Dropping in! This month we help you find the right tyre tread, compound and pressure for your riding, plus we rate 15 of the latest trail helmets and test high- and low-pivot suspension designs head to head.
Matt Jones and Chopper Fielder show you how to tackle drops of all sizes, while the DadCamTV lads reveal the secrets to living the pro-rider lifestyle on the cheap.
All this, plus stealth kit you can wear in the gnar and at the bar, a custom Orange for a 10-year-old pinner, high-alpine singletrack in Chamonix, bike geometry basics explained, why you should check out Afan Bike Park and some great spring rides. It's unmissable!
Tyred out: part one
Tyres are your contact point with the ground when riding; affecting your grip in corners and over loose or slippery terrain, as well as how much traction your steed can maintain, and its potential speed. So, there's a lot to consider when choosing the right rubber, but we've put together this comprehensive guide to help you make the right decision.
Trail helmets on test
Bike helmet tech is always on the move. After all, bashing your bonce can have dire consequences and decent protection can literally mean the difference between life and death. We've taken 15 of the latest lids out for some serious runs to test their comfort, design features and the limits of their protective credentials.
High-pivot versus low-pivot
In this special head-to-head biketest, we've taken out two bikes with radically different suspension designs to see exactly how each one performs on the trails. Can a downhill-designed high-pivot machine hold its own outside of its intended discipline?
How to hit drops with confidence
You'll find drops on many trails, whether in your local woods or hitting sculpted bike park laps. Some are purpose-built, whereas others are rollable features that become drops as you ride faster. We've enlisted the help of top slopestylers Matt Jones and Grant 'Chopper' Fielder to help you tackle each type respectively.
Freeride for
[nearly]
free!
Mountain biking can have somewhat restrictive barriers of entry… or can it? The lads of Gloucestershire-based riding crew DadCamTV are keen young guns with heaps of talent but thin wallets. We take a trip in their fleet of long-in-the-tooth vehicles to see how you don't need bags of cash, a bike park on your doorstep or sponsors sniffing at your heels to get really wild on two wheels.
Proving grounds
Chamonix in France is renowned for its wealth of winter sports. But what happens when the ski lifts close down and the ice melts? Adventurer and photographer Dan Milner takes on a deadly network of scree-blasted singletrack trails between the long-abandoned lift stations of the Cosmiques Couloir.
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. We've got new bikes from Focus and Santa Cruz, along with pages of product reviews that include Giro's Latch flat-pedal shoes. Plus, discover our pick of the best spring riding in the UK and our Trail Crew report from Afan Bike Park in South Wales.
Subscription offer
Subscribe to MBUK and get a pair of G-Form Pro-Rugged elbow pads!
Why subscribe?
- Get a pair of G-Form Pro-Rugged elbow pads worth £64.99
- Save 25% on the cover price: £58.40 every 13 issues by direct debit
- 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!
