Amanda takes a few days to ride and decompress in Denmark. Along the way she finds food, friends, trails and adventures, but most of all, she finds balance. Words Amanda Photography Max Schumann As I stood on my tiptoes with the waves aggressively carrying me…
2019
Published Today! Singletrack Issue 127
As we start the gentle decomposition of autumn, a fresh new issue of Singletrack Magazine has landed. Make your last embers of summer riding enthusiasm get a little puff of air to boost them and warm your legs into the chill winds of winter. Here’s…
Singletrack Issue 127 | My Grandad’s head in a jar
Adam Batty welcomes back a lapsed member of the mountain bike club to enjoy the views. Words & Photography Adam Batty Great rides are full of hair-raising descents, jaw-dropping climbs, and belly-filling cakes. When I (a bona fide under-30) am riding with my old man,…
Singletrack Issue 127 | Keeping track of time at the Trans-Provence
Tom Hill reflects on the phenomenon that was the Trans-Provence, and his part as a small cog in its machine. Words & Photography Tom Hill (unless credited) I stand at the bottom of a trail. Despite the beauty of the wider country that surrounds me…
Singletrack Issue 127 | Making it up in the Lake District
Nigel Page and Chipps strap on luggage and join forces again. This time to ride a completely made up North/South traverse of the Lake District. Words & Photography Chipps ‘Puckpuckpuckpuckpuck…’ All I’d been able to hear for the last hour had been the octopus-like sucking…
Vitus’ new Mythique trail platform starts at just £1249.99
Vitus has released the new Vitus Mythique trail platform in both 27.5in and 29in today, with full bike pricing from just £1249.99. Vitus has launched a new 2020 full-suspension bike this morning named the Vitus Mythique, and it’s sure to become a hot seller thanks…
Patrol 691 first look at the big wheeled, Bali rider.
Indonesia’s latest enduro rig rocks up to rail UK trails, and just in time for the wet season too, here’s our first look at the Patrol 691. Patrol is an Indonesian mountain bike brand that is owned by United Cycle. Now we’ll forgive you if…
Making Up The Numbers Podcast Episode 5 | Matt Walker
In this episode #MakingUpTheNumbers team members George & Binnsy sit down with Madison Saracen’s Matt Walker. Making Up The Numbers – Episode 5 – Matt Walker In this episode George & Binnsy sit down with 2017 Junior World Champion & five times British National Champion,…
Autumn Riding – Who’s Up For A Midweek Bivi?
Cycling UK has been out on a midweek adventure in the hope of enticing you away from your sofas and out on the bike for some golden autumn riding. Shortening days and cooler nights don’t have to mean an end to adventure. In fact, the…
Trans-Cascadia 2019 | 4 Days Of Party Trains And Sweet Trails
The four days of racing and riding and partying at the Trans-Cascadia 2019 look so good we’re tempted to add this to our must do list of events. 2019 Trans-Cascadia: Day 1 “We’ve been out here scaring ourselves since 2013, and I’ve never seen tracks…
Graubünden Home of Trails -Destination Guide
Graubünden landed into collective conscience courtesy of the ‘Home of Trails’ video starring Danny MacAskill and Claudio Caluori. Graubünden itself is not a resort but a canton in south eastern Switzerland sharing a border with Lichtenstein and Italy, containing the bike resorts of Davos Klosters,…
Book Review: Rough-Stuff Fellowship Archive
Chipps has got himself a copy of the Rough-Stuff Fellowship Archive, and thinks you need one too. I’m going to annoy loads of people first off by mentioning the ‘C’ word. Yes, I know it’s months until Christmas, but you know that Aunty Nora is…
Pepi’s Rokkline Tire Noodles
Pepi’s Tire Noodle is another foam sausage designed to fit betwixt rim and tyre, protecting both from those nasty pinch flats and dings. Due to their colour, which is much more fluorescent than my camera or screen can reproduce, these are probably the most Enduro…
Controversy Rages Over Afan Masts Tree Felling
A plan by NRW (National Resource Wales – the custodians of Welsh forestry) to routinely fell trees in the area known as the Afan Masts has sparked a storm with local riders, who fear that 20 years of (unofficial, but tolerated) trails will be destroyed…
FGF 467 | Custom pants, Steel full-sus, German Rubber and e-Bikes
Fresh Goods Friday 467 is full of steel, electric, rubber and new limited edition Singletrack hip flasks. Rejoice in the goodness! Únic Custom MTB Clothing Price: €79 – €198.01 logos are extra but colours and your name is free. From: Únic Here’s just a small…
Cane Creek Joins The Tie Dye Revolution With Rainbow eeWings cranks
Want some? Do you? Do you sir? Want some? In tie dye? Those titanium cranks? Ooh! Sir! Suits you sir! Yes, just when you thought that Cane Creek’s titanium, north-of-a-grand, super-cranks couldn’t get any more outrageous, it has decided to colour things up and join…
Are You In? Or Missing Out? Singletrack Subscribers Get More!
