Magazine for the masses (What Mountain Bike)

Member Name: vladimpala

Product:	What Mountain Bike
Date:	01/04/02 (791 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: In touch with reality, informative

Disadvantages: A bit pricey

Like most folk I don't have £2000 pounds to spend on a bike, or £100 to spend on a set of handle bars, so it was a refreshing change to come across a magazine that seems to be a bit more in tune with your average (i.e. skint) mountain biker. Published every couple of months, What Mountain Bike manages to fit much more of interest between it's covers than either MBR or MBUK. Core to this success are the product tests. The tests are comprehensive and cover a good range of examples of the subject. But more importantly they check out the sort of regular stuff you find down your local bike shop and not just the specialist hardcore and expensive bits that often feature in these mags. That's not to say the flash gear doesn't get a look in, it just doesn't dominate.

Another great thing about the magazine is it's educational element - now I realise that sounds dull, but it isn't. Alongside the usual technique articles (including stuff for beginners and experts) you will find information about, for example, frame materials, why steel is different from aluminium and are magnesium frames worth it. The style of the writing keeps the reader from falling asleep and hopefully you learn something too!

Chuck in the normal route guides and maintenance tips, a candid Q&A section and a relatively light (but perfectly balanced and ultimately useful) quota of adverts, and you have pretty darn good read. It may be a bit harder to track down than MBR and MBUK but it's well worth the effort.

P.S. WH Smith normally stock it.
P.P.S. If you are a jumps or downhill enthusiast your will probably want to stick with MBUK.

Summary: