Adam Batty ponders the importance of the humble bench. From a bench. Words & Photo: Adam Batty A Classic Bench I started to move faster as I approached the bench. Then pretended that was my normal pace, and I was not trying to beat someone…
2022
Cerakote: Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger?
Cerakote is cheaper than most paint jobs but claims to be lighter, corrosion resistant and more resistant to abrasion.
Bespoked Bike Check: Coal Bikes 84
Coal Bikes turned a few heads at last year’s Bespoked show in Harrogate. This year, Bespoked has moved to the Lee Valley Velodrome in London, on 14-16th October, perhaps you’ll be tempted to head along and feast your eyes on some hand built dreams. Coal…
Bespoked Bike Check: ACTOFIVE Cycles P-TRAIN CNC
Want to see more of this sort of thing, or chat to the makers? Get yourself along to Bespoked, the handmade bicycle show, in London, 14-16th October. ACTOFIVE Cycles P-TRAIN CNC It’s a full suspension bike. The deep-feeling HIGH PIVOT suspension gives massive traction and…
Marin Rift Zone XR review: coil for the trail
The Marin Rift Zone XR - XR stands for eXtra Rad - bumps the front travel up to 140mm, adds a coil shock and beefs up the build.
Voodoo Bizango Carbon Gets a Refresh
If you're after a budget hardtail but want it in carbon, Halfords' new stock of the newest Voodoo Carbon Bizango models goes live today.
Trash Mob Academy – Outdoor education, mental rejuvenation
‘It’s way more than just picking up litter’ Jo Shwe, Trash Free Trails Trash Free Trails has made an impressive impression on the mountain bike community in the relatively short time since its inception. We think this next step is potentially the greatest yet. Prepare…
Ridgeline II, The Return – Gee Atherton: back on That Ridge
Ever crashed on a feature and had it become your nemesis? Found yourself carrying your bike down that bit of trail every time? Apparently, Gee Atherton doesn’t have this problem. He’s back on that ridge, where he crashed and broke himself in so many ways…
Cheap Things Tuesday: wheels, trousers, tyres and stuff
Welcome to the first ever edition of Cheap Things Tuesday! Every week we'll be trawling through the best online cycling retailers to see what good stuff they're selling at decent discounts.
How Injured Are You? 5 Exercises To Find Out!
Coach to the mountain biking stars, Alan Milway, brings you some exercises to help you assess just how much work you could be doing… We like how the introduction assumes you actually do preparation and training at all… 5 Exercises to self-assess your own strengths…
Off-roadie bikes from Cervelo and Ridley
Some new just in about a few new mountain bike models from a couple of road-centric bike brands. The Cervelo ZHT-5 and the Raft and Probe RS bikes from Ridley.
Camelbak M.U.L.E range overview… a pack for every occasion
Camelbak’s popular MULE hydration pack has been part of their range for a number of years. For the modern era of mountain biking, Camelbak felt it was time to give the MULE range a bit of a tune-up.
Bespoked: Ryden Bikes’ Free 3D Print Your Own Bike Fit
Bespoked, taking place 14-16th October in London, celebrates hand built bikes and their makers. Sometimes those makers are making bits for bikes, as well as whole bikes. Here, we’ve got a frame builder who has also designed a 3D printable bike fit tool. If you’ve…
Bespoked Bike Check: The Variangle Mk5
We’ll be heading along to Bespoked in London for 14-16th October to check out all the hand built bikes and chat to their makers. It’s being billed as ‘a celebration of hand made bicycles and the people who make them’. With talks, races and presentations,…
Buyers Guide to the Best Mountain Bike Mud Tyres
Although we are entering autumn winter, filth is a year-round issue in the UK. With that in mind, here are the best mountain bike mud tyres.
Back From The Dead – Punk Rock Holiday and Armpumpapalooza
Dieter is the kind of bike nerd mechanic that every good bike shop should want. He is endlessly enthusiastic about getting people of all kinds onto bikes of all sorts. He can fix your bike even when the outlook looks bleak. Go for a ride…
Hunt launches new Proven carbon wheels and we’ve (briefly) ridden them
Today sees Hunt Wheels launch a brand new carbon wheel offering - Proven. Available in enduro and XC race guises.
