Cardinham Woods in Bodmin, Cornwall, have some brand new trails, which have opened in time for summer. They’re looking good to us!

Cornwall’s newest trail center ridin by the westcoastmountainbiking.com crew

We have one of these jackets up for grabs

Fancy winning a Surface Windjamma jacket, as modelled here by a very cold Rob Weaver?

We have one jacket to give away – three runners up will win four pairs of Surface Crew socks, in a variety of colours.

Head to www.futurecomps.co.uk/MBUKsurface to enter.

Find out more at www.surface-clothing.com, and check out Surface’s Facebook page for all their latest news.

Runners up will win four pairs of socks each

It’s going to be one heck of a show!

Steve Peat flying the flag- would it look this good at the Olympics?

Our heart rates are already up just thinking about the Brits representing at the Velodrome, and how likely they are to take away a lot of medals. And the same too for the Cross Country MTB crew doing us proud at Hadley Farm.

But really what we- and most people we know- are calling for is the biggest, baddest and most exciting form of mountain biking to make it to the games. But does it belong there or should it be at the X-games instead?

The whole idea of the Olympic Games is that the sports are down to sportsmanship and fair game- not the tools used. Cross Country mountain biking sees most riders on very similar bikes- they may as well all be the same given the advantages between them all.

It’s the riders that really make the magic happen.

Track racing is done on bikes virtually identical to each other and Skiing is done on skis virtually the same as the next set.

Downhill mountain bikes vary immensely. Weight, suspension travel, geometry, efficiency, design– and the list goes on. Plus, the terrain they ride them on deteriorates as the race goes on. Meaning a lot of factors affect what the riders can do- despite current top times being so close. Apart from that American chap though,  who’s riding on his own at the moment.

Imagine if downhill mountain biking could be classed- like sailing…

Bikes could be built by different manufacturers but all have to adhere to a design, weight, length etc- removing the bike factor from the equation.

It’s certainly a talking piece right now here at MBUK towers- what’s your take on downhill mountain biking at the Olympics?

Bart Brentjens was the first winner of the Olympic XC mountain biking (1996) and won gold again in 2004. He’s now team manager to Annie Last, one of Britain’s brightest hopes for XC MTB gold in the 2012 Olympics.

In the video below, Bart offers his pros and cons of the newly redesigned Olympic mountain bike course at Hadleigh Farm which he had the chance to ride recently, as well as his predictions for the winners of the Olympic mountain biking this summer.

And in MBUK 278, you can read Bart’s advice for Annie in her quest for Olympic medal glory – it’s on sale on 1 June.

Update! A top 10 finish at La Bresse on Sunday means Annie has now secured a place at the Olympics. Go Annie! More here, courtesy of the BBC.

Stage 6: Rif Selleries to Sestriere

Distance: 111km

Climbing: 4626m

Max Altitude: 3131m

Last night I found out that I had moved up 2 places to 7^th overall and I was really close to 6^th, effectively about 8 minutes behind which seemed possible. We also found out that Stage 6 would be shortened, as it was due to be 125km with about 6000m climbing. We would also miss out the fort which includes the 4000 steps due to rain overnight they were deemed too dangerous, which again was probably sensible but I was looking forward to that bit!

It was an early start this morning, 5.30am wake up for 7am start. I left with all the top riders and decided that I would put a big effort into the first special stage, which was about 65km long then just see what the legs had left for Mt Chaberton.

Todays route started high, around 2000m but went higher, up to 2600m and stayed above 2000m with lots of up and downs for 30km. It then dropped on some really nice singletrack towards Sestriere before heading out again on some really nasty undulations. I pushed hard and managed to keep a good gap on all the chasers, the special stage finished on a awesome bit of wooded singletrack and I managed to catch the two brothers who were infront of me overall just as it ended, which was a great result for me. Then came a 10km transition to the start of stage 2, Mt Chaberton.

There was food & water near the start of the stage, so I waited, ate loads and hung around for over 30 minutes with all the other top riders. No one was willing to head off first, all watching each other.

The record to the top is 2 hours and 1 minute, set last year by Ismael Ventura who is currently in the lead.

I headed off and we were straight into the climb, my legs were sleepy after standing around for so long, but after about 5 or 10 minutes they started to work.

