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24 Articles

Wow, what canI say? When we launched our Rider of the Year awards this summer, I never dreamt so many people would get involved. The 600-or-so nominations were a promising sign, but the final tally of more than 5,000 votes shows just how passionate mountain bikers are about their favourite riders. Big thanks to Lezyne and our brand manager Jo for their help getting this up and running. We had some amazing contenders for the win, but, in a sport where fully paid-up pros often steal the limelight, it’s great to see two more grassroots riders take top honours. The couragous, inspirational Casey Gemma is our well-deserved Rider of the Year, while super-talented young Morgan Pickstock overcame tough competition to win Newcomer of the Year. As for the Lifetime Achievement award, in…

IN THE MAG THIS MONTH

CASEY GEMMA OUR RIDER OF THE YEAR Get the lowdown on Casey and all of our well-deserved winners on p35 – congrats to all of them! FANIE KOK TRAIL EVANGELIST Meet the guy with the best name in MTB (puerile, us?) who’s on a mission to get top trails built worldwide – p16 WILL LONGDEN POWERHOUSE UP OR DOWNHILL Can you ride a full-on DH track in reverse? If anyone can, it’s the man who puts the ‘earn’ (your turns) in taciturn! – p44 SARAH BEDFORD PEDAL PUNISHER Our Scottish tester’s left no pedal unturned (almost) on her mission to find this year’s best clipless options – p84…

IN THE MAG THIS MONTH

Christoph Breiner snappedthis otherworldly pic of freerider Hannes Klausner manualling past a backdrop of jagged icy peaks during a recent riding trip to Iceland. “I’d gained so many impressions of Iceland that had left me longing for more that I just had to go there, to make my own experiences and memories in this breathtaking place,” Hannes explains. “During our full-month roadtrip from Austria, we saw so many extraordinary, naturally-shaped landscapes and there was such a variety of riding and views, that it was hard to take it all in. It was simply magical. “One very special moment was to witness a place where the biggest European glacier, Vatnajökull, meets the ocean – what an impressive spectacle! Putting my tyres to the ground right there, in front of scenery that couldn’t be…

KEITH BONTRAGER

The name Bontrager is synonymous with early mountain bike frames and, more recently, Trek’s in-house component range, and the legendary engineer now applies that same meticulous mindset to creating culinary masterpieces, including elaborate curries that would impress any Indian chef. The 68-year-old used to share a lot of food photos but now enjoys the process more without needing to chronicle it. It’s enough just to enjoy the meals with his partner, British former bike racer Julie Dinsdale, at their home in Santa Cruz, California. “I’ve been more of an urban cyclist for the past few years, but I never used to get too carried away with special pre-race meals. For endurance rides, what matters most is eating while you’re riding, which I was never that good at. Afterwards, almost anything tastes…

KEITH BONTRAGER

A WIRELESS POST TO RIVAL THE REVERB?

German brand Magura were first past the, erm, post with a wireless dropper, with the 2016 Vyron eLect. Unfortunately, despite clear benefits to ditching the cable, this proved unreliable, with a flimsy remote and too wide an actuation ‘window’ (you had to sit on the saddle for a full second for it to stay down). Enter the Vyron MDS-V3, which seems much-improved, but faces more competition, not least from the popular RockShox Reverb AXS post. It works using Bluetooth, is IP67-certified (so will survive full submersion) and has a much better remote. Interestingly, it’s powered by sealed batteries (a CR2 for the post, a CR2032 for the remote), rather than charged via USB; Magura claim the cells should last about a year. It comes in two diameters (30.9mm and 31.6mm)…

A WIRELESS POST TO RIVAL THE REVERB?

Write to: MBUK Send it! Eagle House, Bristol, BS1 4ST Email: mbuk@ourmedia.co.uk Visit: www.mbuk.com STAR LETTER WINS... Lezyne Pocket Torque Drive torque wrench & Alloy Drive (M) mini pump worth £105 THAT’S GOTTA HURT WINS... 661 Recon Advance knee pads (M) & Rail Classic gloves (L) worth £125 SHOT OF THE MONTH WINS... DMR OiOi saddle, Deathgrip (Thin) grips & V11 pedals worth £123 INSTA-BANGERS WINS... Lezyne Super Drive 1600XXL & KTV Pro Smart lights worth £160 STAR LETTER THE CYCLE OF CYCLING All mountain bikers know that riding has its ups and downs. Despite mostly being ups, there are a few big downs, which can hit hard. As a young rider, I see many posts on social media about people struggling with their bikes. Recently, this happened to me, when my fork began leaking oil from a small scratch, leaving me…

