Mountain Biking UK Sample Issue

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BIKING M IN A T N U O M LLING

AGAZINE ISSUE 37190 SUMMER 20

R O F S L L I S K H I LL S THE S E N I L E D I INS H E U K ' S F I R S T R IDING TB IK E PA R K INDOOR

T LD'S S E F R E F F SU E O N T H E W O R W E TA K ST EN DURO TOUGHE

E V O L L L I T S WHY WLEHARDTAILS STEE W HICH ONE – A ND HOULD BU Y YO U S

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HT IG N R E V O IC EP HE T IN E R U T N ADVE DISTRICT L AKE

R A E G & S E BIK PRODUCTS

4 4 NE W CLUDING T EST ED,OINR T ST EM S 12 S H

SUMMER 2019 PRINTED IN THE UK £5.99

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EACONS B N O C E BR

The fickle nature of British weather can sometimes make for some nasty surprises, but if you’re brave (or foolish) enough to venture out in a bad one, you can find some pretty incredible scenes – as this surreal photo from Andy Lloyd shows.

It was taken during a shoot for WTB, on a day that Andy describes as “almost warm and sunny”. The crew set off to ride the classic Brecon Beacons route ‘The Gap’, which cuts between the mountains of Cribyn and Fan y Big. But by the time they’d reached the summit of the latter, the weather had properly closed in.

“We gave up on the ‘epic’ landscape shots pretty quickly,”

explains Andy, “due to the lack of any visible landscape, and gale-force winds that were blowing so hard it was pretty precarious to stand up, let alone ride. Eventually I managed to coax Lucinda Smith and Bryony Stanfield out of the tiny, sheltered cairn on the summit, for a shot I’d eyed up – a section of trail running along the ridge that created an optical illusion due to the low cloud.

“The funny thing is that Luci and Bryony look like they’re struggling up towards a summit, when in fact they’re riding downhill. My standard ‘one more shot’ routine was kept to a minimum, as I could barely feel my finger on the shutter release and the riders were at risk of being blown off the ridge!”

Photo: Andy Lloyd

MIND THE GAP

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Want T hat!

H S I L Y T S IES SUNN

m pesky ro f s e y e r u Protect ynod look cool doing it UVs – a 1 Oakley Frogskins Mix Oakley’s eyewear styling is always on-point (with the exception of those space-age Over The Top bug eyes from the Noughties, which we can picture Brian Lopes rocking shirtless back in the day). These Frogskin Mixes take one of our favourite frame designs and remodel it in new materials, with stainless steel arms and a fancy Prizm lens. £130 www.oakley.com

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The ’50s return with this pair of stylish half-rim glasses. Smith have combined vintage aesthetics with modern technology here, using an eco-friendly, plant-based material for the frame and fitting them with their glare-reducing, water-repelling ChromaPop polarised lenses. £89.99 www.rxsport.co.uk

3 Pit Viper 1993 2000 ‘Polarising not polarised’ is how we’d describe these lairy, all-American sunnies.

You’ll either love or loathe the Pit Viper style, but you can’t help but crack a smile when you see someone wearing them. Described as ‘sunglasses from the future’, the 2000s are an evolution of the Pit Viper Originals and they come in a range of paint-splattered designs, with mirrored UV lenses and hilarious self-aware names.

US$99 www.pitvipersunglasses.com

4 100% Hakan Bridging the gap between casual and technical, the Hakans have a semi-wraparound shape, lots of coverage and a good field of vison, making them functional enough for riding, but not so

much so that it looks like you’ve come straight from a chemistry class. They’re scratch-resistant, shatterproof and this particular model has contrast-enhancing, polarised PeakPolar lenses. £134.99 www.madison.co.uk

5 Sungod Renegades Sungod are relative newcomers to the glasses game, but affordable pricing and plenty of customisation options should make their sunnies popular. The Renegades are reminiscent in shape of some of our favourites, and the matt tortoiseshell finish looks rad. They’re perfect for travel too, with flexible frames and a weight of just 29g. £70 www.sungod.co.uk