I eventually did in 2hrs 41minutes. Not fast at all, but by no means the slowest. I only stopped briefly to eat something (the race helicopter transports people/food/drink to the top), put my dhb Windslam jersey on and take a few pictures.

The route back down was the same for a while, then diverted off down a steep and very sketchy scree slope. About 95% of the downhill was rideable, but there were a few sections where the rock drops were too big or the scree was too dangerous to ride.

At the end of the day, I was totally spent and never thought I would see the end. In total it took me 9hrs 50min and it was the hardest day of riding I have ever done. More to come…

You can read more of how Matt is getting on right here in the next couple of days. In the mean time, keep ‘er lit, buddy!

I’ve been in France since Friday, but today was the first day on the Rocky Mountain Slayer. I spent the first few days in a different valley doing a few road rides in preparation for the Etape du Tour next Monday… Did I not mention that straight after the Mega I’m staying on to tackle the Etape as well? Anyway, yesterday I rode up to Alpe D’Huez, checked everything out then drove up with everything afterwards.

It is a great setup here and very English- which is hardly surprising considering about half the race entrants for from the UK. The organisers are very accommodating and have cut a field near the top lift where everyone is camping, including Joe Barnes who rocked up late last night and was also one of the first to wake up and get riding this morning!

I’ve not ridden the Rocky Mountain for a while and I’ll be totally honest – I was just a bit scared! I just had no idea what to expect or how I would do. It didn’t start too well either, deciding to come down the ‘beginner route’ rather than a race run to get my eye in. I hit the deck within 30 seconds- although thankfully nothing was injured except my pride.

After that I grew some balls and started riding the qualifying route, doing a section at a time and working my way to the top of the run.

By the end of the day I was feeling much more confident on the bike and even getting frustrated with others for stopping along the course. The most important thing seems to be getting your ‘alpine eye’ in, and adapting to not only the gradient, but the speed and intensity of alpine riding. Once settled on it though, your riding level seems to come on rapidly.

The last run of the day I did a full run of the qualifier- from top to bottom. It is different to previous years, although starts from the same place, which will no doubt lead some people in to a false sense of security.

The previous course at Alpe D'Huez

To summarise the route; It starts at 2800m and is 11km in length. At the top you go through a series of wide but very loose switchbacks before going through a few patches of snow and a few steep sections with multiple lines. It opens up for a short time before hitting the singletrack and it stays tight and with mostly one line for a long time. The start will be crucial if you want to do well, as you could get held up for a long time on the singletrack!

There are a couple of ladder sections which is probably causing the most problems for riders, although it is easier than it looks. From there is turns flatter and pedally going through Alpe D’Huez itself for a while and then a long section with lots of loose, dusty berms eventually finishing at the village of Huez at 1500m altitude. It is less pedally and more suited to DH orientated bikes than previous events but still fine on the Rocky Mountain Slayer I am riding and similar All-Mountain bikes.

Tomorrow I am planning on practicing on the full Mega course, so long as the Glacier is open- it wasn’t today due to the weather- and maybe do one more run of the qualifier as that is the crucial one for me.

Over and out.

Check back for Matt’s updates here on the MBUK blog. We’ll be posting updates on Facebook and Twitter- @mbukmagazine so be sure to check out for information…

Well, no, of course not. Sorry, I hate that ‘new rock’n'roll’ metaphor but there is a lot to be said for Dalby. It’s held in high regard as one of the more technical courses on the XC World Cup calendar and features a lot of opportunities for spectators to get as close to the racing as possible.

With last years inaugural event widely haled as a success we were curious. Could a weekend in Yorkshire really compete with the established great British World Cup weekender in the Highlands, Fort Bill?

Friday night was all about the Pro-Eliminator event which took place through the streets of Pickering. This was a brilliant event and saw some tight racing and blistering sprints up to the line. We then went for fish’n'chips in the world’s most confusing chip shop.

Saturday morning arrived rather blurrily, we pitched up the impressive MBUK easy-up and angled in the Vito Sport. Weavs, Jamer and Editor Danny and I then went for a dander pressing the flesh with the usual snappers, marketing managers and riders before having a wander around the course.