Fresh Goods Friday 620: The Harnessing Cyclists Edition
Reassuringly just about lunch time. Chant your 'how much!' mantras and feel that feeling of calm descend upon you.
Bespoked Bike Check: Quirk Cycles SUPERCHUB
We’d love to tempt you along to Bespoked, the Handmade Bicycle Show celebrating handmade bikes and the people that make them. To give you a taste of what you might see, we’ve got a few bike checks from builders and makers who will be at…
Podcast: Tracy Moseley, Exclusive Motors, and A Nice Stem
Hannah, Mark and Benji regroup after a summer break. On the agenda: our failures as parents, Mark’s triumphant return to racing, Hannah’s misgivings about exclusivity, and Benji’s favourite stem. Plus, an interview with Tracy Moseley, how to ride tight corners uphill on an e-bike, and…
Madison Crypto Glasses 3-Pack review
The Madison Crypto are a new(ish) set of riding glasses from long established makers-of-all things-UK-cycling, Madison.
Vitus Escarpe 29 CRS review
Around 7 or 8 years ago the Vitus Escarpe 29 was a way better 29er trail bike than Big Brand offerings. How is the Escarpe holding up now?
New Look Ibis: Birds Are Real
Somewhere in a marketing department far far away, it is a time of drinks trollies and beanbags. Rival agencies vie to win the latest contract. The bearded young Peregrine sips a cocktail as Allegra stands poised at the whiteboard. Octavius and Bunty shower a glass…
Thinking of starting a charity event? Tips from the Calder Divide Challenge!
When Adrian Wright’s riding buddy, Will Norman, died of cancer during lockdown, he and his other mountain bike friends couldn’t mark his passing as they might have hoped. Like many, they wanted to raise funds in Will’s memory – but rather than entering the London…
Buyers Guide to the Best Mountain Bike Helmets
Let's not get into a debate about the merits of wearing them, let's just get on with recommending 12 of the best mountain bike helmets.
Behind the Media: Wyn Masters – athlete and entertainer
Anders concludes this short series looking at the changing face of mountain bike media, with a look at the shifting expectations on athletes. From racer to content creator, Wyn Masters is one of the best at walking the line between these worlds. The charismatic Kiwi…
Issue 1 of Singletrack World Magazine Now Available
Chipps' editorial sets out a bit about what the original crew were hoping to achieve with Singletrack World, and why they started it.
Fresh Goods Friday 619: Accept No Substitutes Edition
Truth bombs: George Benson sang "The Greatest Love Of All". Rupert Holmes sang "Escape (The Piña Colada Song)".
Merida One-Sixty First Ride Review: Long & Purple
The evolution of the Merida One-Sixty enduro bike sees it packed with new features. Here's our first impressions.
Amaury Pierron & Magnus Manson Talk Victory and Recovery with Making Up The Numbers
Don’t call it a comeback… On this episode of the pod George, Jack and Emilie wrap up the final weeks of the season, chat with Amaury Pierron about his amazing 2022 season, and Magnus Manson about his career so far and his recent cancer battle.…
Knog Scout Bike Alarm and Finder
The Knog Scout is an 85 decibel motion detection alarm, coupled to Apple’s “find my” app, which also makes it a tracker. In this product, Knog the Australian company best known for making lights and bells, appears to have solved a personal problem I have…
See More On The Moor – new Explore Moor app
In a sort of modern version of a Spotter’s Guide, Moors For The Future has launched an app to help you learn more about the landscape around you. The Explore Moor app helps you identify a variety of wildlife, plants and and places – handy…
Hope HB.916 first ride review: The Perfect Bike?
The Hope HB.916 is one of the nicest looking bikes we've seen. But does the 160/170mm enduro bike live up to its aesthetic promise?