6 Melon Optics Layback 2 UK brand Melon give you the option to design your own sunglasses, right down to having different-coloured arms. Given the impressive range of choices and solid build, they’re cheap too. Also, for every set Melon sell, they donate a pair to the Himalayan Eyecare Project, which provides sunglasses to those living at high altitudes, who are most at risk from UV rays. £40 www.melonoptics.co.uk

MBUK’S MONTH

The highs & lows of life on the mag

Congrats to our technical editorin-chief Rob’s wife, who’s just given birth to their second baby. Look out for a grouptest of child seats coming soon ((onlyy joking!).

Seconds with...

SI PATON The man who brought the Malverns Classic back to life. If you’ve attended anything to do with downhill racing over the past 15 years, you’ll have undoubtedly come across Si. A racer, organiser, British Cycling commissaire, retailer, online contributor, commentator and everything in between, Si has long been a huge part of the UK mountain biking scene. The loud, outspoken Brummie has a love for the sport that’s hard to equal, which started on a BMX back in the ’80s, jumping off hand-built ramps.

Who is Si Paton?

The ‘Del Boy’ of British MTB, with fingers in many pies. Primarily a racer. 4X National Champ in 2013 and DH National Champs bronze medal winner in 2017. Organised the British Downhill Series for 11 years.

British Cycling commissaire and Gravity Commission Board member for 10 years.

Commentated at Crankworx and also on Eurosport for the DH World Cups.

backflips. He tows me into the big jumps. I’m still faster than him, honestly!

650b or 29in?

I’m 5ft 6ins tall. Next question, please.

Favourite bike film?

New World Disorder vs Earthed vs Sprung. They’re all winners. Or can I say E.T.?

Bike park flow or natural gnar?

Natural, all the time, every time – with some big jumps at the bottom.

What do you do?

Malverns Classic event director and father to my two beautiful daughters, Polly and Nell.

Scariest thing you’ve done on a bike?

I’m getting old these days – I just hit 48 – so to date it’s the Black Mountains Cycle Centre’s Full Moto. Before that, Whistler’s Filthy Ape Rock Roll took the biscuit for nearly 20 years.

Where do you call home?

Birmingham.

First bike?

Raleigh Budgie, Raleigh Grifter, then a Moto One BMX in 1981.

Go-to bike?

Cannondale Jekyll.

What gets you excited to ride?

Jumps… big jumps – the bigger the better. Or steep, off-piste technical trails that you need to let the tyre pressure down to navigate.

Favourite rider to watch?

I’ll get soppy now and say my younger brother, Oliver.

Watching him go from a little grom to busting

Best trail you’ve ridden this year?

Somewhere near Telford with my training partner Steve Liggins. It’s secret, so I can’t tell you where it is.

Worst crash you’ve ever had?

At Whistler, I hit a spectator head-on and snapped my Leatt neck brace. Without that, I’d have been in a right mess. It saved my life.

Clips or flats?

Hold on, what about toe clips? I started on those.

Never, ever go clipped-in.

Blame Geoff Waugh for that picture of Francois Gachet in 1997 at the World Champs. He crashed – clipped-in – and the disturbing photo shows Gachet’s foot pointing south. Ouch!

Race results or Instagram followers?

The heart says race results, but it’s 2019 so ‘InstaFamous’ it is.

Dream sponsor?

A motorhome sponsor – Burstner.

How far can you wheelie?

About 15 pedal strokes and I’m done. But if you want to challenge me at something, I’m the undisputed ‘king of roll-backs’.

Ed’s been putting his brazing work to the test and giving our Great British Hardtail a good thrashing. Much to his relief (and ours), it hasn’t snapped yet!

By the time you read this, we’ll have just returned to work after the Fort William World Cup. Hopefully it’ll have been an amazing weekend of sunshine, British domination and minimal midges. Having said that, we’re already dreading the hungover drive home! Look out for a feature from the event in next month’s mag.

Shropshire’s Pearce Cycles got broken into last month and the scumbags stole bikes worth over £70,000.

