2435ек by traksaua

Our testers are riding bikes in all conditions, all year round

The Calibre Two.Two – a great find in our latest bike test and it only costs £399!

Free pull-out maps*

Four great routes from Borrowdale in the Lake District, Gwynedd in Wales, Sussex and the Peak District

* Pull-out maps not available to overseas readers

Editor’s Letter

killer content yogurt on a 12-day singletrack search across Afghanistan.

TROY LEE DESIGNS

The inside story on the iconic brand and a few clues as to what’s coming in 2014.

118

tyres tested

142

LAKE DISTRICT

You need something aggressive to deal with the tough conditions and terrain that winter will throw at you. We’ve tested the best. Rider Andrew Dodd Bike Mondraker Foxy XR Photo Russell Burton

FIRST RIDES

Can the new Nukeproof Mega AM 275 PRO get any better than last year’s model that we loved so much? Read on to find out…

AFGHAN ADVENTURE

Coping with searing heat, snow storms, raging rivers and Yak

One of the UK’s most stunning riding locations. We’re in Borrowdale for a rugged all-day ride – with free route map!

THE STUFF YOU HAVE TO GO TO FIRST!

Good bikes don’t have to cost a fortune You don’t necessarily always get to see it in the pages of MBUK, but our testers spend a hell of a lot of time riding bikes during the course of a year. At home and abroad, in blazing desert heat and bitterly cold driving rain, down treacherous mountainsides and in energy-sapping blasts across open moorland, they’re out there riding bikes from a seemingly ever-growing number of genres at every possible price point, from £300 to £4,ooo and above. Collectively they have an enviable mass of experience and knowledge, and they’re constantly swapping opinions, discussing failures and successes, so you can be sure that when you read our tests you’re getting the opinion that counts. This month our test team were pleasantly surprised by a bike that costs less than £400 – you can read that review on page 102. It’s refreshing to know that a bike at that price point can be so good and it goes to prove that you don’t have to spend a ridiculous amount of money to get a decent bike that’s fit for purpose – worth considering if you’re planning on encouraging friends or family to start mountain biking after Christmas. It should make it all the more easy to get out on a bike and enjoy it!

Danny Walter MBUK Editor

Mountain Biking uk 7

january 2014 Issue 298

12 norwegian wood

And rock, and singletrack, and sea – and why you’ve got to ride here

14 seat of learning

A progressive prep school has put mountain biking on the curriculum

15 shared dna

Why most full-suspension bikes have evolved in the same direction

16 the hot product

Renthal releases its Fatbar Lite Carbon, and it’s one to drool over

18 Mitch Ropelato

Specialized’s young gun is blazing a trail on the World Cup circuit

the harshest place on earth? 60

Dan Milner finds himself between a rock and a hard place in Afghanistan

Features Time to mix it up!

21 Modern MTBs are incredibly capable – why not try something new?

coastal crew

22 These guys are building a bike park – another reason to visit BC, Canada

ride here, right now

24 The Mourne Mountains, Northern Ireland: two brilliant new trail centres

the indispensables

27 Everything you need to keep you warm and comfy pre- and post-ride

retail therapy

32 Tis the season… 20 stocking fillers for the special biker in your life (you?) 23 instant expert – frame geo 23 chris smith 27 tweets of the month 28 thank god for… Red Bull 31 my ride – Sven martin 34 industry insider 8 Mountain Biking uk

afghanistan

60 Treacherous passes, raging torrents and the culinary delight that is yak yoghurt, on a truly epic expedition

Regulars Send it!

36 Made by you – letters, comments and your best riding photos

local bike shops

71 Despite the rise of big online stores, bike shops still have a lot to offer

friends electric

76 The Stealth Bomber is a downhill rig like no other – it packs a 4.5kW motor and goes at 50mph!

troy lee designs

82 TLD’s frontman Stikman gives us the lowdown on the iconic brand

first rides

42 Featuring: Nukeproof Mega AM Pro, Niner WFO 9 V2, Silverback Slade 1

first look

48 The hottest new bikes and gear hitting the shelves soon

super bike

53 Zealous Division – a 29er hardtail with a difference 41 mint sauce 56 subscribe 159 next month

102

bike test

super bike 53

Zealous’s unique Division 29er

the ultimate uplift?

We take a spin on the 50mph Stealth Bomber

lifting the lid

Inside Troy Lee Designs’ Californian HQ

insider trading

Why some independent bike shops are thriving, not just surviving

mbuk machines

87 new tests

Our test team report back on the latest batch of new products

96 six of the best

Waterproof shorts to keep your backside dry this winter

98 mbuk machines

Team bikes: where we’ve ridden, what we’ve changed and broken!

102 bike test

What can £400-£500 buy you? A pretty decent hardtail, actually

118 grouptest

118

grouptest

new tests

Need some relentless rubber? We’ve tested 15 aggressive trail tyres

Mountain Biking uk 9

Contents Future Publishing Ltd, 30 Monmouth Street, Bath, BA1 2BW Tel: 01225 442244 Fax: 01225 732275 Email: MBUK@bikeradar.com Web: www.bikeradar.com Blog: www.bikeradar.com/blogs/mbuk Facebook: www.facebook.com/mbukmag Twitter: http://twitter.com/mbukmagazine EDITORIAL Editor Danny Walter danny.walter@futurenet.com Art Editor James Blackwell james.blackwell@futurenet.com Deputy Art Editor Matt Orton matt.orton@futurenet.com Operations Editor James Costley-White james.costley-white@futurenet.com

Technical Editor Robin Weaver robin.weaver@futurenet.com Features Editor Andrew Dodd andrew.dodd@futurenet.com Staff Writer Oliver Forster oliver.forster@futurenet.com Cartoonist Jo Burt

CONTRIBUTORS Jonny Ashelford, Steve Behr, Russell Burton, Ramsey Cardy, Max Darkins, Malcolm Fearon, Damian Hall, Jake Ireland, Cal Jelley, Siobhan Kelly, Guy Kesteven, Mick Kirkman, Robin Kitchin, Sven Martin, Tom Marvin, John McAllister, Ric McLaughlin, Dan Milner, Grant Robinson, Seb Rogers, Sebastian Schieck, Donna-Marie Scrase, Joby Sessions, Chris Smith, Manfred Stromberg, Dave Trumpore Group Art Editor Matthew Hunkin Editorial Director Jim Douglas Creative Director Robin Abbott ADVERTISING Advertising Manager Richard Hemmings 01225 442244 richard.hemmings@futurenet.com Account Sales Manager Jo Penny 01225 822745 joanna.penny@futurenet.com Ad Sales Manager BikeRadar Claire Hawkins 01225 442244 claire.hawkins@futurenet.com Sales Executive Charlie Lister 01225 442244 charlie.lister@futurenet.com MARKETING Marketing Manager Aimee Hopkins aimee.hopkins@futurenet.com

128

CIRCULATION Trade Marketing Manager John Lawton john.lawton@futurenet.com

how to BE A TOUGH MUDDER

PRINT & PRODUCTION Production Co-ordinator Ian Wardle ian.wardle@futurenet.com Production Manager Mark Constance mark.constance@futurenet.com Ad Production Controller Charles Thurlow charles.thurlow@futurenet.com Ad Production Manager Nola Palmer Typesetting ITM LICENSING Licensing & Syndication Director Regina Erak regina.erak@futurenet.com Tel: + 44 (0)1225 732359 Fax: + 44 (0)1225 732275 FUTURE PUBLISHING LIMITED Head of Sport Dave Clutterbuck dave.clutterbuck@futurenet.com Head of Sport Richard Schofield richard.schofield@futurenet.com

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Printed in the UK by William Gibbon & Sons Ltd on behalf of Future. Distributed in the UK by Seymour Distribution Ltd, 2 East Poultry Avenue, London, EC1A 9PT. Tel: 020 7429 4000

NEXT ISSUE ON SALE 10 january 2014 If you would like to purchase the images featured in this publication, please visit www.futuremediastore.com or email mediastore@futurenet.com The ABC combined print, digital and digital publication circulation is

150

wrecking crew

41,476 Jan-Dec2012

A member of the Audit Bureau of Circulations

Print 38,701 Digital 2,775

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How to…

© Future Publishing Limited 2010. All rights reserved. No part of this magazine may be used or reproduced without the written permission of the publisher. Future Publishing Limited (company number 2008885) is registered in England and Wales. The registered office of Future Publishing Limited is at Beauford Court, 30 Monmouth Street, Bath BA1 2BW. All information contained in this magazine is for information only and is, as far as we are aware, correct at the time of going to press. Future cannot accept any responsibility for errors or inaccuracies in such information. Readers are advised to contact manufacturers and retailers directly with regard to the price of products/services referred to in this magazine. If you submit unsolicited material to us, you automatically grant Future a licence to publish your submission in whole or in part in all editions of the magazine, including licensed editions worldwide and in any physical or digital format throughout the world. Any material you submit is sent at your risk and, although every care is taken, neither Future nor its employees, agents or subcontractors shall be liable for loss or damage.

grimetime

Competitions For your chance to win, either (a) text your answer to the number specified; or (b) email your answer to the email address shown on the relevant page or (c) go to the website shown on the relevant page and click on the link to send your answer. By entering any MBUK competition you are agreeing to be bound by these competition rules which are summarised below and can be viewed in full here http://www. futurenet.com/futureonline/competition rules.asp and you confirm you are happy to receive details of future offers and promotions from Future Publishing and carefully selected third parties. If you do not want to receive this info text the word STOP to the relevant number or at the end of your email entry or untick the appropriate boxes on the competition website. Texts will be charged at £1 plus standard network tariff rate. Photo comp entries cost 50p plus standard network tariff rate. Ask permission from the bill payer. All entries must be received before the closing date specified. Photo comp entries will be reviewed on the 28th of each month. Entries must be submitted by an individual, not an agency or similar. One entry per household, unless otherwise stated. The prize is as stated and no cash alternative is available. Prizes may be provided by a third party. Future reserve the right to substitute any prize with cash or a prize of comparable value. Competitions are open to GB residents only, unless otherwise specified. No employees of Future or any company associated with the relevant comp may enter. The winning entry will be that which has met the entry criteria and which most closely meets the specified competition criteria, or will be drawn at random from all correct entries after the closing date. Where you are offered the chance to subscribe for a free newsletter or other service, you are not required to do so, and failure to do so will not result in disqualification. Future accepts no liability for any loss, damage or injury caused by any prizes won except by its negligence. Publicity may be given to any comp winners and/or entrants and their names and/or photos may appear in MBUK. All entries become the property of Future, may be republished and cannot be returned. Any moral rights or similar that you have over the entry are waived. Entries must be wholly original and must not have appeared in any other publication. Entries must not defame, cause injury to, invade the privacy of, or infringe any law, intellectual property or regulatory rights of any third party. Unless otherwise stated, Future is the promoter of the competition. Where competitions are run by third parties (eg through advertising), Future cannot be held responsible for any failure to provide prizes as specified. Additional information may be required from the winner (inc. proof of age or identity). Failure to provide it may result in disqualification. No purchase necessary. Winners lists available by written request (including SAE) up to three months after the competition closing date. Receipt of prize is conditional upon compliance with the above rules. If any rule is deemed illegal, invalid or unenforceable, it shall be deleted, but unaffected rules will continue in full force and effect. The Editor’s decision is final and no correspondence will be entered into. Submissions Letters/texts/pic messages cannot be answered individually. All correspondence becomes property of MBUK.

128 Top tips and techniques to keep you riding happily through the winter filth, slimy roots and all 136 How to replace the bearings in your Hope Pro 2 EVO rear hub

138

ask mbuk

138 Your problems solved. Plus how to weatherproof your riding shoes

the big ride

142 A rugged and fun route around Borrowdale – you’d expect no less from the Lake District. Plus free pull-out route maps

wrecking crew

150 Rostrevor trail centre is Northern Ireland’s Glentress, with awesome XC loops and DH runs

10 Mountain Biking uk

142

big ride

We are committed to only using magazine paper which is derived from well managed, certified forestry and chlorine-free manufacture. Future Publishing and its paper suppliers have been independently certified in accordance with the rules of the FSC (Forest Stewardship Council).

Out

Front The five stories leading the way this month

12 Mountain Biking uk

Lines of Lofoten

Norwegian nirvana

02 03 04

Photo: Manfred Stromberg

FF THE COAST of Norway lies the Lofoten archipelago – a group of islands whose beauty and seclusion only adds to their allure. But moving inland and away from the picture-postcard fishing villages and chalk-white beaches, you soon find yourself in another world. Just as freeride pioneer Hans Rey and photographer Tobias Woggon did on this recent trip. Steep ridgelines intersecting ragged outcrops of volcanic rock hold within them winding singletrack trails that have been cut in by farmers and their livestock over countless generations. Add to that two months with 24 hours of daylight and an unusually temperate climate for its northern location, and Lofoten is definitely one to put on your adventure bucket list. Maybe it’s one you’ll try to tick off in 2014? c

Mountain Biking uk 13

seat of learning

Mountain biking on the curriculum

01 02

03 04

Photo: Steve Behr

ootball, rugby and a handful of other team games have been the staple sports of British schools for decades. Surely the thought of going mountain biking during school hours is nothing more than a dream? Well, times move on, and with a boom in cycling of all disciplines, and greater recognition of the health and environmental benefits, things could be on the verge of changing. At St Neot’s Preparatory School in Hampshire they’ve taken a look at what mountain biking can do for their pupils and figured out what most of

14 Mountain Biking uk

us already knew: riding bikes off-road is good for you! Not only have they built dedicated mountain bike trails within the junior school’s grounds but they also venture into nearby Swinley Forest to take pupils on further adventures when the opportunity arises. Staff say that as pupils have developed their physical fitness, stamina and technique tackling off-road trails and obstacles, their self-confidence has blossomed, and along with it, their academic achievements back in the classroom. While team sports undeniably have

their advantages, it seems that making children take responsibility for their own actions on a bike and encouraging them to push themselves in a physically demanding sport against the backdrop of the great outdoors can help harness their creativity and spark an adventurous streak– something we in the UK are famous for. That and being great cyclists... We only hope that more schools across the country follow St Neot’s lead and see the sport as a fantastic way to not only develop mountain bikers, but fit, confident and, above all else, happy individuals. c

evolution of the species

If it ain’t broke…

e’ve all seen the comments when images of new bikes are posted online. They usually start with “looks like a Kona” or “looks like a Trek”. And they’re often right – at least at a cursory glance. We’re probably all guilty of thinking it from time to time. But just why do so many modern bikes look alike? The answer is fairly straightforward: if it works and it’s a viable solution to the problem of bicycle design, it’ll inevitably be repeated by others. In the same way, successful designs in nature are repeated over and over

again through evolution. Most mammals have a head with two eyes, two ears, one mouth and a nose – the layout just differs slightly from species to species. In the industrial world, and particularly in the smaller and more dynamic bicycle industry, similarlooking products are often the result of proven designs filtering through the patent net. All around us are products that were once exclusive to a particular brand but, due to patents running their course, have started to pop up elsewhere. Patents aren’t renewed for various reasons, but a key one is expense – the money involved in renewing

patents on innovations that a manufacturer has already superseded doesn’t always make business sense. Ultimately, the reason so many bikes these days look so similar is because that shared design works. But there’s also the extremely important issue of aesthetics. Whether you believe in function over form or that the two should be inextricably linked is neither here nor there. Designing a bike that performs superbly but falls short in the looks department can be commercial suicide, so it’s often safer to go with a familiar design. Are we just too superficial? c

01 02 03 04 05

Mountain Biking uk 15

CAR B ON c o p y

Renthal Fatbar goes on a diet

01 02 03 04

Photo: Joby Sessions

here’s no getting away from the significant impact Renthal have had on the mountain bike handlebar market, with the Fatbar and Fatbar Lite both scooping accolades and winning races the world over. Never ones to rest on their laurels, the British company have been busy developing a new bar, the Fatbar Lite Carbon – their first foray into the dark art of working with carbon fibre. After some intensive blind testing, Renthal knew they wanted to replicate the ride characteristics of their aluminium Fatbar Lite but with the reduced weight of carbon. After the first prototype landed and more intensive testing was carried out, they were happy with the feel the unidirectional carbon lay-up produced, and simply needed to tweak the cosmetics until they had what they wanted. In terms of geometry, the Fatbar Lite Carbon mirrors its aluminium counterpart, measuring in at a trail-friendly 740mm wide, offering seven degrees of backsweep and five degrees of upsweep, and available with a choice of 10, 20, 30 or 40mm rises. As if that’s not enough, it weighs in at a claimed 180g, which we think you’ll agree is bloody impressive. c

£129.99 Ison Distribution www.ison-distribution.com

16 Mountain Biking uk

Any bike, any event

Mitch Ropelato rules!

01 02 03

Photo: Sebastian Schieck

ollowing the race scene and looking back at memorable moments, certain things inevitably stick in your head more than others – who won, who was riding a rad bike or sporting the latest must-have kit. But more often than not, it was that certain rider who just looked like they were having the most fun and getting wild between the tape. Specialized Racing’s very own Mitch Ropelato is that rider, and if you’ve never heard of him before, you would have done soon enough. He’s the young guy on a Specialized with a Monster helmet who makes riding a bike look like the most amazing thing out there – which of course it is! From destroying pump track and dual slalom events to sending it on the World Cup circuit and racing the downhill World Champs on a 29er, Mitch has style and lots of it. His ability to turn his hand to any event, on any bike, has put him in a unique position. While we reckon his eyes are firmly on chasing the World Cup dream, Specialized sure as hell know what do with Mitch, sending him to every event where the young American’s style and flair shines supreme. His journey to the top of the race results is surely coming, and if along the way he continues to make mountain biking look as awesome as he currently does, we can’t wait to see what he does next. c

18 Mountain Biking uk

FEATuring

The

24 RIDE HERE NOW! Mourne Mountains

28 THAT WAS THEN Downhill kit development

mountain biking THAT MAKES you feel alive

32 STOCKING FILLERS Last minute presents

Loca tion,

locat

ion,

locat

ion.

Get m

ore n

ew ri d

e ide as - p

142

Time to mix it up!

One bike, many options…

Photo: Robin Kitchin

odern mountain bikes are some of the most versatile bicycles ever created. A combination of well-honed geometry, slick shifting and bump-swallowing suspension makes them incredibly capable machines. Quite how far these bikes can be pushed is the big question, and the chance to explore new trails and challenges is staring you in the face. We’re not talking about riding out of your comfort zone, but looking beyond what you do on a regular basis. With winter throwing the usual curve

balls our way, now’s a great time to mix things up and push your riding further than ever before. So, are you ready to grab the bull by the horns and see what’s possible? How about using those gears and scaling some serious terrain on an epic cross-country trip? Or, on the flipside, how about putting that suspension to the test by grabbing a full-face helmet, booking yourself on to an uplift and getting a taste of gravity-fed fun? You don’t have to be the bravest or the fittest to have an amazing time on your bike – all you need is the will to explore what’s out there! c

Mountain Biking uk 21

Coastal Crew build a bike park Is there anything this trio can’t turn their hands to?

Photo: Dave Trumpore

f you’ve never heard of the Coastal Crew, you must have been living under a rock these past few years. Dylan Dunkerton, Kyle Norbraten and Curtis Robinson have become a defining creative force in mountain biking and, with the announcement that they’re working on launching their own bike park, the Coast Gravity Park, it looks like they’re getting ready to take things to another level. North along the coast from Vancouver, Canada, lies the Sunshine Coast – an area that, thanks to this trio of visionaries, has become as much a part of the visual landscape of the sport as the North Shore was

22 Mountain Biking uk

over a decade ago. But unlike the Shore and the trails that defined a genre of riding, the Sunshine Coast has been defined by the earthmoving antics of the Coastal Crew. The guys’ skills as riders, filmmakers and, more importantly, trail builders have been the catalyst for all that’s followed. The lines and features these guys have built, ridden and filmed have had, like the North Shore once did, a significant impact on what we see elsewhere in the world of mountain biking and bike park construction. Not ones to let anyone else run with their ideas for long, the boys have been busy conceiving their next

masterstroke – a bike park of their own on the Sunshine Coast. It’ll be open all year round, overcoming a common shortfall of lift-assisted parks in North America, where resorts built around the ski season close to bikes in the winter months. Building something bespoke for bikes and with the ability to sustain all-year-round riding are the founding concepts at the heart of the Coast Gravity Park. A crowdfunding project was set up to help raise the cash needed and with nearly $100,000 pledged in only a month, it looks like there’s going to be yet another reason to visit British Columbia. c

PRO’S EYE

VIEW

I n s ta n t E x p e r t

FRAME GEOMETRY

t the heart of any bike is the frame – a complicated mass of carefully aligned tubes that deliver the unique ride characteristics that distinguish one bike from another. These are the crucial things that make a difference…

HEAD ANGLE A slacker head angle extends the bike’s wheelbase and slows down the steering, improving handling on steeper, faster trails. A steeper head angle gives better handling on slower and less aggressive trails.

SEAT ANGLE This affects your control of the bike by influencing the reach from saddle to bar and also the amount of your weight that’s placed over the rear wheel – something that’s vital for consistent traction on loose terrain.

Chris

Smith

The UK’s freeride veteran

CHAINSTAY LENGTH One half of the wheelbase equation (the other being the front centre), shorter chainstays give a more manoeuvrable and playful ride feel, while longer stays increase stability at speed.

FRONT CENTRE Increasing the size of the front centre (the distance from the bottom bracket to the front hub) allows you to run a shorter stem for improved control without reducing the overall reach from saddle to bar.

BB HEIGHT Directly affecting your bike’s centre of gravity, a lower bottom bracket height increases grip but reduces clearance between your pedals and the trail, which can be problematic for obvious reasons. c

Wouldn’t be without…

Stinking shards of joy our testers love

Helly Hansen winter baselayer Jon Woodhouse, Technical Editor, What Mountain Bike

‘You must be mad’ is something I hear a lot when showing people my videos – especially people who don’t ride. But I started out just the same as anyone else on their first bike. The difference is that I stuck at it – and everything I’ve learned in the past 25 years is put into place every time I sling a leg over a bike. Everything is a calculated risk and all calculations are made before dropping in. New tricks, jumps, gaps and drops are always a bit of a gamble the first time you try them out, but you soon learn the formulas to make things work. To progress you have to push yourself that bit harder – if it feels within reach, man up and give it a go. Sure, you might mess it up a couple of times – we all do – but you’ll get there in the end and nothing beats that feeling of overcoming your fears and nailing it. It puts you on the first step of the ladder of progression, and you’ve just got to keep on climbing up that ladder. You’ll take yourself to all-time riding highs once you get on it!

“Nothing beats that feeling of overcoming your fears and nailing it!”

While some swear by merino wool or bamboo when it comes to baselayers, when temperatures drop I reach for my classic synthetic Helly Hansen. It’s my favourite – comfy, close cut and just so warm. Wicking faster than a candle factory, it reduces that ‘boil in the bag’ feeling when worn with a waterproof. Unlike its natural counterparts, it’s also decently windproof even when soggy, so can serve as a light outer layer too. The downside? Wear it often enough and the reason for the ‘Smelly Helly’ sobriquet will become apparent. One drop of sweat can turn a clean top into something people will think you’ve been living in for a week. Best worn far from civilization. c Mountain Biking uk 23

Like this? Try these!

GLENLIVET Close to Aviemore in the Scottish Highlands, this centre boasts newly-built red and blue trails.

COED-Y-BRENIN Still a classic after all these years, the North Wales centre has a great choice of routes.

AE FOREST A jewel in the Scottish Borders and one of the 7stanes trails, Ae offers everything from beginners’ trails to full-on DH tracks.

THE LOWDOWN WHERE: Situated close to the border with the Republic of Ireland and with easy access by rail, air and ferry to the British mainland, this area of Northern Ireland is simpler to get to than you might think. For more information, visit www.mountainbikeni.com.

R i d e He r e , r i g h t n o w !

Mourne Mountains, Northern Ireland Putting the Emerald Isle firmly on the MTB map

hen you think about UK riding destinations, Northern Ireland might not spring to mind, especially if you live on the other side of the Irish Sea. But all that looks set to change with recent developments, including the creation of two trail centres in the stunning Mourne Mountains. Sitting in the south-east, within spitting distance of the Republic of Ireland and with easy access to

24 Mountain Biking uk

ferries to the British mainland, Ireland’s most elevated region is easier to visit than you might think. Its highest peak, Slieve Donard, tops out at 850m (2,790ft), and the region’s eclectic heritage and culture only add to the reasons to head to this corner of the world and experience all it has to offer. Nestled amid the granite mountain range lie the purpose-built multimillion-pound trail developments of Rostrevor and Castlewellan Forest Park. Rostrevor offers an extensive

red trail and a technically demanding black route. With two purpose-built downhill tracks, an uplift service and a pump track also on site, the question is not so much whether to head there but rather when. Castlewellan sits at the less aggressive end of the trail spectrum, offering red, blue and green graded trails as well as a pump track to play on. Built with input from local shredders like former Irish national downhill champion Glyn O’Brien, you know it’ll be worth the trip. c

The Indispensables #8 WINTER TRANSITION KIT

Essential gear to keep you warm before and after a good rip round the trails

Tweets O’ the month

What the big names are getting up to in the Twitosphere...

1 “Moose tash is looking sweet with my robes today!!! @sheffhallamuni” Peaty, looking like an extra from Harry Potter as he picks up an honorary doctorate from Sheffield Hallam University. “Caught some snaps of this old co-worker of mine haha. Our sales manager Cully getting in a lunch ride…” That’s right – former DH world champ Dave Cullinan has joined Craig ‘Stikman’ Glaspell at TLD. Pretty rad, right?! See p82 for more from Stik.

“Inverness has the best tracks! The boys are working on one of the steepest I’ve ever seen!” Sounds like there’s some new gnar on the cards for Trek World Racing’s Greg Williamson and his mates. “Location scouting with @RedBullUK, insane event lined up with such a wild location” Gee Atherton and Red Bull are up to something. Whatever it is, we’re sure it’ll be amazing!

Tweet us @mbukmagazine. You can keep up with all the online goings-on at our very own Twitter page: http://twitter.com/mbukmagazine

HOT drink AN AWESOME A handy emergency HAND 5ARECEPTACLE JACKET 2beanie HAT 3lighting 1WINTER 4aWARMER Retaining pre- and post-ride body warmth is essential to avoid catching a cold. A windproof down jacket like this beauty from Berghaus will keep you dry as well as warm should the heavens open.

