Mountain bike magazines?

knj23

Which mountain bike magazine would you guys recommend?

mrfmilo

Rough guide...

MBUK for reading about the MTB scene/fasion etc. usually more the extreme end.
WMB for reviews, bikes/parts etc.
Dirt for DH/FR

warpcow

WMB is alright for getting an idea of new kit and stuff (I wouldn't take their reviews as gospel though). I buy it occasionally for that reason and nothing else. Dirt is fun, even if it's almost as far removed from my own riding as is possible. Singletrack is the only one I actually read. It's a bit middle-aged and w*nky sometimes, but it tends to focus more onjust how it is to ride, rather than kit or posing.

I used to read MBUK, back in the day, but there's nothing there that appeals to me now. I guess it's alright for young beginners, but not much else. MBR is somewhere in between Singletrack and WMB but most of their reviews are rubbish and assume everyone has £10k to spend on a bike and cares about cod-science explanations of pointless rubbish.

glauciaregina9

knj23 wrote:

Which mountain bike magazine would you guys recommend?

There've been several forum threads about the various mag's and all you get is a huge list of conflicting opinions and you end up none the wiser :-)


I'd "suck-it-and-see" with a few if I were you.


Personally, I no longer bother with a subscription. My local Tesco stocks MBUK, MBR, Dirt, WMB etc, so I just grab whichever looks like it has articles that are most relevant or interesting to me at the time.

.blitz

MBUK - MTB equivalent of the Daily Star

mbr when they test some decent bikes and go easy on the maps & skillz

Singletrack used to be good but I think they have too many contributors and the magazine lacks consistency.

WMB should be renamed What Giant?

Dirt is good for a laugh.

MBA only the Americans could make MTBing seem dull.

Dick Scruttock

.blitz wrote:

MBUK - MTB equivalent of the Daily Star

mbr when they test some decent bikes and go easy on the maps & skillz

Singletrack used to be good but I think they have too many contributors and the magazine lacks consistency.

WMB should be renamed What Giant?

Dirt is good for a laugh.

MBA only the Americans could make MTBing seem dull.

TBH i think thats been very unkind to the Daily Star

I bought Singletrack once, would never bother again. Layout seemed terrible and features pretty dull.

.blitz

Rick Draper wrote:

TBH i think thats been very unkind to the Daily Star

Mccraque

Usually buy MBR through my Tesco voucher subscription as it's so cheap! also get WMB

MBR is written better and enjoy a number of the articles. However - can thumb through it pretty quickly once you have skipped the huge amount of adverts.

WMB - some interesting stuff. But - aimed too much at the extremes for me. and too much towards kids. which is fine for kids...but a little wearing on a 30 something. Also not too sure about the writing style. There are only so many times in a single bike review that "ragged it" can be used to describe riding it hard. Phatt!

CycloRos

Mccraque wrote:

MBR is written better

compared to what? everytime I pick up a copy there's a readers letter in there pointing out the previous editions gafs! and then there's the reviews which tend to give the reader a lovely insight into how the author is feeling that particular day and little else. oh and if it's got an Orange 5 sticker on it it's guaranteed a 10!

anyway, rant over I subscribe to WMB as it's the most kit focused of the mags, I occasionally flick through MBR and MBUK if there's anything of interest

supersonic

Mccraque wrote:

Usually buy MBR through my Tesco voucher subscription as it's so cheap! also get WMB

MBR is written better and enjoy a number of the articles. However - can thumb through it pretty quickly once you have skipped the huge amount of adverts.

WMB - some interesting stuff. But - aimed too much at the extremes for me. and too much towards kids. which is fine for kids...but a little wearing on a 30 something. Also not too sure about the writing style. There are only so many times in a single bike review that "ragged it" can be used to describe riding it hard. Phatt!

I think you mean MBUK, not WMB.

As has been pointed out, the magazines available are all aimed at slightly different markets and age groups. Just a case of picking one out that suits your taste.

But WMB is the best.

stumpyjon

CycloRos wrote:

MBR...if it's got an Orange 5 sticker on it it's guaranteed a 10!

Interesting as they used to get slated for being Spesh Fanbois. So leopard can change it's shorts

Atz

The only one I read with any regularity is Singletrack. That said, in the last 6 months I've only bought Dirt and even then only twice.

Anonymous

Online mag http://www.imbikemag.com is very good in my opinion.

P-Jay

Dirt has lovely pics, but can only be understood if you're under 20 I think.. I can’t read it, it’s full of cliquey lingo I don’t always understand, the words are all over the page and not always the right way up.

WMB is a bit like WhatCar or Which, lots of very worthy in-depth reviews of ordinary everyday stuff. They have pages of stats at the back that give mini-reviews of loads and loads of bikes they're reviewed over the years, it's good, but last time I checked they didn't always give the year so it was hard to work out which model they were on about. Supersonic writes a nice bit in it.

Singletrack is nice, comes out every now and then, who knows when.

MBR< Zzzzzzzzzz sorry, fell asleep there. It's very XC focused, all about riding around natural stuff, which OK is what we're doing 90% of the time, but that's kinda like buying a Car Mag to read about someone driving a diesel focus to work. They love an Orange 5 over at MBR.

MBUK is very fashion lead I think, but that’s OK I like a bit of bling, they cover lots of types of riding unlike Singletrack and MBR (XC) and Dirt (DH FR) with most disciplines having their own double page section at the back, review the DH WC and XC which I like. They also have lots on places to go! Day trips in the UK and Bike Hols aboard, which I really like because I love to do both.

