https://www.mbr.co.uk Mountain Bike Rider Mon, 30 Dec 2024 09:11:15 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://www.mbr.co.uk/news/mondraker-dune-rr-vs-yt-decoy-sn-which-is-the-ultimate-lightweight-e-enduro-bike-444863 Sun, 22 Dec 2024 17:00:16 +0000 https://www.mbr.co.uk/?p=444863 The YT Decoy SN and Mondraker Dune were both launched in 2024 with the idea that they would represent the future of the enduro bike. And not just the electric enduro bike – the enduro bike full stop. So which one delivers on those lofty promises?

YT claims its Decoy SN is the “best enduro bike it’s ever made”, which is saying something coming from a …Continue reading »]]> https://www.mbr.co.uk/featured/how-training-with-a-power-meter-has-helped-my-riding-this-year-444509 Thu, 05 Dec 2024 09:00:00 +0000 https://www.mbr.co.uk/?p=444509 The Favero Assioma PRO MX-2 pedals can be valuable training assets whether you want to win races or just beat your mates up the local climb

Whether you’re a die-hard XC or CX racer, or looking to improve your performance on local climbs and Strava segments, …Continue reading »]]> https://www.mbr.co.uk/news/15-of-the-hottest-new-mountain-bikes-for-2025-444531 Mon, 02 Dec 2024 12:08:47 +0000 https://www.mbr.co.uk/?p=444531 Grab your bibs, because we guarantee you'll be salivating over this list of 2025's most exciting new bikes.

Most of the newest and sexiest bikes for 2025 have already been released, with blistering new models in every segment …Continue reading »]]> https://www.mbr.co.uk/featured/introducing-josh-lowe-from-local-riding-to-hardline-443907 Tue, 26 Nov 2024 12:00:14 +0000 https://www.mbr.co.uk/?p=443907 We chat to YT MOB athlete Josh Lowe about his development into Hardline rider, and how his recent introduction to e-bikes helps him perform at the top level.

Josh Lowe has been riding since he was a kid, building trails and sessioning dirt jumps in the south east …Continue reading »]]> https://www.mbr.co.uk/featured/madison-saracens-greg-williamson-and-team-manager-will-longdon-on-the-current-state-of-world-cup-downhill-racing-442367 Fri, 18 Oct 2024 06:01:56 +0000 https://www.mbr.co.uk/?p=442367 We sat down with Greg Williamson and Will Longden of the Madison Saracen team to find out their views on TV coverage, race tracks, qualifying formats and the rising costs of elite downhill racing.

For the best part of 30 years, Will Longden has been involved in downhill racing. Starting as top rider himself, …Continue reading »]]> https://www.mbr.co.uk/news/my-first-mtb-marathon-race-was-a-total-mud-bath-but-i-loved-it-439076 Fri, 23 Aug 2024 06:00:22 +0000 https://www.mbr.co.uk/?p=439076 Despite truly awful conditions, Rebecca Bland survived her first mountain bike marathon race... and even enjoyed it!

For the uninitiated – that was me at the start of this journey – a mountain bike marathon race is …Continue reading »]]> https://www.mbr.co.uk/news/mountain-bikes-are-more-expensive-than-ever-but-if-youre-buying-your-first-mtb-i-reckon-youve-never-had-it-so-good-440746 Mon, 19 Aug 2024 11:40:52 +0000 https://www.mbr.co.uk/?p=440746 Bikes have doubled in price in the last few decades, but is that the scourge of inflation or greedy corporations?

Bikes are really bloomin’ expensive now: Google knows it, your local bike shop knows it, and your significant other knows …Continue reading »]]> https://www.mbr.co.uk/featured/i-packed-in-15000m-of-vertical-descent-at-enduro2-but-thats-not-why-its-top-of-my-bucket-list-440330 Sat, 17 Aug 2024 07:00:36 +0000 https://www.mbr.co.uk/?p=440330 Enduro2 takes place on some of the best trails in the French alps, and being a two-person team event, means I got to enjoy it with a friend!

There aren’t many mountain bike events around where you can clock up over 15,000m of timed vertical descending in a …Continue reading »]]> https://www.mbr.co.uk/news/clips-vs-flats-which-type-of-pedals-are-right-for-you-440150 Thu, 15 Aug 2024 07:00:11 +0000 https://www.mbr.co.uk/?p=440150 We break down the age-old mountain biking debate and help you decide whether clipless or flats are right for you.

Deciding on whether to make the jump to clipless pedals (assuming you’ve started on flats, like most of us did) …Continue reading »]]> https://www.mbr.co.uk/news/bikes-of-ard-rock-from-joe-barnes-custom-hb-916-to-the-1996-gt-lts-440377 Thu, 01 Aug 2024 06:00:53 +0000 https://www.mbr.co.uk/?p=440377 I've seen it all at the Rock this year: pink and purple paintjobs, short cranks, protoype Hope lever blades, 730mm bars, Panaracer 26in tyres, protype 28 spoke Hunt wheels, steel frames and loads more

Ard Rock is the UK’s largest mountain bike festival, it draws an international crowd for its mix of enduro racing, …Continue reading »]]> https://www.mbr.co.uk/news/evie-richards-i-went-on-a-ride-and-i-couldnt-cross-the-road-i-just-started-crying-440096 Thu, 25 Jul 2024 06:00:33 +0000 https://www.mbr.co.uk/?p=440096 The Team GB Olympic hopeful and former World MTB XCO Champion on recovering from concussion, riding downhill on an XC bike, and learning to be happy.

