Whether it’s an epic tale of derring-do, a bit of thoughtful reflection, a humorous take on life on wheels, or even a technical review, we love a well written article. We were looking here for nominations for best author – recognising that sometimes it’s not…
2019
Crankbrothers Reveals New Highline Dropper Post Ranges
More length and different girths – new Crankbrothers Highline dropper range options revealed. When he reviewed the Crankbrothers 160mm Highline dropper post last year, reviewer James Vincent said ‘this is hands down the best dropper post I’ve ever used, and the 160mm drop is a…
2020 Intense Primer comes in 29er, 27.5 and mullet wheel options
The Intense Primer is no-longer available just as a 29er and for 2020 the new Intense Primer range comes in 29in, 27.5in and a mullet option. Intense’s Primer 29er has been in the Intense range since 2016 and over the years it has gained a…
2020 Santa Cruz Tallboy 4 First Look
First look at the 2020 Santa Cruz Tallboy 4 with updated VPP suspension platform, slacker geo, adjustable dropouts, and delicious colours. Santa Cruz’s Tallboy has received a major facelift for 2020. This Tallboy 4 isn’t the same 120mm travel 29er we’ve ridden in the past,…
Juliana Joplin – The Adventure Bike With 10mm More Fun for 2020
First look at the 2020 Juliana Joplin with an added 10mm of travel, updated VPP suspension platform, slacker geo, adjustable dropouts and plenty of build options. The Joplin is the women’s version of the Santa Cruz Tallboy. Built for long days in the saddle with…
Santa Cruz Tallboy 4 Review – What Is Extreme Country?
The Tallboy 4 is Santa Cruz’s full suspension XC bike. It’s a 29r and we’ve had our hands on this CC model for the past week to give it a first ride review. It being an XC bike I naturally took it to an urban…
Knolly Launches The All Mountain Warden & Delirium For 2020
Knolly is that small Canadian bike brand you’ve probably heard of but not seen many bikes on our UK trails. They are based in Vancouver and Whistler, which makes us very jealous, and their bikes are pretty unique and easily recognisable if you know what…
Singletrack Issue 126 | Panning For Trail Gold In Arizona
Huw Oliver goes searching for singletrack gold in the arid mountains of Arizona. Words & Photography Huw Oliver My fingers yanked on the levers automatically, bypassing the usual thought processes and channels of communication, as if they knew what was needed before my brain did.…
What3Words for Singletrack? The navigation app that is saving lives
It’s not a new app but it’s been in the news recently as quite a lot of emergency services are recommending we all download it. The What3Words app segments the entire planet into squares of 3mx3m and each square is designated a simple and unique…
Singletrack Issue 126 | Colour Wheels
Sim Mainey goes behind the scenes to find out who decides what colours you’ll be wearing and riding next year, and what will be old hat the next. Words Sim Mainey Photography credited While most of us would like to believe that we base our…
Singletrack Magazine Issue 126 Is Out Now – Join Us
It’s been 126 issues since we published the very first Singletrack magazine way back in 2001… in the middle of the now historic, Foot and Mouth outbreak where none of us were allowed to ride bikes outside. Despite this, and the fact we launched on…
Making Up The Numbers Episode 4 | Joe Smith
In this episode George Thompson chats race highlights, bike set up, flat pedals and body armour with Propain Factory Racing’s Joe Smith. George catches up with Propain Factory Racing’s Joe Smith to discuss the 2019 season so far & in particular the Val di Sole…
Fresh Goods Friday 461 | Tangerine Dream & The Wasp Factory
We are all feeling like we have had a very lucky escape. We’ve just opened to the door to our studio and discovered hundreds and hundreds of wasps. Luckily, they were almost all dead. But it is all a bit weird. We should have expected…
Trek Fuel EX 9.8 | First Ride Review
Chipps nips over to take in some Italian singletrack and bring you this Trek Fuel EX 9.8 First Ride Review For the first ride launch of the Trek Fuel EX, Trek had chosen a quirky hotel about an hour from Venice. Yes, Venice is flat,…
Trek Fuel EX 2020 – The Fuel EX Like Never Before
The 2020 Trek Fuel EX bears little resemblance to the previous model – we take a look at what’s new. The 130mm travel 29er bike is set to be the battle ground of the top brands next year. With enough travel to take on chunky…
Video | What can a MTBer do to help our planet?
What can a mountain biker do to help our planet? It’s a difficult question with uncomfortable answers, but an easy one is #DitchDisposables Rémy Métailler has produced a video asking ‘What can a mountain biker do to help our planet?’. It’s a bit of a…
Tales of The Unexpected | A Bicycle Commute Short Story
Hannah rides to work, and has another of those moments that remind you why taking the bike will always trump hopping in the car. I’ve not ridden the proper off road route to work for a while. A combination of logistics and a poorly knee…
Video | Dudes of Hazzard – STEALIN’ axles and HOOKIN’ turns!
