Innholdsfortegnelse for Electric Mountain Biking Guide 2022 i Electric Mountain Biking Guide 2022

Where once electric mountain bikes were marketed for those of us who need a helping hand up the stiffest of slopes, now all ages and abilities are realising their benefits reach well beyond the climbs. As far beyond as you wish, in fact, because they’ll help you to ride further and faster for even greater adventures. They’re also ridiculously fun. And thankfully, they’re much lighter than days of yore, meaning their handling is similar to a traditional MTB. Like your more traditional MTB, however, choosing the right model for your requirements is no simple matter. Are you riding the trails or cross-country? What range are you looking for in your battery? Full-sus or hardtail? It’s a minefield out there. But one you can tip-toe through confidently and safely thanks to…

01 You’ve got to spin it to win it. Getting the most from an e-bike motor means pedalling at a higher cadence than you may be used to; in other words, selecting a bigger cassette sprocket than you might normally and spinning your legs a bit faster. If you’re the sort of rider who likes to grind big gears and sees changing into the granny ring as an admission of defeat, this may take some adjustment, but it’s actually good technique on a regular bike, too. 02 The weight isn’t an issue… except when it is. Most e-MTBs weigh over 18kg (40lb), but when you’re riding, the motor assistance means you don’t feel the extra heft, except through pumpy bits where it’s hard to get pedal strokes in. In fact,…

Slam it into Boost mode and spin away up the hills, and an e-MTB can make life pretty easy on the legs. It’s a different story for the upper body, though, with the added weight of the battery and motor, and the extra mileage you’re likely to rack up, combining to put additional strain on your arms, back and chest. The good news is that with some simple training you can make yourself strong enough to maximise your time on the bike – whether that’s an e-MTB or a heavier trail, enduro or DH bike. BE SAFE! Remember to always build up your training intensity gradually. If in doubt, get some technique coaching in the gym so you don’t push too hard, too fast. PUSH AND PULL To achieve a…

Pat Campbell-Jenner PCJ is a former Elite-level 4X and enduro racer, hailing from the south of the UK but now emigrated to the Lake District. He’s the European sales and marketing guy for CushCore, while also flexing his muscles for Fit4Racing. James Vincent James is a freelance photographer and writer. Usually to be found carrying his bike up a mountain pass, he’s happier inching his way down a techy, rock-strewn descent than trying to keep up with Pat through jumps.…

Mick raced the EWS-E100, the longer of the two publicly-accessible races (the shorter option being the EWS-E50). This follows the exact same route and has the same downhill and uphill timed stages as the pro EWS-E, the only concession to Joe Public being that you don’t have to meet specific stage start times. The racing lasts literally all day. Not only do you face the usual timed descents found in the regular EWS, but also two uphill ‘Power Stages’, which ramp your heart rate up to maximum in just a few minutes. At the Tweed Valley round, there were 14 stages, with the course split into two distinct loops, giving you the chance to return to base in between to swap batteries and grab some food and drink. With riders…

Vitus remodelled their beefy, long-travel e-bike this year, giving it an new chassis with an integrated battery, a mixed-size ‘mullet’ wheel set-up and other tweaks. What hasn’t changed is that the direct-to-customer brand continue to deliver seriously high-quality kit for your dosh. THE FRAME The E-Sommet’s fat down tube is shared with Nukeproof’s Megawatt (see p48). It conceals a large-capacity 630Wh battery, and joins a huge 1.8in head tube – the industry’s latest attempt to stiffen up the steering on heavy e-bikes – fitted with an internal steering limiter to stop fork crowns striking the frame. Standover clearance is excellent, thanks to the short seat tube. Another bonus is oversized bearings and hardware, for improved durability in soggy UK conditions. Shimano’s latest EP8 motor provides the pedalling assistance. A new…

California-based Intense Cycles are now selling direct over the internet. This is a big turnaround for a company with a storied racing history, used to selling top-end kit in shops with prices to match. It does mean value has, er, intensified, with this carbon fibre e-enduro bike with Fox suspension costing just over £5k. THE FRAME Launched in 2018, you’d be forgiven for assuming the Tazer is dated, but it’s still contemporary in terms of looks and geometry. Its motor tech is slightly longer in the tooth, though – it uses an older-generation Shimano E7000 drive unit and a 504wh battery. This is stashed in the belly of the down tube, where it can be easily accessed for off-bike charging. While lower-capacity than some, it’s lighter, with a blockier shape…

