Singletrack Towers may be in the North of England, but that doesn’t mean we couldn’t use a few subtitles to go with this video from Nukeproof. Nukeproof says: Skelmersdale; for a region with few official hills let alone mountains, there is a quality crop of…
2020
First Ride Review: 2021 Specialized Epic Pro – No Mercy XC Racing Beast
Wheel this new Specialized Epic Pro out of the box and you’re immediately struck by how neat and purposeful it looks. Thanks to the SRAM AXS Eagle wireless shifting and a puritanical approach to dropper posts, there are only brake hoses coming from the bars.…
2021 Specialized Epic. Lighter. Faster. More Epic Than Ever!
2021 Specialized Epic For the 2018 model year, Specialized did a major revamp of its flagship race bike, the Epic. The full carbon frame was made a lot lighter, while the geometry was tweaked to reflect the changing needs of Olympic-level cross country racing. Well,…
Double Your Donation To World Bicycle Relief This Week!
We’re big fans of the work of World Bicycle Relief, and this week your donations are being match funded – making them worth double! How much did you spend on your last bike? How many bikes do you own? We know that many of our…
Matt Simmonds | Privateer 161 Öhlins Build
Earlier this year Privateer rider Matt Simmonds announced he was taking a step back from World Cup racing to focus on Nationals and his new venture, ProLine MTB. To help him along the team at Privateer helped him get his Privateer 161 ready, along with…
2021 Commencal Meta AM 29 gets revamped with new frame and features
Following on from the release of the radical new Meta TR, Commencal has announced the 2021 Meta AM with all-new frame, geometry and features. Commencal’s boffins have done it again and totally redesigned the 2021 Commencal Meta AM 29 to bring the design and features…
Go Outdoors’ Possible Administration Brings Calibre Future Into Question
JD Sports has filed a notice of intention to enter administration for subsidiary company Go Outdoors, the company who owns Calibre bikes. This will have fans of the budget bikes wondering when or if they’ll be able to buy another Calibre. The statement posted on…
FGF Podcast 505 | Barbed wire hands and Chloe Taylor interview
This week Hannah grills Amanda about her recent incident with a barbed wire fence before Andi chats to Chloe Taylor about her life as a pro racer under lockdown conditions. Did you know she’s only been riding mountain bikes for 3 years?
Islabikes Prepares Two New Ranges To Improve Access to Cycling
Islabikes is working on two new products to improve access to cycling: an e-assist version of their Icons range, and bikes designed for people with restricted growth. Islabikes started because founder Isla Rowntree wanted there to be bikes that were better designed for the needs…
Bike Nerd Bingo | Linkage Driven High Single Pivot Steel Full Suspension Prototype!
We get a bit hot under the collar over this linkage driven high single pivot steel full suspension prototype – because that sentence is like bike nerd bingo. Oh my, what do we have here? It’s like all our nerd buttons are being pushed at…
FGF 505 – The Enjoy This Weekend. Nights Start Drawing In Soon Edition
Did everyone’s grandad always greet midsummer like this? Or just mine? Was it a celebration of a summer barely half-through? Or a lament at months wasted and a looming winter to look forward to? Who knows? All we know is that the weather has mostly…
Cotic Solaris MAX 2020 | More Sparkles, More Bottle Bosses!
Cotic has revealed the latest update to the Solaris MAX, their 29er hardtail which they say can do everything from enduro to bike packing. This latest edition of the Cotic Solaris MAX features a slightly steeper seat tube, but that’s not what going to catch…
Commencal tweaks the Meta HT hardtail for 2021
Commencal’s tweaked Meta HT hardtail released with 2021 build and a couple of frame updates. Think Commencal and you will probably picture downhill race runs, enduro wins, and aggressive full-suspension bikes, but full-bounce isn’t all they do. The Commencal Meta HT has been a regular…
Fort William’s Nevis Range Hopes To Reopen July 15th
We’ve just had word that Nevis Range, the venue that hosts the annual Fort William downhill World Cup will hopefully reopen (with restrictions, obviously) for business and bike riding on July 15th, now that there have been some word on easing of restrictions in Scotland.…
Julbo Quickshift MTB Goggles | 2 Modes, 1 Pair of Goggles
James tries out the Julbo Quickshift MTB Goggles – will he be glad of the protection they give his eyes? Ever since I was about 7 or 8, I’ve worn glasses (-5.75 in both eyes on my last test, thanks genetics) and when I’m riding…
Diversion Diary | Up Fish Creek Without A Saddle
Hannah’s partner, BK, lives in the USA, and lockdown has kept them apart. Each week, she brings us some lonesome ramblings, plus a selection of internet finds. This week she covers the next big cycling trend: bike fishing. I am walking a tightrope of anxiety.…
DZR Turin Boots | Now With European Distributor For Easy Purchasing
Hannah checks out the DZR Turin boots, just as they get a whole lot easier to get hold of int he UK and Europe. When offered a pair of these DZR Turin boots to try out before the launch, I thought they looked like the…
Wiggle Data Breach – Accounts ‘Fraudulently Accessed’ – Updated Story
Wiggle customers are reporting purchases made using their card details, amid what appears to be a data breach. Updated 20:30 16th June We’ve received the following statement from Wiggle: Ross Clemmow, CEO at Wiggle: “Data security is of the utmost importance to us. We’ve investigated the…
First Look: Ride Concepts VICE Kyle Strait Signature Flat Shoe
Ride Concepts’ new VICE shoe is aimed at dirt jump, slalom, BMX and downhill riders who value pedal feel. Ride Concepts produces a whole host of cycling-specific shoes and sponsors some of the biggest talents in the industry. Riders such as the Athertons, Sam Pilgrim…
Hayes XC Collection | Because Not Everyone Is Enduro?
