Innholdsfortegnelse for May 2023 i Mountain Bike Rider

When it comes to my favourite trails, I’m definitely a tree hugger. While I love those majestic alpine trails that sweep along a mountain ridge, views cascading away on either side, in the UK they’re a rarity. It’s safe to say that most of the best domestic trails weave through woodland, and I’m OK with that, for a number of reasons. Firstly, and fairly obviously, they provide a natural slalom course, forcing trail builders to incorporate turns into their trails. And corners are great, simple as. More than that though, they provide shelter to trails, their canopy shielding the dirt from rain and wind, so they don’t suffer from as much erosion as trails out in the open, and you’re less likely to have your ride ruined by a headwind,…

The Smuggler was the bike that really launched the down-country revolution for us. When mbr first tried it back in 2014 we relished the short suspension travel (115mm at the time) and slack geometry, a combination that had never been tried before. It was a glimpse into the future, before the Smuggler dropped out of the range. Later, the wonderful Spur improved on the formula. Transition kept the travel short (120mm travel but measured at 116mm, just like the Smuggler) and the geometry relaxed, but added in a lighter chassis that wouldn’t have felt out of place on an XC bike. Now the Smuggler is back, and it’s been reimagined as a trail bike. The 29in wheels front and rear remain, the travel has crept up to 130mm, and there’s…

I enjoyed reading the 32 listed items on the bucket list in the last edition [April 2023], some already achieved, some likely to be attempted and some (like a visit to Whistler) sadly not likely to happen. However, one missing item that would tick off several challenges in one go, is to enter a Trailquest. This is a mountain bike orienteering event that involves riding to as many checkpoints as possible marked on a map, usually within three hours, in order to collect as many points as possible. Each checkpoint has an individual score so the winner will have chosen a route that maximises his/her score in the most effective way. As well as an overall winner, there are different age categories for male and female riders, so you can…

£ 2,899 • 29in • alpkit.com With the worst of the winter weather behind us, it’s good to see my local Forest of Dean trails drying out, the endless puddles rapidly disappearing. This means both longer and faster rides are back on my agenda, after what seems like months and months of short blasts, trudging through the filth and chasing daylight. If you’ve been following my monthly updates, you may remember that I’ve dropped a huge chunk (630g) of rotating weight by switching out both the Hope wheels and my Maxxis control tyres to a Sonder Alpha 29 and Schwalbe Hans Dampf set-up. This has made a real difference out on the trail, with a lighter, less ponderous feel to the steering and an added turn of speed when accelerating…

£ 170 SPECIFICATION Weight: 380g (size large) • Colours: Black, Honey, Midnight Blue • Sizes: S, M, L, XL, XXL • Contact: 7mesh.com When you spot a fellow product tester, who can pick and choose whatever clothing they want, always riding in the same top, you pay attention. And when that same writer and colleague – Guy Kesteven – also raves on about this Chilco anorak’s performance, you get on the phone to 7Mesh and get one in yourself to review. The Chilco uses a new fabric that 7Mesh calls WTV (wind/thermal/ventilation), which is essentially a single layer engineered with different inner and outer faces. It’s part of a new breed of soft-shell riding jackets with fleece textured fabrics to boost warmth and quickly shift heat and sweat away from…

More seems to be the name of the game when it comes to full-power e-bikes. More electronics, more power, more torque, more battery capacity, more range, more fun. Unfortunately, this also equates to more money, where brands seem to be competing to produce the most expensive e-bikes possible. One way to beat what seems like the ever increasing price of e-bike tech, is to simply cut out the middleman and buy your new e-bike directly from the manufacturer. And while the direct-sales business model doesn’t offer the massive savings it once did, you can still slash about 25% off the bottom line compared to an equivalent high-street e-bike build, which is not to be sniffed at. So this month we’ve got three direct-sales e-bikes from three of the most popular…

£ 5,499.99 When we first tested the Shimano EP8 equipped Vitus E-Sommet VRX back in 2021, we were impressed by the build kit and competitive pricing. But the bike was harder to manoeuvre than some, in part due to its weight, but also the sizing. With a 474mm reach on the large, a weight of 24.7kg (54.45lb), and boasting almost 170mm of travel, the E-Sommet was a big bike in every sense of the word. As such, we suggested downsizing, where the 5mm shorter head tube would also make it easier to get the handlebar height low enough to weight the front end, which was something we struggled with on the size L before flipping the stem upside down. So this time we’ve taken our own advice and dropped down…