There’s a special place in hell reserved for bik bike ke th thieves. hieves

Desert island luxury?

Hensley, my dog.

Advice for your 13-year-old self?

Read How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie.

What would you be doing if you weren’t organising the Malverns Classic?

Working in IT sales, sitting in my company car in a traffic jam on the M6, dreaming about riding bikes and pretty much wasting my life doing something I don’t care about.

Ouur attempts Our at a public transport trip to the Highlands fell apart when the sleeper train couldn’t take bikes.

Come on guys, you should be making space for bikes and promoting eco-friendly travel and two-wheeled adventures.

It was Jimmer’s turn to have a liedown in the dirt this month. He’s now sporting some juicy grazes (which he won’t shut up about).

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TURNING IT UP TO 12 Shimano’s stalwart XT and SLX groups gain an extra sprocket When it comes to 12-speed shifting, Shimano are still playing catch-up with SRAM. They launched their first 1x12 groupset last year at top-end XTR level (M9100) and have now trickled the technology down to Deore XT (M8100) and SLX (M7100).

As with the XTR group, there’s a choice of 10-51t or 10-45t cassettes, with the former giving a 510 per cent gear range. New Hyperglide+ tooth profiling is said to give faster and smoother shifts, even under load. The downside is that both require use of a Micro Spline freehub to accommodate the 10t smallest sprocket, so you’ll need a new rear hub/wheel.

New I-Spec EV mounts mean you can integrate the shifter with your Shimano brake lever but still adjust its angle and distance from your grip independently.

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The hollow aluminium cranks use directmount chainrings with a narrow/wide tooth profile, available in a range of sizes, starting from 28t for XT and 30t for SLX. Finally, SLX also gets a four-piston brake option, following the introduction of the four-pot XT M8020 stopper last year.

UK pricing for the new XT and SLX drivetrains is still to be confirmed, but we can expect it to be considerably lower than the near-£1,000 headline price of XTR M9100, due to use of cheaper materials and production methods. Twin-ring versions of both will be available too. Shimano say a full XT groupset weighs 365g more than an XTR group of the same specification, and SLX is 148g heavier again.

MET AIM HIGH WITH NEW PARACHUTE

Seven things you need to know about this convertible lid

Main Shimano’s new 1x cranks look pretty slick and come in a full range of lengths, ring sizes and BB standards Above The XT shifter gets a couple of upgrades over SLX – a textured grip and multi-release function Left Both cassettes use an alloy spider. Most of the sprockets are steel, for durability, but SLX gets one lighter alloy cog and XT gets two

First launched in 2007 as a low-profile, lightweight take on the full-face helmet, the MET Parachute has had a thoroughly modern makeover. Gone are the odd looks and strangely-shaped chin guard, and it’s now a true do-it-all lid that works well as both a fullface and trail half-shell. Here’s what you need to know about the new MET Parachute MCR...

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MET see this as one helmet for many purposes – they reckon it should be ideal for those who spend most of their time trail-riding but want added protection for uplift days.

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It’s now got a detachable chin bar that snaps into place with a magnetic catch developed in collaboration with Fidlock, who supply magnetic buckles for lots of helmets.

Once fitted, it looks just like a regular full-face.

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The helmet plus chin bar has ASTM safety certification for racing and BMX as both a trail lid and full-face.

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It’s fitted with a custom MIPS layer for added protection from rotational forces, and is compatible with neck braces

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The peak is adjustable to leave room for goggles, and flexible so it’ll bend and absorb some crash forces rather than just breaking.

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The Fidlock chin buckle is quick to do up and release, and the Boa fit system at the back allows plenty of secure adjustability.

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It comes in at £300, in a choice of five colourways and with a two-year crash replacement warranty.