THE TRAIL EVANGELIST

Fanie Kok’s zeal for riding makes it sound like he works at a start-up, not one of the world’s biggest bike brands. “Specialized are a bit of a radical company, contrary to popular belief,” he tells us. “People think we’re a bunch of corporate tie-wearing, blood-sucking monsters. We’re not!” As the company’s Global Trail Advocate, Stoke Activist and Soil Searching Director, what does his role entail? “It’s searching for the soul of mountain biking, which is the trail,” he explains. “Everything has to fall into place for that trail to be in existence – the trail builders, the advocates who lobby to get access, the communities who volunteer.” Through their Soil Searching initiative, Specialized sponsor trail builders, host dig days and fundraisers, hand out bikes to supporters and contribute profits from…

THE TRAIL EVANGELIST

ROUTES QUICK BLASTS

Quick rides, especiallya short hard blast, should definitely have a place in your life. Not only are they easier to commit to, but they also deliver fitness benefits, physically and mentally. We’ve put together three awesome quick-fire rides for you to fit in alongside other festive fun. Our first ride starts near the village of Danby on the edge of the North York Moors, spinning along the Esk Valley before crossing the River Esk and passing through the charming village of Castleton. We then head south into rough and rugged moorland, with some stiff climbs. With flowing trails and nothing too technical, the route provides a good introduction to the area. It also passes the Yorkshire Cycle Hub, a cyclists’ paradise, with refreshments, a bike shop, showers, bike wash, accommodation and…

ROUTES QUICK BLASTS

Launch Pad THE NEWLY-UNVEILED BIKES & KIT GETTING US EXCITED THIS MONTH

THE QUIVER KILLER Could the new YT Industries Jeffsy really be the only bike you’ll ever need? NEED TO KNOW YT’s third-generation Jeffsy trail bike is claimed to be more versatile and more capable than ever before. The German direct-sale brand have given this latest iteration the ‘longer, lower, slacker’ treatment, increasing reach and chainstay figures across all sizes, adding more bottom bracket drop and raking out the head angle slightly. They’ve also steepened the seat tube angle, to improve the seated climbing position. To keep this consistent, the angle increases slightly as you go up the size range. There are carbon fibre or alloy frames to choose from, all of which use 29in wheels. Rear-wheel travel is now 145mm, down from 150mm on the previous bike. The carbon frame gets internal down…

Launch Pad THE NEWLY-UNVEILED BIKES & KIT GETTING US EXCITED THIS MONTH

Red Bull Hardline is expanding! A second race will be added to the calendar in 2024, taking place in Australia. Let’s hope the track is just as gnarly as the original Welsh behemoth! Fort William returns to the UCI World Cup circuit in 2024 as the first stop on the tour, from 3-5 May. We can’t wait for the racing to kick off again! Fox Suspension are opening a new service centre in Surrey with all the latest upgrades plus a comprehensive replacement parts inventory to keep UK riders and dealers on the trails. Following news of financial troubles for Signa Sports United – parent company of retail giants Chain Reaction Cycles and Wiggle, and bike brands Vitus, Ragley and Nukeproof – Wiggle went into administration shortly before we went to press. Let’s…

STRAIGHT OUT OF THE BOX & ONTO THE TRAILS FIRST RIDES

ORBEA OCCAM LT M10 £6,499 Trail bike meets enduro sled With 160mm travel up front and 150mm at the rear, the Occam LT sets out to be “fun on the climbs and a riot on the way back down”. This latest version gets an aggressive and adjustable geometry update, plus integrated frame storage. THE FRAME The Occam LT shares its asymmetrical carbon fibre chassis with the Occam SL, which has less suspension travel and steeper geometry. It uses the same ‘Fully Loaded Linkage’ design as Orbea’s Rise e-bike, with a concentric pivot at the rear axle, to reduce the effect of braking on the suspension, plus a rocker link to drive the shock. This ‘Long Travel’ version has a 64.5-degree head angle (a degree slacker than before), which can be relaxed even further to 64…

STRAIGHT OUT OF THE BOX & ONTO THE TRAILS FIRST RIDES

We’ve arranged to meet Casey at her home in Cornwall on a classic October day of mixed rain and sun. She opens the door with the classic smile we’ve seen so many times on Instagram, and her dog Roxy excitedly greets us like old friends. We haven’t told Casey she’s our first ever Rider of the Year, yet – she thinks we’re meeting up with all the finalists. But we’re here to get to know her and find out more about her journey to becoming one of the most inspirational people in the mountain biking community – although her reach goes far beyond our sport. Casey is warm and welcoming, and instantly makes us feel at ease. We’ve seen her around online a fair bit but never actually met her, so…

