BACK TO BASICS
I’ve just got back into mountain biking after a few years break (was still riding just nothing taxing due to work commitments) and my two teenage boys have got the bug as well.
I bought a copy of mbr as I used to, to refresh where the world of mtb had got to and to start a tentative search for a new bike to replace my old (and still loved) Kona.
That was when I had a shock. Everything that was featured/tested/ long-termed was expensive. I appreciate things have moved on but not that much. I get the impression from mbr that bikes can only cost £3,300 up to be any good.
As my 25-year-old Kona still gets me down awesome rides (Leith Hill/ Holmbury/peaslake) it has to be asked why do you feature just expensive rides and kit? I’m guessing that not everyone reading the magazine can afford them. And yes, I know we all want inspiration but tests of forks below £1,000 and bikes below £5,000 would be nice as would hardtail tests.
People watch for the laughs and to see Lambos etc, not everyday Audi/ford etc tests, and I get that, but in the real world we do need to see lesser but still capable machines being put through their paces. I am aware that it is very easy when being given better and better bikes to test to start to look down on lesser models. A point in question is my bottom-of-the-range gripshift, I nearly changed to the most expensive version and at the last minute changed my mind, I’m glad I didn’t as mine has been faultless for 25 years and thousands of miles.
Also, how about a secondhand feature? That is where a lot of riders will be getting their bikes from, that would have been very helpful in the search for my ‘new’ to me stead.
And I haven’t written just because
I’m a miserable old sod or negative; mbr is as good as ever with some great features on fitness and also riding/ jumping tips.
Keep up the good work but let’s have a reality check regarding kit for those of us without such well furnished bank accounts!
Grant Covacic
Ed - Usually by this time of the season we’d have run our Hardtail of the Year test, but the pandemic meant there were simply no bikes on offer. That said, we still cover the more affordable end of the market – we have numerous buyer’s guides online at mbr.co.uk with hardtails and full-sussers from £300.