While the Turbo Tero looks very much like a mountain bike, it can do everything from commuting to gravel rides, or even carrying cargo and kids. The own-brand motor is controlled from a bar-mounted computer, and you can tweak the three power modes using Specialized’s app, where you can even disable the motor and enable a motion-sensor alarm. The expensive powerpack is locked inside the down tube, too, for extra security. THE FRAME It’s clear from the Tero’s huge down tube that it’s packing some extra power. The removable 530Wh battery gives good range combined with Specialized’s 2.0 motor, which has just 50Nm of torque. (Pricier models get the considerably higher-torque 90Nm 2.2 motor). Geometry is at the conservative end of ‘modern’ but, despite the notably long chainstays, it has…

1 Workstand Topeak Prepstand eUp workstand This foot-operated pneumatic workstand will make working on your e-bike much easier. £769.99 extrauk.co.uk 2 Conversion kit Swytch Universal e-bike conversion kit The Swytch kit is easy to fit and gives any bike an electric boost, as long as it has a QR fork. From £499 plus shipping swytchbike.com 3 Backpack Vaude eBracket 14 backpack This bag has a dedicated compartment, plus space for a charger, too. £140 vaude.com 4 Brakes Magura MT5 eStop brakes Fast, heavy e-bikes need powerful stoppers. These are immense. £196.98 magura.com 5 Security Datatag Electric System security marking kit Datatag’s tamper-resistant marking system contains additional labels for motors, batteries and controllers. £29.99 chickencyclekit.co.uk 6 Shoes fi’zi:k Terra Ergolace X2 Flat shoes What makes a shoe e-bike-ready? According to fi’zi:k,…

SPECIALIZED TRAIL THERMAL £42.00 specialized.com SO GOOD… The padding-free palm is comfy, with no hot-spots, and gives a ‘connected’ feel with the bike. It also contributes to a general lack of bulk, which makes it easy to use the controls (shifter, brake levers, dropper remote). Grip is good, too. The slim, adjustable cuff slips under jacket sleeves. Even with sweaty hands, these gloves are easy to pull on and remove, thanks to the liner staying in place. NO GOOD… With no waterproofing, little insulation and some cold air penetrating the knuckles, the conditions they’re usable in are limited. The baggy fit may not suit all. MBUK GORE C5 GORE-TEX THERMO £69.99 gorewear.com SO GOOD… Gore’s legendary membrane proved faultless on prolonged wet rides or when fully submerged, with water beading…

SCOTT TRAIL STORM WP £149.99 scott-sports.com SO GOOD… Scott’s pants fit true to size and have articulated legs with space for wearing pads. This is aided by mesh panels behind the knees, which, together with zipped thigh vents, also help prevent overheating. We found the Velcro waist adjusters useful. You get a vast pocket, with organiser, too. The fabric’s durable water repellent (DWR) coating is PFC-free NO GOOD… Those mesh panels are in the firing line of spray from the wheels, so if you ride through a puddle, water drips down the inside of the legs. The trousers also wetted through after just an hour of riding, particularly at the seat. Even before it got wet, the three-layer fabric felt clammy, and this worsened when the pants became waterlogged, making…

“YA DINNAE KEN THE BEINNS?” The Scotsman’s concern about our plans startled us. According to him, riding to, or anywhere near, the 1,103m (3,619ft) summit of Beinn Ghlas was completely off the cards. Well-versed at riding in mountainous terrain and familiar with the microclimates that can be encountered, we took him at his word and reluctantly turned back. It later turned out that this local hero had helped mountain rescue teams guide two separate walking parties to safety earlier that day. The finely-graded access path on the northern flanks of the mountain is usually perfectly pedalable, but had missed out on any direct sunshine all winter. Unseasonably warm freeze-thaw conditions had compressed the snow into thick slabs of sheet ice, causing the inexperienced hikers to take an involuntary slide down…

In a relatively short space of time, electric mountain bikes have gone from an outlandish concept on a trade-show floor to a common sight out on the trails. They remain a big investment, though, so whether you’re thinking of taking the plunge and buying your first e-bike, are an early adopter looking to upgrade your current model or just want to know what all the fuss is about, we’re here to help. WHO ARE E-BIKES FOR? Anyone who enjoys having fun on two wheels, basically. The reason we opened this guide with a riding feature rather than a technical explainer is because that’s what these bikes are all about – getting people out there enjoying the trails. Electric pedalling assistance has obvious benefits for people with an injury or other…