Dalby, on first examination, doesn’t present anything that the experienced trail rider would really gulp at. However, the switch-backs of Medusa’s Drop and Worry Gill begin to look pretty savage when you see the pace that the pro ranks tackle them at – it’s insane!

Never mind the fact that they’re machining their way around in a tight pack at, in the words of Weavs, a ‘helluva’ pace, they’re also rocking inverted stems, flat bars and bikes that weigh little more than a moist sock!

With a bellyfull of catering van food and coffee it was then our turn to take on the ‘it’s not a race but you will be timed’ Dalby Dare. This is an event which reeks of being a great idea providing Joe Punter with an opportunity to ride the World Cup course for themselves. Think Mad Sunday at the Isle of Man TT but on XC bikes and you’re close…

It was definitely eventful with Weavs doing incredibly well to make it back up to the sharp end of our ‘middle ring’ group after being punted into the scenery early doors and me nearly dry-heaving over the finishing line after a stifled and frustrating run behind a fellow competitor. Jamer seemed to have the best crack at it even getting a clear run at the main descents – jammy git!

The proper racing itself on Sunday was amazing to watch with Annie Last and Tracy Moseley providing the reasons to shout in the women’s event and Ollie Beck and Liam Killeen doing like-wise in the men’s. We were even treated to Brian Lopes trying a hand at Lycra lapping and despite carrying a lot more muscle than necessary he blasted up the tricky rock-stepped climb time and time again. Jamer also called him ‘Burt Lopez’ which was much funnier.

Anyway, you can read a bit more on our Dalby adventures soon both here and in the mag (issue 266, on sale 29th June). In the mean time, here are a few pics…

Bikes are pretty simple objects when it comes to getting them to perform how you want – set up the bars, have a fiddle with the suspension and maybe let some air out of the tyres and you’re pretty much good to go. Dogs on the other hand…

My missus and I decided a while ago that despite my best efforts that there just wasn’t enough hair in the house and all our furniture and soft furnishings were far too intact, so we got Bru.

The result of a presumably drunken night of madness between a Radstock-based labrador and a golden retrievor he’s quite the dog. But can he be a trail dog?!

Half-feral, half finely-honed obedience machine capable of tearing his way through switchbacks and laughing off long draggy climbs with nothing more than a wag of the tail and piss in the nearest bush – in other words, a ‘real’ dog!

Well, a few months in and it’s going pretty well. We got him started with being confident off the lead – that wasn’t a problem! A few months into that and I’d slowly roll around on the bike alongside him and now that the sunshine is here he’s finally getting out for full-on spins.

The downsides are the following;

• Him getting in front of me on climbs and sauntering along as though it’s the easiest thing in the world.
• Disappearing – He’s worked out that where-ever I am, he can catch me up pretty quick so as a result, there’s time to loiter in the undergrowth.
• Over-excitement – In his head he has the elastic limbs of Mr.Fantastic coupled to the mighty pistons of the Flying Scotsman. This isn’t really accurate – it’s more like the relatively short limbs of well, a dog, and the not-so mighty pistons of the 16:40 to Falkirk. Basically, you need to force him to cool down every now and again!

The upsides are the following;

• There’s always someone to go riding with! However sadly this reflects on me as a human being…
• Walk the dog, ride the bike – two birds, one stone – DEAD.
• A glowy, smug sense of well-being that when he’s not biting other dogs, scaring local kids, barking at people in wheelchairs, eating my coffee-table, coating my entire home in hair or stealing food off the work-tops that actually, deep down he’s a pretty good dog.

Anyway, here’s how he’s getting on along with a quick video of me riding the new Pivot Mach 5.7. You can read the full review in issue 264 which is in the shops now!

Have you got a trail dog yourself? Any tips or techniques?

Then mosey on down to your local newsagent and pick up the brand new issue of MBUK.

It’s packed with all the usual news, features and reviews goodness, but this time we’re bringing you even more!

Yep, every issue comes with an exclusive supplement featuring the Sexiest Bikes and Kit for 2011.

Lovingly compiled by our genius tech ed Weavs, we’ve got flippin gorgeous shots of the bikes of the year. We’re talking the Nuke Proof Scalp DH, Mondraker Factor RR, Cannondale Jekyll Ultimate, DMR Omen and every single bike that matters for 2011.

