Innholdsfortegnelse for August 2025 i Mountain Biking UK

Wow, 450 issues! Quite an achievement. We’re not making too big a deal of it, because it comes just two years after our big 35th anniversary celebrations. But still, we couldn’t let this month pass without a bit of reminiscing. Not only do we have a big interview with legendary snapper Steve Behr, who fills us in on the birth of MBUK, wacky feature ideas and drunken ’90s shenangians, but we also catch up with cross-country hero Nick Craig (p34) and downhiller turned ‘face of MTB’ Rob Warner (p22). This issue also marks 30 years of DMR Bikes – thanks for the socks, guys! – and three decades since the release of the seminal Dirt video (p8). As a bike-mad teen, I absolutely devoured this VHS tape featuring my favourite…

For young mountain bikers of the time, it was a must-watch before going out riding For young mountain bikers of the time, it was a must-watch before going out riding ‘Dirt’ was a stroke of genius. Pete’s idea was to make a surf movie, but for biking ‘Dirt’ was a stroke of genius. Pete’s idea was to make a surf movie, but for biking FREEZE FRAME DAYS OF DIRT This summer marks 30 years since the release of the classic UK mountain bike movie Dirt, starring Jason McRoy, Rob Warner and a host of others. While it wasn’t the first MTB video to hit the shelves – on VHS tape, no less – it was one of the first to not rely on race footage, following the lead of 1994’s…

Racer-turned-commentator Rob Warner is known for his larger-than-life persona, so it might surprise you to learn that he’s a big history buff. The fact he began his career on the mic with Freecaster TV getting absolutely shitfaced, less so. Here are six things we learned about Rob during our MBUK Podcast with him… 1 HE’S COME A LONG WAY SINCE HAVING TO SHARE BRAKES WITH STEVE PEAT “In ’95, I got a pro deal, as in a salary and everything and – this is no reflection at all on the Saracen brand [of today] – but [Peaty and I] got turned over, we didn’t get paid. We had a terrible first year as professional riders. Like, he’d get to the bottom of a run, and we only had one pair…

Canyon’s latest Sender downhill bike has a high-pivot, idler-equipped rear suspension design to boost traction on rough terrain and is the result of years of research. Before it was even available to the public, it had helped riders such as Troy Brosnan reach the top step of the DH World Cup podium. While this proves the finished product is very good indeed, it’s how the German brand got to this point that’s interesting. The development process of a bike can be filled with dead ends and red herrings. To ensure no stone was left unturned, Canyon’s engineers built the ultimate Sender test mule – a machine as monstrous and all-encompassing as it looks. Recognised internally as the most advanced prototype Canyon have ever built, the Frankenbike (or, for the pedants…

Shimano just killed off their best-ever tech – yet no one is talking about it. The two wheelsets that launched as part of the brand’s new XTR M9200 Di2 series feature replaceable cartridge bearings, instead of the brand’s legendary cup-and-cone system. The move isn’t unprecedented – the hubs that launched alongside the Shimano CUES drivetrains a couple of years ago are cartridge too. But XTR is a flagship for the brand and, as such, is much more significant. Shimano are pretty consistent about trickling their tech down the groupset tiers – hence the launch of the new XT and Deore Di2 just weeks after XTR came out – so it’s likely this spells the beginning of the end of the cup-and-cone system. This makes me sad. Let me explain why.…

€1,230 (+ shipping) https://industrynine.com Industry Nine’s Hydra wheels are now Hydra2s, thanks to a new hubset that’s packed full of updates to improve performance and reliability – a sticking point with the previous versions. My Hydra2 hubs have been built onto the US brand’s alloy Enduro rims. Trail, DH (downhill) and DJ (dirt jump) options are also available, as are carbon fibre versions of the same rims (bar the 26in dirt jump version). The hubs are rated for e-MTB use too. The thick alloy spokes are distinctive – partly due to their colourful anodising on my test wheels, but also thanks to their custom diameter. They’re 25 to 30% larger in cross-section than traditional steel spokes, and said to be significantly stronger. Rims first With a 38mm exterior width, the…

Brought to you by HOW IT WORKS NOW! Nominate riders using the link on this page 21 AUGUST Nominations close 15 SEPTEMBER Shortlists revealed on MBUK.com, public vote opens 15 OCTOBER Ballot closes 27 NOVEMBER Exclusive awards do at MBUK towers 30 DECEMBER Winners showcased in our December issue (MBUK 454) Our Rider of the Year awards are back for 2025 – and they’ve got a lot to live up to! The previous two editions saw Greg Minnaar and the Athertons pick up Lifetime Achievement gongs, while in the public vote, the Pickstock siblings swept the board in the Newcomer of the Year category and the overall titles went to Casey Gemma and Rónán Dunne. So, who’s your money on this year? Will it be an all-conquering racer? An adventure…