Whether the wind’s howling and the temperature is plummeting or you’re just having a bad hair day, a good beanie can make a world of difference, keeping your head and ears nice and toasty.

Getting changed and loading up the car/van for the trip home in the dark after a ride can be a pain, which makes a compact torch essential. A headtorch is just the job.

There’s nothing worse than bitterly cold hands. Having something that stays warm for 12 hours to heat up frozen fingers could be a saving grace on a cold day in the wilds.

Nothing beats a hot drink on a freezing cold day. An insulated flask like this 100 per cent stainless steel number will keep your favourite beverage tasty and hot for up to six hours.

Expensive but a must-have Berghaus Mount Asgard Hybrid II jacket £200 www.berghaus.com

Perfect for post-ride helmet hair too Vans Core Basic beanie £17 www.vans.co.uk

Great value and leaves your hands free Alpkit Manta headtorch £15 www.alpkit.com

Useful tech to keep those digits dextrous Zippo Handwarmer £20.75 www.whitbyandco.co.uk

A useful addition to your kit bag Klean Kanteen insulated bottle £22 www.whitbyandco.co.uk

Mountain Biking uk 27

Flashback

1997 SHAUN PALMER

T h a n k Go d fo r . . .

RED BULL We’re not talking about the caffeinated fizzy drink here, but rather the brand’s investment in action sports. Why Red Bull and not another energy drink company with a stake in mountain biking? Simply because right now Red Bull are putting their money where their mouth is when it comes to this wonderful sport we call mountain biking. From Red Bull Rampage and the Red Bull Joyride at Crankworx Whistler to free-to-view online coverage of the UCI World Cup series, they’re showcasing mountain biking to an increasing audience while maintaining the sport’s transmission to its core fans in the best possible way. Couple that with their substantial athlete investment and the lengths they go to to look after them when things go wrong, and you can see exactly where your money goes when you pop open a can, whenever you’re in need of some wings. Right now, Red Bull are on it! c

Arguably the single most influential rider in the history of DH racing, Shaun ‘Napalm’ Palmer changed the way downhill looked forever. Arriving on the scene with a badass attitude and a wardrobe full of baggy moto gear in an era when skinsuits and peakless helmets ruled, he put flat pedals on the map, brought a whole new level of sponsorship to the sport and we’ve never looked back!

That was then

This is now! #35 Downhill kit

2013 DANNY HART one of the most gifted riders on the circuit today, Danny Hart is the perfect example of how far we’ve come in 16 years. His Fox Demo race kit might look like Palmer’s moto gear but it’s been purpose-built for bicycle use, using lightweight materials. His MX inspired helmet and neck brace reinforce how far we’ve come in terms of protection in this dangerous sport. c

London calling The UK’s largest bike show returns to ExCeL London from 13-16 February 2014. Bigger and better than ever, it’ll cover every aspect of cycling, from mountain biking and road riding to commuting, BMX and triathlon. As well as being able to see the latest and greatest bikes and gear all under one roof, there’ll be some exciting attractions to grab your attention, including the DMR Pump Track Challenge and BikeRadar Training Hub. MBUK readers can get 40 per cent off entry to the show by using the discount code MB12 when buying tickets at www.thelondonbikeshow.co.uk.

My ride Inside some of our favourite people’s bikes

Sven Martin’s Santa Cruz Bronson C Sven Martin is one of the leading photographers on the World Cup scene. Coming from a downhill racing background, he’s developed a unique style – and he isn’t afraid to make riders work hard to get the right shot.

I like that my Bronson is equally capable whether I’m on an all-day cross-country trail ride mission or even putting in a few laps on a steep downhill track. It’s not really about the wheel size. The fact my bike climbs and descends well is more a sign of good geometry and suspension characteristics than anything else. That said, the mid-size 650b wheels do seem to handle rougher terrain and roots and holes better than my old 26in bike. The mid-travel, mid-wheel, mid-weight bike I have now seems like the perfect jack of all trades. If it’s a big day, like during Crankworx, my pack may weigh as much as 20 to 25kg (44 to 55lb). At an Enduro World Series stop, where I have to be quick and nimble yet still have enough options for versatility of shots, it’ll be 8 to 15kg (18 to 33lb).

I still have to carry spares and food as well as camera kit, so it does add up quickly. Sometimes I just ditch the water, pump and tools because that’s the easiest – but most foolish – way to cut weight! During the season I become so used to riding my bike with more air in the suspension [to compensate for the weight of the pack] that when I go for a quick ride without it, I get pinged off things or spat over the bars. I feel safer with my pack on because I’m so used to it.

heavy braking, which is superimportant for me if I’m trying to slow down with a heavy pack.

The extra weight means I have to run 200mm rotors and dual-piston brakes. Now and then I may have to mount a special clamp for my camera on my handlebar or a rack on my seatpost for carrying a sleeping bag, tent and food on epic adventure shoots. The new RockShox Pike fork doesn’t dive in the steeps under

I’m still a race nerd at heart and will switch to the perfect tyre for the conditions. Mostly it’s a Schwalbe Magic Mary or Hans Dampf in front, and a Hans Dampf or Rock Razor in the rear – although the latter doesn’t stop very well with a loaded pack in grassy conditions, as I found out in Les Deux Alpes!

I’ve run my tyres tubeless this year and haven’t flatted once in any race or ride despite covering some pretty rough terrain. ENVE carbon rims set up tubeless are a beautiful combination – so quick and responsive out of turns. The light wheel build means I can run decent mid-weight tyres, which don’t get sliced as easily as lightweight ones.

31 Mountain Biking uk

retail therapy

Izumi MTB 1 Pearl Impact gloves

Graphics 5 Slik rider ID decals

These great multi-season gloves will keep your mitts protected and comfortable, whatever the weather.

These great looking rider ID sheets are made from top-quality laminated vinyl and with plenty of options to choose from, you can really get custom on your ride.

£19.99 www.madison.co.uk

7oz 2 Yeti hip flask

£21.95 www.silverfish-uk.com

There’s nothing like a hip flask full of your favourite winter warmer and this laser engraved Yeti number is the perfect partner for cold rides.

OHT 3 Leatherman multi-tool £89.99 www.leatherman-store.co.uk

Last minute

stocking fillers

The new OHT oozes cool as well as featuring a set of one-handed retractable sprung pliers and range of lockable blades. Covetable!

4 park Tool spork

£13.99 www.slikgraphics.com

Blue Book of 6 Big Bicycle Repair £24.99 www.madison.co.uk

Packed with over 200 pages of useful technical information, this Park Tool guide will help you keep your bike running smoothly all year round. A must-have for all home mechanics!

£9.99 www.madison.co.uk

Treat the bike geek in your life to “the latest in sustenance transfer technology”. He’ll be stoked.

2 7 3 1 8 4

5 10

32 Mountain Biking uk

7 Trekmates Absorba Balls

Blinder 1 Renthal Lock10 Knog lights twinpack 13 On grips £41.99 www.moorelarge.co.uk

£21.99 www.ison-distribution.com

There’s nothing worse than stubbornly slow-drying shoes after a wet ride. These Absorba Balls draw moisture out of damp shoes.

Having some illumination at this time of year is essential – these pocket-sized lights will get you home safely. They’re USB rechargeable and weigh only 15g each.

A quality pair of lock-ons can make all the difference, and with these you can choose the compound of the rubber.

11 EVOC wash bag

£13 www.jungleproducts.co.uk

£14 www.trekmates.co.uk

Birzman Feexman Cicada 10-function tool

£26.95 www.silverfish-uk.com

One of the neatest and most compact multi-tools around. The carbon fibre body and CNC-machined tool heads form a lightweight tool that looks and feels amazing.

With this wonder of organisational luggage, you’ll never forget your toothpaste or essential grooming tools ever again. It even has a detachable mirror and hanging hook.

£39.99 www.i-ride.co.uk

ethic T4C watches

£40 www.ethicwatches.com

As worn by some of the world’s fastest riders, Ethic’s watches are a great way to express yourself, with loads of colours to choose from.

Muc-Off body cleaning range

www.muc-off.com

Not content with keeping your bike clean, Muc-Off now have a range of products to keep you clean too. Ranging from a shower scrub to a hand cleaner, all items are designed to meet the needs of grubby mountain bikers.

YAWYD 14 Niner top cap If you want to let everyone know what your favourite tipple is, the YAWYD lets you snap a beer bottle top on top of your stem.

GO BIG 15 K-EDGE bar mount £29.99 www.madison.co.uk

This CNC machined and anodised GoPro mount looks the business, and at 24g it keeps weight down too.

santa Cruz 16 Commuter bottle

£12.99 www.santacruzbikes.co.uk

Double-wall insulated and ready for your bottle cage, this Stanley-made flask allows you take something warm with you to the trails.

Muc-Off Visor, 17 Lens and Goggle Cleaner £3 www.muc-off.com

Keeps your optics clean so you can see where you’re going through the muddy months. Removes dirt and oil without damaging sensitive materials.

Face Logo 18 Race pint glass £5.95 www.silverfish-uk.com

Everyone knows beverages are best served in pints, and it never hurts to deliver such beverages in a vessel that says ‘I’m a mountain biker’.

Turner T-shirt £19.95 www.silverfish-uk.com

Nothing says ‘I love bikes’ quite like a sweet T-shirt from your fave brand, like this green beauty.

GRAB A DIGITAL SUBSCRIPTION

IF YOU GET CHRISTMAS MONEY TO SPEND, why not try A DIGITAL VERSION OF MBUK? YOU CAN CURRENTLY GET 2 FREE ISSUES ON no-OBLIGATION TRIAL. JUST SEARCH MOUNTAIN BIKING UK on your device’s app store today!

SockGuy Crew 20 Wool Trail Worksocks

£10.95 www.silverfish-uk.com

If ever there was a time of year to buy or receive socks, it’s now, and SockGuy have a pair to suit all tastes.

9 18 13

33 Mountain Biking uk

This much I know…

Tarek

Industry insider

Rasouli Inside the head of the man behind MTB marketing agency Rasoulution and the Freeride Mountain Bike Association (FMBA)

I broke my back… “With a successful BMX racing background, I came to mountain biking, joining the Rocky Mountain Froriders – Wade Simmons, Richie Schley, Brett Tippie and Thomas Vanderham. I had some amazing adventures with them, then in 2002 I broke my back shooting the MTB film Kranked V. I was paralysed from my waist down.”

Chris Porter Chief fettler Mojo Suspension

Red Bull result “The first Red Bull District Ride I organised in 2006 had 40,000 people at the finals. I was stoked and somehow a little proud that I’d got what I’d aimed for – to make the sport bigger!”

Psyched on MTBs “After my rehabilitation I felt like I had to give something back to the sport as I was still absolutely psyched on it and thought it deserved more attention. That’s when I started my own company, Rasoulution.”

Nissan to FMBA “The first time we spoke about starting the FMBA was in 2007 when we organised the Nissan Qashqai Urban Challenge, a five-country tour. When Nissan cancelled the third tour, we started working on the FMB World Tour and the FMBA.”

What does a typical day involve? Testing and riding, a bit of dreaming about the next big trip... Emails and phonecalls figure pretty heavily too, and lunchtime rides with ‘The Tim-inator’, Tim Williams. How did you get into tuning? I was working as a motorcycle journalist but was racing downhill because I couldn’t afford to race motorbikes and saw that suspension was a developing segment of the bicycle market. It seemed a good time to jump in, almost 18 years ago. Ironically, my last DH bike cost more than my last motorcycle. Do you do more maintenance or tuning at Mojo? We do a fair amount of custom tuning because most manufacturers use a ‘one size fits all’ policy for shock and fork tunes, which of course doesn’t fit all. What about the wheel debate? It’ll all come back to 26in in time. Big wheels spin slower and are heavier – it’s just physics. There are benefits in certain situations but lighter wheels and better suspension will always be a better solution. What’s your favourite bike? The Mondraker Foxy XR. Mine has the wheelbase and head angle of a DH bike, and the seat angle and weight of a trail bike. Why would I want a bike with slower geometry? Describe your most frightening mountain bike experience… Riding a 29er on a decent track. Dangerous. c 34 Mountain Biking uk

More riding spots “I’d like to see way more spots in cities, so that more riders get the chance to develop their skills. Of course, it would be great if big events were televised on a regular basis, not only on the web but also on mainstream TV.”

I simply love bike sport! “My passion for the sport keeps me motivated, plus I have a great team behind me and at my side. My athletes and our events motivate me, as well as helping to present new challenges. I simply love bike sport, in pretty much all disciplines!”

Send it! Contact us:

Your mail, photos, ideas and rants

Write to: MBUK Send it! 30 Monmouth Street, Bath, BA1 2BW Email: mbuk@bikeradar.com Visit: www.BikeRadar.com/mbukforum

Star Letter DIY chain tensioners and chainguides aren’t new, but I think my version is the mutt’s – and it’s cheap as chips. No one likes a noisy chain slapping about on the downhills, but we don’t all ride in the Alps and many of us have to climb for a fair while to earn our down-time, so we may not want the noise or friction of a permanent chain device. Hence Twisty’s Top Trick Tensioner, which allows you to control your chainslap only when you need to. All you need is a short length of plastic tubing. Cut a section out to create a ‘C’ shape, add a couple of holes so you can ziptie it to your chainstay – and that’s it. Do your climbing as usual with the chain free. When you get to your favourite downhill section, hitch the chain into the ‘C’ and off you go! Minimal skill levels are required, though the ability to use a saw, drill and have five minutes spare is a

It’s amazing what you can do with zipties and a bit of plastic tubing!

must. Minimal materials, barely any cost and super-light at about 4g – give it a go!

sure there’ll be a few more of these chainguides popping up at the trails thanks to you. Top work!

MARK ‘TWISTY’ TWIST, VIA EMAIL

That’s a fantastic display of ingenuity and resourcefulness, Twisty. We’re If your letter gets picked as the Star Letter, you’ll receive a Lazer Armor helmet worth £49.99, courtesy of Madison (www.madison.co.uk). For full Mountain Biking UK terms and conditions, see p10.

Stickers rule!

I was recently taken on a trip down memory lane and wanted to share it with you guys. At the tender age of 14, my closest friends and I attended Bike 98 (yes, as in 1998). It was, as you can imagine, the highlight of our little lives. While at the show, we liberated several hundred MBUK and Pashley stickers. Upon returning home, we proceeded to cover literally every surface in a five-mile radius with them. We covered street signs, school desks, roller shutters – you name it! We even adopted the term ‘Pashleyed’, which meant, “Have you 36 Mountain Biking uk

covered that thing in MBUK and Pashley stickers?” If the answer was no, we’d proceed to said ‘thing’ and set about covering it in the aforementioned stickers. Upon returning to my home town recently at the not-so-tender age of 29, I was pleased to see that even after all these years, some of our ‘hard work’ remains. Moral of the story: stickers are for life! CHARLIE JONES, VIA EMAIL If we’d have known they were weatherproof enough to withstand 15 years of UK weather and still be going strong we would have marketed them better! Maybe we could re-run them…

@MBUK.com What you’re saying online…

mbuk forum Most important bit of kit for winter riding? Gloves first, then socks, then something to keep the knees warm – Angry Bird The best jacket you can afford – Wooliferkins Good gloves and socks. Have you ever tried braking with freezing cold hands?! – welshkev RIP Greg Hobson – mountain biking needs more people like you

Measure twice, cut once

A word of advice to anyone planning to upgrade their fork. I decided to buy myself a new fork and, having fitted one before, I thought, “Why pay someone to do it for me, when I can do it myself?” I took my time cleaning everything and even replaced my headset. I then offered the new fork up to the frame, put the spacers on and marked the steerer for cutting. Before getting the job done, I checked my mark once again. All OK – or so I thought. After neatly cutting the steerer and inserting the star nut, I put the new crown race on. All was going well at this point. I lightly greased the bearings and was now ready to reassemble my bike. Everything had been cleaned, greased, measured twice, cut once and all that. There was just one problem: the steerer was too short. I was puzzled. What had I done wrong? It suddenly hit me that I’d failed to put the stem on the steerer before measuring – twice! My new fork is now costing me over £200 extra, because I have to get the crown and steerer replaced. I didn’t rush the process, took my time, measured twice and cut once, yet I still messed up. My question is, when I get my fork back should I fit it myself? JON, VIA EMAIL “Measure twice, cut once” is easily some of the best advice out there, but it’s useless if you measure things incorrectly. We wouldn’t let this expensive cock-up put an end to your mechanical ambitions, because we’re sure you won’t make the same mistake again. But then again…

Never forgotten

My brother-in-law Greg Hobson fell in love with mountain biking when he bought his first bike to keep fit after he stopped playing football. He gradually increased his mileage over

Glove liners for me. They’re thin and very warm. Only problem is they’re a pain to get on – Russyh

the past few years and eventually managed a coast-to-coast ride from Southport to Hornsea with a group of five friends. His enthusiasm for the sport and life touched everybody. My son, Jack, had his picture published in MBUK’s Readers’ Rides section earlier this year and Greg thought it was brilliant. He also tried to have his picture published, in That’s Gotta Hurt, but was unsuccessful. I’m contacting you to try to get this picture of Greg published in Send It! – I took it when he’d just finished the coast-to-coast. Earlier this year, Greg collapsed and died doing a charity mountain bike ride from Old Trafford to Bramall Lane. He was loved by everybody who knew him and would have been over the moon to see his photo printed in MBUK. RICHARD CLARKSON, VIA EMAIL We’re really sorry to hear that, Richard. Greg sounds like a great guy and someone who had a profound effect on those around him, not to mention his passion for mountain biking and riding for charity. It’s a pleasure to publish his photo in the magazine.

I don’t think it can be one thing only – mud tyres, warm clothes, lights – Bartimaeus Join the forum at www.BikeRadar.com/mtb/forums

Who’s riding and racing this winter?

Facebook FOD Mini DH, camping in December. Hardcore! – Tom William Oliver Living in Guernsey you have no choice but to accept the wind and rain and get out there! – Jamie ‘Jai’ Rive Race Face Circus of Dirt will be my intro to enduro racing, although it’s been postponed till January – Paul Jackson I’ll not be out racing but I will be out riding! – Paul Diss Not me, sofa for a few months – Pierre le Quack Be a fan of MBUK at www.facebook.com/MBUKMag

Twitter Gorrick Merida Brass Monkeys, all four rounds, two-hour vet male category @philellis6 Awesome Winter 4x Series at Chicksands @Beaumontracing Hopefully a few One Industries Mini Enduros and Brass Monkey XC Series in prep for next year’s enduro scene @adam_wight Follow MBUK at http://twitter.com/mbukmagazine

shoes WIN Etnies

That’s Gotta Hurt James Whittaker fractured his elbow and tore his triceps tendon while on a trip to the sport’s ancestral home – Marin County, California. Nice staples! And a scar to be proud of... To be in with a chance of winning a pair of Number Mid shoes*, email a photo of your painful riding injury to mbuk@bikeradar.com with the header ‘That’s Gotta Hurt’. You can see the full Etnies range at www.etnies.com. Full MBUK terms and conditions on p10. *Actual prize may differ from image shown

Mountain Biking uk 37

Stack it!

Send it!

Readers’ Rides

Where You’re t h e s tar

Finlay Davison dropping in on his Mondraker Prayer at his local woods near Aberdeen. His dad, Mark, took the photo.

How careless. The MTB group from Sandroyd School in Wiltshire collectively failed to notice this monster tree and somehow catapulted themselves right into the heart of it. Epic d’oh!

SEND US YOUR PICS Email: mbuk@bikeradar.com with ‘Stack it!’

as the subject line – high res pics only please! http://twitter.com/mbukmagazine use the hashtag #mbukstackit! www.facebook.com/mbukmag post it on our page

Jonathon Cooke throwing a one-hander at the Helen’s Tower trails in Northern Ireland.

Stuart Connell takes on the 2 Drops run at Danbury Common, Essex. Photo by his son Jordan, 14.

WIN An urge helmet

Star

photo

hardcore heroes Callum Sheen laying it flat on his Dartmoor Two6Player at the Wrekin, Shropshire – awesome shot! Photo by William Wynn.

Here’s one for all you old-timers – Jimbob Sowden’s beautifully restored GT Zaskar, plus vintage RockShox jersey!

What you could win… The Topeak Joe Blow Mountain pump has a super-sized barrel to fill large-volume MTB tyres faster. The Mini Pro 20 multi-tool is a one-piece, lightweight folding tool with hardened steel pieces for 20 functions. For more info visit www.extrauk.co.uk

The small print The Readers’ Rides winner will receive a Topeak Joe Blow Mountain pump and Mini Pro 20 multi-tool. Turn to p10 for full MBUK terms and conditions.

Email: mbuk@bikeradar.com and put ‘Readers’ Rides’ in the subject line – high res pics only please!

The ‘You’re the star!’ entry that we pick as our Hardcore Hero will win an Urge Endur-o-matic helmet worth £79.99. For more info, visit www.urgebike.com. See p10 for full Mountain Biking UK terms and conditions.

the chunky frame is bomber strong and carves corners like a plough 42 Mountain Biking uk

Featuring:

Nukeproof Mega AM 275 Pro // Niner WFO 9 V2 // Silverback Slade 1

Bigger wheels mean the Mega AM is even smoother and faster for 2014

Nukeproof? Maybe not quite, but this is one solid chassis

Nukeproof Mega AM 275 pro Frame Hydroformed, double-welded 6061-T6 alloy, 160mm (6.3mm) travel Fork RockShox Pike RCT3, 160mm (6.3in) travel Shock RockShox Monarch Plus RC3 Drivetrain Truvativ Descendant 36T crankset, SRAM X0 Type 2 rear mech and chain device, SRAM X9 shifter Wheelset Nukeproof Generator wheels (15mm front/142x12mm rear), Maxxis High Roller 27.5x2.3in tyres Brakes Avid Elixir Trail 9 Bar/Stem Nukeproof Warhead 760mm/Nukeproof Warhead 50mm Seatpost/Saddle RockShox Reverb Stealth/Nukeproof Trail Mega Weight 14.38kg/31.7lb (without pedals) Price £3,199.99 (complete bike) Contact Hotlines www.hotlines-uk.com

ukeproof’s remodelled Mega AM was one of our favourite enduro bikes of last year. For 2014 it gets the season’s must-have mid-sized 650b wheels, with slightly altered geometry to suit. The result is an even faster, smoother and more controlled version of the super surefooted, swaggeringly confident Mega we already loved.

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 frame

If you’re looking for smooth and subtle sculpting, the Mega isn’t for you. The squared-off tubes are joined with flanged keystone sections for maximum weld area at the dropouts, chainstay bridge and linkage mount, and the bottom bracket and lower pivot block is seam welded for maximum strength. Instead of a conventional seatstay bridge there’s a big, curved cross tube in front of the seat tube that gives masses of mud clearance, despite the big wheels and high volume, high grip tyres. A continuous-outer-cable gear line and hoses for the stealth routed dropper post and rear brake are clamped to the top side of the down tube for

protection, and the lower bolts can also take a water bottle. The result of all this is a serious chunk of metal with weight to match, but it’s bomber strong and carves corners like a plough.

The kit

RockShox’s Pike fork and Reverb seatpost are the ultimate enduro double act and there’s nothing in the rest of the kitlist to make you back off. The chain is kept on the downhillstrength Truvativ Descendant cranks with an MRP/SRAM X0 guide and a clutch-equipped rear mech. There’s plenty of power in the Avid brakes, and Nukeproof’s 650b Generator wheels seem as tough as their proven smaller siblings so far.

The ride

The Mega AM’s intentions couldn’t be more obvious from the start. It pedals well considering the weight – especially if you flick on some compression damping via the lever on the RockShox shock – but the stubby stem, wide bar and slack-angled fork are all about descending with maximum confidence. While the

axle path might be a simple arc, the long-stroke piggyback shock operates at a lower ratio than most competitors. This gives it more oil movement to absorb each hit with and less explosive pressures for the twin-speed rebound to control. The bigger wheels reduce the effective angle of tyre contact enough that the bike hangs up noticeably less on flat-faced hits than before, and the longer contact patch boosts grip. The switch to 650b has lowered the bike’s centre of gravity too – more of its weight now sits below hub height, and this lets you take serious liberties with the chunky side knobs of the Maxxis rubber. It’s properly rule-bending when it comes to how much speed and how low a lean angle you can take into a corner and still expect to come out rubber side down. guy

RATED Not light, but combines serious downhill swagger and all-round enduro control with a top-value ready-to-race kitlist

Mountain Biking uk 43

FirstRides

 The original enduro 29er has been brought bang up to date  The WFO 9 matches serious downhill speed with surprisingly easy pedalling

Niner WFO 9 V2 Frame Airformed alloy, 150mm (5.9in) travel Fork RockShox Pike RCT3 29, 160mm (6.3in) travel Shock RockShox Monarch Plus RC3 Drivetrain SRAM X01 Wheelset Stan’s ZTR Flow EX 29er rims, Niner hubs (15mm/142x12mm), Schwalbe Nobby Nic 29x2.25in tyres Brakes Avid X0 Trail Bar/Stem Niner WFO 780mm/Niner 70mm Seatpost/Saddle RockShox Reverb/WTB Volt Race Weight 13.02kg/28.7lb (without pedals) Price £1,999 (frame only; bikes from £4,799) Contact Jungle www.jungleproducts.co.uk

iner’s 2009 WFO was the first bike to prove that big wheels, big speeds and big terrain can all play together happily. The new Wide ‘Full’ Open refresh takes full advantage of all the latest component and construction technology to keep it up with the upstarts.

The frame

It’s a tribute to the carboncompetitive weight of the new

airformed alloy frame that our complete mk2 bike with a 160mm (6.3in) travel fork weighed less than 30lb and still kicked OK for photoshoot hill repeats in the 40°C Nevada sun of Interbike. Offset forged linkages and a 142x12mm rear end mean the frame is plenty stiff, and the parallel-link CVA suspension is encouragingly positive under power. Neat anodised details and ISCG tabs complete a high-class package.

The kit

 Stubby stem, downhill-width bar, slack head angle – this is no ordinary 29er

44 Mountain Biking uk

SRAM’s X01 11-speed transmission is a fantastic choice for an enduro speed bike and also flatters the CVA suspension. The RockShox Pike fork and piggyback Monarch Plus air shock work well in harmony too. Our US sample bike came with a Stan’s and Schwalbe based wheelset, while UK bikes get WTB rims and Maxxis tyres. Either way, overall bike price is directly

comparable with other alloy boutique bikes. Niner underline their premium status with top quality own-brand parts, plus some really neat lifestyle extras.

