Mbuk

[Ash-Kennard]

it doesn't ever feature trials anymore, ok, 1 A3 spread near the back of the mag, but thats not nearly enough. I will still buy it because it has some pretty cool stories and photos from other disaplins, but I know that others aren't buying it anymore, just because of the sheer lack of trials featured. also, martyn ashtons colum, wtf, he just rambles now, 'chav trials' if tracksuit bottoms are comfy we will wear them, if trials boots are good to ride in, we will wear them, its just a stupid topic. we were discussing this today and came to the conclusion that he is running out of ideas, I used to admire martyn, but now im just bored of him, honestly.

rant over. ps, like the pun in the title?

ash

[Tomm]

Yeah, there's also not enough BMX or road racing stuff in there.

It can't cover every kind of riding, and it won't try. A few years ago, trials used to be something that normal mountain bikers did at the end of an XC event, just for a bit of fun. But now it's completely different, it's a speciality in its own right. So basically your average mountain biker is not that interested any more. I don't really care if MBUK doesn't cover trials any more, I just won't buy it. Simple

[Tarquin]

MBUK has been going downhill for a bloody long time. Was it like 2 years ago that they had the whole "New look MBUK" and every page ended up covered in white space?

Its like they just couldnt find enough stuff to fill the pages anymore!

Allthough it would obviously be nice to see a larger range of types of riding, especially trials of course! I suppose if you ask someone in the street what they imagine when you say Mountain Biking to them, I would put my money on most people saying XC.

Also, as Tomm said, its a speciality in its own right, and there are alot of people who ride bikes that dont have a clue that trials even exists, let alone theres world championships ect, so I suppose MBUK see the point that people havent heard of it, so dont want to use up too much space in their mag with it.

In the end, Im sure with stuff like TF and Tartybikes, we really dont need mags. As we get all the news, helpas and tips we need without having to go out and pay for it!

[DAB]

It wasn't that long ago that MBUK hated trials...... it's only because it became popular that it got in the mag... i still have an issue that has martin on the front cover doing a big drop... a nice 6 page spread on his 10 ft + 360 spin off.... and then flick to the letters page.. and theres someone saying about how boring trials is to watch and that it's crap.... and the (ed) replys that it is and something needs to be done about it to make it more appealing to the masses.....

MBUK only do poser crap.. and they talk out of there arse allot... best example is Ben Savage.... one of the best riders in the country and the only time he gets in MBUK in a good spread is when he's doing posy shit at chris's yard.... thats MBUK....

And if you look back in the old issues at all the trials riders that have hade nice spreads done about them.. it's ether for the pose factor... or that martin whats them in there.... and some of the pose riders don't even ride anymore..... remember Neal Lemon!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! to name but one......

[ibs_m]

Well said dab!

That post made me piss!

Neal lemon!!! haha - 'Talk alot of arse' - love it!

Youve just brightened up my monday morning!

[F-Stop Junkie]

I can remember a time before forums and the only trials riders in MBUK were Hans Rey, Jez Avery and Paul Turner. This was a time when watching the bits of trials in Dirt was a revelation! I remember standing by the trials demo area at Bike 96 just amazed that Martyn and Martin could stand on top of a log and know where to place a pallet so they'd land on it, no practising, no adjustments, they just knew.

Then trials got big. Really big. People would turn up at events to get rider autographs, comps were massively over subscribed, and trials was about 25% of MBUK's content. People would queue for hours to watch the trials shows at The Bike Show, and then MBUK decided to bring the focus back more onto other styles of riding and look at what's happened.

MBUK didn't start covering trials when it got big, Martyn and Martin made trials interesting to the general public, and then MBUK's coverage made it big.

A lot is made of 'we don't need forums, we have news before anyone else' but that misses out two important points:

1. TF is made up of 82% speculation and opinion

2. The Internet can not support long articles, especially if there's no money to pay the people who write them.

As a result, I believe trials riders are missing out on a lot. Where are the competition reports? Interviews with riders and manufacturers? People like Adam and Dave at Tarty are good at providing info, but it's about the products they supply and have an interest in selling, same with any manufacturer or retailer. Even people posting reviews of kit on TF sometimes have a bias simply because they've paid good money for something and believe it's good without having a lot of experience with other products, or out of excitement of having new bits.