CANYON SPECTRAL:ON CFR £8,099 Want the gold Kashima Fox Factory kit from the YT combined with more powerful Shimano brakes? Then funds permitting, the Spectral:ON CFR is the bike to get. It shares the same carbon mould and sizing as the test-winning CF 9, but with lighter CFR carbon and a high-end build kit that wants for nothing, Canyon delivers a 22kg package that’s ready to rip. CANYON SPECTRAL:ON CF 7 £4,599 The entry point to the new Spectral:ON range is the CF 7. It still gets the full carbon frame, Shimano EP8 motor and Canyon’s custom 720Wh battery, but the specification has been put together to make the bike more affordable. Highlights include a 150mm-travel RockShox Lyrik fork, Shimano Deore 12-speed drivetrain and the excellent Deore four-piston brakes.…

Big picture Pete and Sanny gracefully navigate a treacherous singletrack, etched high into the Lakeland fells. The subtle shades of the overcast sky blend harmoniously with the soft slate blue of the ancient mines that bear witness to a bygone era. The sweeping fell side seems to stretch infinitely into the distance, leading the eye to an ancient pass below. The tunnels on the far side of the mountain are reminiscent of a badger set, a reminder of the herculean efforts of local labourers of yesteryear, who toiled with TNT and picks to extract precious slate from these mountains. A poignant reflection on who truly leaves a mark on this majestic landscape – the intrepid riders of today or the hard-working miners of the past? Tristan Tinn Big picture Within…

Transition isn’t the only bike brand with a new, dynamic trail bike, Commencal has just released the T.E.M.P.O., a full 29er with 125mm travel and a 140mm fork. It’s a new bike for the Andorran brand, and uses Commencal’s Virtual Contact System suspension design, a VPP layout Commencal has been rolling out on its bikes to replace single-pivot layouts. Commencal abandoned carbon fibre back in 2012, arguing it was bad for the environment and those who work with it too, so it’s no surprise that the new T.E.M.P.O. is an all-aluminium bike. Featured here is the Öhlins Edition; it’s the most aggressive in the range and uses the TTX1 Air shock and RXF 36 fork up front. It’s rolling on Crankbrothers Synthesis Enduro rims, the alloy version of course, and Industry…

BLUEBELL BLAST, KENT 28.0km (17.4 miles) Nothing says spring has arrived like the appearance of bluebells. So where better to start a springtime ride than somewhere called Blue Bell Hill? Names don’t always tally with the reality, but with plenty of woodland, chances are if you get your timing right and look in the right places you’ll be treated to bluebell-lined singletrack. Sandwiched between the M2 and M20 and running along the northern edge of the North Downs, this ride is all about exploring the pockets of riding that exist amongst the busy modern world and finding spring in less-likely places. GPS download bit.ly/BluebellKent DAFFODIL SPOTTING, GRASMERE 19.1km (11.9 miles) Beside the lake, beneath the trees, Grasmere is home to the poet Wordsworth’s famous host of daffodils. It’s also home…

£2,249 • 27.5in & 29in • canyon.com The Canyon Neuron was launched in 2017, but its roots can be traced right back to the brand’s very beginning. It was the replacement for the full-suspension Nerve, a bike that was born in 2002, and happened to be the first Canyon model we ever tested here at mbr. That bike was the 2011 Nerve XC 5.0, and it came with an alloy frame, 26in wheels, 120mm of travel, weighed 12.9kg and cost £1,188 excluding the box and shipping. Now there’s a new Canyon Neuron, and while the geometry bears little relation to that early Nerve, the wheels are 3in bigger in diameter, and the price and weight have both crept up, it’s still intended to be an affordable, versatile, friendly trail bike…

Countless hours on the trails make this the ultimate test of performance as well as reliability £8, 200 • 29 in • saddleback.co.uk I know I keep bleating on about it, but taking the Fox Float X2 shock out – remember how I said last month that it needed servicing? – has just reinforced how user-friendly Pivot’s designers have made the Firebird frame. Both the trunnion and lower shock bolts use sensible 5mm hex keys. The hardware is made of high-quality aluminium with deep, precise tool engagement; you certainly get the impression that they will withstand even the most ham-fisted home mechanic. Pivot also uses sensible torque settings (13Nm), so most home torque wrenches work nicely. Which is great, as it eliminates the need to nip it up, then add…