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R R A IN E T E H T S K D T R AC N E K C A E N YO U B H E L W P G P A U L S R E R GY O A H W HILE TH T E L O N E TO N I ’S L E R M E O H R T F , SMOOTHLY H SK Y WARD OR SKIP Y FUN L G C N N I U S I A R L P O R ILS SU WANT T A R T R E T T A G FL LINE, M A K IN 42 Mountain Biking UK

STRA IG HT OUT OF THE BOX A ND ON TO TH E TRAILS

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7 E 2 Z I L O R A SPECIPJUMPER EVO P STUM £6,800 Long and slack trail-slayer for riders with deep pockets

SPEC Frame FACT 11m carbon fibre, 150mm (5.9in) travel Fork Fox 36 Performance Elite FIT GRIP2, 150mm travel Shock Fox DHX2 Performance Elite Drivetrain SRAM GX Eagle (1x12) Wheelset Specialized hubs on Roval Traverse Carbon rims with Specialized Butcher GRID Gripton 27.5x2.6in tyres Brakes SRAM Code RSC (200mm rotors) Bar/stem Specialized, 800mm/Specialized Trail, 40mm Seatpost/saddle Specialized Command Post IRcc, 160mm/ Specialized Body Geometry Phenom Expert Weight 14.26kg (31.4lb), S2 size without pedals

Specialized surprised everyone with just how extreme the numbers were on their latest Stumpjumper EVO when they announced it back in 2018 – it’s both lower and slacker than their enduro bike. At that point, the EVO was only available in aluminium. Following on from its success, the American brand have decided to commit it to carbon fibre and offer the flashier, and pricier, EVO Pro you see here, though they’ll likely offer a cheaper carbon option down the line.

in terms of playfulness. A chip at the base of the shock allows you to switch between high and low geometry settings, altering the head and seat angle by 0.5 degrees and the bottom bracket height by 6mm. In the low setting, the BB is a potentially pedal-clanging 324mm off the ground.

Unlike the aluminium EVO, this top-spec carbon model comes with a coil shock as standard,so be prepared for a little extra faff when it comes to setting things up.

The frame Just like the alloy version, the Stumpy EVO Pro is available with 650b or 29in wheels and in two sizes (S2 or S3). We opted for the smallerwheeled bike in the S2 size. This offers a generous reach of 465mm yet, thanks to the short 400mm seat tube, plenty of standover height – perfect for shorter riders looking for a lengthier bike.

The head angle is seriously slack at a smidge under 63 degrees and the wheelbase long at 1,230mm (in the low setting). A 76-degree seat angle helps make pedalling as efficient as possible, while the 440mm chainstays keep your ride position well-centred between the wheels without losing too much

The kit While the kit bolted to the EVO Pro is good, it’s not quite the droolworthy spec we’d expect for close to £7,000. Although the SRAM GX Eagle transmission and Fox 36 Performance Elite GRIP2 fork work well, we expected to see their pricier counterparts for this kind of cash.

SRAM’s powerful Code RSC brakes are a highlight though, and we liked the responsive feel from the carbonrimmed Roval wheelset.

The ride As with any long and slack bike of this nature, suspension balance front-to-rear is key when setting it up. While the 500lb spring on the DHX2 rear shock provided the right

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PIK E X O H S K C RO T E ULTIMA

£920 Silver trail surfer Not satisfied with the already class-leading performance of their forks, RockShox have updated the Pike for 2020 – and not just with new model names, colours and graphics, but also refinements to the damper and seals, plus a new oil – all in the name of reducing friction and breakaway force. The top-end Ultimate fork (there are cheaper Select+ and Select versions too) uses RockShox’s latest Charger 2.1 damper and Maxima Plush suspension fluid, plus new SKF wiper seals. These updates can be bought aftermarket too, to bring your current fork up to the latest specs. At 1,921g it’s no heavyweight, but should be able to handle everything the trail throws at you.

www.zyrofisher.co.uk

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4 K M C E T G R B U S I T E P E DA L S COM PO

£39.99 Flats for less cash

Burgtec’s new composite pedals use their tried-and-tested Penthouse platform design – which is 16mm deep, with 1mm of concavity – but are constructed from nylon and fibreglass to cut costs and weight. They tip the scales at just 376g a pair – 64g less than the Penthouse pedals, with the same chromoly steel axles and replaceable steel pins – and at only £40 look like they could prove an absolute bargain. With eight colours to choose from, there should be a set to suit your bike.