Take a break and enjoy this video from the Dudes of Hazzard. From the land of dry cake and wicked trails, the Dudes of Hazzard bring us another fun video of roost and giggles. Shot in Madeira, it’s the usual mix of messing around on…
First Look | Cube Stereo 170 – big travel, small price tag
For 2020 Cube has introduced a new big bike, the Stereo 170. With 29 inch wheels and 170mm of rear travel, it’s a bike for fast and steep descents, with enduro aspirations. The Stereo 170 will come in two variations: a coil shock equipped 170…
9 Highlights From the Cube 2020 Bike Range
After viewing hundreds of bikes and accessories at the Cube 2020 Dealer Show, Hannah brings you her pick of the Cube 2020 Bike Range. After a couple of weeks of revealing its 2020 range to its network of dealers and distributors, Cube is now ready…
Specialized S-Works Enduro 2020 | First Ride
Specialized Enduro unveiled for 2020 Following 20 years of evolution, the latest iteration of the Specialized Enduro arrives as the biggest and baddest one yet. As EWS stages have become as gnarly and as steep as your average World Cup DH race track, the requirements…
The HORROR: 2020 Rocky Mountain Slayer launches in slasher style
It’s a bike that we’ve all waiting to see. The Summer blockbuster is finally here! Meet the re-designed 2020 Rocky Mountain Slayer. That was the official teaser video for the launch of the new Slayer released last week and below are the full details of…
Singletrack Issue 126 Classic Ride | Don’t Mynd If I Do
It’s the Long Mynd Jim, but not as we know it. Tom Hutton proves there are still real classics out there just waiting to be discovered. Mountain bikers are creatures of habit. Even the more pioneering among us, those of us who are still happy…
Komoot updates its Garmin app with new and improved features
If you’re a Garmin user you’ll be happy to hear that komoot has recently updated it’s mountain bike friendly Garmin app to make even better. Komoot is a clever app that helps you to discover new trails or create new loops with a simple to…
Singletrack Issue 126 | Cornish Fasties
Barney takes a trip where few bike journos have dared to tread – Cornwall. Words & Photography Barney Marsh Ah, Cornwall! Last gasp of Great Britain westward before the relentless, unyielding expanse of the ocean. Kernow (in its local tongue) has long been spoken of…
The Loris Vergier Soundboard is the greatest thing to come out the DH WC
The Loris Vergier Soundboard is the gift that keeps giving! The developers of this fun website plan to keep adding more to it as the season continues. There are many web-based items or apps that come and go. 21st-century fads like the fat camera app,…
Singletrack Issue 126 | How to lose friends and alienate people
Sanny takes on a Lake District pass too many, nearly breaks Mark and makes Nick Craig swear. Words & Photography Sanny This feature was originally published in Singletrack magazine issue 126. Features like this are normally only accessible to our full members. Help us create…
Fresh Goods Friday 460 – The Austin Powers ‘I’m spent!’ edition
Yes, yes, yes! It’s the end of a dramatic week of weather, of news, of new bike launches and of people being in and out of the office like yo-yos… This is the time of year where everyone decides to launch their new bikes and…
Cotic FlareMAX 132 Pack announced with MORE travel
Cotic’s FlareMAX 132 Pack is a shock option that adds 12mm more travel to this sext steel full-suspension bike. Cotic has made a very small but very interesting release this week that might have slipped under your radar. Chances are if you aren’t signed up…
2020 Calibre Bossnut First Ride Impressions – Super affordable fun!
First ride impressions of the 2020 Calibre Bossnut, a bike that proves that you don’t need to spend a fortune to have fun on 2 wheels. I have to admit to being a Calibre Bossnut virgin. Although, I have ridden and reviewed the Calibre Sentry…
First Look: 2020 Calibre Bossnut looks like a million dollars costs £1100
First look at the 2020 Calibre Bossnut. All-new geometry, all new Eagle drivetrain, all-new colours same great value for money. Since 2015 the Calibre Bossnut has been the goto bike for anyone looking for quality full-suspension at a knock out price, but for 2020 this…
2020 Calibre Bossnut Launched
The social media teasers kicked off sometime this week, and now the news is official! Here’s the 2020 Calibre Bossnut, a completely new beast! Read our first look here. Read our first ride impressions here. Believe it or not, but the first Calibre Bossnut was…
Singletrack Issue 126 | Hope’s Helping Hand
How one engineering student’s idea became a reality thanks to Hope Technology. Words & Photography Chipps Maxime Lallemand loves riding bikes in the French mountains. He loves racing enduros, and blasting down mountains flat out. The only trouble is, he’s always had a bit of…
Canyon Celebrates Crankworx Whistler With MTB Sale
Crankworx Whistler has been a fixture on the MTB calendar since 2004. Several days, spanning a variety of disciplines, on some of our sport’s most iconic trails – the event has built a global following. To join this celebration of mountain biking, Canyon is launching…
Singletrack Issue 126 | Hello, my name is Jason and I’m a big scaredy-cat