We’ve got all the juiciest kit, and a look back at the trends that have stuck over the years. And the ones that haven’t.

Not only that, we’ve gotten into a huddle with all the industry bods who matter to find out what’s coming over the next year.

And our own Wrecking Crew team give their predictions for what we’ll all be riding in 2011. And last, but not least, a pic of a very large tortoise.

Don’t miss it!

This pedal over the mountains behind Machynlleth and Aberdyfi was the personal target that I’d set myself since I started this fat to thin by bike thing back in June last year. If you read my first blog I said about getting back into Snowdonia; this was the route I had in mind while writing that. For me it was a really big deal, a kind of marker of progress and a small insight into my biking and fitness future. Forget about the two road 100s and other road miles, they’re about getting fitter – I’m an MTBer, this is what I’m about.

I’d last pedalled this exact same route back in 2000 with my mate Wilksee and it was my last ‘proper’ MTB ride on proper mountains. I knew it was a big deal as there were some crippling ascents and very technical surfaces to negotiate. Was I fit enough? Last time it had nearly done for me – would the last year of towpath bashing, city commuting and English hills be enough to prepare me for Snowdonia?

There was a nice little warm-up on the road to get to the start of the trail behind Bryncrug. I started climbing at about 0700hrs. I knew that there was an hour and 15 minutes of off-road climbing to get to the top. This was on rocky, muddy, flooded and Land Rover rutted trails too. Maybe I was being over-ambitious. I’m not that far off 47 years old and am still obese. The first 10 minutes were murder! What was I doing?

I resolved that I was going to pedal it all, even if I kept stopping for a rest. At least it would give me plenty of photo opportunities and chances to take in the stunning scenery. Of which there was plenty. Southern Snowdonia is a bit of a secret in MTB circles (outside of trail centres like Coed-y-Brenin, which isn’t too far away). It hasn’t got the rugged grandeur or gigantic elevation of the North, but it is just as challenging and as full of natural unspoilt beauty. I ain’t really a trail centre person anyway, I like wilderness and solitude.

The route just went up and up and up. It got rockier and rockier and rockier. It was tougher than I remembered, or was it age and unfitness? I did take plenty of pictures (read have a rest) and really took it steady, I couldn’t have gone any quicker anyway!

Just when I thought the trail couldn’t get any steeper or rockier, it got steeper and rockier. I tried to pedal it, I really did, but I just ran of skill and spun out on a wet rocky surface and toppled over. I couldn’t get back on and pedal again despite three failed attempts, so my ‘pedal all of it’ resolution went crashing back down the valley and I walked until the trail got easier. I consoled myself with the thought that if I recalled correctly me and Wilksee walked this bit 10 years ago too.

By this time I was well above the tree line and the sun was just starting to peak up past the mountain ahead, and I knew that once the light flooded down the valley behind me then there would be a truly staggering sight. I wasn’t wrong. The myriad shades of green, the purple heather and varying shades of grey on the granite outcrops, all with Cardigan Bay as a beautiful blue-grey background, took my breath away. This was a sandwich stop if ever I saw one. With just a couple of curious sheep for company I had my breakfast and a good guzzle from my CamelBak.

Now I knew that ahead it was, for this trail, fairly level, but this was when the flooded paths started to come into play. By flooded I meant above the hubs flooded and with the bottom of the ‘river’ totally invisible, rocks or tyre-sucking mud could be lurking there just waiting to catch you out.

As you only get wet once, then you may as well get it over with. I rode the first flood of about 30 metres without any dramas, just with the inevitable soaking – so what, it was warm and sunny, enjoy the cooling water I say!

After about four or five of these ‘rivers’ to negotiate the downhill started: granite outcrops, shale, streams crossing the trail and mud all to be ridden before the bottom down by the village of Pennal. But the rivers had one last booby trap for me.

After the first descent the trail levelled out and the longest ‘river’ so far was in front of me. For some reason I didn’t like the look of this one so I tried to find a route around, there wasn’t one, so man up Chapman and get on with it!

