Innholdsfortegnelse for August 2024 i Mountain Biking UK

While there’s definitely something to be said for old favourites – be they bikes, trails or even riding buddies – it’s hard to beat the thrill of the new. There’s nothing quite like the buzz of riding pristine singletrack, the glow of satisfaction from fitting an upgrade that makes a difference, the excitement of slinging a leg over a fresh bike, the rush of following a faster rider or the simple pleasure of going out and riding bikes with someone for the first time. That’s what this issue is all about. We head to unexplored (by us) territory in China, ride a Lakes loop we’ve not tried before, join a first-timer bikepacking trip and find out more about racing enduro. Of course, there’s plenty of fresh gear, too, from tests…

OUT FRONT Brought to you by LEZYNE HOW IT WORKS NOW! Nominate riders, using the link to the right > 1 SEPTEMBER Nominations close 30 AUGUST Shortlists in issue 438 and on MBUK.com, public vote opens 11 NOVEMBER Voting closes 21 NOVEMBER Exclusive awards ceremony at MBUK’s Bristol HQ 22 NOVEMBER Winners revealed in MBUK 441 Our inaugural Rider of the Year awards were a huge success. MBUK readers and followers on Facebook and Instagram nominated scores of riders, thousands of votes were cast and three worthy winners were revealed at a bash at our Bristol HQ, attended by some big names from the world of mountain biking, including Steve Peat, Brendan Fairclough and Bernard Kerr. Then we all went for a cracking ride at BikePark Wales. Well, those of…

OUT FRONTRAD RIDERS When he’s not riding motorbikes for Red Bull KTM Factory Racing, reigning FIM hard enduro world champ Manuel ‘Mani’ Lettenbichler loves mountain biking. “Growing up riding trials moto, then also trials bikes, and being always out in the mountains, it was a natural progression,” the Bavarian rider explains. “I got my first downhill bike, a 24in-wheeled Kona Stinky, for Christmas, aged 10 or 12, and it was so sick to rip around and to start riding at bike parks.” These days, Mani’s more into enduro, although he still rides a bit of DH, and also enjoys tackling techy climbs on his e-bike. What is it about MTBing that he likes? “It’s good training, but also a way to see friends and meet up with cool people. It’s…

OUT FRONT With summertime finally upon us, the UK’s rugged mountains, lush forests, rolling hills and dramatic coastlines are prime for riding. So, why not make some plans to hit the trails, while they’re still dry? For this issue’s routes, we’ve picked three popular holiday locations around the country where you can either base a mountain biking break or simply add your bike to your holiday luggage for a cheeky day off. Our first location is the ever-popular destination of Cornwall. With miles of stunning coastline, this county at the southwestern tip of England offers a wonderful change of scenery, as well as some great riding – if you know where to look. Our route heads away from the busy coast, seeking trails in the quieter countryside, and also discovering…

GOING DEEP BRITISH BRANDS ESTABLISHED 2019 IN WALES ATHERTON BIKES Key personnel: Dan Atherton, Gee Atherton, Dan Brown, Ben Farmer, Piers Linney First product: AM.200.M DH bike (for team), AM.150 enduro bike (for public) Key products: As above, plus AM.170, AM.130 and alloy S.170 When your family rules the downhill roost and sponsors are lining up for your signatures, the obvious move is to accept a fat cheque from a big manufacturer, not set up your own bike brand. Even more so when you’ve just opened your own bike park. But that’s what the Atherton clan did in 2019 – and not just any old bike brand, but one focused on the top end of the market and small-scale production with cutting-edge tech. “It was a huge leap of faith,”…

Ever wanted to give bikepacking a go but don’t know where to start? It can be pretty daunting, with a kit list as long as your arm, not to mention having to plot a route, find a good camping spot and cook up dinner outside. Comrie Croft in Perthshire, Scotland, think they have the answer, in the form of organised trips headed by MTB coach and guide Emily Greaves. They invited us to come along on one. ALL THE GEAR It was great to see two first-timer bikepackers among our six-strong crew – Deviate Cycles’ Matt Stone, who’s usually more ‘enduro’ than ‘go slow’, and local cross-country and gravel racer Aaron Taylor. After a train journey up from my home in Devon, a short ride over the hill from Dunblane…