Jason steps out of his comfort zone and under a combine harvester. Or something like that. In a week or so, I’m going to be starting a bike race and I’m getting really nervous. Nervous like I was the first few times I did a…
Sportline Show | New 2020 Saracen And Genesis Mountain Bikes
Sportline is the name of Madison’s company that handles all of its own-brand bikes, like Saracen, Genesis and Ridgeback and every year there’s a separate Sportline Show event held in a large marquee, or windowless show hall in Milton Keynes to bring all of the…
![Singletrack Issue 126 | Rock[et] Science – Manon Carpenter](https://singletrackworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/cropped-stw-2019-08-08-Petes-Pros-Manon_12.jpg)
Singletrack Issue 126 | Rock[et] Science – Manon Carpenter
Pete catches up with an enthusiastic and at peace Manon Carpenter on her South Wales home trails. Words & Photography Pete Scullion A shout from the front of our three-person train manages to find its way to my ears through the clatter of bikes and…
Singletrack Issue 126 | A Day In The Life Of.. Fort William World Cup
A look behind the scenes of Fort William’s biggest weekend of the year. Words Samantha Saskia Dugon & Chipps Photography Samantha Saskia Dugon As with all great things in life, the smoother and more professional the outward appearance of a venue, event or personality, the…
Singletrack Issue 126 | The Quiet Revolution
A safety and navigation essential for long-distance riding? Or another bleeping digital crutch for those who shouldn’t be in the wilderness in the first place? Rich Rothwell looks at the dramatic influence that GPS units have had on our sport. Words Rich Rothwell Photography Singletrack…
New DT Swiss 1200 Spline Premium Carbon Wheels Launched
Not only has DT Swiss reinvented its light-but-bombproof star ratchet hubs, but its has now built them into super light wheels with carbon wheels at the new DT Swiss 1200 Spline Premium carbon wheels. But rather than just keep all that light weight for the…
Singletrack Magazine Issue 126 – The Last Word
Red. Rocks. Hannah takes a mountain biker’s pilgrimage. Words & Photography Hannah
Giant Reign Advanced Pro 29 0 | First Ride Review
James Vincent has been to Canada to ride the new Giant Reign Advanced Pro 29. Read on to see what he thought… As new bike launches go, this one has been pretty special. Giant pulled out all the stops until there were no more stops…
Giant Reign 29 | The Reign of 27.5 is over! Long live the 29er!
In a somewhat inevitable and not wholly unexpected move, Giant’s long travel enduro race bike, The Giant Reign 29, will be rolling on 29in wheels for 2020. The new Giant Reign is a direct replacement for the previous model and sits above the Trance 29…
First Look | Custom 2020 Kona Process 134
On the day of the 2020 Kona Process 134 launch, we take an exclusive look at a very special custom build. Absent from the range for a couple of years, Kona has now relaunched the shorter travel version of their popular Process bike, the Kona…
2020 Kona Process 134 released after two and a half years in the making!
The shorter travel Kona Process 134 receives a well-deserved update and makeover for 2020 with a new frame 2 wheel sizes and both alloy and carbon versions. While it never left the Kona range of bikes, the Process 134 has been rocking the older frame…
2020 Specialized Epic is THE lightest hardtail on the market
The 2020 Specialized Epic HT – Same Same, But Different Wil reports on the new Specialized no-mercy XC race hardtail. Back in June this year, I was invited out to Lake Tahoe in the US for the Specialized Summer Camp. We were there to test…
Box Prime 9 is a 9-speed cassette for the 12-speed generation
Box Component’s new Prime 9 cassette offers the range of a 12-speed but improved chain line. Box Components often releases drivetrain components that are a little different from what the rest of the industry has been doing. It’s first mountain bike drivetrain featured a unique…
Giro Tyrant – The New Halfshell Helmet For Jumpers And Jibbers
Are you a bit of a jibber? Do you like to bust some phat airs? Then Giro has got a helmet for you – the Giro Tyrant. Today, Giro is launching a helmet that, for a change, isn’t designed to go fast, or be super…
US Custom Builder Sklar Introduces Sweet Spot – for those with deep pockets.
US custom frame builder Adam Sklar introduces an off-the-peg steel do-it-all hardtail. Perhaps better known for custom made titanium and steel mountain bikes and all-road bikes, US builder Sklar Bikes is going a little more mainstream with a stock build, trail-focused mountain bike: the Sklar…
FGF 459 | The Soggy Edition Of Fresh Goods Friday
It’s been one of those ‘it can only get better from here’ weeks. Devastating flash floods in Swaledale resulting in Ard Rock being cancelled for the first time, the silver lining being that the organisers have big hearts and are raffling off a very nice…
Hope HB130 – The New 29in Trail Bike On The Block
Today, Hope is officially launching it’s 29er trail bike – the Hope HB130. Now, it’s fair to say that this bike hasn’t exactly been the best kept secret in the world. But, like many things Hope manufactures, if the engineers there are going to develop…