Welcome back to the #1 MTB newsletter brought to you by RECON, mountain biking’s fastest growing media brand and online store.

On today's ride:

•  🏁 Watch time: New web-episodes and high end edits

•  ⚡️ Like 2000: The Giant STP MTB DJ 2026 has arrived

• 🚵‍♀️ Ride don’t slide - stay upright during the wet months

👇 Quick Picks

🚨 Red Bull Hardline is rolling back into Tasmania in 2026

Jackson Goldstone and Gracey Hemstreet will hit Maydena Bike Park on February 7–8, aiming to hold onto the titles they snagged in 2025. The track will change a lot and the builders are giving 100%. Goldstone will be back in the men’s field with Asa Vermette, who’s rolling in after his Hardline Wales win and a strong second place in Tasmania, plus Aussie legend Troy Brosnan, who locked down third. On the women’s side, Hemstreet is set for another showdown with Lou Ferguson, the current Hardline Wales champ.

🚲 DJI Osmo Action 6 - innovation on the digital market

DJI just dropped the Osmo Action 6, a fresh flagship that levels up action-cam tech. It’s the first cam in its class with a variable aperture, giving creators more control when the lighting gets messy. The new square-format sensor delivers cleaner footage, punchier colors, and stronger low-light performance. Built tough for rough weather and wild adventures, the Action 6 targets anyone who wants pro vibes in a compact, go-anywhere camera.

🚵‍♂️ New owner for the MTB cult brand Felt Bicycles

Felt Bicycles has changed hands once again, according to Bicycle Retailer and Industry News. It’s the brand’s second new owner in four years and the fourth since 2017. This isn’t exactly a fresh acquisition. Instead, it wraps up a deal that began in 2023, when Pierer Mobility Group decided to pass the brand to a consortium led by Felt’s own management team along with minority shareholders Florian Burguet and Cesar Rojo. We are wishing the the best for the future of Felt!

TECH

🚵‍♀️ Like Back In The Day: Giant STP 26

Giant is giving its youth lineup a full refresh with the new STP series. The bikes are built for kids and teens who want to level up fast, whether they are riding real trails for the first time, learning their first jumps or dreaming of stylish bike-park tricks. The range comes in 20, 24 and 26 inch versions. Each model uses size-specific geometry and parts that feel natural for younger riders. All frames are made from Giant’s ALUXX aluminium with a large percentage of recycled RK6061 material, which keeps the bikes light, strong and ready for progression.

The STP name carries some serious history. In the early 2000s, when dirt jumping and freeride were exploding, Giant was already one of the biggest forces in the scene. Riders like Jeff Lenosky turned heads in the New World Disorder movies and inspired an entire generation with huge street lines and technical trials riding. For today’s young riders that same creative and energetic spirit still comes through in the STP lineup.

Giant STP 24: The Perfect Step-Up Bike

The STP 24 is made for kids who are ready to move past beginner terrain and want a bike that keeps up as they ride faster and push harder. It comes with 24 inch wheels and a short wheelbase that makes the bike quick and reactive. A Crest TR Lite fork with 100 millimetres of travel smooths out rough ground and gives young riders more confidence on real trails. Giant adds a dropper post which is a huge upgrade for kids who are starting to ride steeper sections or try new features at the bike park.

A simple 1×9 drivetrain, hydraulic disc brakes and youth-specific bars, grips and saddle round out the build. Recommended rider height is roughly 125 to 145 centimetres.
Price: €1,199 RRP.

Giant STP 26: Built for Dirt Jumping

The STP 26 is the flagship. It is aimed at teens who already spend time on pumptracks, play with barspins or work on their style on jump lines. The ALUXX frame is paired with a 100 millimetre Marzocchi Bomber DJ fork which is a classic choice for dirt jumpers. The 26 inch wheels offer a mix of stability and agility that suits young riders who want to push into bigger tricks. The bike comes with Wide Guard rims for durability, hydraulic disc brakes for strong and clean stopping power and a Contact TR35 handlebar for a solid feel at the front.

The frame is fully Gyro ready so riders can try barspins and spin tricks without worrying about cable issues. The horizontal dropouts make it easy to adjust chain tension which is ideal for single-speed setups or tighter gearing for pumptrack riding.