OUT FRONT 1 LAPIERRE SPICY High-pivot suspension designs are all the rage in downhill racing and have begun to spread to trail bikes, too. But what if you’re HP-curious but not entirely sold on the idea? Lapierre have the answer. Their 2025 Spicy enduro bike can be switched between high- and low-pivot configurations. Whack it in the HP position and add the idler cog for rocky downhills, where the more rearward axle path should help it munch up square-edged hits, or stick it in LP for smoother, more pedally rides. Clever! 2 SCHWALBE CLIK VALVE Schwalbe want their new Clik air valve to become the industry standard. Earning its name from the noise the pump head makes as you click it onto the valve, the SCV promises better durability and…

WHAT ARE YOU BEST KNOWN FOR? Different things to different people. A trials rider, and maybe one of the pioneers of freeride and adventure biking. Some say I was one of the first guys to create [MTB] content. WHERE DO YOU CALL HOME, AND WHAT’S THE RIDING LIKE? Laguna Beach in Southern California. I’ve been living here for more than 30 years. We have very steep riding and it’s very demanding, so you have to be fit. The hills aren’t big, but Laguna and [local club] the Rads are part of the origins of freeride. FIRST RIDING MEMORY? Riding my mum’s bike, a typical European machine [Hans grew up in Germany] with fenders – I could barely get my legs over it! I didn’t get my first bike until I…

Play Time Watch our video bike check at Welsh rider Taylor Vernon and his Kiwi teammate Sam ‘Blenki’ Blenkinsop are piloting one of the most innovative machines on the Downhill World Cup circuit this season. Like other new DH bikes from the likes of Trek, Norco and Pivot, the Zerode G3 uses a high-pivot suspension design. What sets this rig apart is its integrated gearbox, which is paired with wireless shifting and a polymer belt instead of a chain. That’s just like, uh, your Pinion, man Zerode have used Germanmade Pinion gearboxes on their trail bikes since 2016, with belts an option since 2020. This is the first time the NZ outfit have stuck a Pinion box on a downhill bike, though, and also the first time they’ve used a…

MEET THE TESTERS ROBIN WEAVER TECH EDITOR IN CHIEF With three decades of MTB experience, Rob can identify the kit that works TOM MARVIN SENIOR TECH EDITOR XC/trail/enduro wizard Tom gives his gear a proper hammering LUKE MARSHALL TECH WRITER Downhiller Luke is always looking for what saves time between the tape JAMES COSTLEY-WHITE EDITOR Riding since ’92, JCW knows the score and has an eye for the key details NICK CLARK BIKERADAR DIGI WRITER Nick’s based in North Wales and descends those peaks hard and fast WHY OUR TESTS ARE THE BEST! Our technical-editor-in-chief Rob Weaver gets new products in as soon as they’re available and co-ordinates all the testing through our team of tech experts, who have unrivalled knowledge and experience. Every test starts with a detailed product check in the workshop. Next,…

Despite all the turmoil in the cycling industry, we’re still seeing new bikes being launched left, right and centre, ready for the 2025 season. So, instead of our usual comparative biketest, we’ve decided to get to grips with six different machines and review them individually, to give you a snapshot of what the latest mountain bikes are looking like for 2025, and which ones will be worth considering if you’re in the market for a new ride. From all-rounder bikes, with or without motor assistance, to a humble hardtail and cutting-edge downhill tech, there’s something to offer here for nearly every type of rider. OUR SELECTION OF TRAIL BIKES HIGHLIGHTS NOT ONLY HOW CAPABLE THEY HAVE BECOME, BUT HOW DIFFERENTLY BRANDS APPROACH THEM Our selection of trail bikes highlights not…

It’s a gorgeous sunny morning as I prepare for a new adventure with snapper James Vincent. Our mission, to try a ride that Jim, our route planner, describes as “a classic introduction to Lake District mountain biking”. I tackled Helvellyn, the highest (legally) ridable peak here, last year, for a feature in MBUK 420, but my experience in these legendary hills is limited. My friend Claire is joining us, too. While she’s led gravel rides in the Lakes for the Sisters In The Wild community, she’s never ridden mountain bikes here. The day starts with a coffee, as any bike ride should. There’s a chill in the air, so it’s good to be able to wrap our paws around a hot drink as we begin the usual faff. James has…