Editorial

It’s all too easy to get mired down with choices for new tyres, wheel sizes, suspension settings, rim widths and colour-matched clothing and helmets, when sometimes the most important decision is staring us in the face. When will you next go for a ride?

Just getting out and riding your bike can often be the best answer to any question you have about your bike, bike parts, where your next mountain bike trip will take you, or just any sort of question beyond the scope of mountain biking. Indeed, getting out and riding your bike can provide the perfect clarity for making a decision about life, work or what’s happening at home.

It’s simple, ride your bike, smile at people, share the trails and go back home a better version of you.

Many of our stories in this issue have the simple concept of the joy of riding your bike at their core. Sure, the differences are stark. We have a feature from the Silk Road Mountain Race which looks like a serious adventure bike undertaking, all the way through to Colin Levitch’s take on how Maydena Bike Park looks after two years of operation. Add in Steffi Marth’s visit to Retallack and Sebastian Jayne’s account of The Pioneer – and the diversity of mountain biking is clear.

That diversity is mirrored in our bike reviews, as not only have we tested the Trek Rail eMTB, but also a top-shelf Pivot Switchblade. Compare that to the Polygon Siskiu D7 and the price comparison is huge. But all three bikes let you go mountain biking, and each one will lead riders to their own memories on the trails riding solo or with friends.

So keep it simple, think less, ride more. Just get out and ride.