The ride

The WFO’s back end is pretty short for a 6in travel 29er, and even with a steep seat angle and 70mm stem there’s plenty of breathing space to keep your lungs fed and make the most of the impressive traction that’s always been a feature of Niner full-suspension bikes. Having weight forward helps reduce slack head angle steering flop at low speeds, and the tall bottom bracket height means plenty of ground clearance before you sump out the lower linkage. While it’s no slouch hustling rolling trails or harvesting altitude to trade for gravity, what this bike is primarily about is going down fast. The big wheels, raked out head tube, 780mm bar and superlative

control of the Pike create a serious steamroller feel up front, with minimal deflection however ragged and rutted the track or big the rocks. The back end isn’t quite as impact ignorant, with some kickback through the pedals, but drop your heels and relax, and the shock tames trail trauma well, particularly at higher speeds on stutter bump sections that the big wheels glide over the top of. We appreciated the way the RockShox Reverb dropper post let us get further back than the natural ‘in saddle’ ride position though, as the high BB and suspension action seem to sit you ‘on top’ rather than ‘down in’ the WFO. This can feel a little precarious until you learn to trust the stiffness of the frame to rip you round corners – something it does with predictable authority if you commit early with a decent effort to get those big wheels dropped in. Guy

RATED Niner aren’t alone in producing a longtravel 29er any more, but the new WFO 9 is a very capable enduro/trail all-rounder

For all the latest breaking news check out

FirstRides

 With a quality frame and decent kit for the money, the Slade 1 is ready to hit the trails  The RockShox fork is a solid performer, with a bar-mounted lockout button

Silverback Slade 1 FRAME Custom butted 6061 alloy FORK RockShox Revelation RL Solo Air w/ PushLoc, 130mm (5.1in) travel DRIVETRAIN Shimano Deore XT crankset and rear mech, Shimano SLX shifters and front mech WHEELSET Stan’s ZTR Crest 650b rims, Shimano SLX hubs, Maxxis Ardent 27.5x2.25in tyres BRAKES Shimano SLX BAR/STEM Silverback SBC 680mm, Truvativ AKA 65mm SEATPOST/SADDLE Silverback SBC WEIGHT 11.7kg (25.8lb) without pedals PRICE £1,297 (complete bike) CONTACT Silverback www.silverbacklab.com

ilverback aren’t a big name in the UK, but the German company are looking to make an impact on our shores with the 650b wheeled Slade 1. With a solid spec and predictable handling, it’s a decent trail all-rounder.

The frame

Despite its understated graphics, the Slade’s 6061 alloy frame doesn’t need to hide

away. Silverback have incorporated most of the features we’d expect to see on a modern trail hardtail: a tapered head tube helps with steering precision, a large diameter down tube carries that stiffness through to the bottom bracket, and the seat tube accepts a 31.6mm post, giving plenty of dropper options should you wish to upgrade. The bottom bracket shell is threaded rather than following the press-fit trend, but that’s no bad thing in durability terms. Mud friendly, full length outer cables run along the top tube and should help keep shifting smooth through the winter months.

The kit

 The 680mm bar is narrow by modern standards – a wider one would boost control

46 Mountain Biking uk

The Slade’s drivetrain is an exclusively Shimano affair, with the 24/38T double crankset and rear mech coming from the XT range, while the rest, save for the 11-34T cassette, comes with the SLX badge. The result is

crisp, accurate shifting with minimal chainslap thanks to the clutch-equipped rear mech. Shimano have also provided the SLX brakes and hubs – the brakes’ finned pads helping to resist heat build-up, and the hubs providing reliable cup-andcone bearings and Center Lock rotors. Up front, there’s a RockShox Revelation RL fork, with a 15mm axle and remote lockout. A disappointingly narrow 680mm bar is held in place by a 65mm Truvativ stem.

The ride

We found the best way to maintain the Slade’s momentum was to ride over the front of the bike, working the fork hard through every undulation in the trail and letting the rear end simply follow in its tracks. With the short head tube and flat bar, getting into a low and aggressive stance over the bike is easy, though a wider bar and

possibly a shorter stem would give a bit more control in the turns. The 68-degree head angle gives an agile feel more suited to fast, twisty trails than technical terrain. When things get steep or tight, it’s essential to get weight over the back wheel to keep things controlled. The Revelation RL is a solid fork and comes with RockShox’s simple to set up Solo Air spring. Without the high and low speed compression damping found on pricier forks, we found we had to be careful with the air pressure to strike the right balance between big hit capability and small impact suppleness. The wide tyres can be run at low pressures, especially if you make use of the rims’ tubeless capabilities. This gives plenty of grip at the front end, even in mucky conditions, while at the back the high volume rubber adds comfort to what’s a reasonably stiff frame. TOm

RATED For those looking for a decent trail hardtail, the Slade delivers a good spec with more than capable handling

For all the latest breaking news check out

First

Look Tasty bits of new kit to get excited about

Scott Genius LT 700 Tuned Bikes that can climb like hardtails and descend like downhill bikes are becoming increasingly popular for both modern trail riding and that racing discipline that begins with an ‘e’. The Scott Genius LT 700 Tuned could well be that bike and then some. With a stunning-looking carbon main frame, 650b wheels and SRAM’s superb 1x11 X01 groupset, this machine is ready to hit the trails. Add to that Scott’s unique on-the-fly suspension adjustment and a RockShox Reverb dropper post, and you really do have everything at your fingertips.

£5,799 Scott Sports www.scott-sports.com

48 Mountain Biking uk

For 360º footage of this product go to

iXS Trail RS Helmet the trail helmet market is a fast-growing sector. Not wanting to be left out, German protection supremos iXS have entered the ring with the Trail RS. Combining classic crosscountry helmet aesthetics with a moto inspired peak and increased rear coverage, it follows the trend to good measure. Designed to provide maximum protection without compromising comfort or cooling, the Trail RS has 22 large vents and a fully adjustable retention system so you can tailor the fit.

ÂŁ84.99, Hotlines www.hotlines-uk.com Mountain Biking uk 49

Schwalbe Magic Mary and Rock Razor tyres Schwalbe have added two new tyres to their gravity line that look set to make a splash in 2014. The Magic Mary is an intermediate tyre with a ‘cut spike’ tread that’s intended to deliver predictable cornering and braking in a wide range of conditions. It’s available in 26, 27.5 and 29x2.35in sizes, in Schwalbe’s super-grippy VertStar or more durable TrailStar compounds. The Rock Razor is a dry and hardpack conditions specialist that’s seen action at the Downhill World Championships and Enduro World Series. It comes in 26 or 27.5x2.35in, in TrailStar or fast-rolling PaceStar rubber. Both tyres are available with Schwalbe’s standard tubeless-ready TLR carcass or the tougher, enduro-inspired Super Gravity casing. There’s a downhill version of the Magic Mary too.

Magic Mary Super Gravity £54, Rock Razor folding £49, Schwalbe www.schwalbe.co.uk

50 Mountain Biking uk

Leatt DBX 5.5 neck brace once a cause of contention, the neck brace has become an essential tool in the gravity rider’s arsenal. Leatt arguably define this sector and for 2014, they’ve gone back to the drawing board to deliver the all-new DBX 5.5. Designed to be adjusted without any tools and fit more comfortably than previous incarnations, it introduces several design changes that are already getting our testers excited. Available in a plethora of colours to suit all tastes and riding wardrobes, we expect it to be a brace to be reckoned with.

£320, Hotlines www.hotlines-uk.com

Burgtec Penthouse MK4 pedals the original boutique flat pedal has been on a significant diet since its inception in 2004, while maintaining the oversized platform Burgtec are well known for. The result is this – the refined and race-ready MK4 Penthouse flat. Available with a choice of steel (440g/pair, claimed) or titanium axles (370g/pair), the MK4s have a new, slimmer 16mm platform, concave profile and 16 easy-to-remove pins for unsurpassed grip. With a lineage of World Cup podiums, these beasts look ready for anything you and the trail can dish out.

£99.99 with steel axles, £149.99 with Ti axles Burgtec www.burgtec.co.uk

Mountain Biking uk 51

[ the most desirable mountain bikes on the planet ]

#36 Zealous Division Why is this a super BIKE?  Just about the

shortest chainstays of any 29er

 Design minimises

the compromises associated with the bigger wheel size

 Built to tackle any

trail that you might want to ride

A 29er to silence the cynics? Quirky looks and great design make the Division stand out from the pack Every now and again a bike comes along that challenges conventional thinking – a game changer, you might call it. Some of these ideas work, some don’t, but their existence starts a conversation and brings new ideas to the mountain bike world. While full-suspension designs continue to evolve, the creation of a unique hardtail frame isn’t something that happens often. The traditional double diamond shape has been the mainstay of bicycle design for over

100 years, and there’s a good reason for that – it’s an easy way to build a strong, lightweight bike with the desired blend of stiffness and compliance.

Eclipsing the competition Change, then, often has to be more subtle. Zealous Bikes have done just that: achieved a subtle, but significant, redesign of the hardtail, aimed at better accommodating 29in wheels. Two years ago, the guys behind

Zealous – a downhiller and a trail rider – set out to create a 29er that didn’t follow the conventions of cross-country biased wagon-wheelers. “We wanted riders to think of this as their default bike,” they say. “The bike you can just head out on and be able to cope with everything you come across, whether that’s happy-cruising fire trails or real tech steeps.” This meant combining the smoothrolling advantages of 29in wheels with

Words Tom Marvin Pics Joby Sessions

Mountain Biking uk 53

See more detail pics on

stealthy guides

When the frame was being designed, stealth routed dropper posts weren’t available. By coincidence, the Z brace is ideally placed to guide stealth hoses.

SPLIT personality

The Eclipse seat tube lets Zealous use shorter stays that give handling uncharacteristic of a 29er. There’s plenty of clearance with a big 2.3in tyre.

new dropouts

The dropouts on the original version created such a stiff back end that Zealous had to change the design to give more flex – too stiff and wheel alignment became an issue.

54 Mountain Biking uk

sensible spec

The Division has been designed not to break the bank. The build seen here is realistic – not remortgage – territory for most riders, with solid and dependable componentry, and extra money spent in the right places.

superbike

short and stiff

The 44mm head tube is ring reinforced to give plenty of strength and stiffness. It’ll accept forks with straight or tapered steerer tubes.

the snappy handling and tight cornering usually associated with smaller hoops. The main barrier was chainstay length. Shorter chainstays reduce a bike’s wheelbase, improving cornering. But when you’re trying to squeeze 29in wheels into a double diamond frame, you can only shorten the chainstays so far before the seat tube is occupying the space where the tyre should be. “We had to make the bike work around the frame geometry we wanted,” say Zealous. “This was a particular challenge around the bottom bracket/chainstay yoke area, where it’s pretty congested. On top of that, we wanted to run a decent volume rear tyre and provide UK-grade mud clearance.” Their solution was simple: split the lower half of the seat tube in two, leaving space in between for the rear tyre. The Division was born. The two plates of the Eclipse seat tube are pressed into shape, and the inner faces are then CNC machined to save weight and increase stiffness. A Z-shaped brace bolsters things further, and gives a handy guide for stealth routed dropper post hoses. The other benefit of the Eclipse layout is that it gives a massive weld area for the BB92 bottom bracket shell, stiffening the frame. With its big plates, there’s no room for a front derailleur, so the Division is single-ring specific. The designers don’t see this being a problem, with wide-range 10and 11-speed cassettes readily available.

Long Division

more choice

When Zealous began work on the Division, there weren’t many components that suited the design brief. Fortunately longer-travel forks, wider tyres and tougher wheels are now widely available for 29ers.

As times have moved on bike design has evolved, with longer top tubes becoming prevalent on bikes designed to go fast – and the Division is no exception. An inch has been added to the top tube on the production model, giving extra stability when speeds rise. The BB has dropped too – Zealous have done this to lower the centre of gravity, making cornering more stable, while at the same time lowering the rider’s body over the bike, to aid control. Heading further back, Zealous decided that versatility should be the name of the game when it comes to the dropouts. DMR’s Swapout system is used, giving boltthrough, quick-release and sliding options. As for their decision to build the bike from aluminium rather than lightweight carbon fibre or smooth-riding steel, Zealous say: “People don’t give aluminium enough love. It always seems to be about carbon, or people telling you that ‘steel is real’. It’s all real, but aluminium gave us the balance of properties that suited the concept behind this bike.” There’s no denying that the bike is a bit Marmite – some will love the industrial looks and some won’t. Zealous’s response? “If you don’t like it, don’t buy it!” c

the essentials Price: £499.99 (frame only) Contact: www.zealousbikeco.com Also look at: Canfield Yelli Screamy

£850 (frame only) www.charliethebikemonger.com

Mountain Biking uk 55

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“

is name means ‘soldier’,” says Yaar Mahammad, our translator. Yaar is talking about Askarkhan, a 13-year-old boy who’s been hefting rocks into the foundations of a new hut with an ease that puts my own strength to shame. Despite his military sounding name, Askarkhan’s clothes have no resemblance to a uniform, and he doesn’t need one. Here, at 4,305m above sea level amid the swirls of a snowstorm in the Wakhan Corridor, Askarkhan is far from the war and troubles that have tragically become synonymous with his home country, Afghanistan. Here, the best weapon for survival is resilience, not a rifle. Resilience will see Askarkhan through the short, eight-week summer spent herding yaks and sheep high on the mountainsides. It’s probably the harshest place I’ve ever been, so why the hell are we trying to ride bikes here? The snow buries our six bikes and tents. Above us, hidden in fog, sits the 4,809m Karabel Pass, the second

60 Mountain Biking uk

Afghanistan

the harshest place on earth? A singletrack quest reveals that, even away from the gunfire, Afghanistan is no place for the faint-hearted Word and pics Dan Milner

Mountain Biking uk 61

Tour of duty

Rewind five days and we’re about to strike out from Sarhad, the village at the end of the only boulder strewn, washed out jeep track into the Wakhan Corridor. It’s a road we travel in Toyota pickups with bald tyres and broken windscreens, taking 14 hours to cover the final 150km on Afghan soil. After that it’s good to be on the bikes, despite riding straight into a 600m climb. We leave behind us all semblance of modern life. Where we’re going there are no vehicles, toilets or mobile phone coverage. For 12 days our tyres will roll only on ancient trails chiselled into the dusty hillsides by centuries of pack animal traffic plying the Silk Route. “So, we have three possibilities,” says Tom Bodkin, laying out a patchwork of 1980s Soviet maps on the grass to explain our route options. Tom runs adventure travel company Secret Compass and is the brains behind the expedition we’ve signed up for. As if adding items to a shopping list, he methodically names several swollen rivers and snowy passes that could defeat our 250km ride. For all of the assembled mountain bikers, including pro freerider Matt Hunter, Anthill Films cameramen Colin ‘CJ’ Jones and Darcy Wittenburg, and expedition veteran Brice Minnigh, the lure of riding bikes here isn’t about kudos or dubious bar-talk bravery of “surviving Afghanistan”. It’s the enticement of the unknown, of what lies beyond the usual 62 Mountain Biking uk

boundaries. It’s the magnetic appeal of hard-won singletrack rewards that’s brought us to this unforgiving landscape. It’s true that no one has ridden, pushed or carried bikes through here before, but the Wakhi people welcome about 100 trekking tourists every year, each safe in the knowledge that the Wakhan sits beyond Taliban and NATO interference.

the lowdown

The Wakhan Corridor

Afghanistan Iran

Pakistan

Wakhi races

We ride off-camber, loose, narrow trails perched precariously above thundering rivers. Each of us deals with the exposure factor differently, but the river crossings become the great leveller. At every river we stop, regroup and collectively plan a way across – and for good reason. Each river is a raging torrent of ice-cold meltwater, formidably dark with silt. Carrying bikes becomes a game of nerves and balance, and numb feet become the targets for bowling-ball rocks, rolled along the river bed by an angry current. A wildly shouting Afghan support team beckon from the far bank, adding to

Uzbekistan Turkmenistan

of three high passes we’ll have to brave during our 12-day adventure ride through the Wakhan. The term ‘adventure’ seems to put such endeavours outside the normal remit for whingeing – if the going gets tough, then that’s just part of the adventure. But if ‘hard-earned’ is the price you pay for riding where no one has ever ridden before, then we’re paying handsomely in Afghanistan. There’s been nothing easy about our trip so far, from the four-day, rough, overland approach from neighbouring Tajikistan, to the massive temperature swings that deliver 30°C heat one day and snowstorms the next. It’s day five when we meet Askarkhan. We still have seven more to go. I’m tired, my feet are wet and my hands numb.

Despite centuries of strife in Afghanistan, the Wakhan Corridor has remained peaceful. Squeezed between ex-Soviet Tajikistan to the north, Pakistan to the south and China to the east, the Wakhan was demilitarised during the gallop to consume other countries by the Russians and British in the 1800s. The two empires converged in Afghanistan, and Wakhan was left as a territorial buffer between them. The result is one of the most peaceful and beautiful landscapes on Earth. Our 12-day, 250km route included 8,355m of climbing and 8,855m of descending, starting at Sarhad and finishing at Gaz Khan. Logistics were organised by www.secretcompass.com.

The first leg of the journey, by 4x4, was an adventure in itself

Doesn’t matter where in the world he is, Dan Milner loves a non-smiling selfie

Travelling to Wakhan, we passed reminders of Afghanistan’s troubled past – and present

We ride off-camber, loose, narrow trails perched precariously above thundering rivers, raging torrents of icy meltwater

Afghanistan

Careful route planning was essential, to avoid having to cross the most swollen rivers

Mountain Biking uk 63

The rewards of experiencing this landscape and riding made the hardship worthwhile

The trip wouldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have been possible without our Afghan support team

64 Mountain Biking uk

We were dwarfed by the harsh majesty of the landscape

Afghanistan

Biking here is about as different from trail centres as you can get

There were times when we questioned our sanity…

the drama. And then we have to get the donkeys across. We’d be going nowhere without this support and their pack animals. In this forgotten land, we become a valuable source of income for six locals, including Amin Bek our cook, Amin Ali his helper and Yaar Mahammad our translator. It’s clear Yar doesn’t understand much of what Tom tries to convey to our horsemen and cook, but without him we’d be felled. Finding an English speaker in this remote corner of the globe is nigh-on impossible. When Tom put the word out, only three candidates showed up Negotiating river crossings was one of the main challenges

Spirits are high and group camaraderie building. Later, each of us will suffer a low point in the trip, when energy and morale plummet. It hits me on day eight, during a 40km ride that starts with a morning of amazing singletrack but descends into a freezing slog across boggy ground into a headwind of swirling snow. When we stop for a break, I question our sanity. The group are all silent. I get the feeling that others share my doubts, but no one wants to spoil the party. By the time we reach camp at dusk we’ll have been on the trail for 12 hours. Our camping spots vary –

We’d be going nowhere without our Afghan support team and their pack animals at the Tajik-Afghan border crossing of Ishkashim. One of them had travelled two days to pitch his service. The distances we cover aren’t big by any standards but I’m thankful for that. Starting out at 3,264m we rapidly climb to over 4,200m and remain above 4,000m for much of the trip. For the first three days we work our way up the side of the thundering Wakhan River, riding into the magnificent rolling hills of the Little Pamir in the shadow of the Hindu Kush. We follow a solitary horse trail up valleys and over passes.

sometimes in open, exposed meadows surrounded by boulders etched with the ancient carvings known as petroglyphs, sometimes squeezed into steep-sided river gorges. There are no permanent villages in the Wakhan so we camp wherever we can find a shepherd’s hut for the Afghans, and when the snow starts blowing, we join them in these chimney-less shelters for as long as we can endure the thick, choking smoke of the yak dung cooking fire. Respiratory complaints are common here. Apart from our passion for bikes, we six westerners also Mountain Biking uk 65

See more photos on

All this to ourselves – truly awesome

kit up!

Dan’s 5 Expedition Essentials 3 5

1 4

sprey Escapist 30 pack £90 O 1.03kg www.ospreypacks.com My go-to hydration pack for a big day out – it never feels heavy. Available in 15, 20 and 25-litre versions too.

ountain Equipment Bastion M jacket £190 490g www.mountainequipment.co.uk. This puffer jacket made from Gore’s Windstopper fabric defends against snow, wind and cold without excessive weight.

66 Mountain Biking uk

ifeventure SoftFibre Trek L towel £14 122g and Ti spork £8 15g www.madison.co.uk All you need, and at a weight you can carry easily.

avic Alpine XL shoes £110 M 410g www.mavic.com Performance shoes that dry quickly and ooze grip on hike-a-bike sections.

ifeventure Dristore bag £14 L 65g www.madison.co.uk Possibly the most important thing for any river crossing.

share an appreciation and respect for the locals. None of us has met such a hardy, tough people. The high passes become our biggest obstacle. Higher than any peak in Europe, they become a challenge for fitness and lung capacity alike. With a 4am, sub-zero start, each is a race against time as we try to cross before the snow softens. On the Karabel Pass we lose the race and our horses flounder in the deep snow. We’ve crested the pass but further progress is impossible without risking losing an animal. We beat a retreat knowing that tomorrow we’ll have to go around instead to reach our staging post for the next pass. We camp at 4,400m beneath an enormous hanging glacier. It’s possibly the most spectacular camp spot I’ve ever seen, but I’m too tired to truly appreciate it. Six hours later we’re hiking on icy scree again to reach the 4,867m Showr Pass, the gateway to the Kyrgyz controlled Big Pamir mountains. The achievement is as much mental as physical. The descent is a mix of snow, mud and rocky singletrack that sees us weaving between boulders and around bogs. The riding is as wild as our surroundings. We drop into a

wide glaciated valley and roll through it, dwarfed by the immense landscape. For the next two nights we’re welcomed into traditional Kyrgyz yurts and sleep alongside the six Afghans who are with us. Protected from the incessant wind, the rug-adorned shelters are a high point for us westerners. We’re as captivated by yurt life as the Kyrgyz are by our bike hauling. They laugh when we struggle to down the rancid, sour yak yoghurt that accompanies our tea.

Wheels of wonder

The Kyrgyz are masters of horsemanship. Here, horses and yaks are the only mode of transport – bikes have never made an appearance. As we descend into the valleys, working our way back out of the Big Pamir, our bikes become objects of fascination for the locals. Some would think it crass that we’re riding machines worth more than a local could earn in a decade, but their value has no meaning here. All that matters is that they have wheels and look fun to try to ride. It’s apparent that the kids here have never held a wheel, let alone tried to ride a bike. The

Afghanistan

With a 4am, sub-zero start, each pass is a race against time as we try to cross before the snow softens Shepherds’ huts provided welcome, if sporadic, shelter along the route

Words can’t do justice to how we felt at times like this

These kids had never seen a wheel

Sleeping in the Kyrgyz’ yurts felt like pure luxury

Afghanistan

Singletrack like this isn’t handed to you on a plate – you have to earn it

tough stuff

the Ultimate Expedition Spec Shimano XTR components “The ultimate in light, strong and reliable – breakages aren’t an option in Afghanistan. I swapped the standard 28/38T chainrings for 22/36T XT rings to give me easier gears for the climbs.”

Mavic Crossmax ST wheels “At 1,590g, I knew these tough but light wheels wouldn’t break the camel’s back (or mine) halfway up a 5,000m pass. They even stood up to being trodden on by a horse.”

CrankBrothers Candy pedals “Swapping out my regular platformequipped CrankBros Mallets for these lighter clipless pedals saved weight where it wasn’t needed. The group were split between riding flats and cleats.”

wonder that is the wheel is something that illuminates a dozen faces as Matt hands round his spare Shimano XTRs to a handful of local kids. They spin them, laughing.

Despite the daily challenge of snowy passes and technical singletrack, life is simple

Rock and a hard place

with rocks to ride, I remind myself of this. The frustration of pushing a bike is something I’ve become accustomed to. In a few days’ time I’ll be boarding a plane bound for the luxuries of Europe. I can’t pretend that I’m not excited about the prospect of a real bed, or turning on a tap to have drinkable water run freely from it. But at the same time I know I’ll never repeat what we’re doing now, I’ll never have these

After 11 days, the routine of ride, wade, eat, sleep has become our lives. Hygiene has gone by the wayside – the rivers are too cold for anything more than a token dip – and despite the daily challenge of covering distance, climbing snowy passes or riding rocky, technical singletrack, life has become simple. As I push my bike across another traverse too cluttered 68 Mountain Biking uk

experiences again. And so for the moment I smile, revelling in the traffic jam of experiences that’s clogging my senses right now. It’s the hardest thing I’ve ever done, but I love it. In this wild, harsh corner of the world, I realise I truly am between a rock and a hard place – confined by the barren, rocky terrain on the one hand, but also by my own insatiable appetite for such adventures. c

Forgotten Dirt Specialized’s Matt Hunter captured the highs and lows of the crew’s epic trip to Afghanistan on his Sony Action Cam. Watch the video at http:// bit.ly/1bUNMwG.

insider trading

local xxxxxbike xxxxxx shops

Online mega-stores have hit the high street hard. But a new breed of independent bike shop, grown from oldschool ideals, is rising from the ashes to sell you your next bike. We visited one such example, the Trailhead in Shrewsbury, to find out more Words Ric McLaughlin Photos Russell Burton

Mountain Biking uk 71

Some of the best shops are owned and run by riders

Retro issues of MBUK made us come over all nostalgic

Local shops can cater to the specific needs of local riders

72 Mountain Biking uk

The personal touch is what sets small stores apart from the big boys

local bike shops

D Sandy is proof that a local bike shop can survive, even thrive

ucking out of the grey and rainsoaked streets of Shrewsbury into the Trailhead, an electronic shop-bell bongs and straight away we’re greeted by the soothing aroma of chain lube mingled with freshly brewed coffee. The shop’s proprietor, Sandy Plenty, is busy with a customer so snapper Russ and I hang back and let his shop close in around us. This isn’t a steel and glass, woodenfloored chain store. The diminutive space packs in everything from kids’ road bikes right up to a wall-hung Cube Stereo HPC 160 SL. The iconic Sprung 2 video is playing on a small flat-screen telly poking out from the stacked shelves.