www.burgtec.co.uk

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P R E S E N t s

we take on six challenges every mountain biker should try #4 epic mountain adventure Words James Blackwell Photos Sam Flanagan

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HIGHS

MEET THE MBUK TEST TEAM

R O B W E AV

ER

With two decades of riding experience, Rob knows what works and what doesn’t

Lightweight and super-comfy pads for whole days on the trail Padding articulates well and offers decent coverage

OUR RATINGS

LOWS

We base our scores on value for money and performance

If the lower opening curved up and over the top of your calf muscle, comfort would be enhanced further

EXCEPTIONAL

A genuine class leader

VERY GOOD

One of the best you can buy

IT E MSTALERVYIN-W H JA M ESTOCMO The he only thing Tom loves more than than his hiis clapped-out V VW Caddyy iiss hammering ttest est kkit

GOOD

It’ll do the job and do it well

BELOW AVERAGE

Flawed in some way

S E B STOT T No slouch on the race track, Seb’s passion for engineering helps him pick products apart

M AT T O RT

ON

POOR

Simply put, don’t bother!

The best product on test, in terms of performance, quality and price

Our in-house house wei weirdy irdy b beardy likes long, ng, hard ri rides ides aand kit that challenges hallenges conve convention

LU K E M A R

S H A LL

An exceptional product for the money – you’re getting a fantastic deal

Keen racer Luke is quick to identify what helps or is a hindrance between the tape A truly outstanding product, regardless of price

S A LE X E VA N Riding at the sharp end of the sport since the age of 11, Alex knows his stuff

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G-Form Pro-X knee pads £54.99 G-Form use their RPT padding, which hardens upon impact, on the Pro-Xs in a bid to keep your knees safe without making the pads feel bulky or uncomfortable. The smooth, stretchy sleeve hugs your leg almost perfectly and keeps the pad exactly where it needs to be. We found that shifting the lower opening up a little, so it sat just above the calf muscle, made things much comfier, as it’s quite tight. Thanks to the silicone strip inside the upper opening, we had no issues with the sleeve sliding down on the trail. Most importantly though, it pulls the thick padding taut across your knee – where it stays.

Get pedalling and you’ll be surprised by just how comfy the Pro-Xs are. They feel more like knee warmers than pads, and while they do get warm, they’re not as sweaty as the likes of Fox’s older Launch Enduro knee pads. Thanks to the well-positioned gaps in the padding, they articulate incredibly well too, bending as your knee does without lifting or chafing in the process. Coverage is on par with other trail-style pads (check out G-Form’s Elite pads if you’re looking for something burlier) and it’s nice to see the addition of some extra side protection. It’s a real plus that there are five sizes to choose from too, especially considering the reasonable price tag. Rob http://gform.uk

Super-comfy knee pads that provide a really decent level of protection for trail riding

100% R-Core X jersey £69.99 This long sleeve jersey from 100% is made from polyester/elastane mesh panelling, which feels tough considering its lightweight construction and high level of breathability. It does require a baselayer underneath on cooler days though. We’d suggest sizing up if you wear body armour, as the cut is pretty slim (to cut down on excess material).

The taped cuffs are comfy, but don’t offer much stretch should you want to pull your sleeves up. It’s hard to knock the quality, fit and feel, although you’ll need deep pockets if you’re keen on the R-Core X, as it’s by no means cheap. Luke www.silverfish-uk.com

HIGHS Supple beginningstroke provides superb low-load traction Already class-leading comfort is improved with 2020 updates New damper gets a more usable range of compression adjustment

LOWS It’s a high-end fork with a high-end price tag

M AT T O RT

ON

Our in-house house wei weirdy irdy beardy b likes long, ng, hard rides riides and a kit that challenges hallenges conve convention

UR O N O W K I R Y T H E 2 0 19 L T E S T A N D T H E OUP 10 - F O R K G R A S U B T L E – ON IS N E W V ER S I M P ROV E M E N T TE – I I N I F E D T U B

RockShox Lyrik Ultimate RC2 fork £990 Just a few months into 2019, RockShox released their 2020 products. These include an updated version of their flagship enduro fork, the Lyrik.