Every issue of Singletrack mountain bike magazine comes in two versions: the standard edition – available at newsagents; and the Premier Edition. If you’re a subscriber to our print or digital magazine, it’s this extended Premier Edition of the magazine that you’ll be reading. Which…
Evoc World Traveller Suitcase | A portable wardrobe?
Evoc is known for making many kinds of bag – ones to carry your bike in, ones to carry while you’re riding your bike, and, like this ‘Evoc World Traveller’ maybe, ones to carry when you’re off somewhere fun to ride your bike. Or, just…
Forestal Bikes: The biggest bike company you’ve never heard of
Forestal Bikes has been a mystery since we first learned Cédric Gracia would be working with them so Andi went on the hunt for a scoop. Forestal is possibly the most exciting bike company that you have never heard of. This start-up plans to enter…
UK Singlespeed Champs 2019 ends in beer and fancy dress. As usual…
Who said that singlespeeders were a bit slack, eh? We’ve just had this report in from the UK Singlespeed Champs – that happened a month ago… It’s a good job it wasn’t a race. Oh, wait… On Saturday August 24th, around 75 riders competed in…
Motion Ride E18 Linkage Fork | Anti-dive That Works
It might look unusual, but how will it ride? David checks out the Motion Ride E18 Linkage Fork. Around 2011, there was a conversation I kept on having over and over again. It concerned an object I carried and used a lot, about which everyone…
#MakingUpTheNumbers | HSBC National Downhill Series Rd 5 – Ae Forest
George brings us his ‘race’ report from the HSBC National Downhill Series Round 5 / SDA Round 5 – Ae Forest “It’s your worst nightmare this isn’t it?” Binnsy isn’t wrong. After two days of glorious sunshine and dusty trails we’re on the first uplift…
One Bigger! New Ibis HD5 bids for enduro and trail glory
Ibis Cycles has just announced the new Ibis Mojo HD5. It’s a complete new take on the firm’s hard-charging 27.5in wheeled heavy duty trail bike. Having taken cues from recent changes to the 29er Ripley trail bike, as well as the 29in Ripmo enduro bike,…
RockStop Tubeless Insert | Review
Can’t Stop The Rock. We’ve been warned repeatedly. It’s been received wisdom for decades, but now, thanks to Rockstop, could Apollo 440 be wrong? There’s a chance. The rock might be stoppable. Rockstop is made by a UK company, based in Cumbria and named Urofoam.…
Goodyear Newton EN Premium Tyres | Review
David checks out this pair of Goodyear Newton tyres, the latest MTB rubber from Goodyear. Despite starting out making bicycle tyres at the end of the 19th Century, from the mid-seventies, Goodyear took a 40 year break from bike tyres. That was, until they signed a…
Video | Riding Across The Generations
Don’t sit and think about your age, or that ‘is that arthritis’ knee… get on out there and keep riding! The next issue of Singletrack Magazine is whirring its way round the printing presses right now, and one of the features in it is ‘My…
Singletrack Reader Awards 2019 | And The Winners Are…
Your award winners at the 2019 Singletrack Reader Awards, revealed. This year’s award finalists, bike industry dignitaries, Singletrack Lifetime Subscribers and bike industry undignifieds were welcomed to Hebden Bridge’s Trades Club for an evening of Indonesian food, refreshing beers, and – of course – trophies.…
FGF 466 | The closest you’ll get to sitting on Ben Deakin’s face
This week’s Fresh Goods is brought to you by the past, just a few days in the past, but the past none the less. A time before the Singletrack Readers Awards, a time when our heads were much less fuzzy and hungover. It was a…
Ard Rock Donates £50,000 to Swaledale community
Ard Rock mountain bike event has just handed over almost £50,000 to storm damaged Swaledale Community. Following devastating flash flooding across parts of Swaledale, Arkengarthdale and Wensleydale, the Two Ridings Community Foundation got a major boost to its fundraising efforts to assist residents affected by…
Deaneasy ABS Fork Tune | Foam Inserts Reviewed
Foam! Truly this is mountain biking’s era of foam. No longer confined to the bit we sit on, there are now foam tyre inserts, vibration dampening foam-filled bars, rims filled with foam, and more recently foam fork volume spacers. Like this, the Deaneasy ABS Fork…
Singletrack Reader Awards Watch Live
You’ve nominated and then voted. We have now counted the votes and the winners are about to be unveiled. Join us tonight at 7:50pm for the awards Live from the Trades Club, Hebden Bridge. Watch here or over on our Youtube channel here.
Moab | 50 Years of the Slickrock Trail
It’s 50 years since the Moab Slickrock Bike Trail was established and this documentary has been produced to mark the occasion. Tracing its history back to the late 1960s, when motorbikes and early jeeps first started venturing out into the petrified sand dunes around Moab…
Video | Mates Race On New Antur Stiniog Trails
George checks out the new trails at Antur Stiniog – there’s more than ever before, and more to come. Antur Stiniog Trail Launch – Saturday 14th September 2019 Coming into 2019 it’d been a good while since I’d ridden at Antur Stiniog. It’s one of…
RedBull Hardline – Bigger In Real Life, But Is It Worth The Effort?
