MTBSA Content Submission Guide

MTBSA is the largest mountain bike website in South Africa, serving up hundreds of pages per second to thousands of users each month. In addition to our editorial coverage, MTBSA provides a platform for riders, artists, brands, and manufacturers to showcase their content to our community.

Are you a reader who’d like to submit a personal project? A rider working on an edit for front-page consideration? A brand looking to submit a product press release? An event organizer wanting to share a local event report? Or an adventurer with a story to tell?

Awesome—we’d love to see your work! Please keep in mind that we receive hundreds of videos, press releases, stories, and other content every week. While we can’t guarantee running every submission, following this guide will greatly increase your chances of getting featured on the homepage.

How to submit

Please share your content by emailing us at andrew@mtbsa.bike. If you have any videos, kindly send them via WeTransfer.

If you run into any issues, contact andrew@mtbsa.bike with a link to your content and any other relevant information. Please note, due to the high volume of emails, we may not respond if your question is already covered in this guide.

What makes a good MTBSA Post?

We receive a high volume of submissions and only feature the best of the best. To improve your chances, consider these tips:

• Focus on riders
Get familiar with MTBSA and its community. Read our content, check out the comments, and join our newsletter to understand the culture. Our audience is made up of experienced, passionate riders who appreciate authenticity. Keep their interests and challenges in mind.

• Tell a compelling story
Beyond the basic facts (who, what, when, where, why), ensure your content has direction. Your story should have a journey—progress is made, questions get answered, or problems are solved.

• Provide evidence
If you’re making bold statements or claims, back them up with real data, testing, or insights from trustworthy sources. Over-the-top or exaggerated claims won’t make it through.

• Keep it light and clever
We love smart wordplay, witty language, and a touch of humor—just don’t overdo it.

• Avoid buzzwords
Relying on trendy or overused phrases doesn’t fly here. Be clear and direct—leave the jargon and hashtags at the door. #pleasedont #seriously

• Keep it conversational
Write in a natural, friendly tone as if you’re chatting with a fellow rider. Make it clear, concise, and easy to understand for all readers.

• Enhance your video with supporting content
Videos should be paired with photos and a brief write-up to give your story more depth. Also, make sure to include an eye-catching thumbnail image (cropped to 3×2, no text or logos) to grab attention.

• Give proper credit
Always acknowledge your team. Shout out trail builders, credit photographers and videographers, and make sure to cite your sources and quotes.

• Limit external links
While we appreciate giving credit where it’s due, avoid cluttering your submission with too many links. One or two is enough to acknowledge any supporters or sponsors involved.

Rejection

At MTBSA, we’re committed to maintaining high-quality content and only feature a select portion of the submissions we receive. If your blog isn’t chosen for the front page, it will remain available in your MTBSA blog.

While we generally won’t provide detailed feedback for every rejection, if your post is close but missing something important—like a thumbnail image—clicking the “Rejected, Read Why” link next to your submission may offer guidance for resubmission.

If your content isn’t featured on the homepage, it might still be displayed regionally or in specialized sections. For example, local event reports may be shown only to readers in relevant areas, while product press releases might appear in our dedicated Press Releases section or as part of a monthly Tech Briefing.

Common reasons for rejection:

• Content quality – We uphold high standards and prioritize engaging, authentic stories with captivating visuals. If the video is too short, too long, too product-focused, or lacks excitement, it may not be selected.

• Relevance – We love all forms of mountain biking, from cross-country to enduro, but some content, like niche products or off-topic posts, may not resonate with our broader audience. For example, we’re unlikely to feature a press release for an electric recumbent bike unless it’s tackling something extreme. (But please don’t try riding Rampage on one!)

• Technical issues – Low-resolution images, grammar mistakes, excessive use of CAPS LOCK, or vertical image formatting can lead to rejection.

• Inappropriate language – Hate speech, racism, misogyny, or any other bigotry is not tolerated at MTBSA, including offensive lyrics in videos.

• Advertorial content – We encourage brands to submit press releases, but we won’t publish content that mimics an endorsement or review from our editorial team. Avoid misleading elements like fake interviews or logos that imply official backing.

• Crowdfunding – We generally don’t publish content related to crowdfunding campaigns or fundraisers.

• Shady practices – Content with affiliate links, user tracking, plagiarized material, unverified claims, or links to other media sites will be rejected.

• Clichés – Steer clear of overused phrases, tropes, and predictable video montages (e.g., “brown pow” edits or stereotypical pedal flip shots).

• Obtrusive watermarks or borders – While we respect photographers’ need for watermarks, large or distracting marks and borders on images will disqualify content from being featured.