Tens of thousands of cyclists are dealing with the traumatic experience of not being able to prove they’ve ridden their bikes as Garmin’s Connect servers go down. The server outage means that rides can’t be uploaded to Garmin’s Connect servers and the usual auto synchronisation…
Mark Alker
Mark has been riding mountain bikes for over 30 years and co-owns Singletrack, where he's been publisher for 25 years. While his official title might be Managing Director, his actual job description is "whatever needs doing" – from wrangling finances and keeping the lights on to occasionally remembering to ride bikes for fun rather than just work. He's seen the sport evolve from rigid forks to whatever madness the industry dreams up next, and he's still not entirely sure what "gravel" is. When he's not buried in spreadsheets or chasing late invoices, he's probably thinking about his next ride.
Whistler Bike Park Opens | But is it worth the the full ticket price?
Of particular frustration to those of us on the right hand side of the Atlantic as we are pretty much locked out of travelling unimpeded to BC but for those that are not this is better news. If you averaged out the world’s MTB bucket…
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…
Singletrack Podcast 502 | World Bicycle Relief, 3 Peaks & eMTB battery range
In this week’s episode Hannah gets to talk about her favourite bike related charity with chief exec of World Bicycle Relief. Chipps talks to the organiser or the recently cancelled 3 Peaks Cyclo-cross race about what goes on behind the scenes of this most iconic…
Podcast 501 | What sorts of magazines did Hannah read as a teenager?
This week Hannah, Andi and Mark have a three way chat about everything from the latest mtb news to the strange and unusual things that people are typing in to Google. Also, if you wondered why we are no longer selling Singletrack in the newsagents…
FGF Podcast 500 | The death of the Cotic Soul & Pipedream history episode
We have a double interview special for you this week as Chipps interrogates Cy from Cotic about why, why? WHY? the Cotic Soul is now just a memory. Andi then goes deep with Alan from Pipedream cycles about the history of the brand and the…
Markus Stitz interview, Andi’s shed and tales of a bivvy gone bad | Podcast 499
Is it a studio? Is it an office? Or is it just a shed without a roof on at the moment? Whatever it is Hannah and Andi have a considered debate about Andi’s latest lockdown project. Markus Stitz Interview Also in this week’s episode Hannah…
Mavic calls in the receivers amid confusion over who owns the company
As a brand Mavic has been associated strongly with the Tour de France for over 40 years, supplying the iconic fleet of support vehicles and mechanics. But in news reported by cyclingnews.com, the French company has brought in receivers on the back of a thumping…
Singletrack Lockdown Mountain Bike Quiz #2
If you missed Quiz #1 then you can go and have a go at that here. Be warned though, we have some pretty tricky questions for you in this week’s lockdown quiz. You are going to have to call on a knowledge of not just…
FGF 498 Podcast | Memberships, Sheds, and the future of press launches?
If you’ve been listening to our Singletrack podcasts on a regular basis you will probably be able to detect a pattern in the lockdown episodes. A certain deteriorating madness in the tone of the staff is becoming more noticeable with every episode. This is clearly…
Cotic RocketMAX Gen3 launches
Despite the lockdown the bike industry continues to develop and launch and today we have news of an updated favourite of many a British rider. Cy at Cotic has sent us all the details below of the latest iteration of their flagship full suspension offering,…
The Singletrack Lockdown Pub Bike Quiz #1
Welcome to our just for fun lockdown bike quiz. We’ve got 20 questions for you to answer below each extracted from the brain of a Singletrack staffer. It’s all just for fun of course. To have a go all you need to do is login…
Singletrack Fresh Goods Podcast 493 | The hoarders of bog rolls episode
This week Hannah hosts and chats remotely to the editorial team to discuss everything from the lockdown to virtual online birthday parties. We also have bikes with built in GPS tracking, industry leaks and gossip and Chipps explains how you can still support your neighbours…
Mountain Biking The Untold British Story – Free to view here
To help you pass the long hours being stuck inside we are working hard to find create and find content to entertain you. Today, you can watch our much lauded and highly praised co-production with Blue Hippo Media, Mountain Biking – The untold British story.…
FREE Singletrack Magazine Corona Survival Pack
Perhaps the title is a bit over dramatic but we really do appreciate all the support you have been giving us over the past week and we are going to do our very best to repay you with distractions and entertainment for as long as…
Fresh Goods Podcast 490 | The Quarantine Edition
Amanda is in quarantine after returning from Italy - Chipps is in Mexico. Will we ever see him again?
