'Long, low and slack' has become the mantra of mountain bike design thanks to a rule-bending visionary whose wayward imagination was honed by the Wye Valley.
Sim Mainey
Bored of your local trails? Here’s how to ride them in a new way
Take a leaf out of Chris Akrigg's book to see how approaching singletrack from a trials perspective can improve the trails and your technique.
Best of British: Whyte
Whyte's bikes have been honed to perfection on some of mbr's very own trails; we head to the Surrey Hills to pick the brains of designer Ian Alexander.
The Tweed Valley is proof that we’ve never had it so good
When it comes to bikes and trails, we've never had it so good and nowhere represents this utopia better than the trails of the Tweed Valley.
Doethie Valley is undulating unspoilt singletrack – the perfect trail?
With National Parks to the north, south and west, it's all too easy to overlook Mid Wales, but Doethie Valley offers ample reward for heading into the hinterland.
Leeds Urban Bike Park: the complete guide
UK towns and cities are starting to wake up to the value of urban trail developments. We head to Leeds Urban Bike Park to sample one pioneering project.
Best of British: Cotic Cycles
We head to the Peak District and Cotic Cycles to start a new series in attempt to find out what makes British bikes so good.
Exploring the art of mental map making
Forget silly glasses with digital overlays, augmented reality is already here if you know how to read the language of trails.
In search of mud-free trails
We're finally breaking fee from winter, but impatience got the better of us, so we went in search of mud-free trails, in the most unlikely of places.
South Downs Killer Loop route, 40km
Don't be fooled by the quaint rolling hills of the South Downs; this chalk spine is no pushover when it comes to racking up the miles.
What’s it actually like to compete in an e-bike race?
At the launch of World E-Bike Series, power-assisted racing is touted as the next big thing. But will it capture the imagination of uncompetitive e-novices?
Exmoor Killer Loop route, 36km
Never underestimate the role of routemaster, especially when your ride-mates are expecting your Exmoor route to double as a pub crawl...
The Lakeland 200 is a Cumbrian rite of passage
The Lakeland 200 is a 200km loop around The Lake District national park. The route takes in some amazing trails and scenery.
Route guides suck. Route guides are great.
Northern moorlands can take on a sinister aspect when all you've got to go on is a friend's GPX file loaded into your Garmin.
Urban fringes: discovery lies on your doorstep
Why waste time dreaming of Alpine adventures when discovery lies on your doorstep? We uncover Halifax's hidden hinterland.
The Beast and Ladybower’s Best Bits, Peak District route
The Peak District's rocky descents, scree scrambles and wild reservoirs are a cinch to explore in the age of digital mapping - just download an app.
How to leave trail centres behind and tackle natural trails
Don't limit yourself to trail centres in winter - develop the skills to tackle rewarding natural singletrack.
The seven best bikes from the 2018 Bespoked handmade bicycle show
From the weird to the wonderful there was something for every niche but given a stack of blank cheques how would we fill our shed?
Afan Forest, South Wales trail centre guide
Mix of groomed and natural trails that lie deep within the Afan Forest offer a full weekend of riding for enthusiasts - or a lifetime for the adventurous.
Dalby Forest, Yorkshire trail centre guide
Dalby Forest is a cross-country pleasure palace. The full red route is a good day out, bolt on the black for a World Cup XC experience of your own.