E-bikes are often seen as a way to go further or faster for less effort, but this is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to their capabilities. They’re fantastic tools for improving your technical riding, too. Looking at e-bikes in this way may reframe the way you ride them. Here are just some of the things you can do with them to help make you a better rider… 1 REPEAT SECTIONS If your riding time or variation is limited, your trail rides probably tend to follow a similar format each time – a cross-country loop, an out-and-back or a repeated fireroad climb to the top of a series of different descents. The days of pushing back up to hit a section over and over again may be…

Come on, dude! Let’s go for a ride,” enthuses Olly Wilkins. “I’ve got some new trails I’ve built that are perfect for e-biking.” Olly is an e-bike convert, as is Rob Warner. They love regular mountain bikes, too; in fact, this conversation takes place as they’re out doing jumps on their trail bikes. But it’s not long before they’re discussing their shared love for sticking the motor in Turbo and hitting their local tracks. The next time we meet, it’s a particularly bright sunny day in the Surrey Hills and we’re all on e-bikes. FULLY CHARGED Olly and Rob are both quick. Quick on the bike, sure – Olly’s known for his smoothness and style, while Rob was Britain’s first Downhill World Cup winner, back in the Nineties – but…

If you’re bored with the same old lunchtime routine and fancy hitting the woods to enjoy your daily dose of exercise, then preparation and efficiency are key. You want to go as smoothly as possible from closing the laptop to walking out the front door with your bike. First, get all your riding kit ready the night before – you don’t want to be scrabbling around wasting precious riding time looking for a rogue left glove. We’ll assume that your tyres are pumped up and your bike is ready to roll, because even something as simple as fixing a flat can eat up 15 minutes without trying. Once on the trails, it sounds obvious, but keep an eye on the time. It’s far too easy to get carried away, as…

Riders not living under a rock for the past few years will have noticed ever more folk out on the trails (and overtaking them on the climbs!) on e-bikes. They’re now outselling ‘normal’ bikes in the UK, above the price point of about £4,000. This won’t be shocking to anyone who’s ridden one properly, and rapidly racked up all the best trails in succession. They’re enablers, allowing averagely-fit riders to take on rides that wouldn’t normally be possible without lungs and leg muscles of Olympian proportions. But it’s not all about making it easy – e-bikes also turn otherwise insurmountable terrain into technical puzzles of balance, timing and traction, bringing big thrills in the process. Pointed back down, you can ride these stable and grip-rich bikes fast, which not only…

Based on their EWS-winning Mega V4 enduro bike, Nukeproof's first e-MTB incorporates Shimano’s latest EP8 motor into a four-bar linkage frame layout that the UK brand have spent years refining. If the 170mm-travel design looks familiar in other ways, it’s because it shares its huge, triple-butted alloy front end with Wiggle/CRC-owned sister brand Vitus’s latest E-Sommet (p54). THE FRAME The blocky frame is seriously beefy up front, where a massive 1.8into-1.125in tapered head tube – a new e-bike standard – aids frame rigidity and steering precision. This Comp model doesn’t get a fork with a matching 1.8in tapered steerer tube, though. Instead, it comes with a (presumably cheaper) converter lower headset cup and a standard 1.5in tapered fork. The big-diameter head tube allows use of a funky Acros headset with…

Unlike most brands, e-bikes don’t just make up part of Thok’s range, but all of it. The Italian company was founded in 2017 by BMX world champ and ex-World Cup downhill racer Stefano Migliorini, and then bolstered by the arrival of former Moto GP team manager Livio Suppo. With this kind of racing pedigree behind it, we were keen to throw a leg over their TK01 e-enduro bike. THE FRAME The TK01’s angular aluminium frame and removable fender/rock-strike guard are clearly moto-inspired. Up front is a big 1.8in head tube. You get a single bottle mount inside the front triangle, plus internal cable routing. Thok spec Shimano’s latest EP8 motor, with an impact-resistant cover. The 630Wh battery is concealed within the down tube. There’s 170mm of rear wheel travel, courtesy…

Hand any electric bike to someone who hasn’t ridden one before and, without fail, you’ll witness a massive chuckle as they zoom off. E-bikes get you grinning by defying expectations of how easy something as familiar as turning the pedals can be. It’s a ton of fun surging forwards with a spring in your tyres that you didn’t even know you needed. Apart from increased speed (up to the point where the assistance tops out – 15.5mph, on UK machines), the major benefit of e-bikes is the way they iron out hills. This makes it easier to get into the great outdoors, so they can compensate for riders who might be of an age (or shape) where that loop around the forest isn’t as much fun any more, or who…

