEST PLACES TO RIDE
Where would you most like to ride when lockdown lifts? We ask Steve Peat, Rob Warner, Danny MacAskill, Tracy Moseley and loads more, to compile the ultimate mountain biking hotspots. We’ve got a mix of destinations from the UK, Europe and further afield to add to your bucket list for when we can all just get out and ride again.

FIRST RIDES
We take the Kona Process 153 for a spin and review its updated spec with burlier tyres, try out Voodoo’s entry-level full sus e-bike, the Zobop E-Shimano, and swing a leg over the latest carbon version of the Norco Optic.

NEW SERIES: TRAIL BLAZERS
The Calder Valley where Lancashire meets West Yorkshire is home to the Havok Bike Park. Once famed for its unsanctioned trails, it now hides a huge bona fide trail network. We head north to sample the still-wild singletrack, chat to the trail builders and figure out just how you turn private land into a legit riding hotspot.

SCOTLAND BY SLEEPER
The famous Caldedonian Sleeper carriages have been whisking travellers north to the wilds of Scotland for decades… and it had started to show. Now those wornout wagons have been replaced by shiny new rolling stock – complete with dining cart. We start with a lap of the Surrey Hills, before being rocked to sleep, waking up with a ride in the Cairngorms. Perfection.

NEW SERIES: TRAIL BLAZERS
Sheffi eld has embraced mountain biking like few other urban centres, with a joined-up public and private sector approach. How has it done it? Much of the kudos must go to Ride Sheffi eld, a group of volunteers who have shown just what can be done. We head to steel city to take a closer look.

TESTED: WHEELSETS
Great wheels can transform the feel of many a bike, adding zip, strength and poise to your ride. With so many models on the market, the choice can be more than a little bewildering to say the least, so we’ve picked the best eight wheelsets to begin with, before whittling our shortlist down to two winners in the carbon and alloy categories..

THE FUTURE OF E-BIKES?
Specialized’s new super light Levo SL amps up the fun.

HIGH SPEED HARDTAILS
Lightweight fl yers from Trek, Scott, Specialized & Mondraker on test.

HAMMER TIME!
The latest enduro bikes from Specialized, Giant and Pivot on test.

FIRST RIDES
After a long wait and a bit of a stutter, Shimano is well and truly back in the groupset game with its new XT M8100. We’ve been riding it through the worst of the winter to see how it bears up. Plus, fi rst rides on the 2020 Specialized Turbo Levo Expert Carbon, the Orange Switch 6 RS mullet bike and Cotic’s latest FlareMax..

Modern British Hardtails - The latest bikes from Cotic, Pace & Ribble on test.

Fitter, faster, Stronger - make 2020 your best year riding ever and more...

TRAIL OF THE YEAR
Britain’s most popular trails revealed.

BIKE TEST: HARDCORE HARDTAILS
Hardtails still make total sense in winter conditions, offering maximum fun for minimal maintenance. On test is the Norco Torrent S2, and the Specialized Fuse Expert 29: both hardcore trail bikes but with different personalities and ride feel..

Best of The Decade - 18 moments that defined the last 10 years of mountain biking.

Danny MacAskill: I'll never supersede my first video and more...

Corner Like A Boss - Conquer turns with speed and control.

Storage Wars - Cargo-carrying trail bikes from Specialized and Trek on test and more...

Essential Jump Skills - Boost your airtime with style & confidence.

Caucasus Mountains, Georgia - The Tusheti National Park in Georgia is about as remote a place to ride as you'll find anywhere and more...

Hottest Bikes For 2020 - 9 new models form Hope, Specialized, Santa Cruz, Yeti, Trek, Giant and more.

Born in East Anglia - the unlikely tale of a modern enduro bike and more...

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Published by Time Inc (UK). mbr is the UK's leading magazine for trail riding, mountain bike enthusiasts. Published since 1997, mbr aims to inspire readers to just get out and ride! with every issue, by providing the very best expert advice about where, what and how to ride. Every edition delivers the ultimate mix of inspirational riding features, with extensive bike and product reviews, along with superb advice and reader involvement - plus free pull-out route guides.

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Mountain Bike Rider - December 2021

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