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MBR March 2012

MBR March 2012

What’s in the latest issue of MBR?

  • Trailhead: 61 stolen bikes recovered by Hampshire Police and a major theft ring broken up.
  • First Look: Tomac Automatic £1,499 (frame only)
  • Tested: NiteRider Pro 1500 LED Race lights, WTB Volt SLT-Ti saddle, Mavic Plasma helmet, Azonic Terrain gloves, Lezyne Alloy Dirt Floor Drive track pump, Giro Carbide shoes, Giro Merino winter sock, Karcher K2 14 pressure washer, Nukeproof Critical kneepads and Birzman E-Version minitool.
  • 2012 Longtermers: First impressions, count ’em; all eight. Scott Scale Elite 29er, Orange Alpine 160, Specialized Safire Comp, Trek Lush, Devinci Dixon XP, Lapierre X-Flow 412, YT Industries Wicked 150 and Giant Trance X4.
  • Eye candy: Merino undercrackers.
  • Soapbox: don’t put off until tomorrow what can be ridden today.
  • Killer Loop Finale: 2011’s successful Killer Loop treasure hunters all convened in Cannock Chase last month for their final challenge. One of them walked away with a Cannondale Rize 120 and a holiday with Saddle Skeddadle. Someone else limped away with a hole in his lip and gash in his waterproof.
  • Molini: spellbinding trails in a part of Italy infamous for witchcraft.
  • Old vs New: 2011 Lapierre Zesty goes up against its nemesis – the 2012 Lapierre Zesty. Jamie Darlow referees.
  • Community Matters: we find proof that councils are not all about tax and cuts at Lee Quarry in Lancashire. A two-day council-backed event aimed to improve technique and technical savvy.
  • Best British trail centre: drizzle in brizzle at the new Ashton Court singletrack.
  • Bike test: 120mm travel rippers. Last year two of these bikes made it into our bike of the year shortlist, so expectations were high. Specialized Camber Expert (£2,000), Trek Fuel EX7 (£2,000), Giant Trance X2 (£1,999), Ghost AMR 5900 (£1,999).
  • Grouptest: long-sleeve jerseys. Ten trail sweaters from Altura, Bontrager, Scott, Endura, Intrepid, Mavic, Oakley, Polaris, Sombrio and Vangard.
  • Technique: essential 29er skills.
  • Shop smart: recommended kit including 29ers, both hard and soft, knee/shins, helmets, wheels, shorts and gloves. Plus our bike finder passes on his latest buying tips.
  • Q&A: body issues including arm pump and knee problems
  • Q&A: tech tips including an explanation for the numbers on the 15mm QR dropouts found on Fox forks.
  • Workshop: fitting a bashguard
  • PLUS – Four free route maps: rides in Wiltshire, Lake District, North York Moors and Shropshire.

+ Includes a FREE skills and technique guide:

Free with the March 2012 issue

Free with the March 2012 issue

Our longtermers get their first outing

Our longtermers get their first outing

Lapierre is trumpetting major benefits for its 2012 Zesty, but do they measure up?

Lapierre is trumpetting major benefits for its 2012 Zesty, but do they measure up?

Molini cast a spell over us when we visited last summer

Molini cast a spell over us when we visited last summer

We held our breath waiting for the result of this month's bike test

We held our breath waiting for the result of this month's bike test

A new dawn for council relations at Lee Quarry in Lancashire

A new dawn for council relations at Lee Quarry in Lancashire