MBUK isn't something that should be feared or denigrated, but embraced. We need to portray our sport in the best way possible, and come up with new ideas about how to display it. The past, great trials articles have been things like the Martins riding over Granny Behr's house, MAD riding on Land Rovers at Gaydon (I think) and others like that with capture people's imagination. It's not about a 40" sidehop or 60" tap, but giving trials a use. That's what will help trials grow, and be further accepted into the cycling conciousness further.

[CurtisRider]

As a result, I believe trials riders are missing out on a lot. Where are the competition reports? Interviews with riders and manufacturers? People like Adam and Dave at Tarty are good at providing info, but it's about the products they supply and have an interest in selling, same with any manufacturer or retailer. Even people posting reviews of kit on TF sometimes have a bias simply because they've paid good money for something and believe it's good without having a lot of experience with other products, or out of excitement of having new bits

but even mbuk are blatantly biased on some of thier reviews on products, they claim to be independant and stuff, but i really dont belive it, they have reviewed some utterly tripe products and rated them far too highly-i used to trust the reviews as a kid, til i bought the products that is...now i take them with a pinch of salt

also, mbuk is so late to get info on things, as its like a month behind(or more), so new products....arent that new by the time you read about it

i do buy mbuk still, but im not quite sure why, even the freebies are dissapointing now, those dvds are terrible.....i think its time i changed to ride magazine, at least its got some substance and decent reviews+the photography pisses over the majority of mbuks

[Team Ashton]

Many riders on this very Forum discovered Trials in MBUK, thats what the magazine does, makes people aware of the many ways MTB is great!

Along with other dedicated riders i take alot of time trying to get Trials featured in this amazing magazine, where as you have chosen to use very little time to paint a negative opinion over one of the best things Trials has going for it, an element of our sport that is not influanced by Politics, and produced by people who love bike riding. Last month i recieved an email from Ot Pi congratulating the "Trials Crew" of the mag on making a huge contribution to the Trials World. Although you disagree?

I will use this oppertunity to thank the following people;

Chris Ratcliffe, Chris Akrigg, Robin, Karinna,Waynio (especially), Ben, Fred, Andrew Dawson, Tarty(who also advertise in MBUK, sure they will be really chuffed with your comments, Not), Hawziee, Chris Poiser (advertiser!), Frazer (Advertiser), Danny Holroyd, Orange (also advertisers, so thanks again), Select, Barbera, CLS, Neil Tunni (re send your new Mobile Number), Porter, Danny Butler, Chris Doney, Giles.

Please read that list and realise that you have just insulted every single one of them. Your sport survives on the work and money of these people, as a rider of a small and struggling discipline i see it as your bloody duty to buy MBUK, you will probably laugh and joke this away "water off a Dicks back" however we will all continue to work very hard on something we believe in.

As for negative comments about the Column, i would say that is probably justified, although i maintain that Track suit bottoms are Gay!

Martyn.

[F-Stop Junkie]

but even mbuk are blatantly biased on some of thier reviews on products, they claim to be independant and stuff, but i really dont belive it, they have reviewed some utterly tripe products and rated them far too highly-i used to trust the reviews as a kid, til i bought the products that is...now i take them with a pinch of salt

i think its time i changed to ride magazine, at least its got some substance and decent reviews+the photography pisses over the majority of mbuks

As some one who used to review products for MBUK way back when, believe me that the reviews are independant and based on the experiences of the reviewer. This is what separates magazines like MBUK from other magazines - mostly based outside the UK - which will only put reviews in for products made by people who advertise. No adverts, no review.

Ride is a different kind of magazine. If you like that, then you'll like Modest Bike if you can find it. MBUK has it's style, Ride has theirs. I wouldn't say the quality of the photography was any worse in MBUK, it's just different usage.