This Sunday Evie Richards will compete for a gold medal at the Olympics, a prize she tells me has been …Continue reading »]]> https://www.mbr.co.uk/featured/power-the-trails-with-the-cube-ams-hybrid-one44-lightweight-emtb-439429 Thu, 04 Jul 2024 15:25:30 +0000 https://www.mbr.co.uk/?p=439429 The Cube AMS Hybrid One44 Super TM takes advantage of Bosch's lightweight SX drive system

Lightweight electric mountain bikes are all the rage at the minute. And what’s not to love? They bridge the gap …Continue reading »]]> https://www.mbr.co.uk/featured/is-it-worth-spending-an-extra-2k-on-a-better-e-bike-we-compare-two-of-the-latest-lightweight-e-bikes-from-canyon-439657 Tue, 02 Jul 2024 08:50:27 +0000 https://www.mbr.co.uk/?p=439657 Is the entry-level model the best way to spend your cash, or is the smart move to save more and go for the upgraded version? We ride two of the latest Canyon Neuron:ONFly models on our locals trails to find out.

The new breed of lightweight e-bikes are causing quite a stir at the moment, with motors like the Bosch SX …Continue reading »]]> https://www.mbr.co.uk/news/should-you-buy-a-lightweight-e-bike-with-a-mid-power-motor-439170 Wed, 19 Jun 2024 06:00:38 +0000 https://www.mbr.co.uk/?p=439170 or a full-power e-bike with all the watts? 

E-bikes come with a whole spectrum of different power outputs, from 35Nm right up to 108Nm of torque, and weigh …Continue reading »]]> https://www.mbr.co.uk/featured/are-we-all-being-ripped-off-by-mountain-bike-brands-439045 Mon, 17 Jun 2024 06:00:07 +0000 https://www.mbr.co.uk/?p=439045 Bikes are more expensive than they used to be, but is that inflation and economics, or evil corporations gouging us for cash? Let’s crunch the numbers and find out…

Are we all being ripped off? Do mountain bikes cost too much money? Are big brands creaming high profits off …Continue reading »]]> https://www.mbr.co.uk/featured/how-different-mountain-bikers-could-benefit-from-assioma-pro-mx-power-pedals-438873 Wed, 12 Jun 2024 11:07:48 +0000 https://www.mbr.co.uk/?p=438873 Training tools like power meters are no longer reserved for professionals or...roadies

It’s easy to lump all mountain bikers into one category, but the reality is that mountain biking is unique. There …Continue reading »]]> https://www.mbr.co.uk/news/boost-your-training-with-the-most-complete-indoor-cycling-simulater-bkool-438811 Fri, 07 Jun 2024 11:00:10 +0000 https://www.mbr.co.uk/?p=438811 Even us mountain bikers can benefit from hitting the virtual world once in a while

Us mountain bikers might not give much thought to indoor training. But we should, if we want to see improvements …Continue reading »]]> https://www.mbr.co.uk/featured/protect-your-frame-from-the-elements-without-breaking-the-bank-426912 Fri, 24 May 2024 06:00:57 +0000 https://www.mbr.co.uk/?p=426912 Inspired by the automotive industry, a protective film layer can help keep your mountain bike in peak condition

Taking your bike out on the trails is why you bought it, right? But that love isn’t necessarily reciprocated by …Continue reading »]]> https://www.mbr.co.uk/news/mclaren-might-be-the-latest-car-brand-to-launch-an-e-bike-but-its-not-the-first-these-are-6-automotive-firms-from-porsche-to-lamborghini-that-have-made-mountain-bikes-438401 Thu, 23 May 2024 15:34:40 +0000 https://www.mbr.co.uk/?p=438401 History is littered with weird and wonderful mountain bikes released by performance car brands. It's fair to say some have been more successful than others...

Headlines were made and riders around the world were shocked recently when Mclaren launched its eccentric Extreme 600 e-bike, but …Continue reading »]]> https://www.mbr.co.uk/news/the-real-reason-skinsuits-were-banned-in-dh-racing-new-yt-tues-ridden-and-more-in-the-mbr-show-438396 Tue, 21 May 2024 12:24:18 +0000 https://www.mbr.co.uk/?p=438396 In the latest MBR Show we reveal our theories about why skinsuits were really banned from DH racing, and why tight clothing is not all the rage.