£4,49 9 • 29 in • privateerbikes.com Following on from last month’s back-to-back testing of my burlier Öhlins-equipped 141 against a regular GX Pike model, I concluded that the plush Öhlins suspension coupled with the lighter wheels of the regular bike would potentially be my perfect 141 – the ‘Ben Smith Edition’ as I’ve coined it. Since then I’ve been sent a pair of Hunt Trail Wide V2s and have fitted them to the bike. Annoyingly, this has coincided with a painful flare-up of an old knee injury, so I’ve not been able to sign off on my signature model just yet. With the bike in the workstand, I decided to take a look at how the rear suspension bearings had coped with winter and 10 months of bike-washing. Given…

£ 120 SPECIFICATION Weight: 390g pair • Options: Steel axle (tested) and titanium axle • Colours: Painted black only • Contact: dmrbikes.com One of the stone-cold classic mtb flat pedals, DMR’s Vault has earned multiple glowing reviews from us over the years. Its success lies in a deeply-dished platform with a big surface area that really cradles the sole of your shoe. Sorted pin placement and durability add to the attributes that have put this product in such high regard. This all-new version uses a magnesium body with the same shape as the proven aluminium pedal, and also brings some bang up-to-date eco improvements. Its magnesium platform is machined from an extrusion made under pressure, that uses a more environmentally-friendly and less wasteful process than its predecessor, and most of…

£ 6,899 Say hello to the 2023 YT Decoy Core MK 1.35. OK, so the MK1.35 tag isn’t part of its official title, we added that ourselves. But seeing as YT has managed to increase the potential battery capacity from 540Wh to 720Wh (which is a 35% increase) without having to make wholesale changes to the frame, we think it’s a rather fitting addition. How did YT squeeze in the extra juice without messing up the handling of our E-Bike of the Year winner in 2021? It completely redesigned the battery, while maintaining the same fittings and mounting architecture. So yes, the new 720Wh battery is backwards compatible with all Decoy models, bar the size S. It’s currently only available as a standalone product for £899, which, as e-bike batteries…

The YT Decoy is the only bike in this test to sport adjustable geometry – the flip-chip offering high and low settings. In the low position measured, the numbers are very similar to the Vitus, especially the front centre, chainstay length and BB height. From that, it’s easy to assume that both bikes would have a similar weight distribution, but subtle differences in the rear suspension give the YT a more forward weight bias than the Vitus, as it has inherently more support in the rear suspension. You could also assume that they are both the same size, when in fact the Vitus is size M, the YT a size L. This is most apparent in the seat tube height – the Vitus is 40mm shorter than the YT, which…

TOPO GPS Flexible mapping on your phone Topo turns your phone into a GPS unit, letting you view official topographic maps from 20 countries both online and offline. In the UK that means you get access to OS mapping and the famous Explorer series of maps with the most detailed 1:25,000 scale, giving you rights of way, key features and contour lines. Why not just get the OS mapping app then, we hear you cry? For starters you can buy as much or as little as you like with Topo GPS – a single 2x2km square costs just 20p – or you can subscribe to an entire map of the UK including updates for £24.99 a year. Route planning is much easier too; you can import, record, plan, generate and…

Head to the Wolftooth website, scroll down to the bottom and you’ll find an exploded diagram of the Resolve’s internals. Listed there is every single part involved in the manufacture of the post, and a price to buy a replacement should yours go wrong. Keep looking and you’ll also see the user manual, links to how to do the repair yourself, or a way to get it serviced by the pros. Dig further still and you’ll also see this is the case for all the brand’s hardware, with a two-year warranty and a pledge to keep on making the parts you need. Clearly, when Wolftooth said all its customers should have the right to repair its products, it wasn’t joking. The Resolve looks just as impressive as the back-up. It’s…

I’m not going to lie, dedicated e-bike training protocols are a lot like e-bike specific bike components… mostly hype. But, if you’ve ridden an e-bike for any length of time, you don’t need me to tell you that it places different demands on your body to riding an analogue machine. And there are a couple of reasons for that. The obvious one is that, with the motor potentially pumping out over 500 watts of peak power, you can choose to take it easy on the climbs and smash the descents, or you can smash the climbs and the descents. Regardless of your approach, there’s simply no getting around the extra weight. Full power e-bikes are typically 8-10kg heavier than equivalent-travel analogue bikes, so you need to muscle the bike around…