True pedigree

Sandy worked for the large Leisure Lakes chain for 10 years and left on good terms before opening the Trailhead in November last year. “I’ve been in the bike industry since I left school at 16,” he says. “My dad and I had a bike shop in Church Stretton. That didn’t work out and I think he’s now pretty proud that I’ve got this going.” As a seasoned downhill and gravity enduro racer, Sandy is a mountain bike fanatic. I ask him if it’s difficult to step back a bit and assess what Joe Punter wants from a shop. “Definitely,” he says. “You can’t stock a shop purely with stuff you like otherwise you won’t sell anything. It’s a bit like having a wardrobe – you’ve got to have something quality for every occasion.”

The lure of online stores, with their discount prices and next-day postage, can spell disaster for small independents. What shops like the Trailhead have realised though, is that the digital behemoths can’t offer the human touch and quality bike servicing. “We do a lot of servicing,” Sandy says. “I think it’s very important because I know that if a shop has a good reputation, it’s come from the workshop. Anyone can give you a smile and a tea or coffee, but if you know that you can get your bike sorted, that’s what reputation is all about.”

Guppy up a tree

“What’s the coldest you’ve ever been up a tree, Rich?” Sandy shouts through to his friend – and the Trailhead’s resident mechanic – Rich Guppy. A former tree surgeon, Rich’s substantial forearms are also pretty adept at handling a bicycle – he’s raced World Cups and was even selected for the GB squad at the 1994 World Champs. Later, in the woods, Sandy points out a couple of the drops Rich has been sending on his Lapierre Spicy. They’re ridiculous. “Minus 14 I think,” he beams back. The workshop is packed to the gills with bikes awaiting Rich’s spanners. Fully equipped with two walls’ worth of bluehandled professional tools, Rich is tackling everything from a sticky road mech right up to suspension servicing. As well as online retailers, shops also face growing pressure from large chains, which again have superior buying

Shops like the Trailhead have realised that the digital behemoths can’t offer the human touch and quality bike servicing like them A good mechanic is an essential component of any bike shop

Mountain Biking uk 73

Sandy reckons shop survival comes down to how well the staff can fix your bike

power, as well as big brands opening up concept stores that exclusively stock their own wares. Even Tesco are set to expand their ‘bike shop within a shop’ scheme to 24 of their largest stores. All this makes it essential for small independents to hit the nail on the head, time after time.

High-end demand

“When we opened, I had an idea in my mind about how it was going to go – I thought I’d sell loads of entry-level bikes,” Sandy says, eyeing up the backlog of bikes in for service. “In the first week we did a custom-built Santa Cruz Highball and then we started doing all these high-end builds and bikes. I was worried because that wasn’t how I expected things to go, but I don’t think it’s a bad thing, if that’s what people want to come to us for.” At the heart of any vibrant local bike shop is an awareness of the demands and needs of the riders in the area. The hills around Shropshire have produced some

of the UK’s fastest racers and support a vibrant local scene. “If I lived in Manchester, I wouldn’t open a bike shop,” Sandy says, offering us steaming hot mugs of Chris King own-brand coffee. “But living and riding in Shropshire all my life gave me the confidence to open a bike shop here. Within half an hour there’s so much different riding, and people from beginners right up to World Cup level riders. It all adds to it.” So what does the future hold for the small independent bike shop? At the minute, the stark reality is that many face a fight for continued survival. The fact of the matter is that the big retail chains offer almost unbeatable prices and carry a huge range of stock. “I think it’s massively important that shops like this exist,” Sandy says. “We don’t oversell stuff. You’ve got to look at the long game and make customers for life, not just for a quick sale.” c

“I thought I’d sell loads of entry-level bikes. In the first week we did a custom-built Santa Cruz Highball, then all these high-end builds” 74 Mountain Biking uk

Rider owned, rider run A few of our favourite local bike shops I-Cycles, Innerleithen Stevie Dee’s is a rider’s shop right at the heart of one of the UK’s busiest riding hubs. Every product is handpicked and servicing is second to none. One of Scotland’s finest. 01896 833848, www.i-cycles.co.uk Bikedock, Belfast Northern Ireland’s original big bike shop. The Armstrongs made their name on the Shore Road but have now moved into the centre to offer a wide range of kit and bikes. 02890 730600, www.bikedock.com PS Cycles, Abercarn (nr Cwmcarn) South Wales is a busy, busy two-wheeled community and PS stock pretty much everything to get you back on the trails. 01495 246555, www.pscycles.co.uk 18 Bikes, Hope Award-winning new-school/old-school rider-run bike shop at the heart of the Peak District in Derbyshire. 01433 621111, www.18bikes.co.uk

Is it a bike, is it a motorbike? No, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a Stealth Bomberâ&#x20AC;Ś

76 Mountain Biking uk

electric mtbs

The

ultimate uplift?

Electric mountain bikes offer the prospect of more speed, power and fun. Does the radical Australian-made Stealth Bomber live up to the promise?

Words and pics: Seb Rogers

ravity, to paraphrase the brilliant scientist who ‘discovered’ it, sucks. It’s a fact that every mountain biker grapples with, every time we go out for a ride. It’s the reason for lots of low gears. It’s the thing that slaps a great big grin on our faces at the bottom of every descent. And it’s also the force of nature that puts a dampener on every climb. The new wave of electric mountain bikes aims to stick two fingers up to Newton and his famous apple. Combining pedal power and familiar MTB geometry with on-tap electric power, the idea is to make every climb easier without compromising handling or the potential for downhill fun. This new breed of power-assisted bikes is here already, but Aussie company Stealth have taken things to a whole new level. Combining a motocrosslike appearance with mountain bike geometry and components, the Bomber looks for all the world like the offspring of a motocross bike and a downhill bike after a one-night stand. With a claimed top speed of around 50mph and a range to match, is this the ultimate off-road bicycle? Mountain Biking uk 77

The one-piece monocoque frame is built to take abuse

Stealth bikes are pure Aussie, designed and built in Australia

A screen built into the top tube keep you updated on battery life

We visit Melbourne-based Stealth Electric Bikes on a cold, overcast day, but that’s not going to stop us getting out on the trails. It’s not long before company owner and designer John Karambalis’s motocross bike trailer and pickup – or ‘ute’, as the Aussies call it – is loaded up with a range of Stealth bikes and we’re off.

The Bosch Drive Unit features on a lot of new e-MTBs

Future electric

Driving to the trails? Surely we could ride and let the clever technology – and a range of up to 50 miles – take the strain? It turns out it’s not that simple. Electric bikes fall rather awkwardly between official definitions of a bicycle and a motorbike in most countries, including the UK and Australia. To comply with local regulations, all Stealth bikes are delivered with their speed and power severely restricted. This means they’re legal for road use. But, as John admits: “That limitation [also] turns them into a big, heavy bike that doesn’t have much power.” He’s not wrong about the weight. Most electric bikes we’ve seen are nearly double the heft of a similar unpowered bike. The Stealth Bomber’s unusually high power output pushes the weight up to a mighty 53kg (116lb). Luckily, there’s a solution to the power restriction problem. “Once they’re ungoverned,” says John, “which the customer can do themselves, they’re unleashed.” Unleashed is an accurate description. The Bomber is an ungainly beast to manhandle, though happily it’s closer to an overweight downhill bike than a motocross bike. Climb aboard and twist the throttle control under your right hand – it’s a Grip Shift-style arrangement that’ll look and feel very familiar to any mountain biker – and it surges forward with so much power that the grinning will start before you’ve even left the car park. 78 Mountain Biking uk

Vorsprung durch technik The Germans are coming German motor specialists Bosch have come up with an electric bike gearbox that hints at what the future may hold in store. Already incorporated into bikes from manufacturers including Cube, Felt, Ghost, Lapierre, Nicolai and Scott, the Bosch Drive Unit is an all-in-one gearbox and motor that transmits up to 250w of power through a standard bicycle transmission. Because it’s fairly compact and relatively light at 4kg, it can be incorporated into a lot of existing mountain bike designs – including full-suspension frames – without radical changes to geometry or construction. It also incorporates sophisticated sensor technology to match the motor’s output to the rider’s input at the pedals, giving seamless assistance where it’s needed most – like on climbs – without interfering when it’s not needed. It’s restricted to a maximum of 25kph (15mph) though.

electric electric mtbs mtbs

Tech geekery

How far, how fast, how much? Stealth’s unique approach – based on owner and designer John Karambalis’s motocross experience – results in a bike that’s heavier, more expensive and arguably less well specced on the bike component front than many other electric mountain bikes. But it’s also uniquely powerful – with more than 10 times the oomph of most of its rivals – giving it a range and top speed that most of the competition can only dream of matching.

Free energy The red button next to the rear brake and shifter activates the regen feature, transforming the motor into a generator on descents to top up the battery

Twist and go The Grip Shift-style throttle sends instant power to the motor – it’s extremely sensitive and can take a little getting used to

Recharge at home The massive lithium battery – which will handle up to 800 charge and discharge cycles – can be topped up from empty in just two hours

Geared up The nine-speed sequential gearbox has a wide enough range to cope with everything from steep climbs to 40mph+ blasts

Power with control The big black box under the frame is the bike’s electronic brain, controlling all the motor functions and running a small LCD status display positioned near the headset

Size matters 24x3in downhill tyres with big, square blocks give plenty of grip for transferring the motor’s massive torque to the trail

Stealth Bomber www.stealthelectricbikesunitedkingdom.com Top speed: Approx 50mph Range: Approx 50 miles Noise @ 30mph: 65dB Peak power: 4.5kW Battery capacity: 1.5kWh Recharge time: 2 hours Battery life: 800 cycles Motor: Hub-mounted brushless DC Transmission: Nine-speed sequential gearbox Front suspension travel: 180mm (7.1in) Rear suspension travel: 250mm (9.8in) Frame: Australian-made chromoly monocoque Brakes: Six-pot hydraulic discs, 203mm rotors Weight: 53kg (116lb) Running cost: Approx £0.01/km Price: US$9,900 (approx £6,157) + delivery

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electric mtbs

The power is seriously addictive. Accelerating out of a berm, moto style, is just a flick of the wrist away

You can do everything you can on a normal DH bike – and more

Most electric bikes use the motor to seamlessly supplement the rider’s input at the pedals. But Stealth’s approach is different. In addition to the motor in the rear hub, there’s a nine-speed gearbox for use with the pedals, operated by a second Grip Shift-style shifter under your left hand. The range stretches from a gear low enough to pedal the Bomber uphill without motor assistance – just – to one high enough to break most urban speed limits with a bit of help from the throttle. It’s entirely up to the rider to determine how – and how much – to use the motor.

Power to the people

We find some singletrack and give the Bomber some beans. It’s fair to say it takes a little getting used to, though the on-tap power is seriously addictive. Accelerating out of a berm, moto style, is just a flick of the wrist away. Need a burst more speed to clear a double? Shift up and give the motor some more power. It’s a lot of fun. And, at the bottom of the hill, you can simply turn around and ride back to the top in double-quick time with the motor taking all the strain. Who needs an uplift? There’s no getting around the weight, but Stealth are aware of the issue, and they’re working on it. “We’re in that crossover area where we’re not quite producing a mountain bike and not quite producing a dirt bike,” says John. “A dirt bike is quite heavy compared with one of [our bikes], so we’re trying to get [our bike] as close to a mountain bike as we can without sacrificing the advantages of having the power that we’ve already got. There are at least five designs on the table that’ll come to fruition in the next few years.” In the meantime, the Stealth approach shows that there’s more than one way to bring the advantages of electric power to mountain biking. More fun and better rider endurance – what’s not to like? c 80 Mountain Biking uk

Ultimate uplifter What’s it like to ride? Two things dominate the Bomber’s ride. First, the throttle is incredibly sensitive. A couple of degrees of rotation is all that’s needed to put enough torque into the rear wheel to throw an unwary rider off the back of the bike. Once you’ve got used to the instantaneous response, it’s remarkably controllable. Riding uphill at speeds you’d normally struggle to pedal at on the flat is easy (but hammers battery life, if you’re not careful). Second, there’s no escaping the weight. Luckily, the geometry’s well sorted and much of the heft is low down. In addition, the huge amount of power on tap is a game changer, removing much of the sluggishness you might expect. Sure, it’s heavy, but if you work with it, it’s a remarkably quick, capable ride. Advantages include increased range and reduced strain on knee joints and the like – good news for riders with injuries.

Lifting the lid We take a peek inside Troy Lee Designs’ California HQ and get the lowdown on all things TLD from industry icon Craig ‘Stikman’ Glaspell Words Grant Robinson & Doddy

Pics Grant Robinson

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ollowing in his father’s footsteps as an artist and a motorbike racer, Troy Lee started out custom-painting helmets from his home for a few friends in about 1981 and soon found himself making larger and better shaped peaks for the helmets – vacuum forming them using his mum’s oven and vacuum cleaner. It wasn’t long before things took off, and when the mountain bike scene exploded in the late ’80s, Troy saddled up and got involved. He was already custom-painting

helmets for John Tomac and a few other riders when he came across the Shoei helmet, originally intended for commuter use. With some customisation and rebranding, it was released as the Shoei TL Comp, and became an instant design classic. Troy’s company, Troy Lee Designs, have maintained mass appeal since the beginning, and while the man himself still spends much of his time painting helmets, these days it’s Craig ‘Stikman’ Glaspell who’s very much his frontman in the mountain bike world, representing this iconic brand.

Troy Lee helmet history

troy lee designs

Troy Lee is proud to have worked with some of the world’s fastest riders – this is one of 4X ace Brian Lopes’s 1990s race lids

D3 With improvements in bike technology allowing racers to ride even harder and faster, TLD decided it was time to up the ante with their safest helmet yet. Launched in 2009, the D3 is still the cream of the full-face crop today.

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D2 Open Face The open-face D2 took a leaf out of the retro BMX racing book and became an instant classic when it was released in a limited run. It’s still highly sought after by Troy Lee fans.

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D2 With a stronger and burlier design to reflect the progression of riding, TLD once again stamped their authority with the D2. Despite the stronger design, it still managed to look sleek and once again set the standard for other manufacturers to follow.

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Daytona Born from the Edge, the Daytona was the first helmet manufactured by Troy Lee Designs. Made from carbon fibre, it was strong, light and made every other full-face look very dated. It cost around US$500 – and cost them nearly the same to make.

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91 19 Shoei TL Comp This iconic lid was made by Shoei and was originally launched as a road/ commuter helmet. It was modified for MTB use by Troy, who changed the name to TL Comp. It later became the Troy Lee Edge, featuring a removable jaw guard, as racers started to need additional protection.

A1 Designed to meet the criteria of today’s enduro and trail riders, the A1 checked all the boxes when it was released last year. With superior head coverage, great venting and killer looks, TLD have stolen the show yet again.

Stik in the mud Stikman – he’s on the slim side, in case you were wondering – has been on the mountain bike scene since the beginning and has been a major player in developing the image of the sport. Alongside being a successful mechanic for some big teams, he ran a website called Stiks and Stones that was crammed with gossip and some black-and-white opinions that were met with laughs and red faces alike. Here’s some of the stuff he’s been up to…

1993-2005

Stiksandstones Race Management This was the golden era when mountain biking boomed, and Stikman was in it up to his elbows. Alongside his website, he spannered for and/or ran the following race teams: Iron Horse (1993), Barracuda-Dos Equis (1994), Mongoose (1995-1998), Intense Tyre Systems (1998-1999), Intense Cycles (1999), Schwinn/Toyota (20002001) and GT (2002-2004).

2007 - current day Craig Glaspell Photo

After a decade on the race scene, Stikman took a break from team management and moved into action sports photography – something he still enjoys today.

2010-2012

Global Marketing Manager, Intense Cycles Where better for Stikman to make a welcome return to the bike industry than at this iconic Californian brand? He helped the company bring their first carbon fibre bikes to market.

2011 - current day

Marketing Manager for Bike, Troy Lee Designs With his move to TLD, Stikman is now in his element – supplying kit to the world’s fastest racers and helping to keep the brand at the forefront of the MTB scene.

We don’t know how Stikman gets any work done with so many amazing bits of bike and moto kit to drool over

Stikman is an intrinsic part of the mountain bike scene and has been working with the world’s fastest racers for as long as Troy has been customising their helmets. He’s been influential in bringing some of the best riding gear available to the industry – and none more prominent than TLD’s latest release, the A1 enduro helmet. Over to him… So Stik, how long have you been working for Troy Lee? I’ve been employed by Troy for the past two years but I’ve been working with Troy going way back. In ’99 he came on as the title sponsor for Leigh Donovan’s (Glaspell’s then girlfriend, now wife) team along with Intense, and we’ve talked ideas and what’s cool ever since. What does the average workday at TLD involve? Eight-to-five with a fun lunch! My role has changed a little over the past months. My initial job description was Athlete Manager and involved looking after the riders on Troy’s list, but it’s become more of a marketing role – working with the design group and getting our products to market, looking at future lines and trying to predict and set market trends, giving input and getting feedback from the riders and distributors. What’s new from the brand? The A1 all-mountain helmet is taking the prize at the moment. It’s flying out of the door – we can’t keep it in stock. The first batch we got off the boat was gone in a couple of days and our second production run is almost out as well. It was two years in the making, and to see something that’s had so much R&D, passion and input from so

many people be such a success is really amazing. How about stuff in the pipeline for 2014? The 2014 line is a big one for us. I’d say it’s a further evolution of our bicycle line, showing that we’re taking our bicycle business very seriously. Separate design, marketing, creative, visuals and so on, all done by a dedicated bicycle enthusiast group, which is always led by Troy, who just loves wheels of all types – cars, moto and bikes. Troy is sort of falling in love with bikes again, which is great – it really helps us get traction on progress. What’s your favourite bike product of all time? This sounds the douchebag thing to say, but the Troy Lee Daytona full-face helmet for comfort, style and safety – in that order. It was first released in 1995 and had instant appeal – I lusted after that thing so hard! It changed the game in all aspects of helmet design at the time. Outside of TLD, then without question it would be the dropper seatpost. It’s one piece of equipment I can’t live without. What do you see as a future design classic? The A1, for sure. Everyone has been hating on the gold paintjob – the colourway on our first release – but it’s a future classic. Where do you like to ride? We have a ton of local trails in and around Laguna [Beach, California] and a really good crew that I ride with. I just love riding, so as long as I’m out with friends and we’re having a good time then I don’t really mind where I ride. We have some good mid-week races that get super competitive and it’s always fun.

Stikman tells us we can look forward to refined Ruckus and Skyline gear, big changes to the Ace and Sprint lines, and new A1 and D3 helmet designs in 2014. And it sounds like TLD are taking a more subtle approach to the graphics than in the past: “Safe to say, the 2014 bike line doesn’t have one eyeball or one lightning bolt in it!” We’ll bring you full details soon.

84 Mountain Biking uk

Attention to detail is at the core of everything TLD produce

troy lee designs Troy Lee’s roots are in motocross and he has supplied lids to some of the sport’s biggest names

Sure, you can buy a TLD lid from your local bike shop, but there’s nothing like a custom-painted special

US downhill and dual slalom champ Leigh Donovan flew the flag for TLD in the ‘90s. Now it’s her husband’s turn

Preparing helmets for custom paintjobs is a painstaking affair, but the results are worth it

It’s good to see the humble pencil still plays a vital role in the design process

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budget hardtails

 Calibre Two-Two  Voodoo Aizan

 Merida Big.Nine 40  Saracen Mantra

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96 Six of the beSt Waterproof shorts

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

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

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

BElow aVEragE: Flawed in some way

poor: Simply put, don’t bother!

A truly outstanding product, regardless of the pricetag

The latest on our rides

118 group teSt Aggressive trail tyres

FI V E R EAS O NS WHY OUR TESTS ARE THE BEST 01 Our test team is made up of the most respected bike and kit testers in the world 02 We have unrivalled knowledge and experience 03 We spend a vast amount of time and money making sure we get it right 04 We care more about telling you the truth than anyone else anywhere! 05 We are not influenced by PR or advertisers

hOW We test Detailed product check in the MBUK workshop Strip and rebuild, checking for potential problems and improvements Hit the trails… hard!

Most wanted

98 mbuk machineS

Test in real riding conditions till we know everything there is to know about the product

Re-test product with another tester

Our tester team Our two main bike testers, Guy Kesteven and Seb Rogers, have tested more than 3,000 bikes between them over the past 20 years. Our testing is headed up by Technical Editor Rob Weaver, who gets brand new products in as soon

as they’re available and coordinates all the testing through our vastly experienced band of testers.

Our tests are relevant comprehensive independent Fair accurate

Mountain Biking uk 87

Brand New Kit

meet the

TestTeam Also take a look at ▲ For £30 more try: MRP 2x £129.99 www.ison-distribution.com

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

Andrew Dodd Doddy tests masses of kit every month. He has high standards and high expectations

Olly Forster Gravity loving Olly has been riding long enough to know what he wants and won’t settle for second best

▼ For £20 Less try: e*thirteen TRS Dual £79.95 www.silverfish-uk.com

gamut P30s dual chainguide

£99.99

madison www.madison.co.uk

Gamut’s P30s family includes Greg Minnaar’s DH World Championship-winning single-ring chain device, but also dual-ring guides like this one. It’s designed to fit a triple chainset, with the outer ring removed and replaced with the thick polycarbonate bashguard, not a twin-ring chainset with a chamfered outer spider face. While set-up of the singlepiece ISCG-05 boomerang is theoretically simple, chainring bolt clearance issues meant we

had to remove the washers from the mounting bolts on our SRAM cranks/Giant Trance combo. We also had to find a full set of long chainring bolts in order to mount the bashguard. Once it was finally fitted though, performance was really good. The broad, shallow angled lower slider guide works really well with a clutch rear mech to keep the chain secure without obvious pedalling drag or noise. The bashguard is much tougher than previous, thinner

Gamut offerings and has stood up to rock and log impacts without complaint. Because there’s no roller or other moving parts to jam or come loose, it’s been a fit-and-forget installation so far. At 137g and £100, it’s lightweight and reasonably well priced too. Guy

Some installation issues, but reasonably priced, light and quiet once fitted

Guy Kesteven Our ultra experienced northern test engine is the ultimate exposer of kit that doesn’t measure up

Odi Vans mtb lock-On grips £23.99 (classic gum/White)

James Blackwell Short and fast, pinned or binned, Art Editor Jamer has been testing kit longer than he’ll happily admit to

Jake Ireland Jake spends every day riding, and his injury list proves he’s pushing the limits to provide the very best testing

88 Mountain Biking uk

ison Distribution www.ison-distribution.com

ODI’s LOck-On system – which uses twin locking collars with 2.5mm Allen bolts to clamp their specially designed grips to your handlebar – is well known and proven now. It’s so effective that there’s a queue of companies wanting to collaborate with ODI, including footwear icons Vans. Using their legendary waffle sole pattern, these grips are nice and thin, and while they offer slightly less padding than some other options, they make up for it with high levels of grip, with or without gloves. They’re available in red, white, black and limited edition gum wall rubber. What’s not to like? DoDDy

Most wanted

B R brand A N d NneW E W kit KIT

Also take a look at ▲ For £120 more (without tyres) try: SRAM RAIL 50 £819.98 www.fisheroutdoor.co.uk ▼ For £360 Less (without tyres) try: Shimano Deore XT M785 650b £339.98 www.madison.co.uk

mavic Crossmax Wts 650b wheels £700 (wheelset including tyres)

mavic www.mavic.com

the ust tubeLess Crossmax wheelset is aimed firmly at enduro racing and riding, and wears Mavic’s signature yellow proudly. WTS stands for Wheel Tyre System, and Mavic designed the wheels alongside specific front and rear tubeless tyres. There are 26in and 650b versions but no 29in, as Mavic don’t deem that wheel size applicable for the intended use. The 650b set weighs in at 3,570g including tyres, with the wheels alone coming in at 1,670g. The front hub is compatible with 15 and 20mm axles, and features 24 straight-pull spokes, laced two-cross on a wide 21mm rim. This produces a stiff build – something that’s definitely noticeable under braking and steering when used with Fox’s flex-prone 34 Float 650b fork.

More gear and kit reviews

Mavic’s Charge 2.4in tyre combines a soft 40a slowrebound rubber with an open pattern and aggressive shoulders, which are given extra emphasis by the wide rim. Grip is staggering in all conditions, and though it doesn’t roll that fast on firm surfaces, we’d expect a tyre this grippy to be a lot slower. The rear hub features a four-pawl system that gives a near-instant pick-up. It’s compatible with 135mm quickrelease skewers, 12x142mm through-axles and SRAM’s XX1/ X01 XD Driver freehub body. The rear rim is narrower than the front at 19mm – it’s designed to give the optimum tyre profile when used with thinner, faster rolling rear tyres. The 20 spokes are laced two-cross on the

driveside for improved lateral stiffness, and radial on the non-driveside to increase stiffness under power. Despite the narrower rim and fewer spokes, the wheel feels taut and we haven’t needed to go near it with a spoke key yet – even after a few bad landings. The Roam is Mavic’s dualcompound rear tyre offering, which mixes a minimal centre tread made from 60a rubber with a softer 50a shoulder. This helps create a fast rolling tyre that’s good at cornering. The 650b version is 2.2in wide and the 26in version is 2.3in wide. Mavic say this is so you get the same contact patch, and therefore the same rolling resistance, regardless of wheel size – something that puzzles us, as increased tyre footprint

(and the associated increase in grip) is one of the biggest advantages of bigger wheels. The Roam rolls fast, but traction is minimal on anything but the driest or firmest trails. The softer shoulders do help but need to be driven hard. On wet roots and rock, we found the tyre lacking in grip and predictability. The Crossmax WTS certainly offers a hell of lot of wheel and tyre for the money, and if previous Mavic wheels are anything to go by, they should keep on trucking with minimal maintenance. DoDDy

a unique wheelset that combines the optimum options for power and control, but rear tyre has limitations

Mountain Biking uk 89

Brand New Kit

Product news Most wanted End of the line? We’ve been hearing that Teva are to cease production of all their bike shoes, despite being fairly new to the MTB market. Word is the call was made just after Red Bull Rampage. It’s bad news for their sponsored riders, who include the likes of Sam Pilgrim, Cam McCaul and Rampage legend Kelly McGarry. It’ll be sad to see the likes of the flat-pedal Links shoe and their latest clipless shoe, the Pivot, go. Keep an eye out for updates at www.teva.co.uk.