In the last couple of weeks, we’ve seen news that Britain’s biggest and most popular bike park is set to …Continue reading »]]> https://www.mbr.co.uk/news/why-are-all-new-e-bikes-starting-to-look-the-same-438282 Thu, 16 May 2024 06:01:10 +0000 https://www.mbr.co.uk/?p=438282 Battery placement seems to be homogenising new e-bike design if the latest releases from Cube, Cannondale, Canyon, and Orbea are anything to go by.

Have you noticed how so many of the best ‘lightweight’ e-bikes look really similar? From the Whyte E-Lyte to the …Continue reading »]]> https://www.mbr.co.uk/news/why-the-favero-assioma-pro-mx-power-meter-pedals-should-be-your-next-training-investment-438027 Tue, 07 May 2024 10:50:43 +0000 https://www.mbr.co.uk/?p=438027 Power meters are no longer just for pro athletes – but how can training with a power meter be beneficial to mountain bikers?

Until pretty recently, training or riding with power has been something reserved for elite racers, or for indoor training alongside …Continue reading »]]> https://www.mbr.co.uk/news/new-to-mountain-biking-dont-miss-these-12-hidden-features-on-your-bike-that-can-make-your-riding-experience-smoother-safer-and-more-enjoyable-438168 Tue, 07 May 2024 09:44:52 +0000 https://www.mbr.co.uk/?p=438168 Modern mountain bikes boast more hidden features than James Bond's Aston Martin. Here's our run down of the most commonly found features you may not know you even had.

If you’ve just bought a new mountain bike, there’s a lot to learn, and not all of it is obvious. …Continue reading »]]> https://www.mbr.co.uk/news/which-is-the-best-lightweight-emtb-motor-for-range-acceleration-and-climbing-ability-437425 Wed, 10 Apr 2024 10:59:14 +0000 https://www.mbr.co.uk/?p=437425 We tested four of the most popular drive systems from Bosch, TQ, Fazua, and Specialized to find out which motor performs best out on the trail.

Lightweight electric mountain bikes are the next big thing, with new motors hitting the market to help brands achieve minimal …Continue reading »]]> https://www.mbr.co.uk/news/13-tricks-e-bike-brands-use-to-hit-unrealistic-headline-weights-so-much-for-the-scales-of-truth-436822 Mon, 25 Mar 2024 12:29:34 +0000 https://www.mbr.co.uk/?p=436822 Punch 'lightest e-mtb' into your browser and some crazy headline weights pop up, but not all of them are quite what they seem.

It stands to reason that even the best e-bikes are going to be heavier than the best analogue bikes for …Continue reading »]]> https://www.mbr.co.uk/featured/14-things-i-hate-most-about-mountain-bikes-in-2024-435797 Mon, 05 Feb 2024 13:00:45 +0000 https://www.mbr.co.uk/?p=435797 Yes mountain bikes are great, but they are really bloody annoying sometimes too. Here's my list of pet hates...

The best mountain bikes are brilliant things, capable of tackling seemingly impossible terrain at silly speeds, they’re great for our …Continue reading »]]> https://www.mbr.co.uk/featured/why-weight-still-matters-on-a-mountain-bike-but-not-for-the-reasons-weve-all-been-told-435643 Fri, 02 Feb 2024 07:00:51 +0000 https://www.mbr.co.uk/?p=435643 Are heavier bikes harder, slower and more tiring to ride? Time to modify an e-bike in a quest to find out

A lighter bike rides better than a heavy one, right? It’s an idea most of us have agreed with over …Continue reading »]]> https://www.mbr.co.uk/news/canyon-striveon-cfr-vs-orbea-wild-m-team-which-is-the-ultimate-enduro-e-bike-434627 Wed, 03 Jan 2024 07:02:53 +0000 https://www.mbr.co.uk/?p=434627 We match up two Bosch-powered, race-proven e-enduro bikes, to find out which offers the ultimate performance away from the race track. 

Competition has always accelerated the pace of development, and the discipline of e-enduro racing is no different. This fledgling race …Continue reading »]]> https://www.mbr.co.uk/news/the-10-best-mtb-race-images-of-2023-and-theres-no-tom-pidcock-in-sight-434230 Mon, 18 Dec 2023 07:00:15 +0000 https://www.mbr.co.uk/?p=434230 The World Cup downhill and enduro racing was sesational in 2023: If you can't remember check out Hurly Burly and The World Stage, two sensational yearbooks charting the best - and worst - moments

Stuck for Christmas gift ideas for that special mountain biker in your life? Or just looking to buy yourself something …Continue reading »]]> https://www.mbr.co.uk/news/sram-eagle-powertrain-a-game-changer-for-e-bikers-or-unwanted-overkill-434431 Thu, 14 Dec 2023 11:46:26 +0000 https://www.mbr.co.uk/?p=434431 With Auto Shift and Coast Shift, wireless control, and a goal of simplifying set-up, has SRAM delivered the ideal system for e-bikers or added features no one will use? In our latest video, we wade into the debate.

SRAM’s entry into the e-bike market caused a stir this autumn by integrating its Eagle Transmission with a Brose motor …Continue reading »]]>