The Cali Kid & The Wheelie Queen

Marin County is a historic location in the world of mountain biking. Lying just north of San Francisco, it's where pioneers such as Charlie Kelly and Joe Breeze first cobbled together 'klunker' bikes and raced them down the infamous Repack downhill, spawning a whole new sport.

Neither Matt Koen nor Martha Gill can claim to be born-and-bred Californians, but the brand they both ride for – Marin Bikes – certainly can. Since 1986, Marin bikes have been ridden through every era of MTBing, and now they're being raced by these two future stars of the sport.

Matt, 19 – who was born in South Africa but is now the quintessential surfing, skating, pickup-driving California kid – and Martha, 20 – a Lancashire lass with a love of (and serious talent for) wheelies – are a pair of up-and-coming EWS racers on the cusp of breaking into the top ranks.

For the new issue of MBUK, photographer Steve Behr caught up with them both in the birthplace of MTB to find out more about them and watch them hit the trails. You can read the full story in our October 2018 issue (MBUK 361), on sale now. To whet your appetite, check out these web edits of Matt and Martha shredding!

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