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MOUNTAIN BIKE RIDER

Many thanks for your comments and feedback on the new look we unveiled last month. All very positive, so I guess we must be doing something right! Seems like the new sections hit the spot, particularly the advice pages, though the biggest plaudits were reserved for the photography. And I've got to admit, even to us old lags, it looked pretty special; when that happens, we're pretty confident that you'll feel likewise.

It's certainly helped that we've had a handful of classic bluebird days to close out this gloomy year mind!

Luckily this issue continues in similar vein, with another raft of truly stunning features. From Macca's journey to the 'Secret Stanes' (top of my hitlist for '09), through Danny's rally challenge and Andy's surreal experiences at Britain's highest pub, there's plenty to inspire you out there over the next few weeks. Plus, in our latest bike test we've even found a couple of top-rating bargain bouncers that'll keep the wolf from the door as the economy continues to dive.

Elsewhere I've been continuing my 'Trail Centre Challenge', with visits to old friends, the Brenin and Gwydyr forests. In hindsight, starting this project in the depths of winter, accompanied by rain, hail or snow on every ride, perhaps wasn't the wisest decision. But for moments like that captured above, when the clouds part and the vista's so breath-taking you think 'New Zealand', there's no place I'd rather be...

KITCH
(MBR editor)

FEB ISSUE:
in the shops on 30th Dec

JUST GET OUT & RIDE...
TO BRITAIN'S HIGHEST PUB
The Tan Hill Inn, home to strange punters (chickens, sheep, dogs) and a self-service bar

HOT GOSSIP
We've been strong-arming the bike biz into telling us its secrets — SRAM XX groupset anyone?

UK TRAILS
SECRET STANES
Not the crinkly bed sheets you hid from your mum, but natural trails hidden around the legendary 7Stanes trail network

LOCAL KNOWLEDGE
SURREY HILLS
An unlikely spot for some of the best riding in England, Holmbury Hill is somewhere between sculpted trail centre and natural singletrack

OVERSEAS
ETNA, SICILY
"I've got a volcano in my pants," shouted snapper Roo as he schralped down the mountain. Thankfully, there was no eruption that day

RALLY GB, WALES
Can riders on mtb's outpace some of the world's fastest drivers around loose, hairpin bends? No, it turns out, but it was fun trying

BIKE TEST
CHEAP THRILLS
Brown and Darling might be tossing out money left, right and centre, but you don't have to. Four trail bikes at less than £1,500 prove their mettle

GROUPTESTS
SHIFTERS
How much should you spend on your controls? We've tested eight sets from SRAM and Shimano, from thumbies to twisters and duallies

TRAIL GLOVES
Take a tumble and your hands will most likely take the brunt of it — pull on a pair of decent gloves or you'll be picking grit out of your scored-up palms for a month

HOW TO...
CROSS DITCHES
Pop the front wheel up and let the rear sail through — that's the theory, but it's not so easy. Chris Ball shows you how it's done

Q&A SECTION
BODY, RIDE, SHOP & FIX
Our new, user-friendly advice section answers your questions on all things bike, plus tips on how to set-up your brakes

WORKSHOP
SERVICING HOPE HUBS
Hope hubs are the mutt's nuts when it comes to stringing a wheel together, but sometimes they need a little TLC — don't pack them off down the bike shop, have a crack yourself

PLUS
• FOUR PULL-OUT RIDE GUIDES with Ordnance Survey mapping.
• Pages of advice on maintenance, consumer, route and health issues.
• Step-by-step workshop guide to replacing a broken spoke.
• Shedloads of new products ridden and rated.

IMPORTANT NEWS - In 2009 we're continuing to publish 13 issues rather than the usual 12. This means there'll be a new mag every four weeks, rather than one per month. And instead of popping into your local newsagent on the first Wednesday of every month, you'll need to get down there every fourth Wednesday. The January issue's out on December 3rd, then every fourth Wednesday following - you get the picture.


To ensure you don't miss out, you can always subscribe to the mag Subscribe to MBR

www.mbr.co.uk