Issue 144

Description

What’s in issue 144?

If you want some downtime from scrolling, or to give your attention span a bit of exercise, we’ve another issue packed with stories. If you like to ride your bike off road, there’s sure to be plenty in here for you. Discover a new corner of the world, see some products from a different point of view, or immerse yourself in the history of mountain bike culture. Learn something, ponder a new perspective, or just lose yourself in pretty pictures. Let’s take a closer look.

UK Adventure: Excess Baggage

Nils Amelinckx takes an unusual packing list to the mountains for an overnight adventure. His bags are strapped to his bike, and his stomach is strapped to his body. Bowel cancer treatment and a stoma won’t keep him from the mountains.

MTB Culture: Cultivating Success

Previous

Hannah heads to the birthplace of mountain biking to meet WTB, a company that is part of mountain biking’s origin story.

UK Adventure: Cannock Chasing Time

Geoff Waugh looks at two mountain bike races, same venue, 30 years apart.

UK Adventure: Where The Duegars Dwell

What’s short, hairy and lures us to the moors of Northumberland – Pete Scullion, or a Duegar?

UK Adventure: Lord Of The Granny Rings

Inspired by the works of Tolkien, Sanny leads his merry crew on an adventure through lands that could easily double for Middle Earth.

Column: Zippity Doo-Dah

Chipps leads us in praise of the humble cable tie.

Interview: Searching For A Solution

Dean Hersey chats to the ball of energy that is Claudio Caluori.

Classic Ride: Ludlow And The Clee Hills

Previous

Shropshire isn’t all about the Long Mynd. Steve Chapman links up some hidden gems.

Bike Test: WTF Is A Trail Bike?

Benji and the team set out to stick to the trail, without veering off into the enduro, or XC.

Kit Essentials: 4-Pot Brakes

Benji and the team test out seven sets of brakes to stop you in your tracks.

MTB Culture: Building For The Builders

There’s more to it than tubes. We meet the people at Paragon Machine Works, who make the bits for the people who make the bikes.

The Issue 144 Cover

This issue’s cover is by James Vincent. Taken at the Fort William World Cup, it’s Amaury Pierron, flying almost fast enough to beat the camera, but not quite:

Nice and wide at 16mm, 1/40 second exposure, f/13 to keep as much in focus as possible without pushing the ISO too far. I’m crouched down in the dark, barely any room to move, my face inches from the near vertical wooden slats of the wall ride. Further up the track, the marshals whistle and cheers from the crowd let me know a rider is coming. With no visual of the track, I’m working solely on instinct and listen for the moments silence as they clear the river gap followed by the rumble of tyres, before panning my camera and firing off a burst.

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