[trialsalot]

i agree martyn.without that mag our sport wouldn't be so big.OUR sport needs as much help as possible to get noticed (see all the "why isn't our sport so big topics")i hate to be a bummer but martyn and martin have transformed trials into what it is now,they've worked their arses off and still do.i think wherever trials is mentioned even if it was a paragraph a mag somewhere it would of made a few people wander what trials is and maybe get them interested in what we all do or at least make them understand why we love this sport.i don't know about everyone else but i'm off out to buy mbuk.

keep up the good work ashton and everyone else mentioned doing their part to help our sport

thanks sooooo much

craig

[SomeoneNew]

MBUK is what got me in to trials i still buy it now when i have the cash(being a skint student is rubbish!) and I agree with martyn! I wouldn't of even found this forum if it hadn't been for MBUK, I bet theres alot of people that wouldn't have found half the trials resources if they hadn't appeared in MBUK! A little bit of trials is better than none! It only takes a little article to get a person interested!!

[Waynio]

chris i have worked quite closely with martyn now for a fair few months and a lad at MBUK, i think its andrew dawson, and people like the original poster really dont understand how much time and effort goes into the magazine, i sumtimes write in working hours, or in leisure hours just to help others out, to hopefully promote me and my services to people who have done such a good thing to something i really love and enjoy doing. theres more to MBUK than meets the eye, respect and appreciate the 2 pages of hip hop in there, it could NOT be in there, then what magazine would you buy???? Nuts? or Zoo? just to see some tits?

martyns column is there as an "opinion" on how the sport could possibly be better, look better and have more/better people involved, a "Nobody" can post what they like on a forum disgracing who they want, and its them who nower days can speak louder than hero's and idol's i think its pathetic and SH!7!!!!

i will always read the hip hop section, you go out and ride your bike in what you want but go out and ride it in some casual jeans and a nice top and shoes, you will then see just how much more attention you get, dress sense cna be a major factor in looking like a group of thugs or not.

Waynio...........................

[Team Ashton]

I just read waynios post! I have now changed my mind, MBUK is bullshit. Where can i get some Addidas trackies, i will print Animal on them, Yeah.

Honestly Wayne can you stop reading this pissing forum and finnish the Vitt interview please?? Now your texting me??? Jesus get on with it.

If any one is unhappy with the Mag for a good reason (not just being retarded) or possibly has a genuine suggestion about what we could/should do then let me know. Although if it is showing another shot of Akers doing some crap bunny hop then you can forget it, it's all he can do (brilliant, can't answer me back "i don't do forums" Noir Bitch).

Martyn.

[ben_travis]

straight from the horses mouth boys

:|

come on guys. just a little bit of calm would do us nicely here everyone has their own opinions that could be valid.

2nd edit: just read mr ashtons post. and i cant tell whether or not there is some internet sarcasm going on in there! vrey random rant from you martyn.

Edited October 2, 2006 by ben_travis

[robster]

STOP FALLING OUT !!!! JUST GET OUT AND RIDE !!!!!!! ALL THIS CRAP IS KILLING A FANTASTIC SPORT !!!!

IF YOU DON'T LIKE ASPECTS OF THE SPORT THEN F>>> OFF AND TAKE UP FOOTBALL OR SOMETHING.

LET THE LITTLE KIDS LEARN AND ENJOY THE SPORT FOR WHAT IT IS. MR ASHTON HAS DONE MORE THAN YOU LOT WILL EVER DO FOR THIS SPORT.

Sorry. for the rant

John

[Waynio]

iv got a few windows open at work, iv got the vitto interview in one of them il get it sorted today for you, hopefully get the reply back shortly.

anyone and everyone has a voiced opinion on here, its just the bullshit ones that get listened to and read into better, when it shoudlnt be.

Noir!!!!

Trial.

Waynio............................