The Fresh Goods Friday Podcast | Episode 488
This week we chat e-MTB racing – yes really! Plus New kit from MucOff, holidays, stuff that Ross keeps breaking and we hear from our Mega Sack winner who popped by in a really small car to collect his van load of winnings. Andi gets…
Singletrack Fresh Goods Friday Podcast 487 | ebikes, Cedric Gracia and more ebikes
We are not new to Podcasts. In fact in much the same way that Mark was a first generation skateboarder back in the early 80’s, Singletrack got on the Podcast bandwagon way back in the early days of the ‘noughtes’ when they first became a…
Singletrack Editors’ Choice Awards | Mark
Over the last year, our writers have tested a bucketful of bikes, a barn load of clothing and gear, and attended a bookcase full of cycling events. Which of these, though, have tickled their fancies enough to warrant the bestowing of a coveted Singletrack Editors’…
The Singletrack Christmas MTB Quiz 2019
As we roll across the finish line of another year on two wheels and as the mud dries on our winter boots it’s time to look back and find out who was paying attention in the last 12 months to the business of the mountain…
Knolly Warden LT | First Ride On Board Video Review
Whistler is perhaps not the most neutral location for a bike test – especially a first ride review – but I try and pride myself of not being taken in by the hype. And so it was with an amount of necessary skepticism that I…
Singletrack Magazine Classic Ride 128 | All Weather Grizedale
Chipps offers a Lake District loop that has great views and challenging trails, but which keeps to a lower level and is rideable all year round. Words & Photography Chipps The gravity pull of a marked forest centre trail can be very strong. Leaving the…
Tributes pour in as industry legend Michael Bonney says final goodbye on Facebook
It’s with shock and huge sadness that we report the news that after 6.5 years of living with almost total paralysis following a crash while riding a sportive that Michael Bonney, formerly of Orange Bikes has made the decision to end his life. Michael worked…
Pro Freerider Jordie Lunn Dies In Mexico Trail Crash
Famous Canadian free rider, Jordie Lunn has died of a head injury while riding in Mexico with Darren Berrecloth, Greg Watts and Brayden Barrett-Hay. View this post on Instagram A post shared by DEITY (@deitycomponents) Famous for his early roles in classic mtb films such…
Singletrack Issue 127 | Verbier By Train
Mark and Vic look at a different way of getting to play in the mountains with bikes. To the Alps by train. Words & Photography Mark As I start writing this, the strongest hurricane on record, Dorian, is battering the Bahamas. I’ve just read an…
Singletrack Issue 127 | Five Minutes With: Damien Nosella, Production Privee
Andi catches up with Damien from Production Privée, the enigmatic Andorran bike and component company. Words & Photography Andi
Singletrack Issue 127 | The Last Word | Accidental Punch-Up
Sometimes alcohol and high spirits can get in the way of a race to the point that some people let themselves down a little. So much so that we’ve toned this one down, to hide the guilty. Words Chipps
Singletrack Issue 127 Classic Ride | The South Downs
They say variety is the spice of life – how hot do you like your spice? Words & Photography Tom Hutton All I could think about was a pint of ice-cold Coke. And I don’t even drink Coke. In truth, it wasn’t all I could…
Singletrack Reader Awards Watch Live
You’ve nominated and then voted. We have now counted the votes and the winners are about to be unveiled. Join us tonight at 7:50pm for the awards Live from the Trades Club, Hebden Bridge. Watch here or over on our Youtube channel here.
Santa Cruz Tallboy 4 Review – What Is Extreme Country?
