Mountain Biking UK's own YouTube channel, MBUK TV, is now live – so go and check it out right now!
Since we launched our weekly(ish) MBUK videos last year, we've been posting them on BikeRadar's YouTube. However, the time has come to leave our Lycra-clad brethren behind and start a channel just for mountain bikers, where we can get a bit rowdier.
XC/trail/enduro (and condiments) expert Tom Marvin will be heading things up, while the man with the wildest moustache in mountain biking, Will Soffe, takes over workshop presenting duties.
Rob Weaver, Alex Evans and the rest of the MBUK crew will be making regular appearances too, while Max Wilman remains our main man behind the camera.
We'll be upping our output and introducing some fresh formats, but the biggest change is that we now have our own channel, MBUK TV. This will make our videos easier to find than ever.
Check out the teaser below:
What you can expect
Just like the magazine it's been born from, MBUK TV will cover a broad range of topics, including exciting challenges, reviews of the latest kit, tech opinions and the most important workshop tips and tricks to keep your bike rolling smoothly.
The channel will celebrate the sport we love, delving into the technology, trends, culture and personalities that make it so exciting and fun. Expect to see a host of pro riders and industry insiders joining us along the way, with two videos dropping on our new YouTube channel every week. We can guarantee plenty of laughs along the way too.
Our MBUK podcast will also be available on YouTube – as well as the usual places you get your pods – and will be going weekly, featuring world-class riders such as Brendan Fairclough, Tracy Moseley, Reece Wilson and Charlie Aldridge.
Head over to YouTube now to check out our first new videos – and make sure to like and subscribe!
Videos on the channel right now...
1. Taking on a terrifying World Cup DH track for the first time
Have you ever ridden a World Cup downhill track? Tom Marvin never has, nor has he ridden a downhill bike, for that matter!
Saracen Bikes challenge Tom to tackle the infamous Fort William course on one of their Myst downhill rigs, but can he muster the mental strength to take on this onslaught of rocks, roots, chutes, drops and jumps?
Fortunately, Tom has the knowledge of Madison Saracen Factory Race Team riders to draw upon with Matt Walker, George Madley, Matt Simmonds and manager Will Longden (formerly of Team MBUK, no less!) on hand to give him some hints and tips.
2. Get better braking for free – World Cup mechanic’s top tips
Stopping, cornering, controlling – your brakes are key to all these things. But often, a few little tweaks can help you get more performance from them.
Our workshop manager, Will Soffe, has been a World Cup mechanic, and if there’s anything those racers need, it’s on-point brakes.
Will takes us through the key steps to getting your brakes set up as perfectly as possible in this tech walkthrough.
3. Brendan Fairclough on Rampage, Deathgrip 2 and 20 years of racing
Brendan Fairclough is one of the UK’s most stylish and celebrated mountain bikers, and we’ve dragged him into the MBUK podcast studio for a natter.
From his days racing Downhill World Cups – for big factory teams such as G-Cross Honda, Monster Energy-Specialized and Scott – through to his appearances at the world’s most gnarly MTB event, Red Bull Rampage, we delve into Brendan’s career with him.
With his original 'Deathgrip' movie being perhaps the biggest MTB film ever, and potentially about to be superseded by the recently released 'Deathgrip 2', we also discuss his filmmaking, as well as his signature DMR Deathgrip contact points.
4. The RockShox Lyrik is better than the Fox 36 (and here's why)
MBUK’s hard-charging tester Alex Evans has ridden both of these popular suspension forks head-to-head to work out which performs best for your cash.
Built for enduro racers and heavier or more aggressive trail riders, both are popular on enduro and e-bikes, and likely upgrades for riders looking to improve performance up front.
The forks have recently been updated too, with new dampers and improved user-adjustability. Alex reckons one is better than the other – find out why.
Meet the team
Tom Marvin, MBUK TV presenter
For the past 12 years, Tom has been testing the latest and greatest tech for MBUK, while also throwing himself into any trip, challenge or feature he can squeeze into his busy calendar.
From riding the highest peaks in Europe to racing fatbikes in the Arctic, completing half a dozen Trail Bike of the Year tests to delving into the minutiae of waterproof fabric technology, he's done it all.
Max Wilman, MBUK TV videographer
Max has lived the dream as an MTB guide in sunnier climes and swung his camera around the race scene too. Now he’s behind the lens, capturing and editing all the exciting videos you’ll see on the new channel.
He’ll likely make cameos on camera too, hitting the biggest jumps he dares and slapping turns with his 20kg camera bag on his back.
Rob Weaver, tech supremo
Rob’s been in the mountain bike game longer than most, with a wealth of experience, from racing cross-country, downhill and enduro, to being one of the most trusted testers in the industry.
He’s not shy of pedalling up big hills, or covering big distances, but show him a downhill track and he’ll be off like a rocket.
Al Evans, testing specialist
There are few testers that brands fear more than Al. His mind-boggling riding skills and super-analytical assessment of product performance mean he’s the man to dig deep into a bike’s highs and lows.
He lives in the Tweed Valley, home to Enduro World Cup races and racers, and frequently tops the charts when it comes to times down the hill. Read into that what you will!
Will Soffe, mechanical mastermind
Fox suspension technician? Tick. Atherton Racing mechanic? Tick. Our workshop manager Will has all the skills to keep your bike in tip-top condition for the trails. Handily, he’s also a dab hand at communicating exactly what you need to do to ensure your bike is ready to ride.
Will will be taking control of our workshop content across MBUK. Look out for him on the BikeRadar YouTube channel too, if you like a bit of road or gravel riding as well.
