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...

Dream Rides - Why the Swiss Alps should be on your bucket list.

What will we be riding in 3 years' time? - Orange Bikes on developing the iconic Five and more...

CATALAN CREAM - With the chance to ride from the summit to the sea, nothing quite beats the Pyrenees for sheer trail diversity. And it’s all run by an expat couple from their old mill in the fiercely independent region.

Pace Cycles brought a radically fresh approach to design when it launched its first mountain bike in 1989. Now, 30 years later, it has a new full-suspension bike in the pipeline, inspired by motorcycles and driven by owner/designer Adrian Carter’s singular attitude and more...

Drop-In Clinic - How to tame steep trails.

46 British Of British - We're always hearing about bikes being 'longer, lower and slacker' but where did this concept originate, and who has been pushing the envelope of sizing and geometry? and more...

29er trail slayers - Short-travel rippers from Giant, Cannondale, Merida and Specialized.

Best Of British - Whyte Bikes is 20 years old this year, a British brand producing some of the finest mountain bikes we've ever tested and more...

Best of British - How Derbyshire grit and Yorkshire steel has shaped Cotic Bikes.

Trail Bike Of The Year - 10 tops bikes, which is the best? and more...

Speed Hunters - Latest short-travel rippers from Cannondale, Specialized, Kona & Scott on test.

Duelling forks - the latest left field suspension options and more...

Nest-level trail bikes - Hot new 29ers from Whyte, Cube and Kona on test.

Hidden Playgrounds - Find offbeat fun on your local trails and more...

Blast Through Winter - How to ride mud like a pro.

Hot Wheels - Best carbon and alloy sets on test and more...

TRAIL OF THE YEAR - Where would we be without the trails we ride, those humble ribbons of dirt that make the sport possible? On fire roads, that’s where...

TUSCANY, ITALY - We thought Tuscany was all about road riding, pizza and piazzas, but we reckon it could be the next big thing in mountain biking thanks to the Apuan and Apennine mountain ranges and its striations of ancient trail: Ben ‘Piccolo’ Smith goes in search of mtb nirvana and more...

Evil The Offering - The latest offering from Evil is The Offering, a 140mm-travel 29er using vil's Dave Weagle-designed Delta system and rocking a full carbon frame.

HEBRIDEAN BIKE PACKING - Eight-year-old adventurer Jim McCandlish sets off on bikepacking adventure in the Hebrides, sleeping under the stars, cooking on open fires and riding stunning singletrack: he packs light, just a bivvy bag and aged father Macca and more...

WOMEN-ONLY ENDUROS - Women-only enduros are surging in popularity. From the Red Bull Foxhunt mass start race to the Swinduro in Berkshire, more women than ever are being encouraged to strap on a number.

ISLE OF SKYE - Legendary in status for its breathtaking scenery, rugged mountains, windswept sandy beaches and exceptional singletrack, the Isle of Skye draws tourists across its bridge by the thousand.

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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 - February 2021

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