WHARNCLIFFE CRAGS
We go in search of flow on some of the UK’s techiest trails, with Orange’s Dan Greenwood.

VALAIS, SWITZERLAND
High Alpine singletrack, hard-charging enduro tracks, bike park features, and… surfing?!

TRAILBLAZER: JOE BARNES
Spicy local Highlands trails, with Joe Barnes. The original Dude gives us the low-down on keeping life fun alongside racing, parenting, and film-making.

REVOLUTION BIKE PARK
Revs closes its trails permanently this month; we head up for one last memorial lap. Or is it? From the ashes of larch disease, a new Revs hopes to rise..

GEAR OF THE YEAR
It's been a bumper year for new tech, from SRAM’s groundbreaking Flight Attendant and Canyon's K.I.S. stabiliser, to Rapha’s entry to the mountain bike market, and on to Trek’s new TQ-motor bike. And to find the best of the best, we nominate our favourite bikes and gear from the past 12 months.

SKILLS: CORNER CONTROL
How to maximise traction in sketchy conditions, and lean your bike into the turns, with expert advice from Dirt School's Andy Barlow.

NEW BIKES FOR 2023
With so many new bikes released, we’ve made space for a First Rides special, bringing you eight of the most interesting and desirable machines, including the Antidote Woodsprite, Whyte E-180 Works, and Canyon’s Spectral fitted with the new K.I.S. steering stabiliser.

TRANS SAVOIE
After a decade of thrilling and scaring its competitors on some of the gnarliest and best riding in Europe, the Trans Savoie waves au revoir for its final edition. We’re secretly hoping it’ll be back, though, under a different format for 2023.

NATURAL HIGHS
Tak ing on the challenge o f Europe’s highest rideable peak
5 of the UK’s most intimidating rides

SUPER POWERS!
Enduro e -bikes from Specialized and Forestal on test

LONGTERMERS
Updates on the Privateer 141 Öhlins, Sonder Signal hardtail, Specialized Kenevo SL lightweight e-bike, and the Giant Reign E+ 1 e-bike.

THE UK’S BEST DESCENTS
Our list of the top-24 trails this small island has to offer: some are rocky and gnarly like the Ciaran Path, some flowy and fast like the Elan Valley’s blue trail; all will leave you buzzing by the end.

KEEPER OF THE PEAK
Social media, when used right, can make a huge positive impact. Just ask Chris Maloney, aka Keeper Of The Peak, the man who decided to set up a Twitter account to help mountain bikers plan their rides around the Peak District, but ended up delivering real change. We head out on a ride to see how “making a polite nuisance” of himself helped put mountain bikers on an equal footing with other, more established user groups.

LONGTERMERS
Ben Smith gets to grips with the Privateer 141 and its burly Öhlins build. Plus Sean heaps praise on the Sonder Signal’s generous geometry, JD switches his tyre set-up back to the original OEM Butcher combo for dry weather grip, and PB adds a 250Wh EnergyPak Plus range extender to his Reign E+ 1 to give his bike a little more grunt (and weight).

47 MONEY-SAVING TIPS!
Share lifts to the trails; make your own tools; bake a DIY energy bar; supercharge the bike to work scheme; buy second-hand; clean your drivetrain; learn to spanner; ride light, buy in the sales… the list goes on and on. Check out our top tips on the best way to keep riding when your purchasing power is taking a squeeze.

SKILLS: PROGRESSIVE JUMPING
Over the past two issues Andy Barlow from Dirt School has taken us from the basics of getting airborne, to adding control to absorb a jump and stay low. Now it’s time to boost it to the moon. It’s not just for show though, the idea is you can link features together on trails that you never thought possible. And the enabler skill to reach your full potential in the air? A neat and tidy bunny-hop.

TRAILBLAZERS: TRAIL COLLECTIVE NORTH WALES
Mountain biking in Wales is on the edge of something big; the new Trail Collective North Wales has actively engaged with Natural Resources Wales and landowners to make sure mountain bikers are represented… and that we’re not going anywhere. We head along to find out how it’s been done and what the venture is yielding in terms of trails and access.

FIRST RIDES
RockShox has reworked the Pike, Lyrik and Zeb forks, as well as the Deluxe and Super Deluxe shocks, adding a new Charger 3 damper with independent high-speed and low-speed compression adjustment, ButterCups bumpers, a DebonAir+ spring, and loads more – check out our first impressions. Plus, we ride a Cube Attention SL budget hardtail, and BMC’s Fourstroke LT XC race bike.

KIDS DO ENDURO
Mountain bike races for kids have typically been either XC or downhill. Now though there’s a swathe of enduro races across the country catering for the latest crop of little shredders. mbr heads north to try out the dedicated ‘Mums and Kids’ three-stage enduro race, at PMBA’s Gisburn Grassroots Enduro.