[Ali C]

I like mbuk, it had my name in it once

anyway, mbuk got me into trials, chainspotting and all that, it was good

[CBProductions]

MBUK has always been a startin influence but since I quite downhill I dont really buy it anymore. I sometimes look through my mates copy at the trials sections and thats about it really. Biased or unbiase they still proved a reasonable service and I think we should be grateful there is something out there.

[Waynio]

sarcasm, i think sometimes this forum needs sarcasm so it gets points across:

I just read waynios post! I have now changed my mind, MBUK is bullshit. Where can i get some Addidas trackies, i will print Animal on them, Yeah.

Honestly Wayne can you stop reading this pissing forum and finnish the Vitt interview please?? Now your texting me??? Jesus get on with it.

If any one is unhappy with the Mag for a good reason (not just being retarded) or possibly has a genuine suggestion about what we could/should do then let me know. Although if it is showing another shot of Akers doing some crap bunny hop then you can forget it, it's all he can do (brilliant, can't answer me back "i don't do forums" Noir Bitch).

Martyn.

that to me sort of gets the point across, in a fashion that ash kennard got his point across that martyns column in MBUK is SH!7 when it is far from it, how many years experience does martyn have? to ash kennards? then we can still have people throwing in their orr about how shit mbuk is and how it wouldnt be missed, it wouldnt be missed by some but by others and publisizing the sport we do it will be soarly missed by many.

BTW mart, i sorted the Vitto thing out im awaiting the reply.

MBUK plays a large part of trials and gives alot more information than a forum that "rumours" that are un true can start. MBUK is FACT not FICTION kids.

Waynio.........................

[Brian Bleech]

MBUK (and along with Martyn & Martin) has done so much for trials in terms of promotion, like chris said MBUK used to be 25% full of trials articles and some of these articles used to feature DH/xc riders along with the trials riders - the dambusters article being one that sticks out in my memory!

There always used to be articles on trials riders using there bikes to ride over seamingly impossble objects, the tongues on a canal/canal boat and rich johnston on a tank! People can relate to a these objects, tanks are f**king scary big machine and to ride a bike on one its nuts

But times change and trials isn't as popular with the general MTB-ing public as it used to be and MBUK has to stay current to sell its magazines and at the moment its slopestyle stuff. Everyone that helps get trials into MBUK deserves a pint or two for there efforts in my book.

Maybe trials just needs something/someone just to recapture the imagination of the general mtb public again, like the mart(y)(i)ns and a few others did! I always thought a decent well edited 5min video (maybe by Nick Goddard or Jonny Jones) to go on one of these free dvds would go down well!

oh, one thing about this month. It made me grin that in the 'dirt' section there is a small column about some drit bowl jam and most of it talking about a trials rider (akrigg) and the only picture is of him...

[ben_travis]

MBUK plays a large part of trials and gives alot more information than a forum that "rumours" that are un true can start. MBUK is FACT not FICTION kids.

Waynio.........................

I stopped reading MBUK forking ages ago. when im in asda ill take a skank to see hip-hop but thats it. Now i dont know if that is just me, but MBUK are not exactly the most HONEST of folk, or if they are they exaggerate beyond belief (from what i remember). Thus giving the impression of fiction. Some of their stuff may be FACT, but not all of it. and thats my opinion.

I do agree that we need to get a wider variety of trials articles in MBUK though. For example, we have the same riders all the time. Martyn, Holroyd, Akkers, and a few others that are ALWAYS part of the article. now dont get me wrong they are quality riders, BUT it doesnt show the wider variety of trials riding.

eg....boon / judders / 24" riders / danny macaskil for streety stuff

but....CLS / TUNNI / Damon for big UCI street riders

comp riders RIDING PROPER ROCKS......SAVAGE / WAYNE / DUNCAN SHAW

you may say they might not be the most know personalities but they are bigger name riders who will increase the choices of articles. It is always the same stuff in MBUK trials wise, thats the problem at the moment. and without looking at different riders I cant see that changing much in the future. It only takes a phonecall from MBUK and possibly travelling further than south of england to meet some riders.