MORGAN PICKSTOCK

NEWCOMER OF THE YEAR 2023 WHO IS MORGAN PICKSTOCK? A 15-year-old who loves riding bicycles! I love the feeling of learning something new on my bike and progressing my riding. It makes me super-stoked to see other people progressing with the support I’ve given them, too. WHERE ARE YOU FROM? A town called Holywell in North Wales. I’m lucky to have quite a few local spots where you can get creative. The trails here are very good to improve your MTB skills, and Deeside skate park is 15 minutes away for the tricks. FAVOURITE PLACE TO RIDE? Revolution Bike Park was sick. I’d just started riding there, and then it closed! Antur Stiniog is awesome and the Oakley line at Dyfi Bike Park is a blast, too. Farmer Johns MTB Park is one of my local…

MORGAN PICKSTOCK

Lifetime ACHIEVEMENT AWARD THE ATHERTONS

THEY’VE PROVEN THEMSELVES BETWEEN THE TAPE, ON THE SLOPES OF UTAH AND IN THE RISKS THEY’VE TAKEN RUNNING THEIR BUSINESSES Is it a cop-out to award our Lifetime Achievement gong to three people? Perhaps! But it’s hard to separate these siblings, whose lives and fortunes are so intertwined. Over the past 20-plus years, they’ve helped cement the UK’s position on the MTB world stage, bring the sport to a bigger audience and push the boundaries of downhill racing. In 2023 alone, they’ve proven themselves between the race tape, on the slopes of Utah and in the risks they’ve taken running their businesses. Speedy siblings The Athertons’ MTB story starts in 1999, when they switched from BMX to DH. Older brother Dan is now best known as a trail builder, but by 2001, he…

Lifetime ACHIEVEMENT AWARD THE ATHERTONS

THROW DOWN THE GAUNTLET#5 RIDE UP A DH TRACK

Play Time Check out the video of our challenge “E-BIKES ARE SO CAPABLE, THEY TURN THE CLIMBS INTO DESCENTS.”Obviously, a bit of pedalling assistance doesn’t upend gravity, but we know what people mean when they say this. E-MTBs let you zoom up fireroads, scythe through uphill switchbacks and pick your way up awkward, gnadgery climbs in a way that just wouldn’t be possible without a motor. But just how technical does an ascent have to become before it’s too much to handle? Can you, in fact, ride up a full-on downhill track littered with rocks, roots, drops and jumps? That’s the challenge Saracen Bikes have set us today. Thankfully, our video presenter Will Soffe is well-equipped for the task. Not only does he have a Saracen Ariel 50E bike at his disposal, but…

THROW DOWN THE GAUNTLET#5 RIDE UP A DH TRACK

From dust it did rise

Although it’s widely accepted that the branding and bare bones of mountain biking as we know it originated in the USA, there’s an often-understated British tale that runs along a near-parallel trail to the Californian legend. Long ago, when The Beatles were at their pinnacle and before the glam rockers of the early 1970s had had a chance to sew on their sequins and scale their high heels, a rebellious band of young Brits were already hurtling down grassy fields and jumping off planks. They called their scrapheap contraptions ‘tracker’ or ‘scrambler’ bikes, but these were effectively our British ‘klunkers’. Just about any detail from the birth of UK mountain biking comes dazed in a purple haze and splattered in mud and blood. However, deep in the Chilterns lived a young motorcycle…

From dust it did rise

WRECKED & RATED

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 RACHEL BENNET STAFF WRITER Rach hails from northern Scotland and has spent years riding rough tracks ALEX EVANS BIKERADAR TECH EDITOR Many years of breaking bikes means Al can give reliable buying advice WHY OUR TESTS ARE THE BEST! Our technical-editor-in-chief Rob Weaver gets new products in as soon as they’re available and coordinates 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, we hit the trails… hard! We test in real riding conditions, incorporating feedback from…

WRECKED & RATED

6 OF THE BEST WINTER GLOVES

GIRO PIVOT 2.0 £74.99 www.giro.co.uk SO GOOD… The soft liner feels great and adds insulation, making these some of the warmest gloves here. Despite this, the fingers don’t feel too bulky. These gloves have the best waterproofing on test, too, keeping out heavy rain effectively. The fit is good, and the simple upper features reflective details and an effective snot wipe. NO GOOD… Bar feel is compromised by the multi-layer palm, which has superfluous gel sections. A longer cuff would boost warmth further and help prevent water getting in. Only the index finger and thumb are touchscreen-compatible. They’re very expensive. FIST CHAPTER 20 FROSTY FINGERS WOLF £34.99 www.freewheel.co.uk SO GOOD… A pre-curved, single-layer palm with silicone gripper ensures a secure, crease-free grip on the bar. The stretchy upper means no pulling between hand and thumb, and…