What’s it like to be at RedBull Hardline? Should you make the trip to Wales, or stay home and watch on TV? James finds out. RedBull Hardline 2019 2.11pm, Saturday 14 September 2019. A pack of four sparrowhawks circle ominously in the sky, while butterflies…
Banshee release the new big travel Titan and 26in wheel compatible Rune V3
Banshee bikes has announced 2 new models that are guaranteed to sell out before we even get this press release posted! Banshee Bikes is still a rider owned brand, and despite being just a team of 4 people, the company remains to be one of…
Review | The Bontrager Blaze is the first MTB helmet with WaveCel technology
Antony checks out the new WaveCel technology from Bontrager, as fitted into its Bontrager Blaze helmet. Recently, mountain biking has seen a big increase in the awareness of the long-term risks of concussion. The vast majority of mountain bike helmets use expanded polystyrene (EPS) to…
Shimano Expands MicroSpline Licensing
Shimano today has announced that it is expanding its list of companies able to license its MicroSpline hub standard. And about time too! First announced early last year when XTR was launched back in May 2018 and it came with a new hub standard. While…
Fresh Goods Friday 465 | 3 Bikes, Maximum Waffle
Did you vote in the Reader Awards? Well, it’s too late if you didn’t – you’ve lost your democratic right to pick your favourite. Next week there will be some pro-rogueing, with Chipps donning his nattiest of outfits to present the awards to all the…
2019 Cotic BFe First Ride Review
James Vincent grabs a first ride on the new Cotic BFe hardtail. When launching a new bike, some bike companies whisk a select group of lucky journos off to some exotic location on the other side of the world, wine them and dine them, and…
Updated: Big Pile Of Sick! Names revealed!
In another twist in the tale of Sick Bicycles, a batch of frames built for Sick is about to go on sale – as On One branded frames. When we heard the rumour last week that a builder in Taiwan had built a batch of…
2020 YT Capra 29 AL Ltd First Look
While at Eurobike, we had the opportunity to check out this limited edition YT Capra 29 AL, of which only 400 will be produced. Last year YT released a limited edition build of the 27.5in Capra. Only 400 of those bikes were produced and each…
2020 Nukeproof Reactor First Ride Review
Ross throws a leg over the 2020 Nukeproor Reactor then throws it down the nearest rut infested trail to see how it rides. Today sees the launch of the brand spanking new Nukeproof Reactor, a mid-travel, do-it-all, trail bike that fills the gap in the…
2020 Nukeproof Reactor switches from trail to rail in 30 seconds
Nukeproof enter the trail bike race after exiting the market for a few years with the new 2020 Nukeproof Reactor. The Nukeproof Reactor is an old name attached to an all-new trail-orientated full-suspension bike. The original Reactor launched back in 1996 and was a hardtail…
2020 NS Bikes Define and Synonym at Eurobike
NS Bikes were a must-see brand at Eurobike 2019, and as usual, this exciting bike company had a couple of very intriguing bikes for us to ogle. If you don’t know the history of NS Bikes then we recommend that you dig into it a…
The new Cotic BFe – ‘Burly Iron’ is unleashed!
As Cotic rightly says of its burly hardtail, the BFe – ‘right from its introduction in 2005, the Cotic BFe has always been the tearaway of the Cotic family. “The Soul’s stockier, rowdier younger brother. You know the one – loads of fun, but a bit on the wild…
Ibis Ripmo AF. It’s the Ripmo ‘Aluminium Frame’
We can’t say that we saw this one coming… Today, Ibis has announced the new, aluminium framed ‘Ibis Ripmo AF’ – complete with some aggressive street-style images and video. If you’re having trouble remembering when Ibis last made an aluminium frame, join the club. The…
Singletrack Salvation Cycling Chamois Cream– It saves our souls
Do you ever get a sore bottom whilst cycling? Salvation is here in the buttery form of Singletrack Salvation chamois cream. Four ways to avoid a sore bottom when cycling. Cycling can put huge demands on your “downstairs” regions leading to everything from general sore…
2020 Kona Bikes at Eurobike 2019
Last week we spent a few hours over at the Kona booth during Eurobike to catch up on what’s new in the range for 2020. Once again Kona had erected their impressive booth for Eurobike 2019, and once again, the Canadian brand were delivering the…
Review | Jamis Dakar A2 – A Budget Full Bouncer
Antony hops aboard the Jamis Dakar, a full suspension bike that won’t empty your wallet. If you’re a regular reader of this website, you’ll probably notice that we feature a lot of very posh spangly bikes. And when you think about it, that’s quite understandable.…
Celebrate Mountainbiking With The Singletrack Wisecracker Beer Bottle Opener
You should always be near the ones you love… and that is why you are never that far from your bike or your beer… and now you can always be near a beer bottle opener too with the Singletrack Wisecracker beer bottle opener and headset…
Eurobike Tech Randoms Including a budget 1 x 13 drivetrain!
From knock-off Fox forks and budget 13-speed drivetrains, to the latest long travel linkage forks, here are our top tech randoms of Eurobike. Lone Bikes Parabellum The Lone Bikes team were back at Eurobike 2019 with their clever full suspension bike that can take various…