MBR May 2017

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The latest issue of MBR is out now, packed full of inspiring ideas and route maps to help you find new places to get out and ride.

What about the magazine itself? Here’s a taste of what you’ll find inside…

Features

Trail Bike of the Year

In association with Alpinestars we bring you our rundown of the best full suspension mountain bike in each of three core wheel sizes: 27.5in, 29in and 27.5 Plus.

best full suspension mountain bike

27.5in

Canyon Spectral AL 6.0 EX £2,346.98
Commencal Meta TR V4.2 Essential €2,899
Giant Trance 2 £2,399
Whyte T-130 S £2,550

29in

Cube Stereo 140 C:62 SL 29 £3,299
Specialized Stumpy FSR Comp Carbon 29 £3,400
Whyte T-129 RS £2,999
YT Industries Jeffsy CF Pro 29 £3,399

27.5 Plus

Santa Cruz Hightower C £4,399
Scott Spark 710 Plus £3,899
Specialized Stumpjumper FSR Expert Carbon 6Fattie £4,450
Trek Fuel EX 9.8 Plus £4,100

Highland Sting

Head to the Highlands and get swept away by Torridon’s torrent of untamed trails ; just watch out for the flesh-eating midges…

Bikes and gear

Orange Five

The venerable Five has been slimmed down, facelifted and Boosted for 2017 – but is it enough to keep it in the game?

First rides

The Giant Full-E+ 0 SX Pro and the Salsa Redpoint Carbon Eagle XO1.

Longtermers

Introducing Benji’s Ragley Mmmbop, Charlie’s Commençal Meta TR V4.2 Origin, Roo’s Mojo/Nicolai G13, Dave’s Trek Fuel EX 8 Plus, Jamie’s Transition Smuggler 4, Danny’s Nukeproof Mega 290 Pro and Jason’s Specialized Enduro Comp 650B.

Product testing

Fox Float 32 Step-Cast Fit4 29 fork, Dainese Trail Skins 2 Kneepads, Vaude Minaki Short II, Bontrager Drop Line 150mm Dropper Post, FWE 18-in-1 FT Multi-tool, Scott FR10 shoes, Renthal Fatbar 35 handlebars and the Armadillo Apollo Raptor Base Layer.

Trail helmets group test

We give you a heads up on 12 of the toughest lids for today’s trail riding.

Routes

Capital singletrack

Escape from London with five easy-to-reach rides.

  • Dorking, Surrey
  • Glatting Beacon
  • North of the Thames
  • Wendover and the Icknield Way
  • South of the Hog’s Back

Pull-out routes

  • Coulags Loop, Torridon
  • Watership Down, Hampshire
  • Quantock Hills Classic
  • Windy Gyle, Cheviot Hills

Skills and technique

Speed it up

Employ Andy Barlow’s traffic light system to increase your pace and get maximum thrills from each and every trail you swoop into…

How to service your DT Swiss freehub

Keep your star ratchet freehub running like Swiss clockwork.

Workshop: Fit a cable-operated dropper post

A must-have for any self-respecting trail rider, here’s how to fit a basic dropper post.

Regulars

  • Big Pictures
  • Buzz
  • Real-world riding
  • Born-again rider
  • Mailbox
  • Reader photos
  • Ride guide
  • Afterimage

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