Quick look at the new Santa Cruz Tallboy V5
The Santa Cruz Tallboy is very probably the original Down Country bike. We ain't seen the new one in the flesh, let alone ridden one yet!
Arkel Seatpacker 15 Lonnng Term Review
With modern era bikepacking in mind, Canadian bike touring luggage legends Arkel have entered the market with their Arkel Seatpacker 15 bag.
Good Stuff To Watch If You’ve Completed Netflix
We’ve not done a video round up for a while, but maybe you’ve finished Netflix, or you’ve only got a cheap subscription and the kids are watching Frozen, again, so you’re twiddling your thumbs. Let us help you out with your viewing pleasure. Gold Standard…
Internet Rummagings – No Queue Edition
There's never a queue to get to the back room of the internet's bike shop, so off I went a rummagin'. Here's what I found this month.
Singletrack Unscripted – Talking About Dropper Posts
From cult component of the noughties through to the must-have modulator of today, what do we think makes for a good - or bad - dropper post?
Fresh Goods Friday 618: Standing In A Line Edition
Bank Holiday incoming! What better way to celebrate an extra day off work than taking a look at FGF618? And look! Thread Of The Week has returned.
Patagonia boss gives company away to fight climate change
Boss Yvon Chouinard has 'given away' Patagonia to a charitable trust. Any profit not reinvested in running the business will go to fighting climate change.
British Cycling ‘Strongly Recommends’ No One Rides Their Bike During The Queen’s Funeral
UPDATE 13/09/22 17:17pm: British Cycling have now removed the recommendation that no one rides their bike during the funeral from their official advice. Monday the 19th has been set as the date of the Queen’s funeral and subsequently an impromptu bank holiday. Arrangements are being…
Giro Merit Spherical Dirt Helmet Review
The Giro Merit Spherical Dirt is a do-it-all trail helmet with something called 'MIPS Spherical' for added crash protection.
Is it safe? Answer our reader survey questions
We’ve created a page here where we have created a collection of simple survey style questions. Unlike normal surveys this one gives you the results every time you submit an answer. You can generally only answer each question once, no matter where it appears on…
Crank Brothers Stamp 7 flat pedal review
Is bigger really better? At 114mm wide the Crank Brothers Stamp 7 pedals are considerably wider than most pedals on the market.
Fresh Goods Friday 617: End of an Era Edition
Six James Bonds, seven Popes, fourteen US presidents, fifteen UK prime Ministers, 144 Issues of Singletrack Magazine, 62 Italian Governments.
Quick look at the new Trek Fuel EX
MY23 y'all. We've not seen one of the new Trek Fuel EX bikes in the flesh, but we still thought you'd like to know the basic gist of it.
Camelbak M.U.L.E Pro 14 giveaway ends Friday midnight
Entries close at 11:59pm Friday 9th September 2022! The MULE series of Camelbaks is the go-to option for proper rides out in proper terrain.
£10k on offer for ‘British mountains’ film ideas
Kendal Mountain Festival and outdoor clothing brand Rab are offering a grant of £10,000 for documentary film ideas based in UK mountains.
Starling Cycles Murmur Hope x Bristol Bicycle Restoration – Marmite Bike?
To celebrate the launch of pre-orders for the Starling Murmur Stainless, Starling have created something rather eye-catching. Press Release continues: We teamed up with Bristol Bicycle Restorations and Hope to create a super-special, one-off custom-painted Murmur Stainless. The age-old mountain biking truth ‘anodising equals eye-catching’ rings true on this one,…
Jenny Tough and Emily Chappell: Body Image Discussion
Emily Chappell and Jenny Tough are two of the most accomplished endurance athletes, having won insanely challenging races such as the Transcontinental and Silk Road Mountain Race. In the latest episode of This RIDER, they take a brave approach to discussing their relationships with body…
New Santa Cruz 5010: first ride review of mid-travel mullet
The latest Santa Cruz 5010 sees a move to mullet but the travel resolutely remains the same: 130mm at the rear, 140mm fork up front.