LONGTERMERS
There’s a new addition to the fleet this month, the Sonder Signal ST GX. With its handmade 4130 steel frame, size-specific chainstays and up-to-date trail geometry, the idea is to take the hardtail into a new era. Plus JD dials in the Specialized Turbo Kenevo SL geometry with its five points of adjustment, PB breaks his Giant Reign E+ 1 e-bike again, and James Bracey revels in the Focus Jam’s attention to detail – SRAM UDH and Shimano XT brakes.

PLAY SCHOOL
Play can seem frivolous, a luxury, a distraction from more pressing concerns but honestly it’s the very essence of mountain biking… or it should be! We’re not riding for a reason, we’re riding to have fun, and with that comes a host of benefits. We look into how, why and when, and discover there’s no reason to feel guilty for messing around, skids really aren’t just for kids, so just get out and play.

WINTER ON THE WEST KERNOW WAY
The West Kernow Way is Cycling UK’s latest off-road, long distance loop. It takes in many of the highlights of the western half of the Cornish peninsula, linking rugged coastlines, old miners’ tracks, bridleways, byways and quiet lanes to escape tourist hotspots and discover the area’s beauty, history and culture. Ideal for those long days of summer, shame we tackled it in the teeth of a winter’s gale then. Expect plenty of type 2 ‘fun’.

FIRST RIDES
Trail bikes don’t have to come with 150-160mm travel, Canyon reckons, and to prove it the direct-sales giant has launched the new Spectral 125, with minimal travel and aggressive geometry ideal for big terrain. Will it prove undergunned or slot nicely into the new breed of short-travel rippers? Plus, we ride the mixed-wheel size Evil Insurgent MX 29 and the Santa Cruz Chameleon hardtail.

TESTED: TRACK PUMPS AND SHOCK PUMPS
Every rider needs a track pump – it’ll help you to quickly inflate your tyres and seat a tubeless bead too. And unless you’re riding exclusively on coil-sprung suspension front and rear, you’ll also need a shock pump to dial in your sag. We’ve got six of each on test, covering all price points..

FIRST RIDES
The latest Ghost is the E-Riot Trail Pro, a Bosch-powered e-bike with 140mm-travel Factory-level suspension and full Shimano XT groupset: it’s fun, fast and pacey and also great value. Plus we try the Voodoo Bizango Pro, Halfords’ range-topping hardtail that comes with an incredible RockShox 35 Gold fork, Shimano 12-speed drivetrain and grippy Maxxis tyres – not bad for less than £1,000.

BIKE TEST: INTEGRATED STORAGE BIKES
Like a glovebox for your bike, down-tube storage can stash essentials like tools, food, or clothing, leaving your back unencumbered. We review the
Specialized Stumpjumper, the bike that started it all; the cool and composed Trek Slash; and the Focus Jam. Find out which bike blows the back doors off.

CRANS MONTANA, SWITZERLAND
Crans Montana doesn’t ping on most UK riders’ radars. But that’s set to change after the organisers of the Enduro World Series got wind of the high-quality steeps, paid a visit and decided to hold a race here for the next three years. Oh, and the 2025 UCI Worlds XC races will be held here too. We find out what all the fuss is about.

LONGTERMERS
We’re Introducing a new e-bike to the longtermer stable this month: Giant’s Reign E+ 1 with its mega powerful Yamaha motor. Will it prove too much for the other e-bike in the game, JD’s Specialized Turbo Kenevo SL Comp, a machine in a class of its own thanks to its lightweight
motor and aggressive enduroinspired geometry? And check in for updates on the rest of the longtermer fleet, including the Nukeproof Scout hardtail, Focus Jam trail bike and Kona Process whippet.

LONGTERMERS
It’s new bike day for JD, with the Specialized Turbo Kenevo SL Comp, a machine in a class of its own thanks to its lightweight motor and aggressive enduro-inspired geometry. Find out if it’s a bad compromise between full-power eebs and regular pedal bikes, or the ultimate in modern riding. Plus updates on the Nukeproof Scout, Focus Jam, Kona Process. And PB delivers his verdict on the Haibike Allmtn 6 e-bike.

TESTED: MINI-PUMPS
Flats happen, and when they do you need a quick, efficient and lightweight way of fixing the problem. Step forward the mini- pump: compact enough to bolt to your frame or slip inside the smallest of packs, they’re less wasteful and cheaper than CO2 canisters but can still get the job done. The difference between the best and the worst, in terms of durability and air volume shifted, can be vast, so read our test to find out which works and which ones are full of hot air.

FIT AND FAST: BULLETPROOF TRAINING
In our Bulletproof Training series, Fit4Racing’s Jonny Thompson has been looking at the best and most effective way to get your body in prime condition for mountain biking. This month he’s looking at the wrist, and how it plays a pivotal role in keeping you in control on the bike.

SKILLS FOR NEW RIDERS
Thousands of you have taken up mountain biking over the past few years, sucked in by the lure of wild spaces and the thrill of riding. You’ll soon be picking up some skills on your own, but for the rest the support of a good coach is invaluable. Dirt School’s Andy Barlow is the best, over the next three issues he’ll walk us through the basics, starting with how to be stable from the very start.

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..

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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 - March 2023

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