6 OF THE BEST WINTER GLOVES

LUKE’S CANYON STRIVE CFR UNDERDOG £4,817.99 (shipped) A few upgrades help unleash even more potential from the Strive As the frosty fingers of winter beckon and my year-long journey with the Strive begins to come to an end, I haven’t just been sitting around twiddling my thumbs. Nope, this month, I decided to give my trusty Canyon a little refresh. With the Reynolds wheels I’ve been running temporarily borrowed by Tom and Alex for testing, I was left with the stock DT Swiss EX511 rims and EN370 hubs. They’re perfectly fine wheels, with one small annoyance – the 20-degree freehub engagement. It’s like waiting for a slow lift to finally arrive at your floor. To remedy that, DT’s UK distributors Madison sent me a 54t star rachet upgrade kit. With 6.5-degree engagement, this…

BIKETEST BACKCOUNTRY HARDTAILS

MEET THE TESTER TOM MARVIN SENIOR TECHNICAL EDITOR Tom’s a bit of a trail bike aficionado, as well as keen to get his saddle up and head down on XC bikes. So, this middle ground of shorter- but not short-travel, fast-rolling but not sketchy-feeling bikes is the perfect midpoint between the two. When you envisage a hardtail – that’s to say, a mountain bike with no rear suspension – it could be a cross-country (XC) race whippet with a lightweight carbon fibre frame, narrow handlebar, slender fork and scarily slick tyres (see MBUK 423 for a test of those). Alternatively, you may picture a ‘hardcore hardtail’ with steel tubes, slack angles, chunky rubber and plenty of front suspension travel so you can ‘ride the fork’ and batter your way down techy trails. However, there…

BIKETEST BACKCOUNTRY HARDTAILS

GROUPTEST CLIPLESS PEDALS

Riders will likelydebate the merits and pitfalls of clipless pedals versus flats for all eternity. Greater security, improved power transfer and consistent foot placement are just a few reasons why you may choose to clip in, while flat pedals offer more freedom. Trail clipless pedals – which combine a clip-in mechanism with a flats-style platform – are designed to offer the best of both worlds. But do they really, and which are the best options out there? The answer depends on what you personally want from your pedals. Do you want a platform to just offer security for those critical moments on the trail when you can’t clip back in? Or do you want it so you can have the stable, planted feel of a flat pedal, together with the consistency…

GROUPTEST CLIPLESS PEDALS

TRAILCREW HAVOK BIKE PARK

HAVOK BIKE PARK TRAIL STATS Three push-up tracks: Jammy Lasagna (blue) Super-flowy crowd-pleaser with a rhythm section and some red options Savage Cabbage (red) Mostly rollable, with some fast bucket turns and avoidable mid-sized features into a big finale with jumps Sun Dried Mum (black) An exposed ridgeline with a decent-sized hip at the bottom. There are dirt jumps in the quarry closer to the top Distance Each trail is around 1km long Climbing It takes 15 minutes to ride to the top Time Under one-and-a-half minutes per track for the fastest riders Grading Red/black, if you hit all the jumps WHY RIDE HERE? It’s the focal point for jumping and DH-style riding in the area RAD... The only well-sculpted big jumps for miles around A grassroots community that’s welcoming to all BAD... No facilities, toilets or uplift service Some trails don’t use the full top-to-bottom elevation yet After a year’s hiatus, Havok…

TRAILCREW HAVOK BIKE PARK

TECH Q&A FILLING THE TANK I’ve decided I want to up my racing game next year and enter some multi-day events. I’m aware that I’ll have to consume a lot of calories while I’m out, but also that there’s loads of discussion about how best to do this. My pals constantly joke that I’m going to have rotten intestines after downing loads of energy drinks – is this true? Stan, via email Having done a few such long events ourselves – fuelling both adequately and inadequately! – we can confirm you’re going to burn lots of calories. If you want to perform at your best, a mixture of carbohydrate sources is wise, and dedicated energy products should be part of that mix. We find energy drinks the most efficient way of getting calories in, because…

HOW TO... GET FASTER, QUICK!

Who doesn’t want to boost their speed on the bike? It might be done to push yourself more, to keep up with your riding buddies or just because you find going fast fun. The ways you can go faster aren’t always what you’d assume, though – and it isn’t about increasing risk. Instead, you need to work on attaining higher speeds while maintaining confidence and control. Let’s break it down and find out how we can build your speed... PRO-FILE OLLY MORRIS JOB Skills coach for Pro Ride CREDENTIALS Bristol-based Olly is the owner of Pro Ride Mountain Bike Coaching and the ride coach for the MS Mondraker downhill team. He also races at national and World Cup level. www.proridemtb.com 1. SLOW DOWN! This might sound counter-intuitive, but so many riders think they need to try…

HOW TO... GET FASTER, QUICK!

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