Canyon’s Grand Canyon:0N 9, like all of their e-bikes, uses a Shimano motor. The EP8 drive unit specced here has more torque and power than the other motors in this test, with three modes (Eco, Trail and Boost). The fat down tube conceals a 630Wh battery, which, if you tune it for economical power usage, will deliver over 100km of range for lighter riders. If you need to remove the powerpack to charge it, you have to undo four Allen bolts, which is a bit of a faff. THE FRAME The ON 9 has sophisticated aluminium tube profiles, with huge welds joining slimline rear stays (for increased compliance over rough ground) and a funky oversized seat tube. Its geometry is modern without being radical, with the large frame we tested…

Helmets are firmly ingrained in mountain-bike life. We all have one, and they’re far more than just a fashion statement, a rain cover or somewhere to stow your glasses. In the event of a big stack, they could literally mean the difference between life and death. They do this firstly by spreading the force over a larger area – especially important if you hit a sharp rock, for example – and then by slowing it down, causing it to take milliseconds longer to reach your head. This smooths out and reduces the peak impact spike (or ‘impulse’) that’s the cause of brain damage. The fractional delay may not seem like much of a difference but it works. To extend this impact time, expanded foam liners, commonly made from polystyrene, are…

MADISON ZENITH THERMAL £49.99 freewheel.co.uk SO GOOD… The price is appealing, as is the fit and feel of the super-soft, brushed-back, wicking fabric used for the entire jersey. Coverage is decent, with good length in the arms so your wrists aren’t exposed. Thanks to the slightly baggier fit than some here, especially in the sleeves, it’s warm but not too clammy when you sweat. NO GOOD… On really chilly, windy days, cold air can enter through the neck, which isn’t as close-fitting as the best here. So, while the Zenith is suitably cosy on most chilly rides, get riding into a cold headwind and that snug feeling soon gets blown away. MBUK RAPHA TRAIL WINDBLOCK £100.00 rapha.cc SO GOOD… Despite feeling the most like a regular jersey, this one is…

VENTING Frequently located on the thigh panels, zipped vents are a great way to lose some of the heat that can build up when wearing waterproofs. They sometimes have a mesh-like fabric inside to reduce dirt ingress and keep the outer shell from sagging or losing its shape. ANKLE CUFFS Some trousers have elasticated ankles to create a stretchy but tight fit to help reduce the chances of water splashing up. Other brands provide poppers or Velcro so that you can adjust the tightness of the cuff, often paired with a calf-length zip to make it easier to remove the trousers without taking off your shoes. RAISED WAIST A raised rear waist panel can help stop mud and water splashing onto the small of your back, especially if your jersey…

“Despite initially harbouring ‘purist’ views towards e-bikes, I began to embrace them when I realised that electrical assistance might prove an invaluable tool to help me regain mental and physical resilience following numerous rounds of surgery and chemo. Bikes were a huge part of my life prior to my incurable cancer diagnosis, and I wasn’t ready to turn my back on them. “I’ve always found solace in mountain biking, especially adrenaline-boosting descents at the edge of control, where the mind is fully absorbed by picking lines to stay upright. Riding has dependably prevented me from pondering what troubled waters may lie ahead, as well as serving as a reminder that I’m yet to reach a palliative state and am still able to kick the cancer can down the road. It…

INSEARCHOF SOLACE, I START SINGING ALOUD. My inner monologue, fuelled by an intense mixture of fear and survival-instinct calm, is now being audibly expressed. Stay focused. Look ahead. Don’t look down. Don’t die. Just keep pedalling. The singletrack has narrowed to a foot’s width – it’s obscured by long grass, loose and dusty, with the trail ahead seemingly erased on one side, and hugging the mountain on the other like a long-lost friend. I’m doing my best impression of someone in control, with every fibre of me wanting to look out at the majestic view, only to risk it stealing me away into oblivion. Flat corners aren’t my forté at the best of times, let alone halfway up a mountain, on an e-bike with questionable tyres. The sole thought racing…

