Head-to-head: biketest hardcore hardtail

Best of British - two UK-designed bikes with no rear-end bounce battle it out

GRIME TIME - EXPERT WORKSHOP ADVICE

This may be simply down to one seal (the component that causes the piston to retract after pushing the pad) moving a touch less than the other(s), in which case it shouldn't cause any problems.

TRAILCREW WHITE'S LEVEL

One of the original Welsh MTB trails and a classic of Noughties mountain biking, we see if this Afan Forest Park red route has stood the test of time

GROUPTEST LONG-SLEEVE BASELAYERS

A riding wardrobe essential to keep you warm and sweat-free

THE GOD FATHER

BRINGING BMX MOVES TO MTB, STEVE GEALL INSPIRED A WHOLE GENERATION OF UK DIRT JUMP AND FREERIDE TALENT - AND HE'S STILL SHREDDING TODAY

SAD - Seasonal Affective Disorder

ANDY LLOYD DISCOVERS THE RISKS AND REWARDS OF OUT-OF-SEASON ALPINE RIDING IN AUSTRIA'S PAZNAUN VALLEY

Weed Trail Blazers

Aneela McKenna explores why Scotland's Tweed Valley is such a hotbed for female riding talent

20 of the best places to ride on the Planet

The wildest geography lesson you'll ever take!

Get more from your e-bike

Pro coach Alan Milway shows how to get your set-up dialled

TRAILCREW SURREY HILLS

A haven for London's mountain bikers, can Peaslake's famous trails still deliver the goods after 25 years? We meet up with some familiar-looking locals to find out

GRIME TIME

EXPERT WORKSHOP ADVICE

THE MANUAL

SKILLS, KNOW-HOW, MAINTENANCE & RIDE GUIDES

THE SECOND COMING

IF HOPE, ORANGE AND PACE WERE THE ORIGINAL HOLY TRINITY OF UK MTB, BY THE EARLY 2000S IT WAS DMR, WHYTE AND COTIC THAT WERE REALLY PUSHING THE BOUNDARIES

LONGTERM RIDES

Introducing the first of our 2023 team bikes

OF IN SEARCH NOW A

Three days of chasing Icelandic tráil gold with MTB adventurer Dan Milner

INDECENT EXPOSURE

Snapper James Vincent and a crew of fearless friends tackle a knife-edge alpine ridgeline Knife-edge alpine

YT IZZO UNCAGED 7 £6,299 (shipped) Gravity brand target race-tape prowess

YT Industries aren't the first brand you'd associate with cross-country racing, but Y they've taken their Izzo trail bike and added ground covering speed. Weight has been shaved, suspension travel reduced and rolling resistance cut.

CANYON SPECTRAL ON CFR

£8,667.98 shipped with a big battery and relatively low weight, the Spectral:ON promises top performance

STRAIGHT OUT OF THE BOX & ONTO THE TRAILS FIRST RIDES

The Rift Zone is Marin's trail bike, updated for 2023. This model is a 29er, but 650b-wheeled versions are also available, along with junior-specific 26in- and 24-in-wheeled bikes. The XR tested here is the range-topper, but impressively costs just over £3k.

Canyon Grand Canyon: on 9

Premium motorised hardtail that punches above its weight- £3,605.98 shipped

Bigridegreat british night rides

Don't let a bit of cold and dark put you off - there's still plenty of fun to be had riding your bike on a winter's night

4 of the best winter boots

Keep your toes dry and frost free

RAIL TURNS ON AN E-MTB

Electric bikes don't just help on climbs; use their weight to your benefit on descents, too

SCOTT PATRON ERIDE 900 TUNED

The Swiss Army Knife of e-bikes- £8,149

NUKEPROOF MEGAWATT 297 FACTORY (2022)

Our 2022 E-bike of the Year- £6,999.99

VITUS E-SOMMET VRX

Top performance at a reasonable price- £5,499.99

CANNONDALE MOTERRA NEO CARBON LT2

Big-travel bike built to take on equally chunky terrain

DRIVE UNIT DUST-UP!

It's Shimano vs Bosch vs Brose vs Yamaha in the battle of the full-power motors

MEXICO CIT-E!

Rob Warner and Hans Rey explore the Central American capital via e-bike

E-BIKE ESSENTIALS

The three key things you need to know about electric mountain bikes