CATEGORIES

Behind the rainbow stripes

Evie Richards tells us how a chance meeting with ex-pro downhiller Katy Curd changed the course of her racing life

NINO'S SECRET WEAPON?

Did a prototype SRAM drivetrain save the day for the new, 10-time world champion Nino Schurter?

STRAIGHT TORQUING GUY KESTEVEN: Ways to go

Mountain biking has come a long way in a short space of time, but the best (and worst!) is yet to come

A LEGAL HIGH

On the French and Italian border, the 'Great Needle of Rock' tempts brave souls with the rush of Europe's loftiest rideable descent

SCOTT SPARK RC WORLD CUP AXS

With a hidden shock and killer XC credentials, the latest Spark is a concealed race weapon

TREK FUEL EX 9.9

With a 10mm travel boost and a super-versatile new design, the Fuel EX 9.9 is a tasty prospect

LONG TERMERS

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

FULLY EXPOSED

Exposed trails are equal parts thrilling and intimidating, whether clinging to a steep hillside, teetering along a ridgeline or just leaving you at the mercy of the elements

SANTA CRUZ NOMAD C GX AXS COIL RSV MX

With MX wheels and a new sense of purpose, the latest Nomad strikes out on a different path

GREAT BRITISH BIKE OFF!

Three enduro bikes, all fresh out of the oven and baked right here in the UK. Time to tuck in...

MONDRAKER CRAFTY R W/BOSCH E-BIKE ABS

£TBC 29in bosch-ebike.com | Anti-lock braking is more than just techie grandstanding: it works fantastically well

Trail forks

A 120-140mm-travel fork offers the ideal balance of plushness and liveliness for the trails most of us ride, most of the time; we put five of the best to the test

7 PERFORMANCE METRICS THAT EVERY MTB'ER SHOULD STRIVE TO MEET

Our gym test is designed to gauge mtb-specific skills - how do you measure up?

NATURAL BORN CLIMBERS

Whether you're a natural born climber or learning to love the lactic burn, here are five ascents to put your stamina to the test

YT CAPRA 29 CORE 2

£3,099 • 29in • yt-industries.com | The new Capra bucks the inflationary trend but will it keep us pumped on the trails?

WHYTE T-140 RS

£4,099 29in whytebikes.com | Worth the wait and with input from a local hero, Whyte's new 29er goes straight to the top

PEMBROKESHIRE COASTING

Head as far west as you can get and you'll find Llys-y-Frân reservoir, and a new 14km route packed with Welsh trail centre history

BRITAIN'S BEST DESCENTS

From brake-fluid boiling downhills to scenic, sweeping rides that mix flow and fun, the UK has it all - you're sure to find your thrill in our ultimate gravity addict's hit list

FIND YOUR WAY

How to read a map and follow an off-road route

AS CHOSEN BY.... TRISTAN TINN, PHOTOGRAPHER & WRITER

Mtb's movers and shakers select their favourite places to ride

9 Strength Training Myths Busted

When it comes to resistance training, falsehoods abound; here's nine to let go of

OUT OF THE ORDINARY

Looking to get away from it all? We’ve got five overlooked natural rides that will take you far from the mountain biking crowd

FAKE BIKES

Cheap imitations won’t break the bank, but they could break your bones...

ARC8 EVOLVE FS

At sub 10kg, the ARC8 Evolve is a lean XC race machine – but is it mean enough to win?

LAPLAND'S SIXTH SEASON

With the Northern Lights above, and a blazingly majestic landscape below, Northern Finland's the place to go for some sublime late-summer riding

CHRIS MALONEY AKA KEEPER OF THE PEAK

Chris Maloney's Twitter account is an invaluable pre-ride news hub for Peak District mountain bikers and with his wider advocacy work he's also connecting people together to change UK mountain biking for good

CHARGE OF THE LIGHT BRIGADE

Pivot’s new Shuttle SL is one of the lightest production e-bikes ever

JAMIE'S SPECIALIZED TURBO KENEVO SL COMP

Jamie has chopped and changed tyres over the last nine months, but he keeps coming back to the Butcher

FORESTAL CYON HALO

Andorran brand Forestal is thinking big; does its new e-bike back up ambition with ability?

WHYTE E-160 RSX

Whyte’s new e-bike packs a punch but can it float like a butterfly and take the sting out of the trail?