The 2019 Lyrik won our 10-fork grouptest in MBUK 367, and the new version is a subtle – but definite – improvement.

The suite of changes includes a new damper seal head, wiper seals and damping fluid, all aimed at reducing friction and improving sensitivity. There’s an updated Charger 2.1 damper too, designed to increase rebound damping control at very low shaft speeds. More importantly, it’s also been retuned to give you the option of having less high-speed compression damping (fully open on the 2019 Charger 2 damper corresponds to two clicks from open on the 2020 Charger 2.1).

If you have an older Lyrik and want more sensitivity, the seals and damping oil can be cheaply upgraded when your fork is serviced, and the Charger 2.1 damper is available as an upgrade, priced at £325. The DebonAir spring introduced in 2019 remains the key USP of the fork, offering a softer beginning-stroke than any of its air-sprung rivals, while holding the fork higher after sag. It’s for this reason that the 2019 Lyrik had the edge over its only close rival – Fox’s 36 GRIP2 – in our previous tests.

When swapping between the 2019 and 2020 Lyriks, certain differences come to the surface.

Most obviously, we used more travel with the new fork. Both were set to 180mm of travel, with 98psi in the air spring (our tester weighs 86kg), no spacers and fully-open compression damping.

Configured like this, neither Lyrik uses all that squish often. This isn’t because the spring force ramps up harshly towards the end of the travel, but because it builds up earlier throughout the stroke, so you’re pushing against a firm spring for longer. The 2020 fork is noticeably softer over high-speed hits, which allows it to use visibly more travel and transmit less feedback through your hands. Despite this, we still never bottomed it out, and there’s plenty of scope to increase the compression damping when needed.

Even with the high- and low-speed compression fully open, the fork stays high in its travel when pushing into turns. We didn’t notice it diving significantly more than the 2019 model at any point. And yet, we consistently experienced less hand pain with the 2020 fork in back-to-back runs. The 2020 Lyrik isn’t a game-changing improvement over the 2019 version by any means, but it’s noticeably suppler and more comfortable when tested back-to-back. Seb www.zyrofisher.co.uk

The best just got better. RockShox’s rivals will have to up their game to compete with this

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T S E T E K BI

STEEL HARDTAIL SHOOTOUT The devil’s in the detail with four of the latest, built-to-last options

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OUR RATINGS We base our scores on value for money and performance

EXCEPTIONAL A genuine class leader

VERY GOOD

One of the best you can buy

GOOD

It’ll do the job and do it well

BELOW AVERAGE

Flawed in some way

POOR

Simply put, don’t bother!

THE TESTER

T S E T P GROU

SHORT STEMS

We test 12 sub-50mm trail/enduro options to find the best for you A lot of people choose their stem based on length and/or looks alone, but this relatively simple component can have a big bearing on the way a bike rides. Small differences in material, shape or size can have a noticeable effect on the handling – and potentially your safety – making it hard to find the best one for your riding. We’ve tested 12 head-to-head to help make that difficult decision that little bit easier.

There are many different factors to consider before taking the leap and spending your hardearned cash on a new stem. These include weight (not of major importance, but an extra 30g on each component soon adds up), cost, length, material and even the way in which it’s constructed. You also need to take into account the stack height and rise of the stem, to ensure it’ll fit on your steerer tube and hold the handlebar in a comfortable position.

Then there’s stiffness. While it’s hard to feel any discernible difference in rigidity with stems of this length (most of the flex you’ll feel – or not – will be coming from the bar), if you’re shopping for something a little longer, it’s a factor you’ll need to take into account. A stem with too much flex will make your steering feel vague, while one

that’s super-stiff will add an unwelcome harshness to proceedings.