1 Controls On most e-MTBs, a bar-mounted remote and LCD screen make it easy to switch modes, keep an eye on battery life and view your speed and mileage. Some offer Bluetooth connectivity options so you can track your heart-rate and other data. 2 Frame As batteries and motors become smaller and better integrated, e-MTBs are becoming almost indistinguishable from regular MTBs – at least until you spot the beefed-up bottom-bracket area, or they blast past you on the climbs at warp speed. 3 Battery While battery range is getting bigger, the power packs themselves are gradually shrinking. Many are now small enough to be hidden inside the down tube, especially on higher-end e-bikes. Most can be charged in-situ or removed from the bike if you prefer. 4 Motor Drive…

E-bikes intensify any mountain-bike ride. They massively reward good technique, but the punishment for getting things wrong is much harsher! Because e-bikes are heavier than conventional bikes and have a low centre of gravity, they feel planted, stable and fast through corners. When you get a turn right and rail it, this feels fantastic, but get your technique wrong and the bike will work against you, making things much harder. PEDAL POSITION Staying balanced on the bike will provide you with more grip and speed. Try to keep the pedals level in banked turns or through ruts. In flat or off-camber turns, dropping the outside pedal will help put weight through the tyres, to prevent you sliding out. Keeping traction will make you less inclined to panic-brake mid-turn, which will…

“YO, CAN U SPONZOR ME PLEASE. I HAVE BIG PLANS TO GROW MY SOCIAL MEDYA THIS YEAR. I CAN GIVE YOU LOTSO F FOLLOWERS 4 YOURE BRAYND. I DO BIG SENDS.” PING! “Hey Pat, can we touch base soon about the new launch? We need to ringfence some of the budget so we can ride the unicorn into Q3 and beyond.” PING!“Pat, we need some more loo roll.” PING! “Hey Pat…” “Aarrgghh! Hello, James? We’re going for a ride!” OUT TO LUNCH Pat Campbell-Jenner is a busy fellow, but he can deal with those messages after lunch. Right now, we’ve got an hour to ourselves and we’re going to make the most of it. There’s no better way to blow off the stresses of the daily grind than with a…

electric bikes are such big news now that in many areas they outsell machines you need pure muscle to pedal. This hasn’t escaped the attention of Enduro World Series race organisers, who’ve responding by plugging motorised machines into the schedule. That’s how I found myself joining the latest generation of super-fast racers and several multiple-time world champs on the start line of the EWS-E Tweed Valley, preparing to use a mix of skill, muscle and motor assistance to swerve trees and ping off roots on the steep, tight and technical trails of the classic downhill race venue of Innerleithen. EEBS AIN’T FOR DWEEBS! I signed up as a long-time e-MTB fan, turned on to the benefits way back. It’s no secret that not everyone feels the same, though, and most…

There are plenty of reasons why the Turbo Levo is one of the world’s most popular e-MTBs, and Specialized aim to build on that success with the 2022 version. It has some new features that represent a significant leap forward over the outgoing bike, along with an eye-watering price tag, particularly on this range-topping S-Works model. THE FRAME Built from Specialized’s FACT 11M carbon fibre, the frame sports their ‘Sidearm’ driveside strut between the top tube and seat-tube shock mounts, designed to boost chassis stiffness. Although chunky-looking compared to a normal bike, the Turbo Levo is considerably slimmer than most e-MTBs, despite its high-capacity 700Wh battery. Spesh’s latest Brose-built Turbo Full Power System 2.2 motor has a new drive belt and much-improved waterproofing, to address previous reliability issues. It boasts…

While everyone else was racing to make an e-MTB, we were making an e-MTB for racing,” say Yeti. The result is the 160E, designed to dominate the emerging e-enduro scene with its carbon-fibre frame, modern geometry, Shimano EP8 motor and new Sixfinity suspension design. A spec like this doesn’t come cheap, though. THE FRAME The 160E is built from Yeti’s TURQseries carbon fibre and tested to DH bike standards. While it’s sold as a 29er, you can fit a 650b rear wheel and run a ‘mullet’ set-up. Pedalling assistance is provided by a Shimano EP8 motor with 630Wh battery. Yeti’s new six-bar Sixfinity platform looks different to their twin-shaft Switch Infinity system, but functions similarly. The lower Switch link initially rotates upwards as the suspension compresses, then changes direction. This…