Fox’d up Fox have announced a voluntary recall of certain 2013 Evolution Series 32 and 34 forks. The affected models have 120-160mm (4.7-6.3in) of travel and use an open cartridge damper. They would have been sold as original equipment on complete bikes from Specialized, Trek, Scott and others. To check if your fork is affected, you’ll need to locate its ID code and serial number and head to http:// ridefox.com/recall.

Shot of Xprezo Fancy a new bike but in the market for something a little different? We’ve recently had the guys from Xprezo in touch, keen for us to test their latest models, which include the 650b Adhoc (150mm/5.9in travel) and WUUU (115mm/4.5in travel). If you’ve not heard of them before, Xprezo bikes are hand built in Bromont, Canada and, all being well, should be available here in the UK in the not-too-distant future. Check out www.xprezo.ca, where you can get a quote on your dream build and paintjob.

Charge scoop saddle £39.99 (chromoly rails)

cycling Sports group www.cyclingsportsgroup.co.uk

the scOOP Is Charge’s new flagship saddle and it offers great value for money and impressive performance. The chromoly rails are curved – rather than bent – into shape, which makes them very forgiving on long rides, and they attach cleanly to the one-piece base. The cover – a durable, waterproof microfibre material over super-light foam – is vacuum bonded on, creating one of the cleanest looking, best finished saddles we’ve seen. The way the saddle is constructed means Charge can make the moulded base very

thin, so it flexes as you move, adding to comfort. In profile, the Scoop is similar to Charge’s popular Spoon, though the centre is dipped a bit more and the nose has more padding. We had to dip the nose more than usual to find our sweet spot, which offered a good consistent position and meant we didn’t need to move around much. The extra padding meant steep climbs were more comfortable than before, and the saddle never snagged our shorts. DoDDy

leatherman Freestyle multi-tool

£35.99

Leatherman www.leatherman-store.co.uk

FOR the new Freestyle, Leatherman have stripped away all the non-essential tools, leaving just the blade and pliers. It’s a compact 8.76cm long and weighs just 105g. The 6cm locking blade opens like a regular pocketknife for quick and easy action, and has a serrated section. The pliers are narrow enough for fiddly jobs but feature decent-sized gripping sections and wire cutters that’ll get through a gear cable. They aren’t sprung though. Beautifully engineered and lighter than a full tool, the Freestyle is a great addition to your pack. It doesn’t come with a case, but you can buy one to fit for £5.95. Jamer

dmr sect grips £7.99 upgrade bikes www.upgradebikes.co.uk

DmR’s new sect grips offer a traditional push-on rather than lock-on fit and a scandalously low £7.99 pricetag. Bar ends are moulded in, which helps limit faff. The main grip area uses a classic ribbed pattern, with a thumb patch in the high wear area, and there’s a soft flange on the inside of each grip to keep your hands where they should be. When riding, the grips’ mushroom pattern helps create a shedload of comfort and grip, and even though they don’t lock in place, they didn’t slip even in soaking wet weather. Jake

BRANd NEW KIT

Fox airsPC goggles £40

fox www.foxhead.com

FOx’s PRevIOus goggles were manufactured by Oakley but with the AIRSPC, they’ve decided to go it alone. They’ve arguably done a better job too, improving the field of vision and venting while keeping the price down. There’s a removable nose guard, and some models, like the one we tested, come with light and dark conditions lenses. The lenses are tear-off compatible (there’s a roll-off kit available for an extra £24)

and easy to change. The strap is silicone backed for grip. Two things struck us instantly about the AIRSPCs – they’re very comfortable and offer great clarity of view, with a noticeable increase in peripheral vision too. Airflow is impressive, reducing fogging. The lenses are resistant to those small scratches as well, which is great for on-the-trail wipe-downs. Jake

iXs Flow knee pads £54.99

hotlines www.hotlines-uk.com

PeDaLLInG In the Flow knee pads is, as the name suggests, a fluid affair thanks to their impressive comfort and light weight. With a single strap positioned perfectly to catch the top of the calf muscle, movement remains unrestricted, free and easy, even on long days in the saddle. iXS’s X-Matter foam cups the knee nicely, adding to overall comfort, and will happily take on the majority of knocks you’re likely to encounter out on the trail. There’s little in the way of padding on either side of the knee though, so you’d want something a little bulkier for out-and-out downhill use. The design means there’s no strap at the top of the pad, just an extended neoprene sleeve with a silicone print inside to help prevent slippage. And it works too. Even when caked in mud and sweat, the Flow pads managed to stay exactly where they needed to be, without the need to keep pulling them up and back into place – a trait common with some singlestrap pads. On top of all this, the meshed back helps stop you getting too hot, and they’re well priced too. rob

Also take a look at ▲ For £45 more try: POC VPD 2.0 £99.99 www.2pure.co.uk ▼ For £20 Less try: SixSixOne Comp AM £34.99 www.sixsixoneeurope.com

Most wanted

comfortable, affordable, lightweight pads perfect for long days on the trail with their pedal-friendly nature

More gear and kit reviews

Mountain Biking uk 91

Brand New Kit

Product news

Continued

Spicy to be slimmer In the last issue of the mag (MBUK 297, December 2013), we reviewed the latest Lapierre Spicy 527 while out at the Interbike Dirt Demo. Although we loved the bike, we picked up on the wide seatstays and mentioned how they could clip the inside of your feet. It turns out our bike was a prototype version with wider stays. Production models will have seatstays that are 7.5mm narrower (15mm in total), so clipping your feet shouldn’t be a problem. Check out the whole 2014 Lapierre range at www. hotlines-uk.com.

Chill out zone Muc-Off are no longer just concerned with keeping your bike looking spotless and lubed to perfection – they want to look after you, the rider, too. They’ve just introduced their new Ice Fresh Sports Towel, which they claim is “composed of revolutionary, high performance materials that react with moisture to provide an instant cooling sensation”. It costs £10 and, thanks to the prolonged cooling effect, should be great for hot sweaty rides or big sessions in the gym. Head to www.muc-off.com for all the latest.

Infinity Cubed German bike brand Cube have opened the doors to their first UK concept store, in the north-east of England. The showroom has been set up within Durham-based bike shop Infinity Cycles. There’s a Cube demo fleet available for testing, and as well as bikes, they stock loads of Cube’s helmets, packs and riding kit. Get over to www. durham.cubebikestore.eu if you’re a Cube Bikes fan.

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Also take a look at ▲ For £65 more try: Roval Control Trail 29 £500 www.specialized.com ▼ For £95 Less try: Hope Hoops Pro 2 EVO 29er w/ Stan’s Arch rims £340 www.hopetech.com

token C23ar 29er wheels £435

i-ride www.i-ride.co.uk

tOken’s new alloy all-rounder 29er wheelset starts well with a build – 32 double-butted spokes laced up three-cross – that delivers a resilient rather than ultra rigid feel. The middling 1,793g weight (844g front, 949g rear) is par for the price and they feel dynamic and responsive. In fact, some testers preferred the lively Token feel to stiffer carbon wheels. They stayed true and tight too, however hard we tried to bend

them round berms or rattle them down steps. The 26mm wide alloy rims support broad tyres well and they’ll run tubeless. Gram counters will like the ultralight quick-release skewers and the alloy centred, three-bolt Ashima AiNeon rotors that are included. Both discs are only 160mm though, and the rear hub is QRonly, which limits compatibility. More worryingly, testing was halted abruptly when the

freehub snapped its retainer spring, leaving us limping home after only a few weeks’ riding. Token assure us that would be covered by the two-year/ 5,000km warranty, but we’re getting a fresh hub to doublecheck how that lasts. Guy

good ride feel, but limited axle capability, small rotors, and freehub reliability concerns

lizard skins monitor 1.0 gloves

£29.99

2pure www.2pure.co.uk

the mOnItOR 1.0 gloves from Lizard Skins are all about delivering superb feel and connection to the bike. Their unrestrictive and bare-bones build makes them comfortable on the trail, and the articulated fingers make negotiating the controls of your bike an unrestricted experience. The quality of construction is pretty good and they’re still in one piece after months of abuse, though some of the decorative detailing has peeled away and the silicone finger

print has long since departed. These are minor grievances though, and the gloves are still structurally sound, which is surprising due to their featherweight nature and the large amount of mesh material present, which helps prevent excess heat build-up. With their seamless design and touchscreen-compatible index fingers, the Monitors are great gloves that are very much of the here and now. oLLy

BRANd NEW KIT

Also take a look at ▲ For £755 more try: SRAM X01 transmission £859.95 www.fisheroutdoor.co.uk ▲ For £275 more try: KCNC 10-speed Ti cassette (11-38T) £379.99 www.clee-cycles.co.uk

leonardi Factory general lee wide-ratio cassette adaptor €125 (approx £105)

Leonardi factory www.leowheels.it

IF the thOuGht of switching to a lighter 1x10 set-up tempts you but the limited gear range has always put you off, Leonardi Factory’s General Lee cassette adaptor offers a potential solution. It replaces the biggest four sprockets on a SRAM PG1030, PG1050 or PG1070 cassette, increasing the gear spread from the standard 11/12-36T to 11/12-40T. It’s a much more economical solution than forking out for a new 11-speed transmission and still gives you some easier gears

More gear and kit reviews

for those super-steep climbs. We fitted our adaptor to an 11-36T PG1030 cassette, which meant we swapped the standard 25, 28, 32 and 36T sprockets for 25, 29, 34 and 40T versions. Once we’d tuned our mediumcage SRAM X9 Type 2 clutch mech to accommodate the bigger large sprocket, shifting was relatively accurate straight away. Don’t expect gear changes to be super-clean though – the bigger jumps between sprockets mean shifting can be a little sluggish, especially when

dropping back down the gears from the largest sprocket. After a solid two months of testing we’ve learned to anticipate this lag, even if we don’t love it. So far, our CNC machined cassette adaptor has weathered well in terms of wear, but it’s going to be interesting to see how it fares through the winter. Jamer

a wide-ratio gear solution for the inquisitive and experimental. it works, but don’t expect the slickest shifting

Mountain Biking uk 93

Brand New Kit

the small stuFF MTB BITS ANd pIECES

Polaris am 1000 repel trousers

MUC-OFFshOWer sCrub

£6 muc-off www.muc-off.com

This mandarin scented shower scrub has chunks of salt to attack mud and grime and mandarin oil to moisturise your skin. Ideal post-ride shower gel for when you’re really mucky. DODDy

TOpEAK redlite mega £24.99 extra uk www.extrauk.co.uk

This chunky little number is super-bright and offers great visibility from all angles. It takes two aaa batteries, which have lasted for over two months of commuting so far. It has four flashing modes and a constant mode too. ROb

tsg tahoe knee pads £74.99

ison Distribution www.ison-distribution.com

at £74.99 the Tahoes are priced to compete with the big guns, so can these pads cut the mustard? They’re reasonably slim in profile thanks to the d3o-style VEP padding, and fit under straight legged jeans should you like the more casual look. The main VEP part of the pad covers the knee well, and a small amount of foam side protection is sewn in too. Two straps secure the pads, above and below the knee. The inside of the upper part of the

pad is covered with non-slip silicone too, resulting in a secure fit when riding. The straps aren’t kept in loops at the rear of the pad so they tend to wander toward the back of the knee when pedalling long distances, causing some discomfort. We haven’t had the same issue on less pedal-heavy rides though. They’ve handled the washing machine treatment pretty well too. Jake

£59.99 2pure www.2pure.co.uk

If you’re a weight weenie, or travel a lot with your bike, these scales are accurate and easy to use. although pricey, battery life is impressive. The rubber housing makes them resilient too. ROb

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the RePeL tROuseRs from Polaris are constructed from extremely light material yet do a good job of keeping moisture out, thanks to their DWR coating. The adjustable waist helps give them a snug fit and the cuffs at the bottom of the legs seal things further. There’s a decent amount of venting too, but the Repels’ big issue, as with most riding slacks, is that things do get hot. And sweaty. The cut is good though, and there’s room for knee pads too. They’d be great worn over bib tights for full-on Arctic assaults. ric

madison Zenith shorts £49.99

FEEdBACKSpORTS alPine digital sCales

£64.99 polaris apparel www.polaris-apparel.co.uk

madison www.madison.co.uk

the ZenIths FROm Madison do a great job of balancing form and function, outperforming far pricier shorts thanks to their well thought out design. Double elasticated waist adjusters mean getting the fit just right is easy – although the tabs do protrude a little – and the range of adjustment is extensive. The zipped hip pockets are just big enough that you can stash the essentials like car keys securely without overpacking them and causing them to flap around excessively when you

pedal. There are two cargo style pockets too, which are also zipped, along with a waterproof phone pocket that’s tucked towards the rear. The stretchy fabric has held up well through testing, shrugging off months of abuse on the trail – including a couple of crashes – and numerous spins in the washing machine. In fact, the only real sign of use is a bit of discolouration on the phone pocket’s waterproof zip. rob

BRANd NEW KIT

sugoi icon jacket

£149.99

cycling Sports group www.cyclingsportsgroup.co.uk

suGOI’s IcOn jacket uses a soft-to-the-touch material called Majik Shell that does a great job of keeping you dry in downpours but is surprisingly breathable when you’re working hard on the climbs. Like a lot of waterproof jackets, it’s comfiest worn over a long-sleeve jersey or base layer because there’s no lining, just an outer shell.

The high, fleece lined collar is soft against the chin and very comfortable, helping to keep the worst of the elements out. It was a feature we were grateful of when the weather took a turn for the worse. The detachable hood and stowaway drop tail are nice little touches too. rob

Also take a look at ▲ For £5 more try: Gemini DUO 4-Cell £174.99 www.i-ride.co.uk ▼ For £10 Less try: Magicshine MJ-880 £159.95 www.magicshineuk.co.uk

Most wanted

gloworm X2 V3 lights £170

crg moto www.crgmoto.co.uk

we weRe ReaLLy impressed by New Zealand-designed Gloworm lights last year and these new, more powerful X2s are even better. Two XML2 U2 LEDs pump out an impressive 475 lux (at 5m) in power boost mode, giving a really good mix of punch and peripheral lighting for full-gas riding whether they’re on your bar or helmet. The minimalist head unit weighs nowt on your nut (89g)

and attaches simply to bars with an offset O-ring mount, while a neat remote can be fixed next to your shifters/ear with Velcro dots. This lets you toggle through programmable ‘trail’ and ‘commuter’ menus to manage brightness and battery life. There’s enough juice in the 5,800mAh cell to go full-bore on a two-hour night ride and still have spare power though, so we rarely needed to rely on it. Our year-old long-term set

has been rock solid despite some real abuse, and so has the new version, so we have no reliability concerns. The price is good for the quality, and there are smaller (2,900mAh, £150) and bigger (6,800mAh, £190) options too. Guy

Excellent lid or bar light in a really user-friendly, rock solid reliable, well priced package

Why upgrade…?

Six of the Best

Waterproof shorts

£64.99

Sugoi RPM-X Waterproof CSG www.cyclingsportsgroup.co.uk So good… Sugoi’s RPM-X waterproof shorts are comfortable and light to pedal in, and come with Velcro leg adjusters to help keep the elements out and prevent flapping. The waterproofing is good, with water beading off the fabric until things become truly monsoon-like. Light weight means these shorts are a good packable option for multi-day trips too. No good… In torrential conditions, the fabric does eventually begin to soak up rather than repel water, although things stay pretty much dry inside. The lack of pockets is annoying, and the waist adjustment is fiddly – particularly when wearing gloves.

£129.99

£59.99

A soggy backside isn’t pleasant or comfortable, especially if you plan on riding all day. A decent pair of waterproof shorts will help keep you dry for longer, letting you enjoy the ride.

£54.99

Madison Tempest

Altura Attack Waterproof Zyro www.zyro.co.uk

Madison www.madison.co.uk

So good… Twin elastic Velcro waist tabs and a secure double-popper fly help you get the Attacks cinched up perfectly. The highbacked waist covers your lower back when seated, and silicone print on the inside does a great job of gripping your short liner. The waterproofing keeps the worst of the downpours out, while waterproof pockets are useful for keeping essentials dry. No good… Water doesn’t seem to bead off the Attacks, so they get heavier when soaked – which doesn’t help with overall comfort or breathability. The boxy cut means there’s a lot of short flapping around when they’re wet, too.

So good… The Tempests are the most feature-heavy shorts on test, with some nice touches including water resistant pockets, Velcro waist adjusters and Velcro leg adjusters, which let you really batten down the hatches. Waterproof stretch panelling around the seat and knees helps make pedalling a smooth affair, while still keeping the weather out. No good… Although the waterproofing around the seat remains effective after several washes, the crotch now gets slightly damp in sustained downpours – time for a reproofing. Like with the Attacks, the fabric soaks up water rather than repelling it.

£145

£70

Vaude Spray II

Scott Helium Active Shell

Gore Bike Wear www.goreapparel.co.uk

Vaude www.vaude.com

Scott Sports www.scott-sports.com

So good… In terms of breathability, waterproofing and windproofing, the Alp-X 2.0s are some of the best shorts out there. They’ll handle plenty of abuse too, including a good few washes. The cut and leg length are just about perfect, and Gore have opted for elasticated drawstrings instead of Velcro leg adjusters, which are lighter and cinch in the leg openings evenly. The generously sized pocket will swallow your essentials and keep the wet out. No good… The waistband is a touch narrow and digs in a little when seated. The drawstring waist adjustment is fiddly and rather basic considering the price.

So good… The Spray IIs are a classic case of effective simplicity. On the surface they may seem a touch basic, but subtle detailing and the ability to stave off downpours are what help these stand out. Silicone gripper print on the inside of the waistband helps keep them in place, while Velcro tabs on the legs keep the elements out. The reinforced seat does a great job of keeping your bum dry while the rest of the fabric, while still beading water off, remains breathable. No good… We’d love just one waterproof pocket to stash car keys in.

So good… The Heliums use the same Gore Active Shell fabric as the Alp-X 2.0s and it’s hard to beat in terms of keeping out the weather. They have fantastic waterproofing, even after being washed, and take the sting out of the wind too. The light weight and superb cut mean they’re also comfy to pedal in. Build quality is superb, with neat external waist adjustment that works well even with gloves. No good… We’d like a bigger pull-tab on the pocket zip for easier access. These shorts aren’t cheap, but will require less frequent reproofing.

Gore Alp-X 2.0 Gore-Tex Active

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Value

Winner

Team Bikes

Jake’s Cube Stereo 160 Super HPC Race £2,999.99

Cube www.cube.eu

It’s been an amazing year riding the Stereo. It was my first taste of ‘middle size’ wheels and it’s still the 650b bike at the top of my go-to list. The geometry is pretty much bang on and the suspension works pretty well with minimal fiddle. I changed the rear shock’s air volume spacer but that’s the lot. I’ve been through a fair number of equipment changes through the year, mainly thanks to testing components, but I’ve managed to get to a spec I’d be happy to settle with

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and ride into the ground. The RockShox Reverb Stealth post is a must-have in my eyes, especially on a bike you’re going to be pedalling up the hill as well as razzing down, and the Avid X0 Trail brakes have delivered reliable performance and dependable power for months now. The stock DT Swiss hoops are some of the only wheels I’ve ever managed to not destroy, although I’ve been running some Hope Hoops instead for a while now, with the only benefit being a bit of a weight reduction. I had the adjustable-travel Fox 34 TALAS fork converted

into a fixed-travel Float version to try to gain a bit of midstroke support, and with some Mojo magic it became a fork I could live with. The stock Float CTD shock only took a volume spacer change to deal with my heavy riding style and the harsh trails I’ve been riding recently – it’s been a good performer and hasn’t needed any major maintenance. My favourite thing about the Cube is just how much fun it is to ride, which means the jump in wheel size is quickly forgotten. The crazy-light weight is a bonus too, giving my less-than-fit legs a chance

when it comes to the climbs. It’s been a crazy year of riding on the Stereo, and it’s time to bow down and say goodbye to the carbon stallion. It’s taken some incredible hucks-to-flat in its stride, razzed down more downhill runs than anyone could shake a stick at, and most importantly of all, kept a smile on my face for the past 12 months – and that’s really not an easy task!

Spec Deck RockShox Reverb Stealth seatpost £329.99-£349.99 www.fisheroutdoor.co.uk Avid X0 Trail brakes £219.99 (per brake) www.fisheroutdoor.co.uk

Machines We ride these long-term test bikes hard for a year, constantly scrutinising new kit, to bring you nothing but the truth about their performance

It’s a tall order to find a new test bike that’ll rival the performance of Guy’s Tallboy

Guy’s Santa Cruz Tallboy LTc £2,599 (frame only)

Santa Cruz UK www.santacruzbikes.co.uk

I’ve formed some fond friendships with long-term test bikes over the years, but it’s fair to say none has ever given me the same level of enjoyment and crushing performance edge that the Santa Cruz Tallboy LTc has. I pushed my original, 100mm (3.9in) travel Tallboy way harder than its cross-country remit so the Long Travel version was a logical extension for both Santa

Cruz and me. Even better, it was stiffer and even lighter despite having 35mm (1.4in) more travel. In other words, it could climb as well as the previous bike but point it at a technical trail or off-piste high-speed descent and it would blow almost anything else into the weeds. Things got even more rowdy with a 35mm Easton stem, 750mm bar and short-length X-Fusion rear shock to slacken the geometry and tighten

damping control. Over the two seasons I’ve been hammering it relentlessly, it’s needed its collet bearings tightening a few times and it’s eaten a couple of sets of shock bushes, but the grease injection bearing system still works fine. Perhaps more impressively, given how hard it’s been ridden by me and other more mental members of the test team, the 5lb frame is still totally fine apart from a few scuffs on the lower knuckle.

Rob’s Lapierre Spicy 916 £4,899.99

Jake’s reluctant to hand back his Stereo 160 after a great year’s riding on it

Hotlines www.hotlines-uk.com

It’s been a hard few weeks on the Spicy, with two long days at BikePark Wales and a couple of trips to the Forest of Dean, as well as plenty of local action. The big news is that even when things get rough and out of shape, the 916 is running stealthily once more, silently pattering over roots and rocks while I do my best to keep things pointed in the right direction. The new 2.25in Maxxis Beaver tyres have been helping this cause and seem to work on everything from wet hardpack trails to boggy, steep chutes. Mountain Biking uk 99

TEAM BIKES

Matt’s Kona Satori £2,899

Kona www.konaworld.com

Wet weather has put my Satori through its paces this month. Mud, puddles, loam, mud, streams and more mud have been swept aside as it refuses to let anything get in its way. Despite not switching the Schwalbe Thunder Burt rear tyre I fitted in the summer for something a bit more grippy, the bike has coped well, offering up a surprising amount of traction. It almost feels more at home on muddy climbs than on dry ones. I’ve swapped out the Answer 20/20 bar for a Syncros FL1.0 riser, which feels a little more appropriate for the trail centre riding I’ve been doing and has allowed for a touch more aggression in corners and control in techy sections. Everything looks to be holding up well and the only job to consider is a brake bleed. The transmission seems fine – six months of hassle-free shifting has been appreciated. A thorough clean and lube of the CrankBrothers Kronolog post has ensured that it’s still bearing up despite a regular thick coating of mud. Despite some initial teething problems I’m finding myself less envious of a certain other brand and more content with the factory spec offering. Another revelation has been that I’ve spent an entire month on only one chainring. Calling the Satori ‘overgeared’ six months ago would have been quite unexpected, but here I am with an easy way to shed some weight should I decide to put the Kona on a diet.

Jake’s Banshee Amp

Jimmer’s Commencal Meta AM2

£499.99 (frame only) Ison Distribution www.ison-distribution.com

£2,899.99 Decade Europe www.decade-europe.com

The Banshee hasn’t long been put together, but it’s already had a load of use. The big thing about the Amp is just how much fun it is to ride. It’s light enough that it’s easy to pedal and throw around, yet burly enough that I’m happy to send it off (almost) any take-off I can get my tyres on to. I’ve settled on the spec now and, apart from tyres, I can’t see much changing over the winter. Watch this space for the lowdown.

Embracing winter full-on means I’ve been out on quite a few night rides and the Meta has needed a bit of winter-proofing. I fitted a POWA Products DFender front mudguard, and after just one muddy, wet ride, I’m sold. I’ve also fitted a slightly more mudfriendly front tyre – a WTB Vigilante. The wide-spaced tread pattern sheds mud well and the pronounced side knobs have done wonders for my cornering.

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Doddy’s Mondraker Foxy XR £1,599 (frame)

Silverfish www.silverfish-uk.com

The Foxy has been treated to a Scottish hammering this month – the new trail centre at Glenlivet, and the Laggan Wolftrax black route, which it was just brilliant on. I really appreciated the extra length on the steep and rough rock sections, and the agile steering meant I could pick lines even when committed on gnarlier stuff. I’ve noticed a little top-out on my fork and the shock has been getting sticky, so it’s time for a service before facing the Bath mudfest.

Olly’s Santa Cruz Bronson £1,799 (frame only)

Santa Cruz UK www.santacruzbikes.co.uk

At 5ft 10in I’m in an awkward position when it comes to bike sizing, between a medium and a large. When you add the compulsory – for me – 50mm stem to the equation, things start to get complicated. The medium Bronson is pretty small so I opted for the large instead. While the seat tube height means I can only run a 100mm-drop RockShox Reverb post, the reach with a 50mm stem is spot on. Having felt uncomfortable on too many bikes that have either been too small or too big, the Bronson is close to perfect – and not just in sizing.

The frame came specced with a Fox FLOAT CTD rear shock and I opted for a 150mm (5.9in) travel RockShox Pike fork up front – a pairing that unfortunately never felt completely harmonious. The shock felt supple on small bumps, but at the sacrifice of large hit control, and adjusting the air volume was a balancing act that generally ended in compromise. Ultimately, the Bronson never truly shone. While the Pike consistently induced ear-to-ear grinning, the shock – or at least its tune – struggled to keep up and I was really beginning to run out of patience. Roll in a 2014 RockShox

Monarch Plus RC3 shock and an impromptu trip to France to test the latest enduro tyre offerings from Michelin on some stages of the TransProvence. We’ll talk about the tyres at a later date, but the bike was transformed – and by transformed, I mean it really came to life. Coupled with the SRAM ROAM 60 wheels and X01 drivetrain that I’m testing, the Bronson’s true nature reared its fun loving head – and in a perfect location to test such a bike’s capabilities. Enduro racing and riding was born in that part of the world so it was fitting to test a bike there that is currently helping to define it.