Looks will come into it too, because you’ll want to make sure your new stem complements your ride – but more important is security, because if the stem slips on the steerer or the bar rolls in the clamp, you could find yourself in a whole heap of trouble. Something people often don’t think about when buying a stem is how easy it is to fit. Is it fiddly or does it have some features that aid the process? Are the bolts on the faceplate the same as used on the steerer clamp or will you need two different Allen keys to get it onto your bike? These are all good things to keep in mind when looking for the perfect package.

To keep our testing as fair as possible, we only tested stems with a 35mm handlebar clamp, although many are also available in 31.8mm. We also used the same handlebar with all of them. In terms of length, we opted for the shortest option available, which ranged from 32mm to 40mm, depending on what each brand had in their line-up.

We’ve steered (get it?) away from anything longer because it’s these lengths we’re seeing the most of on modern trail and enduro bikes. After miles of hammering, here’s how the test played out…

jargon LI A IE UA N W IL

MS

This plucky Welsh sender is happiest launching gaps and pummelling downhill runs, so he knows the importance of a strong and secure stem.

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ADJUSTMENT WINDOW Cutout or clamp gap found at the front of many stems, which helps you to correctly align the handlebar.

BAR CLAMP Part of the stem that holds the handlebar, the front of which is known as the faceplate.

Most commonly secured with four bolts, although some stems only use two.

STEERER CLAMP

STEM STACK HEIGHT

TORQUE SETTING

ZERO-GAP CLAMP

Section of the stem that attaches to the fork’s steerer tube.

Most stems use two bolts, but a few designs employ an internal wedge system instead.

Amount of space the stem takes up on the steerer.

Different to bike stack height, which is the vertical distance from the centre of the BB to the centre-top of the head tube.

Manufacturer’s recommendation for how tight each bolt should be fastened to ensure a secure but not damaging grip on the bar/steerer.

Measured in Newton metres.

Bar clamp that closes fully at the top or bottom and is tightened from the opposite end.

Ensures more even tensioning.

details LENGTH Stems come in many different extensions.

For trail/enduro riding we favour short stems (30 to 50mm), because they provide sharper steering. Be warned that on older frames they can leave the distance from the saddle to the bar feeling a little short.

RISE The angle or height difference between the centre of the bar clamp and of the steerer clamp, measured in degrees or millimetres. Affects the handlebar height.

Some stems can be flipped to give a negative rise, in order to achieve a lower bar height.

BAR CLAMP SIZE The bar clamps on mountain bike stems come in three different diameters – 35mm, 31.8mm and, less commonly these days, 25.4mm – and need to matched with the same size handlebar. They differ in width too, with a broader clamp generally providing a stiffer connection.

CONSTRUCTION While carbon fibre stems are available for weight weenies, most are made from some form of aluminium alloy. They’re either CNC machined (carved from a solid billet), forged (forced into shape under immense pressures) or cast (formed using heat). The results differ in look, feel and quality.

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Set your sag Taking time to properly set up your suspension is vital. With the bike being heavier than a regular trail bike, your fork and shock will probably require more air pressure to achieve the correct sag. Have a friend help while you stand up on the bike, and measure the sag on the fork and shock.

Aim for between 15 and 25 per cent at the front, and 20 to 30 per cent at the rear, to start with. Consider adding volume spacers or compression adjustment if you’re still bottoming out the fork and/or shock.

Get more from your e-bike MTB coach Alan Milway explains how to get your set-up dialled E-bikes bring another dimension to a mountain bike ride. While they may look very similar to normal trail bikes – albeit with a heavy battery, a motor and generally wider tyres – they require a different approach to set-up in order to maximise performance and get more than just a boost up the hills.

PRO-FILE

alan milway JOB Professional MTB coach CREDENTIALS Alan Milway has more than 13 years of experience training some of the world’s best racers.

He’s also part of the holistic coaching brand +3 MTB, so while he has the knowledge to train those operating at the highest level, he understands the needs of everyday riders too.

