Fans of slabs and granite-laden trails will likely be familiar with some of Dalbeattie’s offerings in Scotland, including its 15.5 mile Hardrock Trail red route. This includes the infamous ‘Slab’,…
Mountain Bike Rider
The OneUp Components Dropper Post is my favourite dropper: the new V3 is even lighter, boasts less stack height, and keeps the 240mm rise
OneUp Components has launched its latest dropper post, called the V3 it comes with a whole host of improvements on the One Up Dropper Post V2, which we reviewed when…
YT Capra Core 5 gets an Ohlins coil shock, choice of 29er or mullet wheels, and a £6,000 pricetag
YT has added a new range-topping model to the Core range of enduro bikes – the Core 5. It’s available for £5,999 and in either 29in or mullet setups. It…
Don’t waste your money on fancy bits – these are the most effective upgrades you can make on your mountain bike for under £100
If your pride and joy has lost its lustre, don’t start yearning after a new whip. With a handful of carefully-chosen budget upgrades, you can give your ride a high…
My job is Bike Test Editor, and here are my predictions for 5 hard-hitting enduro bikes that will get a complete refresh in 2024
Most bike brands operate on a three year model cycle, so you don’t need a crystal ball to predict which models are due an update. It’s not a hard and…
My favourite winter riding kit is up to 58% off right now: here’s my go-to uniform for grim weather
This is going to sound nuts, but winter is probably my favourite season to ride in. Sure, there’s plenty about it that’s not so great (who here likes a soggy…
No need to pedal: Canyon’s Spectral:ON CFR will change gear while coasting… but is it a gimmick or a genuine performance boost?
What attracted you to the Canyon Spectral:ON CFR? Given that the Spectral:ON CF 9 was mbr’s e-bike of the Year in 2023, I figured the CFR would be the perfect…
Best mountain bike chain lube: keep your drivetrain running smooth and protected
Ever hear those squeaks and creaks coming out of the drivetrain? That’s the sound of a dirty chain! A dry, gritty chain reduces both the longevity of your drivetrain and…
Could this be the next chapter for Go Outdoors? The sports supermarket invests big in mountain biking, with a nationwide apprentice scheme to train badly-needed mechanics
Ever tried to take your MTB into the bike shop for a service, only to be told the waiting list is longer than your wheelbase? Yup, us too, and that’s…
Best lightweight electric mountain bike: Ride further and faster without losing agility
While the best e-bikes are an absolute blast off-road, they are not for everyone. Some riders want do the lion’s share of the work on the climbs, and others don’t…
The Shimano GF8 winter boots kept me glued to the pedals, but here’s why I won’t be recommending them…
Shimano’s GF8 is a flat pedal shoe with a difference, it’s a pumped-up shoe/ankle boot hybrid with extra insulation and a waterproof/breathable liner to make it winter-ready. With not that…
A year on SRAM’s radical AXS T-Type Transmission – the verdict
In March last year, SRAM unveiled its radical AXS T-Type Transmission, promising that the new drivetrain would bring unparalleled strength, durability, and precision shifting. It was to be the pinnacle…
Iconic UK brand Orange Bikes appoints administrators – what does it mean for Orange’s customers?
Orange Bikes has appointed an administrator, in an effort to “restructure the business” and stave off job losses. In legal parlance it means Orange is protected from creditors and can…
The Feedback Sports Pro Mechanic HD Workstand is sturdy enough for the heaviest e-bike
Built to survive the apocalypse, Feedback’s latest and greatest maintenance workstand is geared towards porky e-bikes, with a focus on stability and durability. Given the price tag, which is more…
I’ve tested eight waterproof trousers this winter, and Rab’s Cinder Kinetic is the only pair that can keep me dry
Rab’s new Cinder Kinetic Waterproof trousers are made from, hands down, the best waterproof material I’ve ever tried. That is one hell of a bold statement given I’ve been striving…
Strava data shows more of us are riding off-road than ever before… but not always on mountain bikes
Were the trails and carparks busier than ever round your way last year? Yup, ours too, and now Strava’s confirmed the uptick, seeing more knobbly tyres on the ground than…
The Orbea Wild M-Team crushes the toughest tracks, but the battery is a pig to remove
In 2020, the organisers of the Enduro World Series (as it was then, now called EDR – as in EnDuRo) introduced an e-bike category. At first it was dismissed as…
Get fit for mountain biking and racing in just 12 weeks, with strength training, cardio training, and skills routines for all levels
Interval training is hard but it’s the simplest, quickest and most effective route to becoming a faster rider. Coach to the pros Alan Milway shows us how.
The Canyon Strive:ON CFR is a big-hit e-bike with the precision of a scalpel
For a brand so focused on racing (and so proficient at building one of the best e-bikes on the market in the shape of the Spectral:ON), it was only a…
2024’s best and worst tech trends: What’s going to excite and annoy us in the next 12 months?
In the past, technical innovation has brought us game-changing trends such as progressive geometry, 29in wheels, mullet bikes, stealth dropper posts, single-ring drivetrains and internal frame storage. All things we…