Tipping the scales at just under 13kg (29lb), the Bronson has never been in better shape. The Schwalbe tubeless tyre combo – a Magic Mary VertStar front and Hans Dampf TrailStar rear – is proving to be quite the set-up too, though I’m eager to try the Magic Mary on the rear in the harder TrailStar compound as the trails become increasingly mashed. c

Spec Deck Santa Cruz Bronson frame (aluminium) £1,799 www.santacruzbikes.co.uk RockShox Monarch Plus RC3 shock (high volume, mid rebound, low compression) £349.99 www.fisheroutdoor.co.uk Schwalbe Magic Mary and Hans Dampf tyres £49 each www.schwalbe.co.uk SRAM ROAM 60 wheels £749 front, £949 rear www.fisheroutdoor.co.uk

Olly’s new Monarch Plus rear shock has made all the difference to the Bronson’s ride character

Mountain Biking uk 101

BikeTest Entry-level hardtails

£400-£500

proper BIKES on a budget Words Seb Rogers Pics Steve Behr

ive hundred notes is a lot of anyone’s cash, but it won’t score you anything other than a fairly basic off-road-capable bike. Don’t be put off though, because the competition around the £500 mark is fierce. What should you expect for your money? A reasonably light frame, designed to handle off-road abuse and often with some features borrowed from

bikes further up the range. At least an eight-speed transmission. Hydraulic disc brakes. And a coil sprung suspension fork that makes life easier on the trail. The big news for 2014 is that bigger wheel sizes – which promise smoother rolling on rough trails – are filtering down to lower prices. Which of our bunch of bargain bikes is best? Let’s ride and find out…

The Line-up

Calibre Two-Two £399.99

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Voodoo Aizan £449.99

Merida Big.Nine 40 £499.99

Saracen Mantra £499.99

The Tester Seb Rogers Seb’s first ‘proper’ job was selling entry-level hardtails, back in 1990, so he’s got a keen eye for the blend of spec, handling and price that’ll make the best buy.

BIKE TEST

Mountain Biking uk 103

BikeTest e n t r y - l e v e l h a r d ta i l s

£400-£500

empty promises The Mantra’s Suntour fork claims 20mm more travel than much of the competition, but it fails to deliver on that promise

BEST OF BOTH? At just over 27in in diameter, the 650b wheel size is a halfway house between 26in and 29in, offering some of the advantages of each

MUD FRIENDLY Plenty of rear tyre clearance plus bosses for a Crud Catcher mudguard show the Saracen’s designed-inthe-UK roots

Saracen Mantra £499.99 Entry-level long-travel trail tamer gets bigger wheels for 2014 SO GOOD Great-handling trail hardtail that warrants some careful long-term upgrading Bigger wheels don’t upset handling or liveliness NO GOOD Fork fails to deliver and holds the bike back on rough trails Eight-speed transmission limits low gear range

Jargon buster Granny ring Smallest chainring on a crankset, for the lowest gear ratios Crud Catcher Simple mudguard that attaches under the down tube

aracen’s budget Mantra hardtail has been a mainstay of the British brand’s range for some time, offering affordable long-travel thrills in a package that’s robust enough to take a few knocks in its stride. The big news for 2014 is that the wallet-friendly trail tamer has had a complete makeover, all in the name of running bigger wheels. The long-travel fork, easygoing geometry and rugged frame build are all still here, but now with 650b hoops. Do these mid-size wheels offer the best of both worlds?

The frame

The long-forked hardtail is a largely British phenomenon – something that’s evident in Saracen’s thoughtful inclusion of a pair of bosses under the down tube for attaching a Crud Catcher mudguard. It’s a nice touch and indicative of the attention to detail that’s gone into the rest of the frame. From the X44 head tube – which allows the widest possible range of aftermarket fork options as well as providing a stiff anchoring point for the rest of the frame – to the dropperseatpost-friendly seat tube diameter, it’s clear that Saracen’s designers have

104 Mountain Biking uk

put as much thought into the Mantra as into its more expensive counterparts further up the range. Bolt-on cable guides keep the spaghetti of control cables tucked neatly under the top tube, but there’s no room to run a remote dropper cable without zipties, which is a shame. Still, there’s a set of rack mounts out back, so you could convert your Mantra to workhorse duties easily. Suntour’s 650b version of their ubiquitous XCM coil fork promises an unusually generous 120mm of travel, with a lockout dial and a preload adjuster to cater for different rider weights and riding styles. It lacks the adjustable rebound damping of RockShox’s budget offerings though, and we think that’s a mistake.

Eagle-eyed spec sheet watchers may already have spotted the modest Acera rear mech, but there’s a more significant wrinkle: the Mantra’s transmission is – whisper it – just eight-speed, rather than nine- or 10-speed like on most modern mountain bikes. The problem with most eight-speed set-ups is that they rely on a wide-ratio rear cassette to provide a decent spread of gears, and the big gaps between the sprockets make it difficult to stay smooth on the climbs. Saracen have avoided this by speccing a relatively close ratio cassette, but the smaller gaps between sprockets come at the expense of low gears. You’ll be reaching for the granny ring sooner on this bike and, ultimately, pushing up the steepest of climbs.

The kit

The ride

A wide, wide handlebar and stubby stem mesh well with the Mantra’s laidback stance and rock swallowing fork, while a colour coded WTB saddle and fast rolling Schwalbe tyres add brand-name kudos to the finishing kit. Stop and go duties are handled by a full complement of Shimano kit – and it’s here that the only noticeable fly in the equipment ointment shows.

Cheaper bikes obviously mean compromises, but too often that’s interpreted by the design team as a compromise in ride position and geometry. Not so in the case of the Mantra. A roomy top tube gives plenty of space to get stretched out on the climbs, while the stubby stem and wide bar make for a placeable, chuckable front end that’s just begging

B I K E BIKE T E TEST ST

the stubby stem and wide bar make for a chuckable front end that’s begging to be muscled through trickier trail sections to be muscled through trickier trail sections. It felt right from the moment we turned a pedal and didn’t put a tyre knob wrong during our riding. What about those 650b wheels? Well, they’re noticeably quicker to accelerate than the 29er competition, contributing to the Mantra’s fun character. On the other hand, we’d hesitate to say that the bigger diameter gives the 2014 bike a noticeable advantage over earlier 26in wheeled versions. It probably rolls a bit more easily over the rough stuff, but are you going to notice it? We doubt it.

What you will notice is a fork that promises plenty (in the travel department) but falls well short. It’s the same old story, sadly – a well-sorted beginner bike with great geometry and mostly decent kit is held back by a substandard fork. Even with an aggressive, front-heavy riding style on fast, rocky trails we struggled to extract 50 per cent travel from the Suntour, though it worked reasonably well within its shorter-thanexpected travel limits. The good news is that every time we hauled on the brakes sooner than we

wanted, we realised that the frame is capable of more. Much more. The Mantra is one of those relatively rare budget bikes that probably would warrant a fork upgrade in the long term. The spec might ultimately be a limiting factor, but it’s still as sorted a trail hardtail, handling-wise, as you’re likely to throw a leg over.

Bigger wheels haven’t taken the fun out of Saracen’s budget trail tamer, though the fork is a disappointment

Mountain Biking uk 105

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BIKE TEST WEIGHT, THERE’S MORE...

TECHNO TECHNO TECHNO

Pound for pound, a 29er wheel always has more mass at the outer edge than a 26in or 650b wheel. And that’s a difference you can feel on sprints and climbs

The Merida’s complex tube shapes are down to a mechanical process dubbed Technoforming, and not the more common hydroforming

WHAT’S IN A MECH? Rear derailleur upgrades are common, but there’s nothing wrong with the Merida’s basic Shimano Altus mech

Merida Big.Nine 40 £499.99 Budget-conscious big-wheeler brings wagon wheels to the masses SO GOOD Neutral geometry and big wheel easy-rolling at a fair price Decent spec includes nine-speed transmission Budget Suntour fork performs well NO GOOD Big wheels feel noticeably sluggish when climbing or accelerating Shallow tyre tread pattern is easily outfaced in slimy British conditions

Jargon buster Technoforming Frame tube forming process that uses mechanical force Rebound damping System of valves that controls the rate at which a suspension system re-extends after an impact

erida’s wallet-friendly line of Matts hardtails has offered riders on a budget 26inwheeled trail fun for several years now. Last year the company’s race team embraced 29ers, but we’ve had to wait until now for the big-wheelers to filter down to mere mortal level. Rather than shoehorn the bigger wheels into a tweaked Matts chassis, Merida’s designers started with a blank sheet of paper. The result is the Big.Nine 40.

The frame

With its curved, cross-ovalised down tube and teardrop profile top tube, the Big.Nine frame has all the hallmarks of hydroforming – a process that uses high-pressure hydraulic fluid to create complex shapes. It’s not hydroformed though – it’s Technoformed, Merida’s name for their proprietary mechanical tube tweaking process. It’s a cheaper, simpler set-up that enables similar results at a lower cost, though Merida admit that tube wall thicknesses – and therefore weights – tend to be higher. Short chainstays tuck the rear wheel in under the rider, but some nifty crimping keeps mud clearance the right side of sane. There’s no tapered

head tube – not a surprise at this price – but there is a complete set of rack and mudguard eyelets at the rear. It’s a small touch, but one that means the Merida could easily do double duty as a commuter or tourer as well as a weekend trail centre basher. Pointing it all in the right direction is a Suntour XCM fork with coil sprung internals, 100mm (3.9in) of travel and a lockout switch. There’s a preload adjuster, but adjustable rebound damping is conspicuous by its absence. Although the stock damping is OK, we’d happily swap the lockout knob for the ability to tweak rebound. Budget RockShox coil forks offer both. Suntour, are you listening?

The kit

We’re particularly pleased to see a nine-speed transmission, in place of the cheaper eight-speed alternative that sometimes finds its way on to budget hardtails. Although some riders may sniff at the relatively lowly Shimano Altus rear mech, it shifts just fine. More importantly, the nine-speed cassette gives a decent range with no annoying gaps between gears. The own-brand finishing kit is all fine and the Promax brakes are reasonable

stoppers for the money. Merida’s own 29er tyres are fast-rolling and grippy in the dry, which will win them plenty of fair weather trail centre friends. Show them a trail that’s wet, off-camber and greasy though, and they soon lose the plot. If more adventurous riding is on the agenda, they’d be our first candidates for an upgrade.

The ride

By avoiding the temptation to pander to new riders’ expectations, Merida’s designers have given the Big.Nine proper, grown-up geometry. Don’t expect race bike responses here though – the realities of a budget frame build and components soon make their presence felt. This is a bike that’s at its best on long, sweeping descents. The easy-rolling big wheels and stable geometry don’t encourage flamboyant riding – chuck it about and you’ll begin to wonder why you bothered. But it’s not a problem, because the Big.Nine is just as quick being allowed to roll through, around and over whatever the trail spits in your direction. The fork manages to take the edge off things without throwing up any nasty surprises, while the big wheel Mountain Biking uk 107

BikeTest e n t r y - l e v e l h a r d ta i l s

£400-£500

As budget 29ers go, it’s a good ’un, with no glaringly obvious spec gotchas, decent geometry and a fair price diameter does the rest. It’s not such good news on the climbs. Although the Merida only carries a half-pound (0.2kg) weight penalty over an equivalent 26in wheeled bike, that difference lives pretty much entirely in the wheels. Or more precisely, at the outer circumference of the wheels. Like all budget 29ers, the Big.Nine 40 is a hostage to the laws of physics. With roughly 10 per cent more rim, tyre and inner tube than a 26in bike, the extra mass – which needs to be 108 Mountain Biking uk

accelerated both around and along – is enough to make a noticeable difference. Can the average rider feel this difference? Yes, definitely. The Merida is also noticeably slower to accelerate than a 26in bike. The good news is that, because big wheels roll more easily over obstacles, in practice most of the difference comes out in the wash. The Big.Nine is as fast as a 26in bike up a long, technical climb. It just feels slower. And it’s this factor, ultimately, that’ll determine

whether the Merida is right for you. As budget 29ers go, it’s a good ’un, with no glaringly obvious spec gotchas, decent geometry and a fair price. It’s just not as much fun to ride as an equivalently specced bike with smaller wheels. Blame Newton for that…

Merida’s Big.Nine 40 is a decent stab at a budget big-wheeler. The only thing it lacks is a sense of fun

BIKE TEST tall order

KINKY

With a long fork and big wheels, the Aizan’s smallest frame size is 18in, meaning vertically challenged riders are left out

The slightly kicked back seat tube is key to the Voodoo’s zippy handling, giving it a short wheelbase and great climbing traction too

GRAVITY SUCKS This is the heaviest wheelset we can remember seeing on a trail-focused bike – and that seriously affects the ride

Voodoo Aizan £449.99 Nine-speed transmission and a long-travel fork in an understated big-wheeled package SO GOOD Brilliant-handling chassis from a master of great frame design Decent value for the spec NO GOOD Unusually heavy wheels seriously blunt performance out on the trail ‘120mm’ fork doesn’t deliver anywhere close to full travel

Jargon buster Mud clearance The gap between a frame and its fork or rear tyre. More space is better, as it allows mud to fall through rather than collect Geometry The frame dimensions and angles that help determine how a bike rides out on the trail

vailable exclusively from Halfords, the Aizan has – like all Voodoos – been designed by Mountain Bike Hall of Fame racer Joe Murray. If the sloping top tube design looks familiar, that’s because Murray was one of its earliest proponents, back in the late 1980s. Brought bang up to date with 29er wheels, a nine-speed transmission and a 120mm (4.7in) travel fork, the Aizan looks like a great deal on paper. But is it in practice?

The frame

We’re so used to seeing aluminium tubes manipulated into a shapeshifting smorgasbord of profiles that the Aizan’s mostly round, mostly straight plumbing is a breath of fresh air. Don’t make the mistake of assuming that it’s a throwback though – there’s plenty of clever detailing. The chunkier-than-it-looks down tube is subtly ovalised at the bottom bracket, to help prevent the frame twisting under heavy pedal pressure, and curves gently into the join with the head tube, to help disperse stress from hard impacts away from this vulnerable area. The top tube doesn’t have any fancy profiling, but

the seat tube has a subtle backwards kink just above the front derailleur mount. This helps reduce the length of the chainstays as well as the bike’s overall wheelbase – a clever move that’s aimed at keeping the handling tight and snappy. Despite that short rear end, mud clearance is decent even with the 2.2in rear tyre, thanks to dimpled chainstays and snaky seatstays. There’s even a set of rack mounts, should you have the urge to saddle up for a longer tour or tackle the daily commute. Surprisingly, Voodoo have opted for a 120mm travel Suntour fork up front. It’s relatively rare to see a fork this long on a 29er hardtail, the theory being that the bigger wheels roll more easily anyway, so what’s the point in adding more travel? However, the spot-on geometry and neat frame design touches aimed at keeping the wheelbase in check show that Voodoo haven’t simply pulled a long fork from the parts catalogue – they’ve thought about it and designed the Aizan’s frame accordingly. Our test fork should have had adjustable rebound damping, but was missing the adjuster knob. Halfords assure us that production bikes do have the adjuster.

The kit

Given the Aizan’s competitive pricing, it’s good that Voodoo found room in the budget for a nine-speed transmission. That means closely spaced gears and a useful 34-tooth big sprocket for climbing – both essentials on a 29er. A flat handlebar reins in the inevitably high front end and chunky Continental tyres give lots of cushioning, but wheel weight is a concern. Tipping the scales at over 5.5kg for the pair (complete with tyres), the Aizan’s wheels are comfortably the lardiest on test – and not by a small margin, either.

The ride

We thought those heavy wheels would dominate the Aizan’s ride. Turns out we were half right. The Voodoo has a split personality. On the one hand, it’s hard to escape the fact that this is a heavy bike. It’s heavy to lift out of the car and it’s reluctant to translate effort at the pedals into forward progress in the wheels. On the other hand, it wants to play. The sorted geometry makes it one of the best-handling 29er hardtails we’ve ridden, at any price. Which just serves to make that wheelset all the more Mountain Biking uk 111

BikeTest e n t r y - Le v e l h a r d ta i l s

£400-£500

it wants to play. The sorted geometry makes it one of the best-handling 29er hardtails we’ve ridden, at any price frustrating. In case you think we’re exaggerating about the wheels, consider this: the Voodoo’s wheels weigh a whopping 750g more than the lightest wheelset on test. And you can feel it. The Aizan responds best to smooth, steady, seated pedalling – mashing away at the pedals doesn’t get you very far, very fast. A good rider can use the Voodoo’s momentum and easy-rolling big wheels to his or her advantage. Read the trail right, choose the right gear 112 Mountain Biking uk

ahead of time and keep the pace steady and the Aizan simply bulldozes anything in its path, uphill or down. But it takes skill and experience to pull this off, which is why it’s a good thing that Voodoo got the handling so right on this bike. With the rear wheel tucked in under the rider there’s bucketloads of traction for tackling steep climbs, while the short wheelbase gives the front end a surprisingly placeable, lively feel. This bike wants to be pushed hard

on descents, though the fork – like all budget 120mm units we’ve ridden – ultimately holds it back. The Aizan, then, falls between two stools. The geometry is fantastic, but needlessly weighty wheels prevent it from showing its true potential.

Joe Murray knows how to design a frame – but the weighty wheelset prevents it from shining

BikeTest

Smaller is better

e n t r y - l e v e l h a r d ta i l s

Budget wheels and rims will always be lighter in smaller diameters. The Calibre’s 26in wheels are the key to its lively feel on the trail

£400-£500

Size matters Just two frame sizes means the Calibre will fit you only if you’re an average height male. So short-arses need not apply

Bang bang Shimano’s more recent rear mechs have clutch mechanisms to make them quieter. The Calibre’s Deore unit doesn’t, which is why it clatters away on rough descents

Calibre Two.two £399.99 Homegrown own-brand machine faces down the big names SO GOOD Great spec and handling at a price that makes it the bargain of the year Want an entry-level bike? Buy this one. It’s that good NO GOOD Rear mech clatters on rough descents We’d prefer extra stopping power ’cos this bike’s so much fun downhill

Jargon buster 650b wheel This old French touring wheel size has been revived. They’re sometimes known as 27.5in wheels despite being closer to 27in Chainstays Pair of frame tubes connecting the bottom bracket to the rear dropouts, into which the rear wheel slots

here’s a good chance you won’t have heard of Calibre. That’s because they’re an all-new brand belonging to – and available exclusively from – outdoors mega-retailers GO Outdoors. We’ve already given the range-topping Point.50 a decent thrashing and came away impressed. The question is, can the distinctly more budget-minded Two.Two square up to more expensive rivals from established brands?

The frame

It may not break the bank, but the Two.Two’s frame is a good looking, well thought out chassis that may even warrant some careful longer-term component upgrades. For a sub-£400 bike, that’s unusual. The rear end is a showcase for hydroforming technology. It’s common for manufacturers to use this technique to hone tube shapes in precisely the right way to achieve the right balance of strength, weight and stiffness, but we don’t often see it used to this extent at this price. The Calibre’s multifaceted, complex-profile stays shape-shift on their journey from the sculpted, cut-away dropouts to the seat tube, giving plenty of tyre

114 Mountain Biking uk

clearance for muddy rides. The wishbone seatstays look great, too. There’s similar tube morphing up front, though the Two.Two doesn’t have the current must-have – a tapered head tube. Increasing the diameter of the head tube at the bottom end helps stiffen the chassis and prevent it twisting, but at this level the lack of it isn’t going to lose us any sleep. Under-the-down-tube cable routing keeps everything tidy, but you won’t want to be shouldering this bike to carry it, and our 18in test machine only had one set of bottle bosses. Oh, and there are just two frame sizes available – 18in and 20in – so if you’re shorter of stature, you’ll have to look elsewhere. Plugged into the front is something we rarely see at this price these days – a pukka RockShox XC 28 coil sprung fork. It’s basic, but has adjustable rebound damping and a lockout dial.

The kit

Calibre’s design team put great emphasis on sourcing name-brand products – and it shows. A nine-speed Shimano transmission with Deore shifters and derailleurs looks like a misprint at this price. The same goes for Shimano hydraulic disc brakes,

though it would be nice to see the 160mm front rotor swapped to 180mm to cope with more enthusiastic riding. Schwalbe tyres, a Truvativ handlebar and WTB saddle round out the name-check component list. For the money, there really isn’t anything to complain about.

The ride

The Two.Two sports 26in wheels. This is the size fitted to the vast majority of mountain bikes in use worldwide, but these days it’s about as fashionable as turning up to the office wearing a turtleneck and a pair of purple flares. The bike industry is currently stampeding towards the bigger alternatives of 650b and 29in, safe in the knowledge that the ‘new’ tag will stop people noticing that they’re still fundamentally round. Don’t let the fashionistas put you off – 26in wheels worked great for more than 20 years, and they still do. Nowhere is this more evident than in the way the Calibre feels out on the trail. Although it’s no featherweight, tipping the scales well beyond the psychological 30lb (13.6kg) barrier, it has a turn of speed that belies both its price and its heft. Show it a steep,

B I K E BIKE T E TEST ST

it has a turn of speed that belies both its price and its heft. Show it a steep, technical climb and it skips to the top technical climb and it’ll skip its way to the top. Admittedly, it needs a little more help to keep the rear wheel planted and turning than is required by the languid, easy-rolling nature of a 29er. But it’s a small difference that’s more than made up for by the willingness of the Two.Two’s relatively light, fast-accelerating wheelset to surge forward with every power stroke. It’s a similar story on the way back down the hill. Smaller wheels are easier to pick up and throw around, and though that may sound like

something that you don’t do a great deal of, it all feeds into how the bike responds to your input. The Calibre turns, accelerates and stops noticeably more readily than most of the big-wheeled competition. The price you pay is a slightly more fidgety feel on some trail surfaces, but it’s a timely reminder that 26in wheels served mountain biking very well for decades. More than that, the Calibre is seriously impressive in its own right. The spec, ride quality and finish rival

bikes costing at least £100 more. If we were to split hairs, the rear mech’s tendency to rattle on the underside of the chainstay is a bit irritating. But that’s our only niggle, and it’s a trivial one. In the real world, the Calibre Two. Two is almost certainly the best sub-£400 bike we’ve ever ridden.

Calibre’s Two.Two is a seriously impressive bike for the money, outperforming plenty of more expensive competition

Mountain Biking uk 115

BikeTest e n t r y l e v e l h a r d ta i l s

The Spec deck

£400-£500

SARACEN MANTRA

MERIDA Big.Nine 40

VOODOO AIZAN

CALIBRE TWO.TWO

PRICE

£499.99

£449.99

£399.99

DISTRIBUTOR

www.madison.co.uk

www.merida.com

www.halfords.com

www.gooutdoors.co.uk

WEIGHT

14kg (30.9lb) no pedals

14.1kg (31lb) no pedals

14.4kg (31.75lb) no pedals

13.9kg (30.6lb) no pedals

FRAME

Hydroformed 6061 aluminium

Technoformed 6061 aluminium

7005 aluminium

Hydroformed 6061 aluminium

sizes (*Tested)

15, 17*, 19, 21in

18*, 20in

Fork

SR Suntour XCM LO 27.5 coil, 120mm (4.7in) travel

SR Suntour XCM LO 29 coil, 100mm (3.9in) travel

SR Suntour XCR LO-R 29 coil, 120mm (4.7in) travel

RockShox XC 28 coil, 100mm (3.9in) travel

hEADSET

Unbranded

EGG Steel-B

Unbranded cartridge

WHEELS

Hubs: Formula DC19/22 Rims: Araya DM-27.5 Spokes: Black plain gauge Wheel weight: F: 2.15kg, R: 2.65kg

Hubs: Unbranded disc Rims: Merida Big.Nine D Spokes: Stainless plain gauge Wheel weight: F: 2.35kg, R: 2.85kg

Hubs: Formula Rims: Unbranded double wall Spokes: Black plain gauge Wheel weight: F: 2.45kg, R: 3.1kg

Hubs: Quando Disc Rims: Calibre Disc Spokes: Black plain gauge Wheel weight: F: 2.25kg, R: 2.75kg

TYRES

Schwalbe Rapid Rob, 27.5x2.25in

Merida 29er, 29x2.2in

Continental X-King, 29x2.2in

Schwalbe Smart Sam, 26x2.25in

CRANKSET/ BOTTOM BRACKET

Shimano M171 24/34/42T / Shimano

SR Suntour XCM 22/32/44T / Unbranded cartridge

SR Suntour XCM 22/32/44T / Shimano

Truvativ E400 3.0 22/32/42T / SRAM

DERAILLEURS

Shimano M190 (F)/Shimano Acera (R)

Shimano M370 (F)/Altus 9 (R)

Shimano Alivio

Shimano Deore

SHIFTERS

Shimano Altus

Shimano Alivio

Shimano Deore

CASSETTE/CHAIN

Shimano HG31 eight-speed 11-32T / KMC

Sunrace CSM9 nine-speed 11-32T / KMC

Shimano HG20 nine-speed 11-34T / Shimano HG53

Shimano HG20 nine-speed 11-34T / KMC

BRAKES

Shimano M395 hydraulic disc

Promax DSK hydraulic disc

Tektro HDC300 hydraulic disc

Shimano M395 hydraulic disc

BAR/STEM/GRIPS

Saracen low rise, 720mm / Saracen, 70mm / unbranded

Merida Comp OS flat, 680mm / Merida Comp OS, 75mm / unbranded

Voodoo, 690mm / unbranded, 80mm / unbranded

Truvativ Stylo low rise, 685mm / unbranded, 70mm / unbranded

SADDLE/ SEATPOST

WTB Volt Sport / Saracen

Merida Pro SI-E / Merida Speed

Voodoo / unbranded

WTB Volt Sport / unbranded

DIMENSIONS Standover 800mm

Standover 825mm

mm 600

Standover 785mm

mm 600

mm 455

mm 460

mm 450

mm 440

440mm

420mm

FRAME ANGLES

Standover 820mm

mm 600

430mm

420mm

320mm

315mm

310mm

320mm

1,115mm

1,110mm

1,105mm

1,080mm

Head 68º Seat 72º

Head 68.5º Seat 70º

Head 68º Seat 68.5º

Head 70º Seat 73º

Bigger wheels haven’t taken the fun out of Saracen’s budget trail tamer, though the fork is something of a disappointment

Merida’s Big.Nine 40 is a decent stab at a budget-priced big-wheeler. The only thing the bike lacks is a sense of fun

Joe Murray knows how to design a great-handling frame – it’s only the Aizan’s weighty wheelset that prevents it from shining

Calibre’s Two.Two is a seriously impressive bike for the money, outperforming plenty of the more expensive competition

verdict

WHAT OUR SCORES MEAN: We give each bike one overall score to sum up how it performs and its value for money. If a bike gets a score of five, it really is the best you can get in terms of both Poor: simply put, don’t bother

116 Mountain Biking uk

Below average: flawed in some way

Good: it’ll do the job and do it well

Very good: one of the best you can buy

Exceptional: a genuine class leader

BIKE TEST

Winner Calibre Two.Two

FINAL Verdict

or the past few years, budget forks have been our main bugbear on entry-level hardtails. It’s certainly an ongoing theme – every one of these four bikes would perform significantly better with a better fork. The Saracen Mantra feels particularly let down by a sub-par bump muncher. But we have a new concern, and it’s this: big wheels – particularly 29in ones – have a lot more rubber and metal on them than the old 26in standard. And that

means noticeably higher weight – and consequently more sluggish performance – at entry-level price points. It’s an issue here with both the Voodoo Aizan and the Merida Big.Nine 40 – their heavy wheelsets blunt both performance and enthusiasm. Wriggling free of most of these criticisms to take the top spot is Calibre’s understated – and seemingly underpriced – Two.Two. If there’s a better bike for £400 we’ve not seen it. Snap one up before they’re all gone. c

Next month The best 650b hardtails for 2014

£1,400-£1,450 mid-wheeled machines ON SALE 10 JANUARY Mountain Biking uk 117

Size

Group Test Tread

The design of the tread lugs governs the basic mechanical bite of the tyre. Flat and closespaced equals fast but slippy. Tall and gappy means a slow but grippy growler.