A Legacy That Keeps Moving

From the freeride films of the early 2000s to the next generation hitting their first jump lines today, Giant has influenced youth and dirt culture for decades. The updated STP family keeps that legacy alive and gives young riders modern bikes that help them build skill, style and confidence right from the start.

SCENE

⚡️Better than Netflix - MTB Webisodes & Edits

When winter arrives and the days shrink faster than you can plan a sunset ride, every mountain biker feels the struggle. Trails turn into bottomless mud pits, daylight disappears right after lunch and your bike sits in the garage like a loyal dog that wants to go out but can’t. That is when the real winter ritual starts. You grab a warm drink, pull on a comfy hoodie and dive deep into MTB edits and webisodes. First off Gee Atherton with a new masterpiece:

There is something special about watching the pros send wild lines while your own wheels are stuck in icy slush. It brings back the hype from the season and keeps the stoke alive when riding feels impossible. The videos work almost like time travel. One click and you are back in the sun, listening to the sound of tyres on dirt instead of cold wind on your windows.

This winter is all about Jackson Goldstone’s unreal season. GoPro’s webisodes follow him through every win and every moment where he rides like gravity does not apply to him. Watching his confidence and style in the middle of winter does more than just entertain. It reminds you why you ride. It keeps the fire burning and makes you count the days until spring.

The industry keeps dropping new edits and it is way too easy to get hooked. The premium releases take it even further. Action Fall hits exactly the way everyone hoped. The whole collection feels like a countdown to better days on the trail.

Until the snow melts and the mud calms down these videos are the closest thing to riding for real. They keep the community together. They keep the motivation high. They turn the off-season into a build-up instead of a long break.

When spring finally rolls in every rider will hit the trails with fresh energy and a head full of inspiration from all the winter screen sessions. X Games just published the Swatch Nines Recap:

HOW TO

🚲 Ride Don’t Slide - Riding In The Wet!

Riding your MTB or EMTB in mud, snow or a forest full of slippery leaves can be amazing, but only if you stay in control. Wet-weather riding isn’t just about bravery. It’s about smart moves, smooth technique and knowing how your bike reacts when the trail gets sketchy. Here’s how to keep the fun high and the crashes low.

Look ahead and stay loose
Your eyes save you before your brakes do. Keep your gaze far down the trail to spot ruts, roots and shiny surfaces early. Relax your shoulders and let the bike move under you. A stiff rider slips faster than a loose one.

Smooth is fast
Wet trails punish jerky movements. Pedal steadily, shift calmly and keep your motions light. Sudden inputs make your tires break traction. Think of your riding as flowing instead of fighting.

Brake with feel
Use both brakes gently and evenly. Drag them instead of grabbing them. If the wheels lock, you slide. If they roll, you stay in control. Feather your brakes before corners so you can roll through with grip.

Lower your tire pressure a little
Soft tires give you extra grip and help the bike stick to wet ground. Don’t go too low or you will pinch your rim, but a small pressure drop can make a big difference.

Pick the grippy lines
Avoid shiny roots, deep mud trenches and piles of wet leaves when you can. Look for rougher patches of dirt or the sides of the trail where the surface is less polished. Grip lives where the texture is.

Stay centered on the bike
Keep your weight balanced over both wheels. Lean the bike, not your body, when turning. Staying centered helps both tires bite into the ground.

Commit with confidence
Hesitation makes you unstable. Once you choose a line or a move, go for it with calm confidence. Flow beats fear every time.

Clean your bike after wet rides
Mud and grit can destroy your drivetrain and brakes. Rinse your bike, check your pads and keep everything spinning freely. A clean bike rides safer and smoother.

If you ride smart, the wet becomes a playground. Mud becomes fun, snow becomes a challenge and leafy trails feel like nature’s slip-n-slide in the best way. Get out there, stay in control and enjoy the ride.

🏁 Video Of The Week

Winter time is even better with wild DH racing - thanks to Red Bull Bike & SLEEPER:

🎧 Podcast Of The Week

Rampage insides by Cam Zink - we talked with him about many topics:

🚵‍♀️ Giveaway Period Finished

Thanks to everyone who participated in the Forbidden Dreadnought 3 MX Giveaway. The winner is Kate M. from New Jersey and she has gone for her first shred on it! Stoked is an understatement… More to come, and keep your eyes peeled for the next giveaway bike!

This newsletter is written with ❤️ every week by the Recon Team with a special shoutout to Marc Brodesser!