The Tallboy 4 is Santa Cruz’s full suspension XC bike. It’s a 29r and we’ve had our hands on this CC model for the past week to give it a first ride review. It being an XC bike I naturally took it to an urban…
Knolly Launches The All Mountain Warden & Delirium For 2020
Knolly is that small Canadian bike brand you’ve probably heard of but not seen many bikes on our UK trails. They are based in Vancouver and Whistler, which makes us very jealous, and their bikes are pretty unique and easily recognisable if you know what…
What3Words for Singletrack? The navigation app that is saving lives
It’s not a new app but it’s been in the news recently as quite a lot of emergency services are recommending we all download it. The What3Words app segments the entire planet into squares of 3mx3m and each square is designated a simple and unique…
Singletrack Issue 126 | Colour Wheels
Sim Mainey goes behind the scenes to find out who decides what colours you’ll be wearing and riding next year, and what will be old hat the next. Words Sim Mainey Photography credited While most of us would like to believe that we base our…
Singletrack Magazine Issue 126 Is Out Now – Join Us
It’s been 126 issues since we published the very first Singletrack magazine way back in 2001… in the middle of the now historic, Foot and Mouth outbreak where none of us were allowed to ride bikes outside. Despite this, and the fact we launched on…
Singletrack Issue 126 Classic Ride | Don’t Mynd If I Do
It’s the Long Mynd Jim, but not as we know it. Tom Hutton proves there are still real classics out there just waiting to be discovered. Mountain bikers are creatures of habit. Even the more pioneering among us, those of us who are still happy…
Singletrack Issue 126 | Hello, my name is Jason and I’m a big scaredy-cat
Jason steps out of his comfort zone and under a combine harvester. Or something like that. In a week or so, I’m going to be starting a bike race and I’m getting really nervous. Nervous like I was the first few times I did a…
![Singletrack Issue 126 | Rock[et] Science – Manon Carpenter](https://singletrackworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/cropped-stw-2019-08-08-Petes-Pros-Manon_12.jpg)
Singletrack Issue 126 | Rock[et] Science – Manon Carpenter
Pete catches up with an enthusiastic and at peace Manon Carpenter on her South Wales home trails. Words & Photography Pete Scullion A shout from the front of our three-person train manages to find its way to my ears through the clatter of bikes and…
Singletrack Issue 126 | A Day In The Life Of.. Fort William World Cup
A look behind the scenes of Fort William’s biggest weekend of the year. Words Samantha Saskia Dugon & Chipps Photography Samantha Saskia Dugon As with all great things in life, the smoother and more professional the outward appearance of a venue, event or personality, the…
Singletrack Issue 126 | The Quiet Revolution
A safety and navigation essential for long-distance riding? Or another bleeping digital crutch for those who shouldn’t be in the wilderness in the first place? Rich Rothwell looks at the dramatic influence that GPS units have had on our sport. Words Rich Rothwell Photography Singletrack…
Singletrack Magazine Issue 126 – The Last Word
Red. Rocks. Hannah takes a mountain biker’s pilgrimage. Words & Photography Hannah
Mountain Mayhem 2019 | it is back with a rider approved course
Mountain Mayhem came back for 2019 after a hiatus year in 2018 and the riders have given it a thumbs up. Moving from its old home of Gatcombe Park the new venue of Marston Lodge, just outside Market Harborough, saw riders orbit a shorter, five…
Bike Check | Cycle Surgery’s Custom Whyte T130 with SRAM AXS Build
Spotted at Mountain Mayhem 2019 At the all new Mountain Mayhem 24 we caught up with the guys from Cycle Surgery. Not only were they there as one of the official event sponsors but they were also on hand providing free technical support to the…
Win a Trek bike, plus £500 of Osprey kit, SIS gels and a ride day with Tracy Moseley
At this year’s Mountain Mayhem we caught up with top luggage brand, Osprey to find out about a competition they are currently running. You could win the ultimate MTB, Day-Cruise and commute biking package including packs for every activity, a Trek bike and a years’…
Rich Energy vs Whyte Bikes logo spat descends into name calling
It was just a few weeks ago that we reported on Whyte Bikes court case victory over new energy drinks startup, Rich Energy. Rich Energy, sponsors of a F1 team despite not having any products of their own available to buy yet, were slapped down…
The Great Trail Etiquette Debate | Who should give way?
This debate on trail etiquette popped up in a forum thread last week and it got us all debating it in the office. Trail etiquette | Who gets out of the the way? Let’s imagine you are climbing up a narrow, technical and steep trail.…
Singletrack Magazine Issue 125 | The Last Word
Swapping cars for handlebars By Mark Alker Mark swaps heated car seats and sunroof for a bike saddle and the open air in a move to become a daily bike commuter. In April I handed back the keys to my car to the guy from…
Singletrack Issue 122 | Ti Hard
Three titanium hardtails fit for an action hero. Words Andi Photography James Vincent Titanium. Four syllables that in the bike world may well hint at a significant birthday, or a recent (or impending) divorce. But just as Die Hard is not just a Christmas movie,…
Review: Scott’s MTB Lace Comp Shoes – lace-up style and adjustability, for £79
Scott is well known for making quality bikes across the MTB spectrum, from Nino Schurter’s multiple World Championship wining Scale to Brendan Fairclough’s Gambler. However, the Swiss brand may not be as well known for producing a wide range of biking accessories and clothing too. Recently…
Christmas Countdown Christmas Eve Megasack Winner
We've picked a winner. Well, Mark did from beside his fireplace and tree live on Facebook. If you didn't catch it and you want to know if you've won then watch the video
Latest Singletrack print issue free with any digital sub in November
Yes, that’s right. For the cost of a monthly digital subscription of just £1.99 you will get a free copy of our latest issue of Singletrack worth £6.50 absolutely free. We get that it may seem a bit weird to offer a print mag with…