CATEGORIES

YT IZZO UNCAGED 7 £6,299 (shipped) Gravity brand target race-tape prowess

YT Industries aren't the first brand you'd associate with cross-country racing, but Y they've taken their Izzo trail bike and added ground covering speed. Weight has been shaved, suspension travel reduced and rolling resistance cut.

CANYON SPECTRAL ON CFR

£8,667.98 shipped with a big battery and relatively low weight, the Spectral:ON promises top performance

STRAIGHT OUT OF THE BOX & ONTO THE TRAILS FIRST RIDES

The Rift Zone is Marin's trail bike, updated for 2023. This model is a 29er, but 650b-wheeled versions are also available, along with junior-specific 26in- and 24-in-wheeled bikes. The XR tested here is the range-topper, but impressively costs just over £3k.

Canyon Grand Canyon: on 9

Premium motorised hardtail that punches above its weight- £3,605.98 shipped

Bigridegreat british night rides

Don't let a bit of cold and dark put you off - there's still plenty of fun to be had riding your bike on a winter's night

4 of the best winter boots

Keep your toes dry and frost free

RAIL TURNS ON AN E-MTB

Electric bikes don't just help on climbs; use their weight to your benefit on descents, too

SCOTT PATRON ERIDE 900 TUNED

The Swiss Army Knife of e-bikes- £8,149

NUKEPROOF MEGAWATT 297 FACTORY (2022)

Our 2022 E-bike of the Year- £6,999.99

VITUS E-SOMMET VRX

Top performance at a reasonable price- £5,499.99

CANNONDALE MOTERRA NEO CARBON LT2

Big-travel bike built to take on equally chunky terrain

DRIVE UNIT DUST-UP!

It's Shimano vs Bosch vs Brose vs Yamaha in the battle of the full-power motors

MEXICO CIT-E!

Rob Warner and Hans Rey explore the Central American capital via e-bike

E-BIKE ESSENTIALS

The three key things you need to know about electric mountain bikes

TRAILCREW FLYUP 417 BIKE PARK

England's biggest privately-run bike park punches well above its weight when it comes to fast-paced, uplifted downhill fun

GRIME TIME EXPERT: WORKSHOP ADVICE

A rough rule of thumb is that you should spend around 80 per cent of your ride time in zone 2- this is actually fairly mellow in terms of effort.

HOW TO... DO IT LIKE THE PROS!

The best riders are so good because they've got the basics absolutely nailed, says pro coach Alan Milway

GROUPTEST ENDURO FORKS

We suss out the best long-travel front suspension options

BIKETEST £1.600 TRAIL BIKES

It's no small spend, so what's out there for that kind of cash, and which bikes deserve your money?

LONGTERM RIDES

Team bikes ridden hard for a year

THE OGs OF MTB

THEY CAME, THEY SAW, THEY SHREDDED!

QUIP-OFF WORLD CHAMP!

King of the one-liner Rob Warner commentates on his racing career, time on the World Cup mic and plans for the future in an exclusive interview

FIRST LOOK

THE HOTTEST NEW KIT

FIRST RIDES

STRAIGHT OUT OF THE BOX & ONTO THE TRAILS

Fairytale trails

Two Euros find amazing riding, incredible landscapes and rediscover their happy place Ona Scottish roadtrip

Head-to-head: biketest downcountry duel

Two contemporary short-travel steeds pitted against one another to see which is fastest and most fun

6 of the best helmet lights

Great for illuminating more than just the trail ahead

#119 Greg Minnaar's World Championships Santa Cruz V10

A customised downhill race bike worthy of the wily GOAT

THE HUCK TO END ALL HUCKS!

Stunts with parachutes aren't new - from Dave Morris riding out of a plane in our August 1990 mag to 'Darren Berrecloth' (clearly a stunt double) sending it off a cliff in 2005's New World Disorder VI.

ZINN AND THE ART OF MOUNTAIN CYCLE MAINTENANCE

When UK cross-country legend Sally Reid (née Hibberd) saw a pic of herself on her 1991 Team MBUK bike earlier this year, she remarked that she wished she'd never sold it.