As 2020 comes to a close, in this month's MBUK we show you how to push your limits as you look to the future, progressing your skills and riding further and faster than ever before. We try an extreme sports mash-up of rock climbing and mountain biking, tell the story of one man's mission to conquer the Lakes on a £400 bike and get essential tips on progression from the queen of downhill, Rachel Atherton.
We also bring you detailed reviews of some real home-grown talent in the form of the best British custom boutique hardtails money can buy, along with all the latest kit in Wrecked and Rated.
How to push yourself – with Rachel Atherton
Progressing your skills further and further (and having some fun along the way!) is something we all aim for in some capacity. But how do you approach developing the structure and attitude you need to be confident that you're making the most of your time? For the answers, we went straight to the top, enlisting the help of the queen of downhill herself, Rachel Atherton! Rach reveals her own personal regimens and disciplines to ensure she is always at the top of her game.
Rockin' and rollin'
MBUK alumnus and adventurous nutcase Ed Thomsett is joined by fellow Northern mountain man Sam Flanagan in the Lake District for a round of 'climb 'n' ride' – a new sport of Ed's own design, which involves climbing a sheer rock face with a mountain bike strapped to your back and then riding down the other side. Rather him than us, but the resulting feature is quite good, if we do say so ourselves!
607 miles, 214 peaks, one £400 bike
After finding himself furloughed from his job as a conservationist, Dan Wynn set himself a seriously ambitious challenge: to summit every one of the Wainwright fells in the Lake District in one continuous push. As if that wasn't enough of an achievement, the tool he chose for the job was his trusty £400 Saracen. This is his story.
Balance of power
Two old dogs of MTB head out to try their hand at something very new! Hans Rey takes Rob Warner for a day of e-bike trials – a new take on the beloved discipline that combines muscle and motor, with a focus on fun. Can a discipline based on dexterity and manoeuvrability take on the extra heft of a motor and battery?
Boutique British hardtails on test
This month's Biketest does it a little differently: we've personally set-up a line-up of fully personalised British hardtails from UK manufacturers – decking them out with custom kit and hitting the trails for a truly unique showdown. They're certainly sexy, but can these luxurious steeds compete with their cheaper mass-produced cousins?
Southampton Trail Crew
Ed Thomsett takes the crew to Southampton, Hampshire to check out two local venues: Bike Park Bishopstoke and Southampton Bike Park. Along for the ride and to make sure these riding spots get properly put through their paces are renowned Southern MTBers and likely lads Ben Deakin and Grant 'Chopper' Fielder.
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 Vitus, Devinci and Santa Cruz, along with pages of product reviews that include our burly enduro fork grouptest.
Free gift – official MBUK 2021 calendar!
Christmas has come early! We've brought back our beloved official calendar for another year and are throwing it in for free with this issue! The coldest months are still ahead but if you really can't face the elements, you'll at least have a bit of eye candy on the wall to stare at.
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