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Tune the suspension Some e-bikes will benefit from a suspension re-valve, to increase the amount of compression damping available. This will help support the added weight of the bike and stop the fork diving through its travel. While this work should be done by a suspension expert, it can really improve the handling and control of an e-bike – especially on descents.

check the Brakes With their increased stability and grip – due to their heavier weight and low centre of gravity – e-bikes can feel amazing on fast downhills, but it’s easy to overshoot corners due to the increased inertia. They generally have large rear brake rotors to help slow them down, so ensure the brakes are working well, and monitor pad and rotor wear. Poor brake performance will ruin an e-bike ride, so take the time to bleed them when the levers start to feel spongy.

Up your tyre Pressures E-bikes generally have larger-volume tyres that need higher pressures to prevent them from feeling vague or rolling on the rim when loaded hard into corners. In fast sections, it can feel as though they’re ‘folding’ under the bike if run too soft (or at your ‘normal’ trail bike pressures).

The levels of grip they offer when set-up well is huge though. To start with, aim to increase the pressures by 5psi over your standard set-up.

Make adjustments both up and down in pressure to see how it affects performance.

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DUNKELD, SCOTLAND Max discovers a smorgasbord of fantastic tech trails in this unassuming corner of Perthshire, and all within pedalling distance of exceedingly good cake Words Max Darkins Photos Russell Burton

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I N A S S O C I AT I O N W I T H

WHERE ARE WE? DUNKELD, SCOTLAND Dunkeld is a historic town in Perthshire, off the A9 between Perth and Pitlochry, south of the Cairngorms. It’s surrounded by spectacular countryside that’s filled with fantastic and varied biking. www.dunkeldandbirnam.org.uk

Pick a direction, set off from Dunkeld and you’re guaranteed great riding for miles around

Fort William

Dunkeld Perth

Glasgow

Edinburgh

Atholl Hill boasts long, gentle rides, along with some steeper, downhill runs on its western face

T

his month’s Big Ride finds us in the wellpreserved town of Dunkeld, the gateway to the Cairngorms. It’s a great destination for a roadtrip, with lots of amazing biking in every direction, just a short pedal from town. The riding ranges from easy family trails along the River Tay up to downhill tracks that have hosted Scottish Downhill Association rounds. Local riders have built up good relationships with the landowners, hence the proliferation of trails here.

Our guide today is Ric McLaughlin, the ex-MBUK staffer turned Red Bull presenter and field reporter, who recently settled in Dunkeld. I can see why, because the town is very welcoming. It reminds me of the ‘cycle hubs’ in Wales, such as Talybont-onUsk, where villagers work together to make cyclists feel at home and provide all the facilities and services they require.

Download the OS Maps app to ride and share this route

So many trails, so little time We’re joined at Ric’s home by Nick Craig – the Scott-sponsored rider and multiple-time crosscountry and cyclo-cross national champion – and snapper Russell Burton. Over a coffee, we have to choose which trails to explore – and it’s no easy decision. To the north is Atholl Hill, home to a number of downhill runs on its steep western side, as well as several longer, more gentle descents.

A little further out to the north-west, and easily

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WHERE ARE WE? DIRT FACTORY, MANCHESTER

Blackpool

Manchester THE PEAK

Liverpool

DISTRICT

Wrexham Shrewsbury

WHAT’S HERE

Dirt bowl/pump track loop with multiple line choices, beginner’s pump track, outdoor modular pump track and airbag WHY RIDE HERE?

Rainproof riding that caters to all

RAD… It’s the first urban bike park of its kind in the UK The park is right in the city centre and a five-minute ride from Manchester Piccadilly Station Everything is rollable, so it’s a great place for beginners Dirt Factory are working with schools and the local community to get more people on bikes

BAD… The space isn’t as big as Dirt Factory would like, but they’ve got big plans for expansion This site is going to be redeveloped in two years, so it’s not here forever (in this location, at least) It’s pricier than other bike parks

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DIRT FACTORY, MANCHESTER The pop-up bike park that’s on its way to becoming mountain biking’s very own Haçienda Words Ed Thomsett Pics Mick Kirkman

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