The Singletrack Staffers pick the standout products and locations from their riding year. This article was originally published in Singletrack Magazine Issue 140.
The year has felt a little like approaching that nemesis feature on the trail: you roll up to it full of optimism, then at the last minute pull on the brakes in an attack of ‘nope’. Whether it was a ping that put paid to yet another plan, or a shipping container that didn’t arrive as expected (by now, perhaps, that should be ‘as expected, a shipping container didn’t arrive’), we had plenty of interruptions along the way. However, our northern hills had an unusually dry summer, so we managed a decent spell of short-sleeved riding on our doorstep, and there were a few chances to get further afield that we grasped and enjoyed. Like that trail feature, once we cleared it, the elation at meeting friends, riding new trails and generally enjoying bikes was all the sweeter.
Amanda – Art Director
This past year I’ve worked hard on improving my fitness to allow me to enjoy longer adventures without the fear of running out of beans. In the process, I seem to have found my cycling niche. Cross-country riding has combined my mountain bike skills with fitness training, and the races I’ve entered have improved my bike handling skills due to the nature of cross-country racing – laps of a circuit where you can learn from your mistakes. I’ve gone cross-country.
Giro Women’s Chrono Expert Halter Bib Shorts
In the past year I have come to realise that many riders tend to favour a certain brand for bib shorts. Some pads simply don’t suit my anatomy, so I consider myself lucky to be well suited to Giro bibs, and these Chrono Expert Halter Bib Shorts are the reason why.
The fit around my hips and thighs is perfect, meaning the pad is exactly where it should be. I have quite chunky strong thighs, and often find that the crotch of bibs is pulled too low down, but this isn’t the case here. The quality of the bibs has kept this excellent fit, as they still look and feel the same as they did when new. The elasticity has remained, and the colour hasn’t faded.
Most importantly, the halter neck means I can go to the loo with ease. The mesh body is elasticated, so I can pull the halter over my head (helmet and all), and shuffle my shorts off without having to remove all my layers. Heading into winter, I am so relieved to have a wild wee solution. Finally, the cargo pockets are really useful. I’ve mentioned that I’ve got into cross-country racing, yet I still choose to wear baggies so these pockets are great to stash my keys.
