Innholdsfortegnelse for January 2024 i Mountain Biking UK

I won’t dwell too long on our Rider of the Year awards do, because you can read all about it on p8. Suffice to say, it was a great bash, involving some true legends of UK MTBing, many of whom would themselves have been worthy winners of the Lifetime Achievement gong. Next time, eh? The following day’s ride was a real blast, too, even if some were a little bleary-eyed, due to Wiper & True brewery taking good care of us the previous night! Thanks again to Lezyne for supporting the awards, our brand manager Jo Penny – a bit of a legend herself – for getting the whole thing off the ground, our ops manager Helen for her event-planning skills and everyone else who helped. With that done and…

OUT FRONTMBUK RIDER OF THE YEAR '23 We’re used to welcoming the odd famous face here at MBUK HQ, but we’ve never had three world champions in the building all at once before! Not only did Steve Peat, Rachel Atherton and Charlie Hatton all turn out for our inaugural Rider of the Year awards in Bristol, but so did a plethora of other pros, from World Cup stars Bernard Kerr and Laurie Greenland to backflip world record holder Tom Isted and YouTube favourite Ben ‘Deakinator’ Deakin. They were joined by a host of industry folk, along with many of our nominees, several of the talented youngsters from the MBUK-backed GT Viris team and some familiar faces from the pages of the mag over the years, including Andrew ‘Doddy’ Dodd and…

1 Passenger Escapism changing robe After a cold and soggy ride, there’s nothing more satisfying than slipping into dry threads. This robe will keep you cosy while you get your filthy kit off, with its fluffy sherpa-fleece lining, ripstop shell and PFC-free DWR coating. It’s made from 100 per cent recycled materials, including single-use plastic bottles. £119.95 www.passenger-clothing.com 2 TrailMaps Mountain Bike Map of Britain Adorn your walls with a trail guide inspired by the iconic London Underground map. TrailMaps offer a huge array of other designs, too, including BikePark Wales, Glentress and the Surrey Hills. You can even design your own. From £24.95 https://trailmaps.com 3 RAB Down Hut slippers These high-tech slippers combine a windproof Pertex Quantum outer fabric with hydrophobic down insulation (both recycled) and a brushed-fleece lining…

OUT FRONT My SCARIEST Moment “My scariest moment ever was probably when I was 12 years old, at one of the earliest races I entered. I did this jump, and landed kinda sketchily and into a hole. The handlebar went into my torso and passed through my stomach lining. I was lying there and realised there was a pretty big hole in my stomach, so didn’t really want to move. Then a guy came along and went, “Oh, shit!” so I was airlifted to the nearest hospital. “The first thing the doctor did was put his fingers in there to see how deep it was, then I was rushed into surgery and got internal stitches. At that age, I probably didn’t comprehend the gravity of the situation. I was back…

SCOTT GENIUS ST 910 £6,949 An impressive trail bike that has the potential to bring the thrills To create the Genius ST (Super Trail), Scott have taken their Genius trail bike and fitted a longer, more adjustable fork – in the process, slackening the head angle – along with a more heat-resistant piggyback shock. It’s aimed at riders who prioritise tunability and descending control over locked-out pedalling efficiency. THE FRAME While the mainframe is made from Scott’s ‘HMF’ carbon fibre, the chain-stays and seatstays are aluminium, and the hidden shock is driven by a forged and machined 7075 alloy link. The brand claim their ‘Integrated Suspension Technology’ has benefits including a stiffer bottom bracket (BB) area, said to reduce lateral swingarm movement and improve sensitivity, and a lower centre of…

They’ve been lying to you. Keeping things back. It hasn’t been malicious; they’ve told you morsels and dropped hints. But there simply aren’t the words to do it justice. Nobody you’ve spoken to about riding in British Columbia has adequately described just how good the trails over there are. I’m not going to try, either – you need to find a way to go and experience them for yourself. That’s what I did, after years spent dreaming of riding in this sacred destination. I entered the BC Bike Race, and here’s what happened… I landed in Vancouver on the Saturday before the race, unaware that it was Canada Day, a celebration in which a higher-than-usual proportion of people wear red, and maple syrup flows like wine. Apparently. My transport strategy…

For us, 2023 was the year when it really felt like things had gone back to normal. No lockdowns, no mask-wearing, no sky-rocketing inflation. The cost-of-living crisis continues, but travel has opened up again, events are once more drawing big crowds and we can ride when and where we want. While the bike industry is still in a spot of bother, there’s been plenty to celebrate this year, from epic racing to exciting tech. Here are our high points… B.O.T.Y. BOUNCES BACK WITH A BANG “I make no bones about the fact I love travelling, seeing new places, riding unfamiliar trails, eating good food and generally being in a sunny environment. This year, after a hiatus from 2020 to ’22, we managed to take our annual Bike of the Year…