That’s only my perception though, it’s not that clear-cut and I haven’t bought anything but MBUK in a year so they might not be like that anymore.

supersonic

WMB is a bit like WhatCar or WhatToaster, lots of very worthy in-depth reviews of ordinary everyday stuff and 10-10 reviews for Orange 5's, one day they're make some meaningful changes to the fame and they'll have to invent a 11 out of 10 review. They also have a couple of pages of stats at the back that give mini-reviews of loads and loads of bikes they're reviewed over the years, it's good, but last time I checked they didn't always give the year so it was hard to work out which model they were on about, unless of course it was an Orange 5 as they've not changed much since the invention of electricity. I buy it when I’m looking for a new bike sometimes.

Again, wrong mag - MBR is the Orange lover. Right on the rest of the stuff, we have a big guide at the back.

hoochylala

Singletrack for me.

MBR for a while but it seemed to just end up going over the same stuff again and again (I suppose all mags do this to a certain extent). I prefer the kind of muddled together feel of Singletrack. I like lots of contributors and stories of 'real life' riders/situations etc...

.blitz

supersonic wrote:

But WMB is the best.

hoochylala

Thinking about it though, although not strictly a magazine, The Ride Journal trumps them all for quality cycling related reading!

The Northern Monkey

I like MBUK becasue its a lot more relaxed.
I don't really read mags for the reviews, mainly just the entertainment and to drool over rediculously expesive porn bikes that i'll never own

WMB, MBR + Singletrack are a bit to serious and there are too many words for me

paul.skibum

I buy Dirt and Singletrack as they are both the most culture oriented and not so product specific - I read the others in Smiths over lunch.

Northwind

I get them all tbh but Singletrack and Dirt are my favourites, they're mostly about riding rather than about bikes. Not that Dirt has a lot of relevance to my sort of riding but still,it's a good read and there's usually tons of content in it. I think probably MBUK would be the first one I'd drop, then either WMB or MBR. MBR is terrible when it's bad * but great when it's good.

* "The Inbred is designed for up to a 130mm fork but we tested it with 140mm. It didn't handle very well, it was too long and the BB was too high and it was sluggish and floppy in singletrack. Obviously we did that to it on purpose, and if it had a 100mm fork in it'd be mint, but still we're marking it down so that the Orange will win"

Mccraque

supersonic wrote:

Mccraque wrote:

Usually buy MBR through my Tesco voucher subscription as it's so cheap! also get WMB

MBR is written better and enjoy a number of the articles. However - can thumb through it pretty quickly once you have skipped the huge amount of adverts.

WMB - some interesting stuff. But - aimed too much at the extremes for me. and too much towards kids. which is fine for kids...but a little wearing on a 30 something. Also not too sure about the writing style. There are only so many times in a single bike review that "ragged it" can be used to describe riding it hard. Phatt!

I think you mean MBUK, not WMB.

As has been pointed out, the magazines available are all aimed at slightly different markets and age groups. Just a case of picking one out that suits your taste.

But WMB is the best.

You're right. MBUK...spotty oiks using words like radical.

TheNorthernTrain

I just read em all in the shop :? Usually get MBUK or MBR, depends on the articles which i think are most relevant. Or i often buy MBR if they have a decent set of routes nearish to me.

Though i am liking that online mag mentioned earlier!

P-Jay

supersonic wrote:

WMB is a bit like WhatCar or WhatToaster, lots of very worthy in-depth reviews of ordinary everyday stuff and 10-10 reviews for Orange 5's, one day they're make some meaningful changes to the fame and they'll have to invent a 11 out of 10 review. They also have a couple of pages of stats at the back that give mini-reviews of loads and loads of bikes they're reviewed over the years, it's good, but last time I checked they didn't always give the year so it was hard to work out which model they were on about, unless of course it was an Orange 5 as they've not changed much since the invention of electricity. I buy it when I’m looking for a new bike sometimes.

Again, wrong mag - MBR is the Orange lover. Right on the rest of the stuff, we have a big guide at the back.

Sorry, have amended.

theblender

MBUK is still the best because it does cover ALL types of biking.

Yes the "hype" section of the mag is very tabloid but it's great for previews of up and coming desirable kit and industry news.

You get a decent section of product tests, dedicated sections for XC, Freeride, Trials, DirtJump and DH and usually a good article on adventure biking/epic rides abroad etc along with an easy to follow maintenance section and regular series on riding techniques etc.

A very well rounded mag covering all bases.

..and I'm 35!

Anonymous

I like MBUK because it covers everything, and is generally the most entertaining. It's kind of like a "TopGear (TV show)" for mountain bikes.
Stupid stunts, stupid adventures, interviews with riders and so on.

Actually, MBUK has more useful content than TopGear!

stubs

DIRT makes me feel very old

MBUK makes me laugh and shake my head kids eh

Singletrack I used to read because it was different but its got middle class and middle aged recently very Waitrose and 4x4 on the school run. The MTBiking equivalent of Glastonbury

WMB I want to like it more but its a bit dull these days. Also when you do a MEGA TEST of summer clothing 10 pairs of shorts and 10 jerseys doesnt quite live up to the hype. I want my money back for that issue should of opened the plastic bag before buying

MBR For christ sake throw the angle finder away will you but the routes are good

supersonic

If you want me to cover a topic with my little column, feel free to ask lol.

Also will welcome ideas for features which I can put forward to Matt - I am doing a lot more technical stuff these days, including a giant feature on suspension, which is on sale at the end of this month.

Anonymous

supersonic wrote:

If you want me to cover a topic with my little column, feel free to ask lol.

Also will welcome ideas for features which I can put forward to Matt - I am doing a lot more technical stuff these days, including a giant feature on suspension, which is on sale at the end of this month.

Debunking the myth of brake jack would be a good one

supersonic

Yep, covered that lol.

Anonymous

Oh, I missed that one.
Actually wasn't I meant to get some simulations running to discuss something with you?
Errr, can't remember what now.