In this month's MBUK it's a bike park special – with an in-depth head-to-head test of two of the biggest, burliest park-smashers around. But we're not saying you need to pay through the nose to make the most of a day at the bike park, so we've also got a comprehensive guide of kit, skills and set-up tips so you can hit the bike parks on whatever you've got.
We put six handlebars and 15 hydration packs through their paces, lay down three incredible riding routes in the Lake District and explain the magic of solo rides.
Rowdy long-travel rigs
In a special head-to-head biketest, we take a close look at two takes on the modern freeride bike – beefy, burly machines designed for serious sessions at the bike park and on the gnarliest, steepest mountainside tracks.
How to hit the bike park on a budget
Believe it or not, you don't need to remortgage your house to get yourself a steed worthy of a day at the most modern bike parks. With a few planning and set-up tips, essential skills and wise small investments, you can make whatever you have into the best tool for the job.
After the avalanche
Alpes d'Huez is renowned in the mountain biking world for the Megavalanche – a downhill race formidable enough to send shivers down the spine of anyone who's heard of it, let alone taken part. But what happens there when the race doesn't? Adventure biker Dan Milner heads on his own alpine MTB mission to find out.
Forked up beyond all recognition
Suspension forks are one of the definitive and most important components on any bike. Tech wizard Will Soffe takes a look at where they've been, how they got to where they are today – and where we think they're going.
Going solo
Some riders see riding on your own simply as the result of being let down by your mates. Others are less damning, but still see it as an inferior activity to group rides. But in the age of socially distant activities, it's the perfect time to take another look at the philosophy and magic of going solo.
Lake District Dirty Weekender
Max Darkins heads up to the land of Wainwright and Beatrix Potter, but this isn't about bunnies in waistcoats or rambles in flatcaps! Max finds three of the muddiest, most monstrous mountain bike rides in the North West, and shows you how to do them all in a weekend – and still have time for tea and scones.
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 Canyon, and Forbidden, along with pages of product reviews that include our hydration packs grouptest.
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