
James Costley-White
Group editor, Mountain Biking UK and Cycling Plus
James is the group editor of the best-selling magazines Mountain Biking UK and Cycling Plus, and their associated digital editions and websites. He has worked on MBUK since 2013, became editor in 2019 and took over at Cycling Plus in 2024.
An NCTJ-qualified senior journalist with a postgraduate diploma from Cardiff University’s School of Journalism, Media and Culture, JCW joined the cycling media world in 2012. Previously, he’d worked as a reporter and sub-editor on daily newspapers. After a stint as operations editor on BikeRadar, he worked for Triathlon Plus and the ahead-of-its-time ChopMTB.
JCW has been an avid cyclist his whole life, progressing from a Chopper-style Raleigh Commando to a Raleigh Sprint road bike before discovering mountain biking in 1992. Since then, he’s amassed a huge amount of knowledge and riding experience, in the UK and abroad.
He can often be found riding the trails of South Wales on his latest long-term test bike or custom-built RAAW Jibb, hitting North Somerset cycle paths with his kids, scything down the Cheddar Gorge on his road bike or heading to work on his mutant e-commuter.
As well as editing MBUK and Cycling Plus, JCW contributes regular product reviews and other articles.
- Height: 6ft 2in (188cm)
- Bike size: XL

"Flat pedals, a football shirt and my mum's gardening gloves… helmets weren't worn then" – 5 things we learned about Nick Craig

"The way I like a bike set up seems to translate to the masses" – 8 things we learned from Sam Shucksmith

Rider of the Year voting closes today – don't miss out!

"I'm still getting the hang of enduro" – 10 things we learned about Hattie Harnden

"Someone punched me at the finish line" – 7 things we learned from Ethan Craik

Andrew 'Doddy' Dodd: I landed a career in mountain biking by breaking wheels, forks… and my nose

Chris Porter: downhill racing's skinsuit ban is a sham

Meet the woman behind Specialized's mountain bike marketing

I've never ridden mountain bikes before, but I took on a terrifying black trail and here's what happened

The anatomy of an electric mountain bike explained

Review | The SeaSucker Talon 1 is a compact, stable bike rack – once you learn to trust it

Five mountain bikes we'd buy with our own cash – and five money-no-object dream machines

Loud and frequently right: former BikeRadar and MBUK editor-in-chief John Stevenson dies from cancer

Long-term review | JCW gets acquainted with the Norco Fluid VLT C1 130

These are the worst mountain bike upgrades we've ever bought

Three decades of Mint Sauce: how a humble sheep became mountain biking's favourite cartoon character

I built a custom MTB for £4,000 – it's perfect for me and beats the major brands for value

Rónán Dunne is MBUK's Rider of the Year – here's why

MBUK Rider of the Year 2024 – the wait is nearly over

Review | Stanley FatMax Walltech Pro air compressor

10 stand-out downhill bikes from the World Championship

Stashed SpaceRail bike storage system review

Review | Amazfit GTR 4 smartwatch
