In this month's MBUK we test four £600-£900 bikes and 18 pairs of men’s and women’s shorts. We talk you through the fundamentals that all mountain bikers need to master, and find out how Matt Walker managed to conquer his crash fears and win the World Cup series – and how you can increase your confidence on the bike too.
Ride-wise, we’ve got a round-up of epic waymarked routes for all weathers, an ill-fated dawn raid on Helvellyn, an exploration of the countryside around Winchester and an adventure on Madeira. Plus we show you how to bleed Hope brakes, and much, much more.
Wallet-friendly hardtails
In this month's biketest we step away from the carbon fibre fantasies and test four affordable rigs, priced between £600 and £900, to see how much trail-smashing potential you can get for under a grand.
Matt Walker
Meet Matt Walker – the talented young rider who, at the age of just 21, suffered a brutal crash that could well have brought his burgeoning career to an abrupt halt. But surprising everyone, Matt not only bounced back, but went on to win the World Cup series. We tell his inspiring story.
We strike at dawn
James Vincent and his mates had a great idea (well, it seemed like one at the time) – to get up in the middle of the night and attempt a snow-blasted dawn raid on Helvellyn. In reality, it didn't quite turn out as planned… but it's a tale worth telling.
Between rock and water
The volcanic island of Madeira, far off the coast of North Africa, is a renowned pin on the mountain biking map. Over a whole season, for young rider Thorfinn Barton it was home. Thorfinn takes us on a tour of his bike-bum adventure in the Atlantic
Essential skills for new mountain bikers
The mountain biking scene is growing at an increasing rate, which we can all agree is a very good thing. With no license or training required, anyone can get themselves a bike and pedal off into the woods straight away. But we've enlisted pro coach Olly Morris to lay down some essential techniques, practices and fundamental areas of improvement to help new riders progress as fast as possible.
And that's not all…
This issue of MBUK is jam-packed with all the latest and greatest bikes, product reviews and news stories from the mountain biking world. There are brand new bikes from Trek and Propain, along with pages of product reviews that include our men's and women's shorts grouptest.
Free gift
With this issue we're giving you two gifts in one! This double-sided collector's poster features everyone's favourite MTB sheep Mint Sauce on one side, and pro rider Bernard Kerr on the other. Be sure to grab your copy to avoid missing out on this essential bit of off-bike decor.
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