Hayes has launched the Hayes XC Collection – a new range of XC gear aimed at ‘normal’ riders and not just pro racers. If you’re not sure what category of rider you are, here’s the introduction from their PR piece: You wake up at 5:00 am in…
2021 Santa Cruz 5010 & Juliana Furtado: More travel!
The Santa Cruz 5010 and Juliana Furtado are the 27.5in ‘all-rounders’ of each brand. Designed to go up as well as they come down, the nimble trail bikes have had some major changes for 2020. What’s new at a glance Fork travel has increased from…
2021 Juliana Furtado | First Ride Review
The 2021 Juliana Furtado has seen some significant changes. Pitched as being a very capable trail steed, we’ve sent one of our favourite Van Girls out to play on the Juliana Furtado CC X01 RSV build. What’s new? The first thing you’ll notice on the…
First Look: Burgtec Mk3 Enduro Stem
Burgtec replaces the much-loved Mk2 with an all-new Mk3 Enduro stem available in all the usual Burgtec colours. Burgtec manufactures a lot of cool kit. From carbon handlebars, and flat pedals, to alloy axles and oval chainrings, the lads in Macclesfield know a thing or…
2021 Commencal Meta TR 29 is lower, slacker, steeper and meaner!
The 2021 Commencal Meta TR 29 has more travel, a steeper 78.6° seat tube, slacker 64.5° head angle and is longer and lower than ever! For 2021 Commencal has made the Meta TR 29 longer, lower, slacker and meaner than ever. The TR, meaning this…
Bontrager Rally SPD Shoe Review
My old shoes have died. They were lightweight, XC and absolutely knackered. I am neither particularly lightweight nor XC, so was delighted to be given the opportunity try something a bit different, the Bontrager Rally. The styling is not something that I would have normally…
Missing Mountain Mayhem? Join in the #mayhem24 competition next weekend
To celebrate what could have been the organisers are planning a weekend of prize giving on the dates of the cancelled Mountain Mayhem 24 hour racing event, 20-21st June 2020. If you have a phone and a social media account then you have what you…
FGF Podcast 504 | Jamie Knight, Lion And Being An Autistic Mountain Biker
This week the Singletrack podcast gang of Hannah, Chipps and Andi talk about the latest output from SRAM plus the weather. That’s then followed by a truly fascinating chat with Jamie Knight about being autistic and how that affects him as a mountain biker. You…
1989 Raleigh Caprice | Pub Bike Check
As we’re accelerating into a world of carbon, titanium, carbotanium and electric components, I’d like to wind the clock back and introduce you to my new-old pub bike. This 1979 Raleigh Caprice is what you might call a shed find. Although, it wasn’t lost, and…
Get your limited edition Troy Lee lid while you can
Troy Lee has released a run of A2 and D4 helmets featuring custom designs available in limited numbers. Do you like standing out from the crowd? Perhaps you like your kit to be a little brighter, more exclusive, or maybe even a tad retro? If…
Making Up The Numbers Podcast | Gee Atherton
Gee Atherton joins George and Jack in this week’s Making Up The Numbers Podcast. Joining us on this episode of the podcast is 2 x World Champion & 2010 World Cup Overall Champion, Gee Atherton. If you had an hour to ask Gee Atherton anything…
Meet the Moorhuhn, an utterly fantastic 3D printed Reynolds 953 stainless steel full suspension frame!
It doesn’t matter what you’re doing, I want you to stop it and soak in the majesty of this stainless steel full-sus Moorhuhn! Keywords are important when it comes to writing a story. We need to use the sort of words that will not only…
Where Did Summer Go? FGF 504
‘Ooh, well it’s good for the grass’ as many of our parents would be saying. It seems that summer has abandoned us again, leaving heavy wind, hail and rain showers. So, a normal June then. Normally at this time of year we would be putting…
Corona Coaster: Matt Stuttard – from EWS to LBS
We’ve another ‘Corona Coaster’ episode for you, this time with Enduro Privateer Matt Stuttard. The series takes a look at how professional mountain bikers are dealing with a year put on hold and Matt’s been keeping himself busy working in his local bike shop, riding…
Diversion Diary – Lockdown Birthday Mixtape
In this week’s internet round up, Hannah has a lockdown birthday party for one. Warning: this is almost entirely a bike free zone. One of the many things I enjoy in my relationship with BK is the sharing of musical discoveries. He’s much better at…
The 520% Eagle Has Landed! SRAM Updates Eagle to 10 – 52
SRAM announces updates to SRAM GX, X01 and XX1 with a move to a 10 – 52 gearing and boosted 520% range! SRAM’s Eagle has been on the market for a good few years now, and thanks to its 1 x 12 gearing and 500%…
First Ride Review: 2021 SRAM GX Eagle, 2 more teeth and 520% range.
