May Issue

MBR May 2014Want the latest MBR delivered to your door every month? Check out our latest subscription offer, or try MBR’s digital editions on iPad, Android, Kindle and more…

It’s all going on in South Wales right now, and we’re reporting on two fantastic new trails opening up in Afan and Cwmcarn. The competition to attract new riders has never been hotter, and that can only be good news — find out what we thought of the 24km Blade at Afan and the 15km Cafell at Cwmcarn. Which one did we describe as “easily one of the best trail centre descents in the UK”?

Here’s some more of what you can find in the new issue:

  • Every bike manufacturer worth its salt has launched a new enduro bike over the last year or two, but which is best? We found four serious contenders in the Kona Process 153 DL, Specialized Enduro Expert Carbon, Trek Slash 9 and YT Industries Capra Pro. Let the shoot-out commence…
  • MBR’s Britain’s Best Singletrack series is uncovering all the most thrilling natural riding in the UK, and this month Danny heads west to the Quantocks
  • Want to get those wheels off the ground? Our introduction to jumping breaks down the technique into simple steps
  • We’ve got loads of gear on test, including disc brakes and trail saddles
  • There’s plenty more too, including what’s inside your suspension fork, how visualisation can make you a better rider, why one company is pushing bike geometry to its lowest, longest, slackest limit… and why a warm prawn sandwich can really ruin a day out on the trails
enduro bikes

Four ready-to-race enduro machines battle it out for supremacy on the rugged trails of Molini, Italy — and there can be only one winner

south wales

New trails are making South Wales a better destination than ever for mountain bikers, as we report on developments at Afan and Cwmcarn

disc brakes

Six sets of disc brakes from Shimano, Avid, Formula, Hope and more tested head-to-head

quantocks

It may not be mountainous, but the riding in the Quantock Hills is bloody brilliant

1st rides

Get the lowdown on new bikes as we take the Ghost ASX 5500, Vitus Sentier 275VR and Specialized Camber Expert Carbon Evo for a spin

bivvy biking

Want to really experience the great outdoors? Sam Needham tries bivvy biking for the first time — but will he make it back alive?

jumping

Skills coach Chris Ball explains the essentials of safe, stylish jumping, and why so many riders get it wrong