[Waynio]

i agree with you ben, but the "FACT" part, of products whats new and stuff, yes it can be found on the internet faster, but some are rumours and made up stories. a magazine cant fully get away with publishing SH!7 or utter non sense YES the sun newspaper can, as newspapers are gossip, most people buy magazines to read reviews or whats happening in the world. some more serious than others.

but alot of people/some people are prejudging Martyn and saying hes being a bit OTT, when he is giving his advise to people about "HOW" to make trials look kooler and get bigger and better, i cant believe (well yes i can as it is an internet forum) that people would "question" such a major person in trials about their views on the sport. martyn and martin pretty much got the sport getting big in this country and now there looked on like a piece of shit on someones shoe?

its not fair. i dont see anyone else going to fill martyn's shoes in a hurry. in fact no one could.

Waynio.....................

EDIT: what you all have to think of it, dirt, XC, DH etc etc are all growing too trials can not be the "Central" main thing of a magazine, i watched that DVD thats free with MBUK some mad auzzie guy jumps 121.5ft!!!! now thats much more impressive than someone gapping static 10ft!!!! the buzz of getting towed upto 40/50mph and then hitting a ramp and flying through the air like a bird and traveling over 120ft!!! thats impressive. same as some DJ'er doing double backflips, things press on, things get bigger and better, but there is still a column for everything, weather it be 1/2 pages long, at least it is there!!!! its better than nowt. someone tell me that that auzzie dude aint mad, keep watching that jump over and over again at work. its MAD!

Edited October 2, 2006 by Waynio

[danny B]

wow, this is some itelligent convo lol, i also don't buy mbuk just for the fact that i feel like i will always open it up to see the same people and it bores me , and there just isn't enough trials in the mag to warrent buying it i think personally and for me i personally find dirt bike rider mag a much better read.

And as for the trackies bottoms thing they are confortable to ride in whilst practising and training and allows me to keep my sponsors fox shorts for important things when i am riding at big events.

[oakley]

Many riders on this very Forum discovered Trials in MBUK, thats what the magazine does, makes people aware of the many ways MTB is great!

Along with other dedicated riders i take alot of time trying to get Trials featured in this amazing magazine, where as you have chosen to use very little time to paint a negative opinion over one of the best things Trials has going for it, an element of our sport that is not influanced by Politics, and produced by people who love bike riding. Last month i recieved an email from Ot Pi congratulating the "Trials Crew" of the mag on making a huge contribution to the Trials World. Although you disagree?

I will use this oppertunity to thank the following people;

Chris Ratcliffe, Chris Akrigg, Robin, Karinna,Waynio (especially), Ben, Fred, Andrew Dawson, Tarty(who also advertise in MBUK, sure they will be really chuffed with your comments, Not), Hawziee, Chris Poiser (advertiser!), Frazer (Advertiser), Danny Holroyd, Orange (also advertisers, so thanks again), Select, Barbera, CLS, Neil Tunni (re send your new Mobile Number), Porter, Danny Butler, Chris Doney, Giles.

Please read that list and realise that you have just insulted every single one of them. Your sport survives on the work and money of these people, as a rider of a small and struggling discipline i see it as your bloody duty to buy MBUK, you will probably laugh and joke this away "water off a Dicks back" however we will all continue to work very hard on something we believe in.

As for negative comments about the Column, i would say that is probably justified, although i maintain that Track suit bottoms are Gay!

Martyn.

i could name 7 or 8 of the people in that list that think mbuk is, as i could put it, going downhill fast trials wise!

and 6 of them actually think it is shite!

Edited October 2, 2006 by oakley

[Orgun_Donor]

In all honesty I think its fair to say we should thank Martyn for trying hard to get as much trials featured as possible, but how ever much we may not want to realise it, there is a much bigger world out there then trials, and alot is shown in MBUK.

Pesonally ill be going out and buying when im feeling a bit better, cause i cant ride, i love the writing, albeit sometimes it can be rather stupid. And i personally value martyns opinion on the subject of trials, considering if it wasn't for him and martin i wouldn't be riding a trials bike now!