As well as manufacturing frames in Taiwan for many leading brands, Merida have their own range of bikes, designed in the e-bike heartland of Germany. Among the first to go deep into e-MTBs, they’ve built a solid reputation with models like this eOne-Sixty. It’s a slightly more trail-than enduro-focused machine, with a ‘mullet’ wheel set-up and 150mm of rear wheel travel. THE FRAME Made from Merida’s ‘Racelight 61’ alloy, the second-generation eOne-Sixty frame gets double-pass welds for a seamless look. The oversize head tube incorporates an internal steering limiter, while the huge, triangulated down tube houses a 630Wh battery, which not only powers the Shimano EP8 motor, but also an included headlight. A single-pivot swingarm keeps things simple out back, with a linkage to actuate the shock – here, a…

At first glance, it’s hard to tell the Urrun is even an e-bike. Its elegant shape is accentuated by the way its cables are hidden inside the frame, and the quality of its paintwork and finish. This reflects it being the most expensive bike here. THE FRAME The alu frame has a slim down tube housing a compact battery. This powers a specially-tuned Shimano EP8 RS motor, said to be 1.5 times more efficient than the standard version, so the 540Wh powerpack should provide assistance equivalent to 810Wh on a standard e-bike. It does drain its battery much slower than the EP8-equipped Canyon. Geometry is pretty modern, including a relatively relaxed 66-degree head angle for calmer steering. The frame sizes are way smaller than most, though, with the 440mm reach…

After hours on the road, I finally pull into our meeting place – a campsite deep in the heart of the Lake District. It’s flanked by huge, imposing fells, which I know I’ll more than likely be clawing my way up over the coming days. Not on just any old bike, but one that’s loaded with the latest in wireless gearing and automated suspension control. That, for the most part, is why I’m here at the invitation of SRAM – to put this cutting-edge tech to the test on some of the most rugged trails the UK has to offer, and see what it does (or doesn’t) bring to the experience. After hours on the road, I finally pull into our meeting place – a campsite deep in the heart…

Trails appear very different at night, when your light beam emphasises every feature, and in winter proper, the crackle of ice beneath your tyres on a velvety starlit night is a special experience. A good front light makes riding gnarly terrain possible, and at faster speeds, but how much power do you need and how much should you spend to get it? The number of lumens (the measure of a light’s brightness) your light has, the further down the trail you’ll be able to see, and the more clearly defined obstacles will be. Years of riding at night tells us that 1,500 lumens is the minimum needed to safely ride technical trails. Any less and you can feel under-illuminated, so all the lights in this test are advertised as having…

In these budget-conscious times, a waterproof jacket is a serious investment. However, if you plan on riding through the UK winter (or even just spring and autumn), it’s an essential. Careful consideration of your individual riding needs can help you refine the process and ensure you get the most for your money. Selecting an appropriate fabric for your riding is key. For example, if you’re a fair-weather rider at heart, who likes nothing better than a fast loop of a trail centre, then you may be best off going for something with a lower waterproof rating but higher breathability. If you favour exposed or elevated terrain, or multi-day rides, you should seek a higher waterproof rating, because staying dry will be more of a priority. However, you’ll need to pair…

1 Lightweight bike lock LITELOK GO A super-secure lock without the weight. Bed down for the night safe in the knowledge that your pride and joy will still be there in the morning. £64.99 litelok.com 2 Insulated jacket Rab Infinity Microlight This lightweight down jacket packs down small and should keep you toasty during a night of camping. Available in men’s and women’s versions. £250 rab.equipment 3 Camping tarpaulin Rab SilTarp Plus Solo A compact, simple tarp that’s perfect as a spontaneous rain shield or for bivvy camping. £100 rab.equipment 4 Wash bag Patagonia Black Hole Cube Small A 3l storage bag that’s tough as nails and perfect for storing perishables, toiletries or anything else you don’t want caked in muck. This one comes from Patagonia’s Worn Wear refurbished kit…

Here are some pointers on rider safety inspired by Nils’ epic Scottish Highlands ride… 1 Use multiple sources to plan your ride The best routes aren’t always marked on the map, so use services such as Google Earth, OS Maps, Komoot or Strava’s heat maps to get a feel for alternative trails before you set off. 2 Stay flexible Never stick too rigorously to a planned itinerary. Take advice from locals and consult dedicated mountain forecasts right up to the day of your ride, as conditions can be highly changeable. Most importantly, trust your gut. If the weather or terrain becomes too inhospitable, find a safe way down, even if that means turning back – the mountain will always be there. 3 Don’t scrimp on kit Changeable weather, mechanicals or…

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