Mountain Bike Rider

Published by Time Inc. (UK) Ltd mbr is the UK's leading magazine for trail riding, mountain bike enthusiasts. Published since 1997, mbr aims to inspire readers to just get out and ride! with every issue, by providing the very best expert advice about where, what and how to ride. Every edition delivers the ultimate mix of inspirational riding features, with extensive bike and product reviews, along with superb advice and reader involvement - plus free pull-out route guides.

The great escape • To stay sane in turbulent times, just get out and ride

Big picture

SKEM TRAILS • Thanks to Tawd Valley MTB Trails there’s now a lot more to Lancashire’s Skelmersdale than Sixties’ urban sprawl

5 BIKES YOU’VE PROBABLY NEVER HEARD OF • Global supply chains may be struggling but there are plenty of smaller brands striving to get their products onto the trails. Here are five upstarts with new models in the works

HOT STUFF • WHAT WE’RE EXCITED ABOUT THIS MONTH

LAKELAND MUST-RIDES • The South Lakes offers real mountains, trails that range from mellow to hairy, Instagram-friendly views, and pubs and tea shops galore. What more do you want?

THE UPPER BACK & NECK • Exercises to counter thoracic stiffness and ease your sore neck

First rides • SWINGING A LEG OVER WHAT’S HOT THIS MONTH

EVIL INSURGENT MX 29 GX • Armed with more travel, Evil’s new Insurgent’s ready to take the baddest trails by storm

SANTA CRUZ CHAMELEON R AL 29 • You’ll never blend in on the latest Chameleon but will it turn others green with envy?

Mountain Bike Rider

Mailbox

THANK YOU, MOUNTAIN BIKING • Mountain biking sometimes plays rough, but ultimately it gives us more than it takes, moulding us into skilful, resourceful, and ultimately happy people… albeit with some scars to back up the memories

MIDSOMMAR NIGHT’S DREAM • Åre in northern Sweden is Scandinavia’s mountain biking hub. With one of the largest bike parks in Europe, adventurous trail riding and vibrant bike culture, this little mountain town is a bike destination to put on your bucket list

FACTFILE

STEPPING IT UP • Spring is here and conditions are (hopefully) getting drier; time to take your riding to the next level by tackling more technical trails

LONG TERMERS • Countless hours on the trails make this the ultimate test of performance as well as reliability

BEN’S KONA PROCESS 134 SUPREME

IN THE SHED

JAMIE’S SPECIALIZED TURBO KENEVO SL COMP

JAMES’S FOCUS JAM 6.9

SEAN’S NUKEPROOF SCOUT 290 PRO

Tested

YOUR TESTERS

100% ARMEGA GOGGLES

mbr ratings explained • The scores on the doors

SPECIALIZED SUPACAZ EPEDAL

FOX 36/38 XL MUD GUARD

LEATT MTB 3.0 TROUSERS

DEITY COPPERHEAD STEM

LEATT ALLMTN JACKET 4.0 V22

BRYTON RIDER 420 GPS

RYOBI 18V ONE+ CORDLESS 22BAR POWER WASHER KIT

TRACK PUMPS & SHOCK PUMPS • A decent track and shock pump are mountain bike essentials; we put six of each under pressure to gauge which is a push too far and which is a stroke of genius

HIGH-PIVOT IDLER ENDURO BIKES RADICAL RIPPERS • DH racers have been getting busy on idler bikes for years but does the design translate to enduro? We test two machines from Forbidden and GT

FORBIDDEN DREADNOUGHT XT

GT FORCE CARBON PRO LE

Conclusion

OISIN O’CALLAGHAN, DH RACER