We’ve focused on 2.2in to 2.35in tyres as they give the best balance of grip, protection and weight for hard riding. Thinner tyres grip well in the wet but skate around and puncture more on rocks.

Tubeless compatibility

Combining tubeless or tubeless-ready tyres with a sealed rim and valve lets you swap fragile inner tubes for puncture-healing sealant. Set-up can be a bit messy though.

Compound

The crucial recipe of the rubber. Soft tyres are sticky for grip but slow rolling. Hard tyres are fast but hate the wet. Mixed compounds cost more, but have the right type of rubber in the right places.

Carcass

The body of the tyre is important for adding control and protection. The best enduro tyres feel like someone has pro-tuned your suspension, the worst like your wheels are made of wood.

aggressive trail tyres Need some new tyres that won’t be stopped by any weather or terrain? We’ve tested the best relentless rubber in 26in and 650b sizes

Words Guy Kesteven Pics Russell Burton

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GROUP TEST

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 Guy Kesteven Guy’s northern testers ride all year round – often in the most challenging conditions imaginable! No group of riders has more long-term experience of the latest tyre designs than they do.

What to look for

There’s a lot of tech in a modern tyre

nduro riding may be the latest name for it, but we’ve all been riding harder and harder on trail centre routes, techy natural trails or specially created downhill (DH) courses for a while now. More controlled suspension on more aggressively angled bikes has made it a lot easier to go properly fast down stuff. The same bikes are light and efficient enough to pedal back up relatively easily as well, giving you more downhill time for any given riding slot. Flat out descending and then riding back up to reload the gravity cannon as soon as possible has placed a massive emphasis on tyre performance. We now want DH race style protection, grip and stability to get the full fun potential from our bikes but we need all the help we can get on the flats and climbs. Luckily the tyre boffins have really delivered with their latest rubber. For a start, most leading brands now have a rubber compound (or range of compounds) around the 50-60 durometer rating, which is tacky enough to give reliable grip across a wide range of trail conditions, without wearing ridiculously quickly. The fact that sponsored enduro riders are now racing all over the world means brands such as Schwalbe, WTB and others are producing tread patterns and compound mixes that really work in UK conditions, rather than just on wet German fireroads or on slightly damp California dust.

While tyre weights have definitely got heavier, tubeless-ready systems let you swap 150-200g of inner tube for 50-100g of sealant to level things out. The latest carcasses also roll much more smoothly, adding supple speed over rougher ground. This is particularly true in the new 650b size, where we’re noticing increased grip and speed compared to 26in on properly rough terrain. Tougher carcasses and the ability of tubeless systems to shrug off most punctures also mean that tyre lifespan has become longer. This helps to offset the increased cost of these extra-tech tyres in the first place, though brands like Specialized, Maxxis and Kenda still manage to pack a lot of performance into their mid-price rubber anyway. Tubelessready wheels are also becoming a lot more commonplace and affordable too, which potentially reduces overall cost. Obviously how much of this performance you want to/can invest in depends entirely on your finances, but a top set of tyres is still probably the most cost effective upgrade you can make to any bike.

How we tested them Testing gear can sometimes make you seem a bit of a weirdo. After all, our northern test crew were probably the only riders cursing the fact that the trails were still dry and the skies blue as September turned into October. Luckily the weather broke just in time to get out and up to our rims in exactly the kind of sloppy, greasy green-rock and polishedroot trail treachery that makes the UK so much more challenging – but ultimately more fun – to ride than anywhere else in the world. Cue several intensive weeks of back-to-back testing heading out in groups, swapping wheels, bikes and pressures to dial in the data on exactly how each tyre handled in different conditions. Obviously the 650b tyres handled differently to the 26s. But either way, we rode them on hardtails or heavy-hitting full-sussers everywhere from slippery local woods to old-skool DH trails, trail centres and wild marshy moors to see how they performed. Add years of longterm test feedback and our results are the definitive data on tough and dirty trail tyres.

Jargon buster > Bead The wire or Kevlar cord around the inside edges of a tyre that hooks under the edge of the wheel rim to keep the tyre in place. > Buttress An extra piece of rubber added alongside a tread knob in order to help reinforce it.

> Cross section The shape of the tyre if you cut a slice through it. Sometimes referred to as the profile. > Flop The tendency of a tyre to fold over sideways under high cornering loads. This is more common with tubeless set-ups,

because they can be run at lower pressures than standard tyres.

places a lot of emphasis on a tyre’s shoulder grip.

> Growl The grumbling roar that you get on Tarmac from some tyres with a wide-spaced tread pattern.

> Ramp A slope on the front of a tread block to help the tyre roll better.

> Off-camber A trail with a sideways slope that

> Shoulder Term used to describe the outer edge of a tyre’s tread pattern.

> Sipes Slots or cuts in the top of a tread knob that are designed to help it flex – improving traction – and squeeze out water. > Wooden Description of an inflexible, numb feeling tyre that doesn’t conform well to the trail.

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GROUP TEST Wheel size: 26in Tested: 26x2.25in Weight: 779g Width: 51.5mm

Wheel size: 26in, 29in Tested: 26x2.35in Weight: 918g Width: 54mm

Wheel size: 26in Tested: 26x2.2in Weight: 780g Width: 53.8mm

Wheel size: 26in Tested: 26x2.25in Weight: 710g Width: 50.7mm

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Panaracer CG Soft Condition AM £39.99

Zyro www.zyro.co.uk

Panaracer pretty much invented soft conditions tyres with the original Spike and subsequent TrailRaker. Unfortunately their collaboration with flamboyant French racer Cedric Gracia has delivered less convincing results. The regular ranks of square blocks give uniform mechanical grip from the crown all the way over into a deep lean, and on bog, sludge or snow the 5mm deep tread is

tractor-like in its tenacity. It lasts well too. Bizarrely, the dual compound mix puts a hard cap on top of soft knob bodies, which makes them slippery and unstable on roots and rocks. The contrast between tons of grip in damp loam then none in the wet is hard to manage. The section is very narrow for a nominal 2.25in too and they’re not tubeless-ready.

Bontrager SE4 Team Issue £44.99

Trek www.trekbikes.com

After TRACy moseley’s emphatic Enduro World Series win on Bontrager tyres, the new Team Issue enduro version of the SE4 was on our must-try list. The stiffer Core Strength carcass takes weight over 900g but makes it impressively ignorant of sharp edged impacts. It’s stable at low pressures, and tubeless-ready too. The stiff sidewall is awkward to mount though, and needs over-pressuring

to settle on to the rim with a round rather than egg shaped profile. The wooden carcass feel undermines the otherwise decent, fast-clearing grip of the dual compound tread. The tyre skips and deflects off roots and rocks with little feedback to base reactions on, rather than moulding round them, and hooks up on edges.

Geax Datura TNT £33.99

Chicken Cycles www.chickencycles.co.uk

The Datura from Italian tyre specialists Geax has been around for a long time and its aggressive tall-knob tread with siped detailing certainly looks the part for winter ploughing. The TNT carcass was one of the first tubeless-ready set-ups and we’ve got really old Geax tyres that are still shrugging off rocks with impunity. The Datura’s a decent width for its weight and toughness too. A fairly stiff rubber mix stops those

tall knobs from squirming too much under cornering loads and they bite well in soggy or snowy conditions. The Sticky Soft compound isn’t really that sticky though, so the Datura isn’t as surefooted on wet roots and greasy rocks. It’s best viewed as a good value tough trail centre tyre rather than an off-piste confidence booster.

Onza Greina FR FRC £34.99

Evans Cycles www.evanscycles.com

Onza are becoming an increasingly popular choice on European complete bikes and the Greina FR works pretty well over here too. The open tread growls and drags a bit on the road but the medium compound means it’s not cripplingly slow and it’s light enough to kick up to speed easily. It digs into soft stuff well and clears quickly if you’re mud plugging. Grip stays consistent on to the

shoulders if you’re leaning or tiptoeing across an off-camber section. It’s relatively predictable on rocks and roots as well, so you can pile into woodsy trails without worrying or backing off too much. It’s not tubeless-ready though and is significantly undersized for an alleged 2.25in tyre, so you must keep pressure high to protect your tubes.

For thousands more reviews

G roup T E S T

Panaracer Rampage SC £39.99

Zyro www.zyro.co.uk

Panaracer’s Rampage seemed aptly named when it came out years ago. Looking at how skinny and light it is now makes you realise how much aggro tyres have changed. It’s still a decent low-weight, all-round grip option if you don’t need big carcass or tubeless-ready protection. Low weight means responsive agility on smoother trails and helps you dodge the sharp stuff that’s likely to do it mischief. That said, the

ASB bumper strip just above the bead protects the tube well, if not the rim. The stepped blocks in softercompound rubber grip OK in a wide range of trail conditions, pushing out into a predictable slide if you try to put too much force through the tyre. There’s a relatively bargain-priced fully-tubeless version (£42.99) if you want to seal the deal.

Kenda Nevegal Pro DTC £34.99

Today’s Cyclist www.todayscyclist.co.uk

Kenda’s John Tomac-designed Nevegal tread is the longest running here, but new carcass technology has given this versatile all-rounder a new lease of life. The relatively low, ramped tread means more slip than grip in really wet conditions, but it rolls fast enough that you’ll be happy leaving it on right through the year. The DTC dual compound means it’ll last that long too without sacrificing much in

the way of grip when you’re cranking it on to its shoulders. Grip levels are similar across most conditions, so it’s a tyre you can settle into rather than constantly having to rethink your lines and entry speeds. The new tubeless-ready carcass has more weight but is much more durable, low-pressure friendly and smoother – and it’s well priced.

Michelin Wild Grip’R AR £39.99

Michelin http://bike.michelin.co.uk

The French started the whole enduro racing phenomenon and they’re still turning out some of the best tyres in the category. This heavily armoured Michelin is certainly tough enough for enduro use, and the thick carcass has rolled over any potential rim killers unscathed in the year we’ve been running it. There’s no sign of sidewall damage either and the tread is in decent shape as well.

Despite all the toughness, it’s tactile and supple enough that you can feel subtle grip levels on the ragged edge. It’s a tyre you can trust however hard you ride. Weight and sluggish rolling will dent your speed by the end of a long day though. Be careful to get the full Advanced Reinforced spec, as the cheaper tyres are shockingly gripless.

Hutchinson Squale Hardskin RR £54.99

Extra UK www.extrauk.co.uk

Hutchinson’s big aggro tyre puts the French company right up in our mixed conditions rankings. While 2.3in sounds relatively slim, it blows up generously fat and the enduro carcass is reinforced under the tread and the sidewalls, making it well damped and supportive. It has proved very impact resistant over the long term yet still comes in lighter than most similarly armoured tyres. The soft Race Riposte rubber

compound grips everywhere from clean, wet rock to dirty, greasy roots. The ramped tread means it rolls well for such an open spaced, fast clearing design and there are sturdy shoulders for cornering too. Just go steady at first though, as Hutchinson tyres always have a lot of moulding silicone left on, which makes them soap-slippery until it wears off.

Wheel size: 26in Tested: 26x2.35in Weight: 669g Width: 52mm

Wheel size: 26in, 650b, 29in Tested: 26x2.35in Weight: 820g Width: 53.2mm

Wheel size: 26in, 650b Tested: 26x2.35in Weight: 1,029g Width: 54mm

Wheel size: 26in, 650b Tested: 26x2.3in Weight: 793g Width: 55mm

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GROUP TEST Wheel size: 26in, 650b, 29in Tested: 27.5x2.3in Weight: 868g Width: 54mm

Wheel size: 26in Tested: 26x2.3in Weight: 729g Width: 52mm

Wheel size: 26in, 650b, 29in Tested: 26x2.2in Weight: 792g Width: 54mm

Wheel size: 26in, 650b, 29in Tested: 26x2.35in Weight: 780g Width: 60mm

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WTB Vigilante TCS £39.99

Hotlines www.hotlines-uk.com

WTB’s new Enduro tyre ticks all the tough, mixed terrain traction boxes at a decent price. The mixed, siped-block tread pattern is new to WTB but looks similar to a proven German tyre. The Dual DNA rubber recipe gives it grip in a wide range of conditions, from dirty rocks and roots in dark woods to wet rock trail centre surfaces. It’s stable under braking and drive in really soggy conditions, and it

nails off-camber or deep-lean-angle traction thanks to well supported, soft compound shoulders. The TCS tubeless carcass is generously fat and supple, adding easy trail conforming for predictable line-holding on rocks and roots. Pricing of the TCS version is good too, and there’s a stickier, reinforced Team Issue version for £49.99.

Specialized Butcher Control £30

Specialized www.specialized.com

Specialized’s Butcher control is the cheapest tyre here but you wouldn’t know it. While most cheaper tyres use slippery plastic compounds, the Butcher’s 50a duro mix is tacky enough for ample traction even on typically lethal surfaces such as green rocks and roots. It’s fully tubeless-ready too, which is a real coup at £30 and helps give a smooth and supple ride that’s a match for the most expensive tyres

on test here in terms of moulding to mixed rocky, rooty terrain. The 420/D1 casing is designed to be more cut/wear resistant than a standard cross-country carcass, but it’s not as supportive as a fully armoured one. It’s skinny too, so don’t go low on pressure in rocky terrain. Performance is excellent for the price though.

Continental Trail King ProTection £49.95

Continental www.conti-tyres.co.uk

Continental’s Trail King was one of the first new generation tough, high-traction, DH-proof but trailefficient tyres and it’s still one of the best. The broad open-paddle, sipedtop tread with a wall of wavy side knobs gives excellent mechanical traction everywhere from bogs to bar-end scraping berms. The unique Black Chili rubber compound underlines the well shaped tread with impressive

adhesion across all the usual accident-causing surfaces that are lurking in your local woods. It’s seriously fat for a listed 2.2in tyre and the scrim-reinforced Protection carcass is tough and stable without being too heavy. The tyre is fast rolling and year-round durable too, which helps make the price an investment, not an indulgence.

Schwalbe Hans Dampf TrailStar £49.99

Schwalbe www.schwalbe.co.uk

The biggest tyre here, Schwalbe’s jack of all trades is seriously big in capability too. Despite being listed as a 2.35in and weighing under 800g, the tubelessready Hans Dampf blows up bigger than most 2.4/2.5in tyres. This is fantastic for floated smoothness and impact ignorance, and it’s also stable at low pressures and under high cornering loads – as long as your rims are wide enough.

Check there’s room for it in your frame as it’ll be tight in most. The mixed-block tread keys into most surfaces really well, whether railing hard-packed trail centres or hitting filthy DH lines, and the super-sticky TrailStar triple compound mix is on our most-trusted shortlist. Team it with the PaceStar compound on the rear to restore rolling speed though.

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Tester says…

Group Test

Winners

With significant improvements in bike, wheel and suspension performance, tyres have been under pressure to match up. This test has confirmed there’s no need to worry about that any more. Now the only struggle is choosing what best suits your needs.

Maxxis High Roller II 3C Maxx Terra £49.99

Winner

Maxxis www.maxxis-bicycle.co.uk

It was a damn close race all the way to the finish of this test, but when it came down to the ‘if you had to pick one tyre for the next six months’ crunch question for our test team, the High Roller II rolled out ahead. The original High Roller was a legendary hardcore tyre so a new version was always going to be heavily scrutinised. Maxxis haven’t let their legions of loyal fans down though. The evolved, ramped tread rolls noticeably quicker and with less growl than the previous version. This top-spec triple compound version is particularly quick on firmer surfaces and weight is OK for a 650b tyre (26 and 29in versions are also available). There’s none of the old High Roller lurch between centre and edge, just a consistent amount of traction as you

Wheel size: 26in, 650b, 29in Tested: 27.5x2.3in Weight: 920g Width: 54.2mm

Wheel size: 26in, 650b, 29in Tested: 26x2.35in Weight: 920g Width: 53.6mm

Value

bank on to the regular, robustly supported side knobs. It’s stable under braking despite the lateral tread arrangement and paddles really well in sloppy mud. Teaming it with a Maxxis Minion up front adds a bit more rudder effect if it’s really grim. Either way, the new tubeless-ready carcass and supportive harder rubber underneath keeps the new generation Maxxis tyres impressively stable even at lower pressures. The 2.35in versions are a proper size compared to their skinny predecessors so they shrug off damage well, and pricing has reduced to ‘still spendy but competitive’ levels, with a single compound, tubelessready version at £39.99.

Wheel size: 26in, 650b Tested: 27.5x2.4in Weight: 1,020g Width: 54.2mm

Most wanted

Maxxis Minion DHF MaxxPro 60a

Mavic Crossmax Charge

While the new tubelessready Minion is right up there for high grip, fast clearing all-round aggro use, when it comes to value the original Minion DHF is still unbeatable. Despite very directional looks that add surprisingly easy speed, the Minion still sheds mud well and drives and brakes impressively well. Whatever Maxxis have done with the mix, the nominal 60 duro compound rubber has always been more

Mavic couldn’t have got off to a better start with their first ever MTB tyre than the jawdroppingly controlled Crossmax Charge. The mix of wide-spaced, siped tread with toothy buttressed shoulders and a super-sticky, slow damped rubber mix gives outrageously surefooted traction. It’s the ultra controlled compression and ride of the carcass that really stands out though. It’s so smooth and

£29.99

Maxxis www.maxxis-bicycle.co.uk

Next month

grippy in typical UK conditions than theoretically similar tyres, helping the Minion remain our top rated rubber for years. The skinny, relatively thin carcass won’t shrug rocks off as well as the latest armoured and tubeless-ready tyres, but it’s a hell of a lot cheaper and still more durable than most single-skins. Dual-ply DH versions are equally good value.

Baselayers

£50

Mavic www.mavic.com

Best undershirts for winter riding ON SALE 10 JANUARY 2014

compliant over stutter roots or big drops that it made mid-level RockShox Sektor forks on test bikes feel like top-end Pikes in terms of succulent tracking and precision. The smooth rollover and amount of speed you can carry through sketchy sections offsets their weight and rolling speed in a gravity context too. Just beware of the soapslippery Roam back tyre.

THE skills, knowledge & places to go for a better ride p136

grimetime

Step-by-step guide to replacing the bearings in a Hope Pro 2 EVO rear hub

P128

how to...

master mud riding

The techniques youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll need to have maximum fun in the filth this winter

p138

ask mbuk

Your questions, our answers, all your mechanical problems solved

P142

the big ride

A modified version of the classic Lakeland Borrowdale Bash loop. Plus pull-out maps!

MBUKâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s ROUTE EXPERT

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wrecking crew

Rostrevor trails

The sinewy singletrack and flat-out DH tracks that are putting Northern Ireland on the trail centre map

All our route maps are put together by route guru Max Darkins. Max loves travelling the country in search of the best trails and is also the man behind www.roughride guide.co.uk. Mountain Biking uk 127

How to

. how to..

tough mudder Don’t suffer from cabin fever this festive season – when the family are busy feasting, get out in the filth and have a good old mud blast We always say it’s never as bad as it looks when you get out in the muck, but the truth is it’s every bit as bad – at least, until you’ve soaked yourself at the first puddle! You’ll be plastered in mud, your brakes will make a horrendous grinding noise and other countryside users will greet you with slack jaws and frowns. But when you’re chuckling away to yourself as you hose your bike down back at base you’ll feel a great sense of achievement – while your friends were piling on the pounds scoffing the cheeseboard, you’ve been out and faced the elements while topping up your fitness and your all-important riding skills. Words Doddy Pics Russell Burton

128 Mountain Biking uk

MANUAL

Mountain Biking uk 129

How to

here’s no doubt it takes more effort to ride in winter. To leave the comfort of a warm living room and go out riding in the pouring rain with the prospect of all that cleaning afterwards seems to lure you back to the sofa. But if that bothered you, you’d be a roadie, wouldn’t you? MBUK is based in Bath, which has some amazing local trails but suffers from having some of the worst mud around. The kind of stuff that no matter what tyres you’re running, you may as well be on your rims. It makes planning a good route trickier, but using old-school bridleways and farm tracks we’ve found some cracking stuff to ride. Here’s how we survive it and how you can deal with similar situations.

Cross-rutting

A little out of town, we cruise through some fields to the start of a long downhill. It’s muddy even in summer, but at least with the amount of water that runs down it in winter there’s always a firm line to hunt out. Seconds in and we’re soaked, and then the tractor ruts do their best to startle us and make us slow down – but defensive riding helps keep our speed up. Riding in the ruts is usually the best line, but these ones are pretty rocky in places so we constantly have to change lines. Braking doesn’t do much either as it just makes the tyres break loose. If any speed adjustment is needed, all you can do is feather the brakes. Dynamically using your body weight helps keep the bike rubber side down, and the front wheel pointed downhill.

Splashdown

We know this water crossing well, but if you’re tackling an unknown one you should check it for depth and large rocks first. There’s only one way we like to tackle them –

130 Mountain Biking uk

LEt it go Stuck in a rut Until you find a good spot to get out of a rut, relax and keep looking ahead. Speed helps, but it can take time to get used to the bike sliding around under you

Your bike will find its own way in a rut, but you need to stay loose and let it dance around underneath you

“Tractor ruts do their best to startle us and make us slow down – but defensive riding keeps OUR speed up” flat-out fast! So it’s a matter of gaining plenty of entry speed, keeping your feet horizontal and pulling up and back on the handlebar while leaning back. Although you don’t need to be able to manual to hit deep puddles and water splashes, you’ll still want to pull up and lean back as you hit them to keep your weight back – when your front wheel hits the water you’ll lose speed rapidly. If you time it right, your front wheel will land on the other side. Be ready to put the power down or you’ll come to a standstill.

Roots

Unlike faster sections of roots that can be hit square-on at speed, we have a lot of slower speed stuff locally that involves turning on the roots – some of them may as well have been polished with banana skins, they’re that slippery. These tricky little sections involve a bit of care and speed control to get around clean. Where possible we brake before rolling on to the roots, and we do all our turning before and after. One of the major things

smart turns Turning on wet roots is asking for trouble. Do your braking and turning before or after your tyres roll on to the greasy wood

MANUAL

Front end up Picking the front wheel up is the safest way to cross water. Leaning back and pulling up will get it clear, but as your rear wheel hits deeper water the front will come down, so keep your weight back and be ready to get on the pedals or you’ll lose speed rapidly

Exposure There’s some amazing technical clothing you can buy that will cope with virtually any weather or condition – so layer up before getting out in the slop

turn here Turning and braking here is safer than braking on the roots themselves

Spare layer

Eyewear

Waterproof jacket

If you get lost or have a mechanical you’ll get cold fast, so always keep a hat and a spare layer in your riding pack. Spare gloves are often a good idea too.

Your mudguard won’t catch everything and riding with one eye full of mud isn’t fun, so protect your eyes with some decent glasses.

Keeping your core warm and dry is the key to riding in winter filth and staying comfortable. Combine a good baselayer with a quality waterproof jacket.

Mountain Biking uk 131

How to Hidden trouble Leaves and water can camouflage hidden dangers like rocks and other trail debris. Popping clear using a tree root, our staff writer Olly clears the danger zone completely

“unlike summer trails that are usually free of debris, riding in winter sees routes covered in leaves, masking tree deadfall, rocks and holes” riders tend to worry about with roots is slipping, because they don’t like the sensation of not having control. But you need to relax when your tyre slips and let it go – it’ll soon find grip again in the soil.

Hidden dangers

Unlike summer trails that are usually free of debris, riding in the winter sees routes covered in leaves, masking tree deadfall, rocks and holes. So it’s important to be able to read the terrain and identify where this stuff can lurk, and work out ways to avoid the likely danger areas. One of our local spots tends to have a lot of rock build-up from horses using the trail, but just before it there’s a decent sized root to pop off and a bank to the right that we can jump on to rail round the dodgy stuff. If you find a section on your local trails

132 Mountain Biking uk

that you’re struggling with, the chances are there’ll always be an alternative way to ride it.

Cornering

Anyone can let go of the brakes and go fast in a straight line – taming the turns is where a good rider excels. The odds are against you in winter, with various different surface textures that all affect traction. This is where you can really build skills and pick up some crafty line choices. One of the descents on our route has a wide right-hand turn, which when dry is just rocky and loose – but in the wet it’s like riding on ice. A bank round the outside of the turn is free of rock and sets us up perfectly into the rocky chute ahead. If you’re not lucky enough to have a bank to use, you need to accentuate your style to give your bike the best chance of gripping –

Cornering help Slippery rocks are tricky to turn on, but the bank to the side of the trail offers predictable grip, even when saturated

How to

Zero Traction Wet rock like this has almost no grip. Braking on it will make your bike slide around dangerously under you, so pick a good line and commit to rolling through. Any speed adjustment should be done before or after

Bik e set-up

Wet rocks, roots and mud make riding in the winter challenging, to say the least – these set-up tips will help make things easier

Tyres

“the rocks are incredibly slippery and are actually harder to ride when crawling down slowly” get that outside elbow out and put plenty of weight on your front wheel, as it’ll slide out if you lean back. Don’t worry about the back wheel breaking loose – keep control of your steering wheel and the rear will always follow.

