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Reality Bikes
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When I first went to university I headed there to study Linguistics and Artificial Intelligence. At the time Edinburgh University was one of only a couple of locations in the UK with a course in Artificial Intelligence. AI was pretty new, re-emerging from an ‘AI winter’, with a rapid thaw in which Deep Blue beat chess champion Gary Kaparov. The pinnacle of natural language chat technology was a clunky system called Eliza. It was pretty easy to tell that Eliza was not a human being. We were a long way from any confusion over what was real or AI generated.
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It seems to me that those of us who studied Artificial Intelligence at that time did so with thoughts of uncovering the nature of being human. Of understanding consciousness, and perhaps in doing so to find new treatments for diseases which robbed of our human capacities. We did not head there to study how to talk to our toasters.
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As it turned out, Artificial Intelligence was not a great subject choice for someone with no prior knowledge of coding. After a particularly trying encounter with recursion in Prologue, I admitted defeat and swapped to Linguistics alone. I had graduated by the time the first self-driving vacuum cleaners and cars had been revealed to the world. Now, as advanced AI hits the headlines and becomes an increasing focus of moral and philosophical discussions, I can’t help but wonder how different life might have been if only I could have learnt the language?
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Instead, I find myself with the masses negotiating the route through. Where is the balance between useful and loss of autonomy? Where is the line between creative and fake? Spell checkers, speech to text, autotext… these seem like acceptable tools yet they’re in our lives thanks to the power of AI. Beyond that there are murkier waters. There is AI that imitates others, and that which (perhaps) removes the need for in-house skills. Is this just another industrial revolution, where old skills fall by the wayside? Or are we setting ourselves up for another dark age in which a power cut could render us unable to perform the most basic of tasks, the knowledge of ‘how’ lost in easy and instant access to our cyber masters.
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One could certainly lose sleep over such questions, and in order to avoid doing so it may help to grab on that which you know to be real. The taste of food prepared from scratch with ingredients chopped and perhaps grown with your own hands. Is it any wonder that gardening is good for your mental health? There can be little doubt that the feel of soil between your fingers is real and the seeds that sprout a sign of natural processes.
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Even in its most augmented and technologically advanced form, mountain biking remains real. Our tyres connect with the earth, the wind blows through our hair, the rain stings our skin. Joy is real too. Perhaps all the more so when triggered by synapses which have sensed the world around us since we first crawled out of the sea, into the trees and onto our back legs. Can virtual or synthetic replications of sensation truly trigger these primaeval senses? I suspect not.
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In this world of smoke and mirrors, mountain biking, however advanced it becomes and wherever you choose to ride, remains real. Get out there and feel what it is to be alive. Even if we still don’t truly understand what makes us human, anyone who rides a bike knows how it feels to be alive.
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A word from our sponsors: Cycling UK
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With the clocks about to spring forward, that means longer evenings and warmer weekends for getting out on the bike. And to help you embrace a whole year of adventures, Cycling UK is offering an incredible deal - 25% off membership! Whether you're planning leisurely weekend rides with the family, heading out on adventures with your riding buddy, or simply looking for a fun and healthy way to explore, Cycling UK is here to make every journey even more special.
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With Cycling UK membership, you get a whole year of benefits designed to make cycling even more enjoyable. You’ll get a whole year of peace-of mind insurance with £10m third-party liability, plus access to the legal assistance line powered by Cycle SOS so you know you’re covered on every ride.
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Not only that, you’ll get a treasure trove of retail benefits – whether you’re looking to upgrade your bike, your kit, or save some cash on holiday expenses, there’s something for everyone. With partners including Saddle Skedaddle, Kalas, Glorious Gravel and so many more, you’ll be sure to save with a brand you love. Cycling UK has also teamed up with Bikmo to make sure you can save on bike and travel insurance too.
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But that's not all! As a Cycling UK member, you’ll also gain access to exclusive events, group rides, where you can meet like-minded cyclists and become part of a welcoming and supportive community. Whether you’re a seasoned rider or just getting started, you’ll find inspiration, expert advice, and motivation in every issue of our bimonthly magazine, packed with the latest cycling news, top tips, and seasonal ideas for your next big ride.
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So why wait? The trails are calling, and there’s a whole world of adventure waiting for you. Join Cycling UK today and get 25% off membership—because every journey is better when you share it with those you love. Let’s make this spring one to remember, filled with new experiences, fresh discoveries, and the simple joy of cycling together.
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Fresh Goods Friday
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Hey gang! It's time to gawp at some of bike and bike-adjacent stuff that's landed at STW HQ this week.
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Subscriber Savings
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Singletrack Subscribers get access to a whole range of online discounts. This week we are highlighting the 20% you can get off the entire Vivo Barefoot shoe range. You see, it's not just bike gear available to our members. There's literally 1000's of offers in our members club.
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Shut up legs, we’re trying to figure out what that rattle is.
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Goes up to 250mm, new air-over-air design, new battery location and it's cheaper.
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The Privateer 161 (Gen 2) has great geometry, a decent build kit, external routing (yes!) and rides very, very impressively.
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