Andi has been on the latest version of the SRAM GX Eagle drivetrain with new 520% range cassette for 2 weeks, and here are his first impressions. Before we delve in I want to stress that this is a first ride impression of the latest…
Fox Transition Duffel Bag | The Bag You Didn’t Know You Needed
Bike Connection Agency is a twice yearly, intimate event with a small selection of big brands. It’s surprising how quickly you accumulate enough items to make travelling home difficult, so when presented with a Fox Racing Transition duffel bag this February there was an all-round…
Showers Pass Ranger Hip Pack | Waterproof Biscuit Transport
Wet weather specialists Showers Pass have just released the big sister to their Rainslinger hip pack. The Showers Pass Ranger hip pack boasts more room, a tool roll, back protection and wider straps, meaning it could be the bridge between the carrying capacity of a…
Nukeproof Wheel Lineup Gets Update and Goes Pick’n’Mix
Nukeproof brings out an update to its Horizon and Neutron wheels, along with a bunch of customer friendly choices. Even if you’re a committed wheel wrecker, you probably don’t break both wheels at the same time, so being able to buy single wheels makes a…
Ibis Mojo 4 – 27.5 Ain’t Dead! The Ibis Mojo Gets Major Update
After the new 29in Ibis Ripmo appeared in 2018, followed by the revamp of the Ibis Ripley last year, it perhaps is no surprise that the venerable Ibis Mojo gets pulled into the new decade with the launch of the Ibis Mojo 4. In line…
2021 Specialized Demo with wheel options and adjustable geo launches
The 2021 Specialized Demo has been revealed with new mullet compatibility and adjustable geometry. If you cast your mind back to the past Downhill WC season then might remember that the Specialized Gravity Team had plenty of success on the 2019 Demo. Well, if what…
UK’s Bespoked Show Postpones Until ‘Spring 2021’
Having already had to postpone its dates once, from April until October 2020, the UK’s handbuilt bicycle show ‘Bespoked’ has announced that it has had to give up on that hope and will start planning Bespoked 2021 instead. Part of that decision has involved news…
Cane Creek Helm Mk II Gets Internal Updates
Cane Creek launches the Helm Mk II, the first major revision since it launched its air and coil spring versions. While it’s the internals that have changed in a variety of important ways, to celebrate the launch, Cane Creek has also announced a Hot Pink…
Reclaimdesigns Speedster 2.0 is a recycled, carbon mini Nomad
Vancouver based Chris Clarke, aka Reclaimdesigns, turns an old Santa Cruz carbon Nomad into a sweet one-off kid’s ride. Carbon fibre is an awesome material with standout properties that make it ideal for building bikes and bike parts from, BUT it isn’t the easiest material…
Review: Crankbrothers Synthesis E Alloy Wheelset
The Crankbrothers Synthesis range is made up of both carbon and alloy wheelsets, and there are wheels to suit everyone from XC racers to eBikers and downhill racers. For the past few months, I’ve been riding the Alloy Synthesis E wheels, E for enduro, not…
FGF Podcast 503 | Van Gals, Scottish MTB and news from Andi’s shed
This week Hannah leads the chat across the board starting with stars of the latest copy of Singletrack magazine, the Van Gals. We’d encourage you to answer the Developing Mountain Biking in Scotland Survey to help shape the future of their work, and also build…
Pipedream Teases Updated Titanium Moxie Hardtail
The ultra-rare Titanium Pipedream Moxie hardtail looks set to make a return with updated geometry. If there is one thing that all mountain bikers can agree on it’s the fact that a Titanium hardtail is still considered super desirable. Even in a world of fantastic…
Classic Ride 131 – Todmorden and beyond
With travel a little limited right now, we decided to give you a look at some of the lesser-known riding on the Yorkshire/Lancashire border above our Todmorden base. Words Hannah Photography Singletrack They say that Valley miles are worth double: the watershed landscape of the…
Fresh Goods Friday 503 | Shed, solar, sunflower, Suntour, Stash, saddle and spokes!
Fresh Goods Friday 503 is filled to the brim with new forks, cool Troy Lee Designs clothing, Hope bling, saddles, and even shed accessories. For a break with tradition, we did consider publishing Fresh Goods Friday on a Saturday, but instead we’re going to start…
SRAM Commits $100,000 To ‘Listen. Learn. Take Action’
Amid the current conversation about what the cycling industry can do to improve diversity and the inclusion of people of colour, many brands are looking at their current policies, sponsored athlete roster, and advertising materials with a view to making changes. Some, like Cotic, who…