There's something for everyone in this month's MBUK. Learn how to pick lines and read the trail for a smoother, faster ride. We've got reviews of 12 dropper seatposts, four 'downcountry' bikes and six hydration hip packs. Join us as we hang out with all-time legend Steve Peat and find out what he's been up to since retiring from racing. Jumping at the chance to get out and about again, we ride Wales's best blue trail, explore Dartmoor, get wild at Black Mountains Cycle Centre and meet the Swinley Forest locals. Plus, you guessed it, much more!
How to read the trail like a pro
Picking the right lines can really level up your riding. For this comprehensive how-to guide, we've teamed up with pro coach Olly Morris to shed some light and what many riders get wrong (and right) about line choice on the trails. Learn how to pick a killer line through the features you'll come across and properly control your braking and acceleration to ride faster and more efficiently.
Downcountry bikes
In this month's biketest we test four downcountry bikes – also known as 'rad XC'. This new breed of MTB is aimed at those who want to put in the miles and smash an all-day epic, but is also equipped with the right arsenal of kit to chew up more technical trail features – and even the odd jump or two.
Dropper seatposts on test
Over the decade or so that they've been around, dropper posts have completely transformed the way we ride bikes. So much so, in fact, that it's hard to remember what it was like without them. Being able to adjust your saddle height as you ride has opened up a world of possibilities for us MTBers, but whether you're adding the first dropper to your bike or upgrading an existing one, which is the most deserving of your cash? We put 12 posts through the mill to find out.
Peaty's pies
Steve Peat is a name every mountain biker should know. This legend of downhill racing once tore it up between the tapes, but what's he been up to since retiring from the pro scene and settling down in his hometown of Sheffield? A lot, as it turns out. We spend a day with Peaty on his home turf and discover that he's a man with his fingers in many pies.
Blues Cruise
In the second part of our series to find and ride the UK's best blue-graded trails, we're pedalling over the border into Wales. The rugged terrain of this beautiful country has drawn many a mountain biker along its ridges and into its wooded valleys, but which is the best blue Wales has got to offer?
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 new bikes from Specialized, Santa Cruz and Juliana, along with pages of product reviews that include Leatt's MTB 4.0 Enduro helmet.
Free gift
With all the huffing, puffing, splashes of mud and god knows what else, you'd be very lucky to finish a day of riding smelling as fresh as a spring breeze. That's why we've got you covered by giving away these free official Peaty's air fresheners, so you can mask the musk on the drive home!
Subscription offer
Subscribe to MBUK and receive a pair of G-Form Sorata Trail Gloves!
Why subscribe?
- Save 30% on the shop price: only £24.99 every 6 issues
- Get a pair of G-Form Sorata Trail Gloves worth £24.99
- Every issue delivered straight to your door
- Never miss an action-packed issue or supplement
- Exclusive offers and competitions with our Subs Zone!
You can subscribe to MBUK here and check out our Facebook, Instagram and Twitter accounts for all of the latest mountain bike action.
And don’t forget to sign up to our newsletter!
