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REECE WILSON - Three years ago, this young Scottish racer was resigned to life as a welder. Now he’s the world downhill champ. We find out how an affinity for wild conditions and zero grip helped him seize a historic win
HIGH & DRY IN THE CANYONLANDS - Photographer Adam Klimek and his riding buddies experience extreme heat and a warm welcome on a four-day bikepacking trip through the iconic desert landscape of Moab, Utah
CAIRNGORMS GOLD - Scotty Laughland goes on the hunt for 24-karat singletrack on an overnight mission through the mountains from Braemar to Aviemore and back again, taking in challenging descents and incredible scenery
BIKE TEST - Boutique full-sussers - these three bikes from smaller brands stand out from the crowd, but which cne stands out on the trail?
WRECKED GRATED - The latest kit reviewed by our test team, including Crankbrothers' Mallet BOA shoes and Troy Lee’s Resist waterproof trousers
SIX OF THE BEST - Goggles tested for fit, clarity and resistance to fogging - which are best for protecting your eyes and maintain laser-like vision?
LONG-TERM RIDES - Introducing the first of our 2021 team bikes from Cube, Juliana, Marin, Nukeproof, NS and Whyte, with more to come next issue
GROUP TEST - A good baselayer is essential to wick sweat away from your skin and keep you dry and warm, especially in winter. We’ve tested 15
number of events being cancelled and some of the course conditions when it finally resumed in the autumn, that it’s easy to forget that the UK now has not one but two reigning downhill champions - World Championships gold medallist Reece Wilson and World Cup series winner Matt Walker. What a result! It’s the former we catch up with this issue (and who graces the cover), as we try to find out just how the flying Scotsman got so good at riding in the mud - which, let’s face it, is something most of us could do with some help with! We'll be following up with Matt in a future mag.
It’s fair to say neither of these guys was the hot tip to win, despite their prodigious talent, which just goes to show that you should never underestimate a wild card. And that leads us nicely to this month’s trail bike test, where we’re ignoring the mega-brands and direct-sale behemoths, and instead testing some more leftfield options from smaller outfits, from ‘steel is real’ offerings from the UK's Cotic and Starling, to boutique carbon black magic from US manufacturer Evil. Can these three plucky outsiders trounce the more established competition, just like Reece and Matt? Turn to p84 to find out! See you on the trails...