€8,395 (excl. import duties/taxes) • 29in • zerode.eu After riding, racing and testing mountain bikes for decades, this is the first bike where I’ve received instructions on how best to change gear. And there’s me figuring I had a pretty good handle on what all the buttons and shifters do by now… It’s fair enough though, considering Zerode uses a completely different drivetrain and shift system to the vast majority of bikes. You don’t need to squint to see what form this takes, either: a Pinion gearbox replaces the chainset and bottom bracket, a rotary shifter looks like something from a bygone era, then the futuristic drivebelt and tensioner pulley sit where you’d normally see a chain and rear mech. Pinion’s system seals cogs in a CNC’ed aluminium housing and…

The concept of a six-day enduro stage race, in which every trail is ridden blind, captured the imagination of a new breed of mountain bikers when the Trans-Provence launched way back in 2009. By no means the first blind race, it was the first of its kind to adopt an ambitious multi-day format, and stood alone in this regard for quite some time. Six days, 24 stages, utilising shuttles to maximise the distance covered – yet always balancing the assisted uplifts with the need to climb under your own steam – along with a real emphasis on superlative descending, became a hallmark of the Trans-Provence experience. And all down to the vision and obsession of one man: Ash Smith. His addiction to mapping and exploring the dense network of trails…

£7,400 • 29 in • specialized.com Three Prime Ministers, four Chancellors, and countless budgets, mini budgets and several iceberg lettuces. That’s how I’m measuring the lifespan of my Kenevo SL, a bike that’s been in the longterm fleet for a year and a half now – easily the longest-serving bike in recent times. This is very significant because the Kenevo SL is of course an e-bike, a product that the internet insists is certain to fail the moment you pedal it out the bike shop’s doors. Instead, my model has covered thousands of miles, hundreds of hours riding and literally dozens of one metre-long jumps (fist bump me, right there) without serious mishap. Sadly I can’t tell you the true stats on my rides because a software update reset it…

£ 50 SPECIFICATION Weight: 1,360g (29x2.4in) • Sizes: 27.5/29x2.4in • Casings: GRID Trail and GRID Gravity • Contact: specialized.com Specialized’s Hillbilly was the original cut down mud spike inspired by DH champ Sam Hill’s mechanic, and brought to market over a decade ago. It used to be made by CST/Maxxis and has been through several versions, to arrive at the point today where Spesh uses its own factory and proprietary rubber compounds and treads. This version uses the Gravity casing, which means double ply layers for DH-level protection and toughness, and T9 rubber, which is the brand’s softest, stickiest and slowest-rebounding formula. There’s also a £5 cheaper, lighter-weight Trail-casing Hillbilly with one less ply layer, and both versions come in 29in and 27.5in sizes. Making its own tyres from scratch…

£ 135.99 SPECIFICATION Weight 336g • Sizes: S-XXL • Colours: Black, green • Contact: scott-sports.com Sod’s law, you get a new pair of waterproof trousers and you rip them first ride out. It’s like washing the car, the minute your back is turned the birds rain down guano. Both happened to me while testing Scott’s new Storm pant, but I won’t hold that against either of them because: sh*t happens, and anything rips when you snag it on your pedal pins. The Storm is made from Scott’s own DRYOsphere three-layer fabric, this means the waterproof membrane is sandwiched between an outer layer of recycled polyester, and an inner polyester lining. All the seams are taped on the inside to stop water penetrating the joins, and outside there’s a PFC-free DWR…

£ 6, 199 There aren’t many e-bikes designs that can boast a gen 3 tag, but because Canyon was in on the ground floor of e-bike development, the Spectral:ON is one such model – even if Canyon does not make a big deal about it. But before we get into the current round of revisions that have transformed the Spectral:ON into the sleek e-bike we see today, let’s take a closer look at the non-negotiables. First and foremost, the Spectral:ON has always been billed as a trail bike – Canyon has the Torque:ON if you want something bigger hitting. All three generations have rolled on MX wheels, and while tyre widths have changed a touch over the years, the concept has proved a sound one – fit a 29in wheel…