The Christmas and new year period is a busy time, with plenty of overindulgence and extra jobs to do. Combined with cold, wet and short days, this means riding time usually takes a hit. So, we’re gifting you three great routes to provide the motivation to get out for some fresh air and fun, while also burning the calories. First up is a wild ride in Bannau Brycheiniog National Park – aka the Brecon Beacons, officially renamed with its Welsh title this year. We’ve picked the classic ‘Gap’ ride, which has a remote feel, but isn’t hard to get to and has great facilities nearby. It’s pretty weather-resistant, too, although you may not want to be up the hills in bad conditions. The route feels like it’s mellowed with age,…

The day commences on cobbles, as we traverse farmland on tight, rocky lanes between fields. Then the coastline unfolds before us, with its limestone cliffs and pristine sandy beaches. We ride along rugged seaside paths, meander through pine forests filled with root-laden trails and moss-covered boulders, and plunge into ravines. The highlight comes after a particularly tricky climb, when we round a limestone outcrop to find a dramatic hidden cove, where crystal-blue water crashes against rugged cliffs – a far cry from the mud-splattered winter riding back home, that’s for sure! A final challenging, energy-sapping rocky ascent within sight of the race hotel is followed by a thrilling, fluid descent, which propels us triumphantly across the finish line. Ride through time Senior tech editor Tom and I hadn’t heard of…

MEET THE TESTERS ROB WEAVER TECH EDITOR IN CHIEF Rob began his life in mountain biking by racing cross-country and has never shied away from long stints in the saddle on short-travel machines. Over the past couple of years, his love for XC riding and racing has reignited, meaning he’s been putting the miles in regularly on some of the latest and greatest lightweight kit going, both on the trail and between the tape. TOM MARVIN SENIOR TECH EDITOR Tom’s been racing XC on and off for the past 15 years, whether that be short-course blasts, marathon days out, 24-hour slogs or – as while testing the Epic World Cup – multi-day endurance events. With limited time to train, any bike that boosts his efficiency is a welcome partner on…

The number of people joining gyms soars in January, thanks to resolutions to get fit, post-festive-indulgence regrets and grim weather making outdoor sports less appealing. However, few stay the course, get into a proper exercise routine and make serious progress. If 2024 is really going to be the year when you’re going to get into shape to be the best rider possible, then you’ll need to hit the gym in a more planned way. PRO-FILE BEN PLENGE JOB Strength Factory coach CREDENTIALS Coach to pro riders including Joe Smith and Vero Sandler, as well as to hundreds of everyday trail riders across the world. Follow him at @strengthfactory_coach and check out his range of online content at https://thestrengthfactory. uk/all-programmes. 1 MAKE A PLAN Whether you buy a training programme or…

WHO IS... CHARLIE HATTON Charlie has been a home-brewed favourite on the downhill scene for a few years now, but when, in August, he nailed and railed the slippery slopes of Fort William to find his own pot of gold at the bottom, he truly became a great of the sport WHO IS CHARLIE HATTON? A guy who goes fast on a bike. WHAT ARE YOU BEST KNOWN FOR? Probably for winning the 2023 World Championships! WHAT ARE YOU UP TO? Recovering from my injury in Loudenvielle, France, then probably lots of motorbike trials through the winter. WHAT DOES A TYPICAL DAY LOOK LIKE FOR YOU? Wake up, have a good breakfast, then do some sort of training in the morning. Eat lunch and then more training in the afternoon,…

KENEVO SL GETS A POWER-UP Motor and geometry tweaks for Specialized’s long-travel lightweight e-bike NEED TO KNOW Specialized have updated their Turbo Kenevo SL e-bike for 2024, giving it a new motor and minor geometry tweaks. The Brose-built SL 1.2 drive unit is said to be 33 per cent more powerful than its predecessor, with a peak output of 320W, and also has 43 per cent more torque (50Nm, up from 35Nm). It’s powered by the same 320Wh battery as before, said to give the bike a run time of up to five hours in ‘Eco’ mode. A 160Wh range extender is available, which mounts where the water bottle would otherwise go. Spesh’s latest MasterMind Turbo Control Unit is built into the top tube of the frame, which is made…

TARLAND TRAILS, SCOTLAND TRAIL STATS 13 trails – a mixture of flow, tech and jump lines Distance About 10km of descending in total Climbing Smooth singletrack that winds its way through farmland and wooded sections before a fireroad climb to the top Time The climb can take anywhere between 10 and 45mins, depending on fitness and trail choice. Descents can be up to 30mins from top to bottom Grading Six blues, six reds and a black jump line WHY RIDE HERE? Perfectly-sculpted trails that are excellent for aiding progression, in a beautiful location RAD... The trails are well-made for all to enjoy It’s in a stunning setting There’s a thriving local riding scene here BAD... Limited facilities on-site, but Tarland village is just a short pedal away Not the best…