Mountain Bike Rider Magazine Dec-2021 Back Issue

FIRST RIDES
Trek’s Top Fuel seems to get subtly better each year we test it and 2022 is no exception. This 29in wheeled down-country ripper boasts 120mm travel front and rear and gets a raft of subtle changes – like improved geometry and many more sizes – to keep it in top spot. Plus we test out Voodoo’s latest entry-level hardtail, the Braag, with a 1x drivetrain, triple-butted frame and sorted cockpit all for just £550. And the Bold Linkin 150 – the cleanest, coolest-looking trail bike in the world thanks to its hidden shock and pull-out tool tray (yes, really).

BIKE TEST: TRAIL BIKE OF THE YEAR
The most important bike test we do, Trail Bike of the Year pulls together the best and most relevant bikes for UK riders, before breaking them down into our two favourite shredders. This year it’s closer than ever, so we’ve split the test in two, with both shopbought and direct-sales bikes in the running. On test is the Vitus Escarpe 29, Canyon Spectral CF 7, YT Jeffsy Core 2, Privateer 141, Nukeproof Reactor, Focus Jam 6.9, Whyte T-160 and Stumpjumper Evo… let battle commence.

TESTED: JACKETS An essential piece of kit for any UK rider, the jacket has a tough job of it, keeping you clean, dry and sweat free in any weather. Fortunately, clothing manufacturers have been hard at work over the past few years, developing new and innovative fabrics to do the job. We’ve got 12 on test from the likes of Endura, Rapha, Fox, Troy Lee, Specialized and more.