Singletrack Issue 149 Is Out Today – How Will You Read Yours?

If you receive a printed copy of the magazine each issue, it’s now in the post – we can’t be sure exactly when it will land with you, but if you’re in the UK and you’ve still not got it by 26th June please email us. If you’re outside the UK, it might take up to a month to make its way to you, across the sea and overland, so hopefully it’ll be with you by 5th July.

If you want to read the magazine online, or you join us today, you have other options too:

• You can download a pdf of the magazine here. This is an exact copy of the printed magazine.
• You can download an ePub version of the magazine. This is a more basic version of the magazine, with fewer pictures, that you can read in a variety of electronic book programmes, such as iBooks, or on an iPad.
• You can download a Kindle version, for your Kindle. Like the ePub version, this is optimised for Kindles, so has all the words, but far fewer pictures.
• Read the articles online. (Behind the Paywall) We’ll be publishing them over the next week or so, so look out for them popping up on the homepage, or check back here to see what’s new each day.

If you were already a member by 25th May 2023, you can also download the app version of the mag from Pocketmags if you have an iPad. We get charged for every download in this format, so you only get access to the versions created while you had an active membership – so if you want a back issue from before you joined us, try one of the other formats above.

Both the Pocketmags and online versions of our articles contain some extra features, like more images, plus some videos – but it doesn’t smell like our printed magazine, and it’s riskier to read it in the bath. If you want a printed copy of any of our magazines – maybe you usually get a digital version but a paper one would be good for a holiday – then head to our shop.

We’d really love to know what you think of the magazine. Is it easy to read? Is there anything you don’t like? A feature you loved? Head to the comments and let us know, or complete this survey.

Issue 149 Cover

This issue’s cover is by Martin Bissig. It’s got a distinctly Scottish Island feel to it, though that’s not in fact where it was taken…

• Camera: DJI Mini 3 Pro
• Settings: 1/50s, f1.7, ISO100, 6.7mm
• RIders: Franziska Gobeli, Gerhard Czerner
• Location: Soca Valley, Slovenia

The renowned Soca River, which courses through the valley bearing its name, is a popular destination in Slovenia for hikers and river rafting enthusiasts. During our two-day stay in Soca as part of our Slovenian road trip, the weather took an unexpected turn and rain began to pour. The image captured here is the final one before a relentless 24-hour downpour ensued. The once tranquil, blue water transformed into a muddy, raging current in the days that followed, making it impossible to capture any more picturesque scenes featuring the river’s signature clear, blue water.

Martin Bissig

If you love this cover, you can order it for your wall:

What’s Inside Issue 149?

Editorial

Chipps reminds us to save the widdly bits for later.

Beinn Dorain: Scotland’s Great Pyramid

Ever seen that big pointy lump of a hill on the way to Fort William and wondered how it rides? Pete Scullion goes to find out.

I ❤️ My – All Season Lasagne

Amanda shares with us the kit that gets her through ride after ride, day after day, through all the seasons.

Classic Ride: Britain’s Newest Bridleway

James Vincent takes us on a lap of the newly fully-legal Borrowdale Bash.

Kit Essentials: Roadtrippin’

Benji brings you a kit list for a pilgrimage to the mountains, or just somewhere new and far away.

Big Mountains, Small Details

In the vast Himalayan landscape, a solo trip is the stuff of dreams for Matthius Stitz.

Interview: Rob Warner

Chipps quizzes Rob Warner, on lucky breaks, World Cup racing and how commentating saved him from himself.

Bike Test: Double Yer Money Hardtails

Hardtails are not just for winter, and mountain bikes don’t have to be expensive. Benji looks at what your money can get you from Merida, Trek and Voodoo.

Column: Weight For It

Benji argues that weight does matter (but not much).

Purposeful Adventure: Beaver Hunt

Pete Scullion and Rosie Holdsworth ride over hills and crawl through undergrowth in search of Scotland’s thriving beaver
population.

Last Word

Is Ian ‘@hardtail_only’ Storer trapped in the past or revelling in his eternal youth?

Hannah Dobson

Managing Editor

I came to Singletrack having decided there must be more to life than meetings. I like all bikes, but especially unusual ones. More than bikes, I like what bikes do. I think that they link people and places; that cycling creates a connection between us and our environment; bikes create communities; deliver freedom; bring joy; and improve fitness. They're environmentally friendly and create friendly environments. I try to write about all these things in the hope that others might discover the joy of bikes too.

More posts from Hannah