I took a run at it, kept in a reasonably easy gear to keep spinning and just work my way through, then the path below my front tyre dropped and I was caught in water as deep as the front wheel in very cloying mud! I tried to keep going but I hadn’t got the strength to turn the pedals the mud was that sticky. I ground to a halt and toppled sideways to my left. I’m sure it would have looked very funny to anyone watching, but as I’d guessed, I was the only person up here, I hadn’t seen a soul since I rode off the main road at Bryncrug. I dragged myself out of the water along with my bike, which the mud was holding onto, and just waded to the end of the river, what a bugger! No harm done though.

The next descent was the real yahoo, over a firm surface of gravel, ruts, berms on the bends and errant sheep! It was fabulous fun, although very knackering, as anyone who has done a very fast lengthy off-road descent will tell you. Out of the saddle, feet level, arms and legs as human suspension (the best kind) and concentrating very hard on the trail in front. I even got in a few small jumps over some small boulders, what a blast. It was just as well I had front disc brakes as there was a closed farm gate just around a bend that I hadn’t remembered! That could have been interesting with V brakes!

Onto the lane now, the first mountain stage over, but what a lane! A full on downhill to Pennal that got me to 45mph on my full suss Marin. And that was just coasting!

A small bit of main road then off to the next crippling ascent to the Bearded Lake. It started off on Tarmac and a local guy who I said good morning to laughed at me when I said I was going to the Bearded Lake and shouted at me to ‘get in your lowest gear now!’

That caused some disconcertion as for some reason I couldn’t remember this bit of the ride from 10 years ago at all. Ah well, I’ll soon find out! Just around the bend I saw what the local guy had meant. A Tarmac wall stretched out before me, and some local wag had made a sign saying ‘first gear’ and nailed it to a wrecked trailer. I could have done with a gear lower than first gear – although I pedalled this bit, it was at the mind numbingly slow speed of 3mph, I’m sure I could have walked it quicker. I was delighted to see a gate ahead as that meant I could stop this agonising battle with the Tarmac wall.

Through the gate and it was now a forestry section, again uphill but at least I could see where the tree line ended, which meant the trail would only get harder.

It didn’t disappoint, added to the fact that the sun was really starting to come in to effect, and again I had second thoughts as to the wisdom of me doing this ride just over a year on from being 22 stone 4lb! But the top of this particular climb was nearly in view. As were the panoramas over the Dyfi Estuary and south down the coastline past Borth, Aberystwyth, Newquay and beyond. To the North the Lleyn Peninsular was easily visible as were the mountains of northern Snowdonia, all preceded by the area’s largest mountain Cadir Idris. Just magnificent. And this is why I love wilderness mountain biking. And this is why this route is so close to my heart, it has everything you could want out of MTBing in Britain. Okay at 20 miles it isn’t the longest, but with a bit of map reading you can lengthen it or shorten it easily to suit your fitness, ability or time constraints. Perfect.

What can I say? The general wisdom is that every great ride should end with a screaming descent, and this route has it in spades, from the farm at the top of the valley all the way down into Aberdyfi, you don’t have to pedal much at all and with Cardigan Bay spreading out in front it’s one for the memory banks. Okay, I lied a bit about the finish as I had a road pedal of 4 miles to Tywyn, but Aberdyfi is a good place to finish with its tea shops, pubs and cafes, plus a terrific sea view I always classed the ride as finishing there.

So, I’m back pedalling in the mountains after a 10-year gap. What a waste. If ever I knew why I wanted to get fit, and why I hated myself while I wasn’t, then this ride just underlines everything. It wasn’t fast, at just under 4 hours, and with my off it certainly wasn’t technically accomplished, but I’m back as a full-on MTBer.

When I sat at the top having my sandwiches and soaking in the view I tried to think why I stopped pedalling and, even with the inspiration of the mountains, I failed to find a reason. It’s quite emotional actually (well for me) that all I could think of while surrounded by Wales in all its glory was what might have been. How many times would I have pedalled this route if it hadn’t been for my morbid obesity? What other routes, maybe even better than this one, have I missed and may never see when I was young enough to really enjoy them?

All I can do in reality is just crack on and make up for lost time on my bike. Maybe I’ll never find the answers I’m looking for, but up there in the mountains is a good a place as any to find them. Up the top of another Snowdonia mountain there may lie my epiphany.

Fat mountain biker goes ‘proper’ mountain biking in Snowdonia Video Two