This month in MBUK magazine, the focus is fun! We share six easy ways to give even the most mundane ride some winter spice, spend a weekend with Bernard Kerr at his MTB compound and learn how the king of the grin himself, Olly Wilkins, turns every trail into a playground .
We also bring you detailed reviews of the latest burly e-bikes, gloves, waterproof jackets and all the latest kit.
Play time
With his Cheshire-Cat grin, high-intensity charm and, of course, mad skills on a mountain bike, there aren't many people who can make a ride as hilarious as Olly Wilkins can. But what's this pro dirt jumper turned all-round shredder's formula for fun? We head to the Surrey Hills to find out.
Weekend at Bernie's
Bernard Kerr is a boy at heart. He's a downhill demon who's surrounded himself with a seriously impressive collection of big boy's toys – from sports cars through MX bikes to MTBs. We sent Steve Behr to spend the weekend at Bernard's compound and he found himself exhausted after a single day…
California dreamin'
The USA may have been the birthplace of mountain biking, but it's still absolutely teeming with little-known trails and hidden riding gems. Adventurer, photographer and mountain biker Martin Bissig and his team at Qloom hit up California and found sun, sea, sand and singletrack to rival the best in the world.
Waterproof jackets on test
Like it or loathe it, winter is closing in and the trails are getting slimier by the week. As we all know, a day's riding at this time of year very often brings showers from above and splatters from below, so a good waterproof jacket is essential. We test the best offerings on the market for fit, functionality and suitability for MTB manoeuvres.
Mid-range e-MTBs
E-bikes are getting more powerful and competitively priced by the year. But can they hit the elusive sweet spot of riding performance? We test three five-grand burly e-MTBs head to head, to see which can balance weight, power and geometry to give a ride to rival their 'analogue' cousins.
Hopton Woods Trail Crew
Hopton Woods in Shropshire, near the England-Wales border, is a pin on the downhill racing map. But this long-established riding spot is becoming more of a worthy destination for riders of all kinds. The crew heads over there to see how advances in bike tech and trail building have contributed to its renaissance.
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 Specialized and Nukeproof, along with pages of product reviews that include TRP's TR12 rear mech and shifter.
Free gift – official Mint Sauce mudguard
We're getting deep into slop season, but that doesn't mean it's time to hang up the helmet and lock the bike in the garage. Minimise the muck by fitting your official Mint Sauce mudguard – your free gift this issue!
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