Nick Craig has been racing bikes since before many of were born, winning eight national titles – three in cyclocross (CX), three in Olympicdistance cross-country (XCO) and two in XC marathon (XCM) – and competing at the 2000 Olympic Games, in both the road race and the mountain biking. The 56-year-old from Stockport is a brand ambassador for Scott Sports and the man behind Ride For Charlie (www.rideforcharlie.com), set up in memory of his son – himself a promising racer, who sadly passed away in his sleep aged just 15 – to support up-and-coming riders. It all began for Nick in the late 1970s, when, in his own words, he “stumbled on bikes”. “My dad introduced me to cyclocross when I was nine,” he recalls. “That would’ve been ’79. I…

MEET THE TESTER TOM MARVIN PRESENTER/TESTER Tom’s riding started with cross-country, over 20 years ago, and since then he’s ridden dozens of race bikes. Over the years, he’s lined up for everything from grassroots local events to multi-day marathons in far-flung places. Even if you pay little attention to World Cup cross-country (XC) racing, you’ll know that full-suspension bikes have been the dominant force for around a decade now. Increasingly technical tracks and monumental shifts in suspension tech mean that having a bit of squish at the back of the bike adds speed and control, and the weight penalty of the shock and linkage hardware is often a cost worth paying. The humble XC hardtail is having a hard time of it, with world-level riders generally eschewing their lighter weight.…

EXPERT WORKSHOP ADVICE Japanese brand Shimano offer the widest range of groupsets for mountain biking, from budget-focused Tourney to top-end XTR Di2, with 14 steps in between, plus two downhill-specific options. With several of these groups sharing a similar name – not just Deore M4100, M5100, M5130, M6100 and M6200 Di2, but Deore XT M8100 and XT M8200 Di2 too – things can get confusing. So, here’s how they stack up and where they sit in the hierarchy. A groupset traditionally includes brakes, but here we’re focusing on drivetrain components, which you’re more likely to find specced as a full group on a new bike. LOW-BUDGET (6- TO 11-SPEED) 1. TOURNEY TX (2004)/TZ (2008) For: Department-store and children’s bikes Options: 2x6, 3x6, 2x7, 3x7 (TZ), 2x8, 3x8 (TX) 2. ALTUS…

1 MAXXIS THROW THEIR WEIGHT BEHIND 32IN TYRES Maxxis have unveiled a 32in production version of their Aspen cross-country tyre, cementing their commitment to the oversized format and potentially kickstarting a wider industry trend. Apparently, the tyres were intended for the 2024 Olympic Games, but the bike industry wasn’t ready with the other parts required to build a 32in-wheeled MTB. At present, the low-profile Aspen is Maxxis’s only 32in option, offered in a 2.4in width with their fast-rolling 3C MaxxSpeed compound and EXO Protection casing. Two further 32in tyres are said to be in the pipeline though. Talk about larger wheel sizes has centred on their benefits for taller riders. Maxxis’s brand manager Mike Hörner says: “I think it’s more of a niche [product]. We don’t know yet if [the…

A NEW PERFORMANCE LEVEL The latest Bosch full-power motor, plus adjustable geometry and refined suspension make the new Mondraker Level a serious e-enduro bike Spanish brand Mondraker have updated their Level e-MTB. Pedalling assistance is now supplied by Bosch’s fifth-generation Performance Line CX motor, with 100Nm of torque and 750W of peak power, and delivered with the help of a big 800Wh battery. The frame layout has changed too – Mondraker have moved the pivot points of their twin-link Zero Suspension System, in order to boost the bike’s sensitivity at the start of its 170mm of travel and its large-bump absorption deeper into the shock’s stroke. This means the vertically mounted shock now pierces the bike’s seat tube, rather than sitting in front of it, as before. It’s also lower…

Mountain biking can leave you with a catalogue of aches and pains. We’re not talking the flesh wounds, bone breaks and concussions caused by the trauma of crashing here. Instead, we’re focusing on the strains and injuries common to any endurance sport, which result either from overexertion or from biomechanical stress caused by muscle imbalances or incorrect bike setup. While stretching and massage can help alleviate symptoms, they won't fix the root cause of any lasting pain. The best thing to do is to seek professional advice, for example from a physiotherapist. But to give your pain a name and point you down the right road to recovery, we’ve listed the most common non-crash injuries, their most likely causes and, over the page, how to go about fixing each problem.…

EXPERT WORKSHOP ADVICE UPGRADING FROM A GRAVEL BIKE As a dedicated (but fat) roadie who’s been ensnared by the mucky side of things, I have a dilemma. My Cotic Escapade gravel bike is lovely, but I’ve recently crashed and sprained a wrist, having previously dislocated my shoulder. So, I wonder if my riding (Leigh Woods, Ashton Court and other singletrack) is more suited to, at least, a hardtail mountain bike. If so, any recommended purchases for £2k? I go downhill fast, uphill slooooowww. Matthew Lewis, Bristol A modern trail hardtail will give you more confidence on the descents, with its grippy tyres, powerful brakes and stable geometry, and, with a budget of £2,000, you’ve got a lot of choice. We’d recommend looking for a bike with 100 to 140mm of…