Mountain Biking UK

Mountain Biking UK has got all the latest news, kit and exclusive info on the newest and best bikes. The MBUK Wrecking Crew testing team are out there right now, riding new bikes and products to destruction, to give you expert reviews you can count on to be brutally honest. We live to ride - and that's what makes MBUK Britain’s best-selling bike magazine.

ON THE COVER

HELLO

IN THE MAG THIS MONTH

Out FRONT MBUK

BEATING THE WINTER BLUES • How the pros stay motivated when things get cold and wet

MARTHA GILL • Martha is enjoying wintering in New Zealand

EXPLORING AFRICA • This issue’s MTB safari is a first, but we’ve put wheels to dirt on African soil before…

WINTER WARMERS • Kit and clobber to make the cold months no bother, with sustainability in mind!

JESS STONE

READY TO FALL UNDER ITS SPELL? • Giant’s Trance Advanced Pro 29 gets more travel, adjustable geometry and internal frame storage for 2022

ADVANCING THE LIMITS • Introducing Giant’s first carbon fibre e-bike, the Trance X Advanced E+

FULL POWER, LESS CASH • Specialized’s Turbo Levo Alloy brings pedal-assistance to the metal

WHY IS IT SO HARD TO FIND A WATERPROOF THAT ACTUALLY KEEPS YOU DRY?

MBUK’S MONTH • The highs & lows of life on the mag

A RIDE WITH SOME EXTRA BITE • Two-time Junior DH world champ Thibaut Dapréla had an amazing 2021 season, leading the World Cup rankings for most of the series, until crashes at the final rounds in the USA left him with two DNFs and saw him drop to second place. The 20-year-old Frenchman is a tough rider with serious mental fortitude and a positive mindset – exactly what’s needed to endure something like this...

EXPOSURE • The stories behind some familiar names’ favourite shots

MBUK SEND IT! & WIN ALL OF THIS!

THAT’S GOTTA HURT WINNER!

FIRST RIDES

SPEC

SPEC

FOCUS JAM 2  7.0 • £7,499 The German brand’s latest e-bike is built for fun – let’s see how much of a party animal it is!

CANYON LUX TRAIL CF 8 • £5,205.98 (inc. P&P) Downcountry’s shining light?

SPEC

THE HOTTEST NEW KIT FIRST LOOK

GOING DEEP

A TWO-WHEELED SAFARI SOUTH AFRICA KRUGER NATIONAL PARK MEALS ON WHEELS • MOUNTAIN BIKE ADVENTURER MARTIN BISSIG HEADS TO SOUTH AFRICA AND FINDS SUN, SCENERY AND SHARP TEETH

SOUTH AFRICA: THE LOWDOWN

The Full Fat • WE CHECK OUT SIX OF THE BEST CUSTOM PAINTJOBS FROM UK-BASED FATCREATIONS

BACK TO THE FUTURE • MTB LEGEND HANS REY REVISITS THE ROOTS OF THE SPORT NEAR SAN FRANCISCO WITH SOME FELLOW PIONEERS, THEN CHECKS OUT WHERE IT’S HEADED

THE CREW

WRECKED & RATED

MEET THE TESTERS

WHY OUR TESTS ARE THE BEST!

HOW WE RATE • We base our scores on value for money and performance

6 OF THE BEST WINTER TYRES • Front-wheel rubber for grabbing grip in gloop

LONGTERM RIDES • Team bikes ridden hard for a year

BIKETEST XC RACE RIGS • We punish three no-compromise cross-country machines (and ourselves!) on some race-course laps and out on the trails in a fight for first place

MEET THE TESTER

INTENSE SNIPER XC EXPERT £3,794 (inc. shipping)

KTM SCARP MASTER £4,479.99

SCOTT SPARK RC TEAM ISSUE AXS £4,699

DETAILS

KTM SCARP MASTER • £4,479.99 More traditional geometry paired with an excellent spec

DETAILS

JARGON

INTENSE SNIPER XC EXPERT • £3,794 (inc. shipping) By far the cheapest bike on test, and with descending DNA, how does it fare uphill?

DETAILS

JARGON

SCOTT SPARK RC TEAM ISSUE AXS • £4,699 Does its extra travel make the Spark a descent dominator?

SCOTT SPARK RC...