Slimy rocks

A small brook at the top of one descent means the rocks are incredibly slippery and are actually harder to ride when crawling down slowly. The best way is definitely to stay loose and keep rolling, with minimal braking. The easiest way to tackle stuff like this is

134 Mountain Biking uk

scope the trail Surface conditions dictate where you can brake – look ahead for the best spots

to relax your grip and look ahead down the trail. If you see hazards out of the corner of your eye, acknowledge them but don’t look at them, because you’re more likely to head for them then. Look the way you want to go – and let rip! c

Open tread designs are best for winter as they throw out the mud rapidly, staying clear for traction. You’ll benefit from running them at low pressures – see what’s recommended on your tyre sidewall.

Flat pedals and shoes When the going gets sideways, flat pedals and sticky-soled shoes can give you more confidence. If you’re going to buy flats-specific shoes, it’s worth considering something weather-proof.

Mudguard It’s no good trying to ride flat out down a muddy descent if you can’t see – a decent front mudguard will keep mud and spray out of your eyes.

Grimetime www.muc-off.com

Difficulty How to service a Hope Pro 2 EVO rear hub Time 60 mins Cost £40.13 for Hope bearing kit (part no. HUB3P2ER) £30.55 for Hope tools

Use a T25 Torx key to undo the disc rotor bolts, and remove the rotor. Remove the cassette using a cassette lockring tool and chain whip. Put the rotor and cassette safely to one side. Remove the hub’s axle end caps by pulling them away from the hub. You may need to lightly clamp them in a vice or use plumber’s grips to get enough purchase on them.

Taking a firm hold of the freehub body, use a hard anticlockwise twist-and-pull motion to remove it from the hub. Use a small flat-head screwdriver to remove the spacer that sits behind the freehub on the axle if it didn’t come off when the freehub was removed. This spacer is important so make sure to place it safely to one side.

Sit the freehub body on a flat surface, outside face down. Use a drift to catch the inner edge of the outside bearing and tap it with the mallet to remove it. A spacer will come out along with the bearing. Sit the freehub back on the flat surface and repeat the process with the middle bearing. There’s still the inner bearing left to remove.

Sit the freehub body inside face down in the vice, making sure that the jaws are open wide enough for the bearing to be removed from the freehub body. Use the mallet and drift to knock the bearing out. Now the freehub body is empty, give it a good clean. Make sure to clean the pawls, springs and internal spacers carefully too.

Install the new inner bearing by gently tapping it into place with the mallet and freehub bearing tool (HTT180). Flip the freehub body over, sit the shorter spacer on the inner bearing and use the tool and mallet to install the middle bearing. Sit the larger spacer on the middle bearing and use the tool and mallet to install the outer bearing.

The axle should now spin smoothly. Check the bearings are seated correctly and that the axle is the right way round in the hub. If the bearings aren’t running smoothly, it’s likely one or both of the main bearings hasn’t seated fully. Resting the hub on the wheel support, use the bearing tool and hammer to give them another few taps to seat them properly.

Sit the hub driveside down on the wheel support. Wipe away any grease left from fitting the non-driveside bearing and make sure the rubber seal is clean by wiping with some methylated spirits around the outer edge. With the flat edge of the seal facing inwards, use your fingers to press it into the hub shell, sitting it against the bearing.

Flip the hub over. Slide the spacer that sits between the bearing and freehub body on to the axle, sitting it in place against the bearing. Lightly grease the ratchet ring in the hub. Slide the freehub body down over the axle. When it sits on the open pawls against the hub body, use an anticlockwise twist-and-push motion. This will sit the freehub body in place.

Visit our website at

www.muc-off.com

MANUAL 9

4 3

8 5

10 2

Tools for the job Essential kit 1 Rag 2 Drift 3 Grease 4 Hope Nylon Wheel Support Bush (HTT167), Pro 2/3 seal tool (HTT175), Pro 2 EVO rear main bearing tool (HTT182) and rear freehub bearing tool (HTT180, now packaged with HTT182)

5 Degreaser 6 T25 Torx key 7 Plastic mallet (or soft hammer) 8 Small flat-head screwdriver 9 Cassette lockring tool 10 Chain whip 11 Plumber’s grips Not pictured: Vice, methylated spirits

Sit the wheel non-drive side down on the Hope wheel support (HTT167). Tap the axle firmly downwards with a plastic mallet. This will knock out the axle, with the non-driveside bearing attached, and pop out the rubber seal. Put the seal safely to one side. Open your vice and sit the bearing on top of the jaws, then tap the axle with the mallet to remove it.

Flip the hub shell so it’s driveside down on the wheel support. Using a drift and hammer, tap the driveside bearing down to remove it from the hub. Make sure to alternate the drift’s position while hammering in order to knock the bearing out evenly. The hub shell is now empty. Give the end caps, axle and internals a good clean with some degreaser and a rag.

Hope recommend replacing the freehub body when parts start to wear, because it’s cheaper than buying the pawls, seals, etc separately. If you just want to refresh the bearings, start by popping out the seal and sliding it off. Note its orientation, with a step on its inner side. Slide the pawls out, noting their orientation, and remove the springs, without bending them.

Grease the spring locations. Sit the open end of the first spring in the bore and turn it to locate it fully. Repeat on all four springs. Use a small flat-head screwdriver to compress one of the springs slightly, then slide the first pawl down into position. Repeat on all four pawls. Reinstall the seal behind the freehub body, with the stepped side against the pawls.

Now to install the main bearings. Sit the hub non-drive side down on the wheel support. Lightly grease the bearing seat behind the freehub ratchet. Sit the new bearing in place, making sure it’s square. Tap the Hope main bearing tool (HTT182) gently with the mallet until the bearing is fully seated, slightly deeper than the lip below the freehub ratchet.

Flip the hub over so the non-drive side is facing upwards. Lightly grease the axle surface, then slide the axle back through the hub, making sure the bearing step end goes in last, because it’s where the freehub body sits. Slide the new bearing over the axle and towards its location in the hub. Use the bearing tool and mallet to fit the bearing.

Workshop Wisdom

Now slide the Hope seal tool (HTT175) over the freehub body. With the tool sat against the driveside seal, use the palm of your hand to press down on it firmly. The seal should then pop into place. Remove the tool and check that the hub still spins smoothly and that the freehub ratchet is working correctly.

Next month

Use a very small amount of grease to lubricate the O-rings in the hub’s end caps. Push them firmly back on to the axle, sitting them in place. Check that the non-driveside seal is still in place too. Re-fit your cassette, torqueing the lockring to 34Nm. Re-fit your disc rotor, torqueing the bolts to 5.6Nm.

How to service Shimano Saint pedals

You can follow the same basic procedure to replace the bearings in a standard Pro 2 hub, but watch out because the bearing sizes differ. It’s important to buy the right tools. Using a socket with a rounded edge to press in bearings could damage the seals. The wheel support isn’t essential – you could use a block of wood instead.

Keep your flats spinning smoothly with our step-by-step guide ON SALE 10 JANUARY

Work in a clean environment and keep track of all the parts you remove from the hub. That way, you won’t mistake one internal spacer for another or even miss one entirely. If the hub binds up when it’s put back in your frame, you’ve probably forgotten the spacer that sits between the freehub body and main bearing.

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Ask

Your problems solved by our experts

I’ve just bought a 2014 Cube Aim 26 and I’m keen to hit my local trails regularly next year. I’m looking to upgrade some parts pretty soon though, including the fork. Could you recommend something you’d consider mid-range please, as I don’t have a massive budget. Jamie Osbourne, Grimsby

I’m looking to spend around £600-700 on my first proper bike. I’m after a second-hand full sus trail rig. I’m only 15 so you can see why it’s such a tough decision! I was thinking maybe a 2011/12 Boardman Team FS or a Giant Trance X4. Any advice? Dan Couldery, via email

Dan, when it comes to deciding what bike to buy, it doesn’t get any easier with age. Trust us! Both the Boardman Team FS and Giant Trance X4 are great bikes for the money, and if you can find a decent second-hand one in good condition, then great. Just be sure to check over all the pivots for play and cycle the suspension through to check for leaky seals or anything that might need some attention.

X-Fusion’s Velvet is a good budget fork – if you have discs

The two bikes you’ve picked are both solid choices and have always done well in our tests. On paper, the Boardman stacks up better than the Giant when you compare the specs. The Team FS uses an air fork where the Trance comes equipped with a less adjustable coil model. The Boardman also has 10mm more fork travel, better brakes and gears, and comes in just under the all-important 30lb mark. c

Quick fix mountain bike tips

How to weatherproof your bike shoes

The SR Suntour XCT fork that comes on the Aim 26 isn’t the best, but the biggest problem you have here is that the bike still uses V-brakes rather than discs. Barely any aftermarket forks have V-brake mounts these days, so you may need to think about switching to disc brakes – a move that may also require upgrading the wheels to disc-compatible hubs. If you decide to make the switch, Suntour’s Raidon air fork will give you more adjustment and control for £149.95. If you’ve got more to spend, look at X-Fusion’s Velvet, which starts at £244.99.

I’m at a loss. Which do I buy – Fox or RockShox – when it comes to suspension forks? I have a Cannondale SL1 if it helps. Mark Mason, via email Hmm, good question! It really depends on your budget. RockShox have more on offer below £500, but X-Fusion shouldn’t be ruled out at that sort of price either. If you’re looking to drop a lot of cash, it’s best to try one RockShox and one Fox fork out. Both brands have some amazing forks at the spendier end of the market so it all comes down to personal preference.

Take a strip of duct tape and fold about 20mm over the top of the shoe’s tongue, sticking it to the inside. Run the remainder of the strip down the front of the shoe, finishing just under the sole.

Wrap another strip of tape around the circumference of the shoe, sticking it to the exposed outsole.

You now need to start sticking strips of tape perpendicular to the very first strip, crossing the shoe widthways. Start at the front and work your way back up the laces. Wrap tape around the ankle area, sticking it to the tape already in place.

Write to: Ask MBUK, 30 Monmouth Street, Bath, BA1 2BW Email: askmbuk@bikeradar.com Visit: www.mbuk.com

big ride

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click here to get a map of the route

MANUAL

Borrowdale, Lake District this rugged and challenging ride follows a modified version of the classic â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Borrowdale Bashâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; route

Words Max Darkins Pics Russell Burton

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Not a bad spot for some mid-ride sarnies or cake

s I pull back the curtains of my hotel room in Keswick, my bleary eyes are assaulted by the crazy-bright sunshine that comes flooding in as I squint out at the snowcapped mountains and blue skies. It seems criminal to start today’s ride by riding along the road on the east side of Derwent Water, because it’s cast in shadow, while the west side of the lake basks in the glorious sunshine. So I make some calls, change some arrangements and photographer Russ and I soon make our way to the Newlands Gate car park at the start/end of the Cat Bells bridleway to meet the guys from Cyclewise bike shop. Unsurprisingly, given the weather, Craig Scott (the boss man) has had no trouble roping in a couple of staff members to join us on today’s ride, and the trio pile out of the Cyclewise van, grinning uncontrollably. While Craig assures me there’s

one poor sod left holding a short straw back at the bike shop, Ed Brathwaite and Tim Irlam have decided to join him, Russ and me for this manipulated version of the classic Borrowdale Bash route that I’ve cobbled together to make the most of the sun and minimise the amount of riding that has to be done on the road.

The lowdown

Borrowdale, the Lake District

Borrowdale

Bash street kids

With formalities taken care of, Craig informs us that he’s under strict orders from his physio to rest and relax. But we all agree nothing could be more relaxing than a ride with these wonderful views of snowcapped hilltops, blue skies and sunshine. Oh and some gnarly rock-strewn descents. So with that, we head off to, er, ‘relax’, pedalling south on the Cat Bells bridleway. This trail is traditionally ridden in the opposite direction, but the undulating trail works well both ways, as we discover, and the usual climb up a narrow rocky section, before rejoining the road, is actually a great descent.

This national park in the northwest of England has some of the most stunning scenery in the UK as well as endless, amazing natural trails. www.lakedistrict.gov.uk

I’m not looking forward to the climb back up it at the end of the ride though. The Cat Bells bridleway is a very popular walking trail and even out of season there are plenty of walkers on the trails. But they’re a different breed to the summer clientele and we’re pleasantly surprised and buoyed by their friendly words of encouragement and occasional warnings of rocky dangers ahead as we pass them.

Pain and gain

If you’re looking for relaxing, smooth descents, you’ve come to the wrong place

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Dropping into the hamlet of Grange, we cross the bridge and head back up the other side of Derwent Water along the B-road to smash out a few fast miles before the long hard climb on tarmac up to Watendlath. Ed, Tim and I hit the front, trying not to show the pain we’re feeling, while Craig says something about relaxing and keeping Russ (and his big

Just another of those gnarly rock-strewn descents then

This descent isn’t for the fainthearted and walkers coming up the trail warn us of our likely deaths You don’t get the gain without a bit of pain – there’s plenty of both on this ride

Best eating The Grange Cafe is conveniently located on the route, and serves up a wide range of foods, from light snacks such as cakes and hot drinks, to more substantial treats and proper meals. The food is homemade, with locally sourced ingredients and a choice of daily specials. With inside and covered outside seating, and places to prop up your ride, it’s a good choice in any weather. A favourite is the Cumberland sausage in a crusty roll, served with onion rings, followed by a cup of tea and the cafe’s speciality, gingerbread.

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big ride

just purrfect The Cat Bells bridleway is a wonderful flowing trail with some fun rocky sections that undulates along the hillside, providing amazing views. It works in both directions

camera bag) company. After belittling the tourists who venture up here to take in the views across the valley, we idle over once the coast clears and have to concede the vista is well worth it. We crack open the sandwiches. If only I’d remembered my rug and flask... After the farm, we continue to head up past the tarn on a steep and super-techy rocky climb. Craig, who’s now had enough of relaxing, hops, skips and grinds up with Ed and Tim close on his tyre, while Russ and I stare on in awe. It’s an excellent challenge, if you like that sort of thing, but one that defeats me in a couple of places. It’s still somehow enjoyable and the sweeping views and manicured trail at the top provide a welcome rest. As Tim pulls a battered Battenberg cake from his mammoth 30-litre rucksack, I really am now wishing that I’d

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brought a flask. The cold wind is battering us up here though, and we’re itching to ride the imminent descent, which is full of rocks and, of course, relaxing times. This downhill isn’t for the fainthearted, and indeed, every walker coming up the trail, without fail, waves us down to warn us of our likely deaths. It’s hairy but it’s ridable – just. And by the time we reach the bottom, it’s not just Russ with his camera out, but a whole gaggle of walkers.

Classic rock

Just after the trail eases off, there’s an easy-to-miss righthand turn through an unmarked gate, which we take, for the rockier, more technical finish. The snaking, smooth dirt singletrack makes a marked change. But it doesn’t last, and soon we’re dropping steeply on to a loose, rocky trail to the road. Turning left, we follow

The Lakes is a great place for testing your technical, rock riding skills

big ride

It’s all huffing and panting for now. But what goes up...

the trail undulates, rising and dipping as it hugs the hillside, urging tired legs to pump harder this to Seatoller and up the very steep road before turning right to skirt along the edge of the hillside on a fun, rocky trail past Castle Crag, where stunning views, once again, open out over vast Derwent Water. Being a very popular walk, there have been numerous injuries (or is it just fatigue?) up here so they’ve had to widen the trail to enable 4x4s to get up. You could hardly call it a sanitised trail though, with the big rocks providing us with a thumping, bashing descent.

Bubbling under

At the bottom, the bubbling river provides an idyllic spot to rest and the water is tempting even in these freezing conditions. It’s not as inviting as the Grange Cafe, though, so

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we push on, in search of refreshments. From Grange, it’s simply a case of retracing our steps back along the excellent Cat Bells bridleway – although the climb at the start can’t really be called simple. The first 100m or so has recently been upgraded from a footpath to a bridleway, so we don’t even have that excuse to walk it anymore. Once at the top the trail undulates, rising and dipping as it hugs the hillside, the smooth flowing singletrack urging our tired legs to pump harder. It’s a fantastic finish to an amazing day, with uplifting views to our right and the sun dipping behind snowcapped mountains to our left. Though we’re tired, none of us can think of a better way to relax. c

Rostrevor, Northern Ireland

The jewel in the crown of Northern Ireland’s new riding destinations is a downhill delight Words Ric McLaughlin Pics Ramsey Cardy

ostrevor’s new trail centre marks a massive leap forward for Northern Irish mountain biking. Designed and built by Dafydd Davis, the man who started the whole trail centre ball rolling at Coed-y-Brenin in North Wales, it’s already on track to smash its projected annual visitors target just a few months after opening. As mountain bikers across the

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water debate the pros and cons of trail centre riding, the arrival of purpose-built, sustainable singletrack marks a new dawn on the banks of the beautiful Carlingford Loch. But are the trails any good – and are they good enough to attract visitors from foreign climes? The trail map at Rostrevor is proof, if it were needed, that there’s been a lot of time and money

The lowdown

Rostrevor Mountain Bike Trails Ballycastle Stranraer Omagh

Belfast

Rostrevor Cavan

Dundalk

Distance: Red loop 27km, black loop 19km, Mega Mission DH 1.8km, On The Pulse DH 1.3km Climbing: Prolonged in places but never ultra-steep Time: varies depending on trail Grading: Red/Black/Orange WHY RIDE HERE? Although many would shy from the comparison, this is Northern Ireland’s Glentress – it’s the biggest statement of intent yet that mountain biking is ingrained in its forests’ future.

Rad…  Air merchants will love Mega Mission. Tech ferrets will love On The Pulse.  The full red loop is fun from start to finish and utilises the hillside beautifully.  Kodak Corner on the red loop offers one of the most stunning panoramas of any UK trail centre.

BAD…  Midges. Thousands of them. Don’t stand still for too long...  The wee girl in the cafe didn’t laugh at any of Ric’s jokes. Understandable.

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Natural features such as boulders are well used – no berms and rollers here

both cross-country loops are fantastic uses of the hillside’s natural shape and flow invested here. The red loop is 27km long and the black is 19km. Both are fantastic uses of the hillside’s natural shape and flow, and definitely showcase the Davis approach to trail building. Natural features are utilised extensively here and there’s none of the berms-androllers approach that some feel blights British trails centres.

Watch those wheels

Rock is used heavily on sections such as Boulder Dash too. This is enduro-bike testing stuff – it feels like a quarry load of granite has overturned and somehow coated an otherwise unaware trail centre trail. There are big, wheel-grabbing holes everywhere but sneaky mountain-goat lines are visible and there are options to double stuff up all over the place.

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My guides for the day are Nukeproof designer Ali Beckett and Northern Irish downhill legend/World Cup racer/ personal trainer Colin Ross. As a result, the flowing, sinewy singletrack all feels like prefight entertainment before the main events – Mega Mission and On The Pulse. At 1.8km and 1.3km respectively, with substantial vertical drops, these may be ‘trail centre descents’ but they’re not to be sniffed at. And if you don’t fancy pedalling up, you’re well catered for by the East Coast Adventure Centre uplift service. The first downhill, Mega Mission, is fast right from the get-go. The drop-in, down some steep rocks and into a tall, 180-degree berm, is all that’s required for the dynamic duo to jet off into the sunset. This

We’re on a mission – a Mega Mission

MANUAL

Yep, you could say this new trail centre is proving popular

The Wrecking Crew Who are we? guest rider

guest rider

Ric McLaughlin

Colin Ross

Ali Beckett

Andrew Dodd

JAmes blackwell

Rob weaver

Bearded idiot adept at going round corners, less so over jumps.

Doddy’s on a neverending quest for the ultimate trail. He’s getting closer.

World Cup racing fitness machine and all-round Northern Irish legend.

Five feet of trouble and energy, Jamer rides quick and talks even quicker.

Former World Cup mechanic turned Nukeproof bike designer.

Technical Editor Rob is a racer at heart and loves a bit of downhill action.

The pro racer gives us his view “I ride at Rostrevor on average twice a week and my favourite track would be DH 2 (On The Pulse). It’s the most challenging trail centre downhill track I’ve ridden and feels pretty close to a natural track. What I like about it is that you have to be a good rider to ride it fast and there aren’t too many straights. My first race here was in May for the second round of the Irish DH Series where I took second in Elite. I think Rostrevor is world class and we’re very fortunate to have it – the tracks hold up perfectly and as good as the best. It’s also amazing in the wet, which is a good thing for us!”

Colin Ross downhill racer and personal trainer

The trails are designed and built by Dafydd Davis – and it shows

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Rostrevor offers jumps aplenty – just take it easy first time down!

Local knowledge Locals do…  Get a picture at Kodak Corner. You have to – it’s the law.  Take it steady first time down Mega Mission. Trust us...  Stay local. Belfast is handy but the surrounding area has some great riding and accommodation.

Locals don’t…  Push back up. The trails are fast – do the maths.  Litter. There are bins at the centre and you’re wearing a pack. No excuse.

154 Mountain Biking uk

is more along the lines of the manicured, sweeping stuff I mentioned earlier but at this speed, it’s anywhere from easy. Tabletops and hip jumps rush up to greet you with ever heightening lips until things get really big. It would take a good few runs to get confident on these lips, as some are so lofty that it can become hard to gauge where the backsides of the jumps are. That said, they’re all tables so there are no nasty gaps to make. You can just play about and flop on to them if you want. If not massively my cup of tea, I can see why it’s so popular with the uplift crowd.

Obvious lines?

The second track we tackle, On The Pulse, couldn’t be more different. Swapping bright, exposed daylight for a densely shaded pine forest corridor, there’s a greater sense of foreboding about this one. I can hear the pitter-patter of rain but the trees are too dense to let it penetrate. The initial rock steps are tricky, the first couple of ‘obvious lines’ turn out not to be the obvious lines at all, and

I’m left pedalling back out, annoyed with myself. In a good way though – this is more like it! There are plenty of encroaching rocks and rocky steps to launch off before grabbing handfuls of brake to get the bike reined in again before the next jagged granite staircase. There’s a thin coating of greasy water sliming up the edges, but feeling the bike

Wrecking crew wisdom “I raced the opening weekend’s gravity enduro here earlier in the year and made five sherpa-like assaults on the opening climb, and let me tell you, it’s a beast! Testament to how good the place is, though, is the fact that I never begrudged spinning back up. The descents are amazing and well worth the effort. Despite the high traffic, Rostrevor is yet to get seriously beaten up and at times takes you to that magical place where you forget it’s manmade.”

Ric McLaughlin MBUK writer

The XC may be bermfree but the DH tracks are a different story

There are tabletops and hip jumps to play/ battle with. Then things get really big...

The Directory Everything you need to know about Rostrevor Get there Most major UK airports offer daily flights to Belfast and ferries can be boarded at Stranraer. From Belfast, get on to the M1 signed Dublin and continue on until a roundabout offers you the A1 to Sprucefield. Continue for 23 miles until you see a sign for A2/Newry and move on to the A28 then A27. It’s an hour’s drive.

F A C I L I T I ES Bike hire, cafe, uplift, camping and other outdoor pursuits.

c o nt a ct Mountain Bike NI

www.mountainbikeni.com

Colin Ross Coaching www.roscolines.com

B I KE SHOP s Green Bikes, Newry

www.greenbikes-store.com

W h a t e l s e i s n e a rb y ?

creep about underneath me just adds to it. That is until a massive boulder creeps into view. Ali and Colin make short work of it, rolling down the huge rock’s face and drifting both wheels across the dark dirt on the narrow landing. The final section is flatter but fast. In full stride, having made it down the big tech features, the lads buzz over the rock gardens and double up some big roots for good measure.

Labour of love

“It’s in good shape given that there was a race on it at the weekend,” Ali says. He’s right too – bar a tracked-out grassy area at the bottom of the run, there’s barely any sign that a couple of hundred riders have mined its turns and ruts for valuable seconds.

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It’s extremely easy to see just why Rostrevor is proving to be such a hit. Right on the border with the Republic, it’s attracting riders from both north and south. Although intimidating, both downhill tracks are ridable on non-downhill bikes yet offer enough scope to really push the envelope on bigger machinery. Northern Ireland is finally getting mountain biking and indeed the trail centre concept. The cafe is busy and wellstocked, and less than an hour’s drive had us back in Belfast sipping pints and generally feeling good about ourselves. This isn’t a trail centre that’s been knocked together to cream off parking fares from weekend warriors. There’s been time, effort, money and not too little love poured into it as well – and it shows. c

JOIN THE WRECKING CREW!

Want to be an honorary member and be in the mag? As we travel the UK we’ll be scouting for riders who display the Wrecking Crew attitude. You’ll get a swanky sticker to welcome you in but better still, you’ll see your pic in the mag and on BikeRadar. If you have a wicked spot you think we should ride, let us know – mbuk@futurenet.com.

Castlewellan: Boasting a 19km red trail as well as blue and green options, this is relatively close to Rostrevor, making it an easy hop over. Davagh Forest: Slap bang in the middle of Northern Ireland, Davagh is a bit further out if you’re staying in Belfast but a terrific addition to a trip. Three Rock: Situated south of Dublin, this centre is within an hour’s drive of Rostrevor and is one of the Republic’s most popular riding spots.

VERDICT Rostrevor is a landmark moment for mountain biking in Ireland and features a superb array of riding perfectly sculpted to its scenic surroundings. There’s a good mix of trails too, putting it easily on par with the UK’s best centres.

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next month

NEXT ISSUE

NEW YEAR NEW IDEAS BRAND NEW TRAILS

Get our verdict on the newest trail centre in Scotland as we go for a blast round the Glenlivet estate

Will YOU CHOoSE 650b?

If you’re thinking about switching in 2014, which is the best 650b bike you can get for under £2,500?

SCANDiNAVIAN BIKE PARKS

With the World Champs heading to Hafjell in 2014 we check out Norway and Sweden’s coolest bike parks

More FIRST RIDES

The new bikes for 2014 just keep coming. Our verdict on the Yeti SB95, Scott Genius LT 700 Tuned and Diamondback Peak

Boost your next ride

Get fitter and go further for longer with loads of great new ways to have more fun on your bike

On sale 10 January

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