![THE GOD FATHER](https://cdn.magzter.com/1387351976/1676533041/articles/ivj1XgcrX1678082792333/THE-GOD-FATHER.jpg)
“I SUPPOSE YOU COULD SAY I’M HAPPIEST WHEN I’M IN THE AIR!” laughs Steve Geall, as he tries to explain away his fondness for hitting the odd lip or three. A bit of an understatement, that one. There aren't many riders who come close to logging as many air miles as the blond bomber from the south of England.
During his long tenure on the UK scene, the man they call 'Gilly' has been a BMX racer and ramp world champ, an MTB bunnyhop world record-holder and slalom shredder, a video star, downhiller, stuntman and imbiber of cider. Crikey! He was always the guy pulling sweet Superman airs on the trails or a sneaky step-through during his DH run, as well as being known for his pan-flat tables.
"I think my problem was that any time I saw an opportunity to jump my bike I grabbed it with, er, both wheels, and obviously that might please me and any spectators, but in downhilling it adds time," says Steve. "Maybe that's one of the reasons I drifted away from the DH scene for a while."
But let's not get ahead of ourselves. Gilly was already known to the BMX crowd before he even entered the mountain bike arena in the early 1990s.
Born in Christchurch, Hampshire, he got the bug for riding after his dad John built him a bike. By the time he was 12, he was racing at Bournemouth BMX track and mixing it up at regional events.
From racing to ramps
The next stage was national events, but temptation reared its ugly head, in the form of a half pipe. "It was at a track in Hounslow, I think," Steve reminisces. "I ended up riding that half pipe more than racing, and found I could get higher than any of the locals and that I was good at the vertical stuff. I used to ride at Slades Farm skate park in Poole a lot.
This story is from the March 2023 edition of Mountain Biking UK.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the March 2023 edition of Mountain Biking UK.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
![BIKETEST BACKCOUNTRY HARDTAILS](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/5214/1514822/zfgO5XPvU1700734506505/BIKETEST-BACKCOUNTRY-HARDTAILS.jpg)
BIKETEST BACKCOUNTRY HARDTAILS
We see whether carbon fibre or steel, big-name value or boutique attention to detail comes out on top on the trails
![NUKEPROOF MEGAWATT CARBON 297 RS](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/5214/1514822/hi418O3IE1700734374386/NUKEPROOF-MEGAWATT-CARBON-297-RS.jpg)
NUKEPROOF MEGAWATT CARBON 297 RS
The original Megawatt proved itself almost instantly, winning our inaugural E-Bike of the Year award in 2022.
![CALIBRE LINE T3 29](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/5214/1514822/15fZjj80n1700733296359/CALIBRE-LINE-T3-29.jpg)
CALIBRE LINE T3 29
£1,100 (with £5 GO Outdoors card) Cost-effective proper' mountain bike
![FIRST RIDES](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/5214/1514822/pD7FL29gK1700733158464/FIRST-RIDES.jpg)
FIRST RIDES
STRAIGHT OUT OF THE BOX & ONTO THE TRAILS
![ROUTES QUICK BLASTS](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/5214/1514822/hemXyezjm1700732986986/ROUTES-QUICK-BLASTS.jpg)
ROUTES QUICK BLASTS
Facing shorter days and inclement weather, Max finds three satisfying routes that show it doesn't have to be an all-day ride or nothing
![GRIME TIME](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/5214/1514822/SJeaamCH31700732752798/GRIME-TIME.jpg)
GRIME TIME
EXPERT WORKSHOP ADVICE
![TRAILCREW HAVOK BIKEPARK](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/5214/1514822/7fAWdejNV1700732446826/TRAILCREW-HAVOK-BIKEPARK.jpg)
TRAILCREW HAVOK BIKEPARK
A hand-cut, rider-built bike park, Havok reopened earlier this year at a new site in West Yorkshire and is still expanding
![From dust it did rise](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/5214/1514822/0tJqlXZGS1700731999574/FROM-DUST-IT-DID-RISE.jpg)
From dust it did rise
Steve Thomas traces the birth of British mountain biking, from 'tracker bikes' to Muddy Fox
![THROW DOWN THE CAUNTLET](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/5214/1514822/9543BUrwo1700731370205/THROW-DOWN-THE-CAUNTLET.jpg)
THROW DOWN THE CAUNTLET
In our final challenge of the series, we see if e-bikes really are as good at climbing as they're cracked up to be, as we tackle Antur Stiniog back to front
![THE RIDER OFF YEAR' 23](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/5214/1514822/781e1jTp51700730910962/THE-RIDER-OFF-YEAR-23.jpg)
THE RIDER OFF YEAR' 23
THE BIG REVEAL! You voted in your thousands - now meet our winners...