1st reported on Forbes by Carlton Reid today it has now been confirmed that Mike Ashley owner of giant retailer Sports Direct has aquired the 60 store chain Evans Cycles. Earlier this month Evans was in talks with Halfords after it announced it need a…
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.
Singletrack Life Subscribers Private Whisky Riders Bottle Charity Auction
As we explained here, we have three ‘spare’ bottles of this exceptionally rare single malt ‘Laddie’ whisky. We’ve already raised over £1600 with the first two and now we are offering the third and final bottle to you, our similarly rare life subscribers. All you have…
Whisky Riders Super Exclusive Bottle Auction For St. Gemma’s Hospice
In October 2015 we lost our deputy editor, Jenn Hill to cancer. Since then she has continued to inspire friends and riders from all over the country to ride bikes and just get out and have adventures. It was around the time of her death…
Discovering the undiscovered – Finding new trails on your doorstep
In association with… I thought I knew all my local trails I had a revelation a month or so ago. I discovered a local trail that I’d never ridden. Finding local trails is always a beautiful thing but I was filled with equal amounts of…
Subscribe to Singletrack today and butter your bum for free
It started with Kevin the Pirate, starting a small cosmetics company in his kitchen. He is a real pirate, sails up the river and invades the next town of Wareham occasionally with his gang. So over a few ciders he asked “eeeear Charlie what do…
Mountain Biking – the untold British story – Watch in full here
Watch the full length feature documentary Mountain Biking, the untold British story in full right here.
NEW! Reusable Singletrack coffee cups here to save the planet – and made of bamboo!
Coffee lovers We love coffee at Singletrack – always have done. The first tangible asset the company ever really owned was a Wega coffee machine that Chipps bought for £300 from a bloke in a service station car park – true story. We are as…
Mountain Bike Personality Of The Year – Singletrack Reader Awards 2018 Finalists
This is a hard one. What is a personality? Is it someone you’d like to have dinner with, because you know it would be entertaining? Is it someone you admire? Is it someone who has loads of Instagram followers? Or someone who’s put something into…
Best Online Service – Singletrack Reader Awards 2018 Finalists
No matter how committed you are to using your local bike shop, the chances are you’ve used an online service of some sort this year. Interestingly, this year’s nominations look beyond the ‘buying stuff’ to other sort of ‘online services’. Here’s who has made it…
Best Trail Centre – Singletrack Reader Awards 2018 Finalists
There have to be trails, obviously. But a really good trail centre needs more – maybe it’s somewhere to wash your bike, maybe it’s a family option as well as a white knuckle death gnar trail. Maybe it’s a really good pie at the end…
Best Bike Shop – Singletrack Reader Awards 2018 Finalists
The finalists Cycle Factory, Todmorden, West Yorkshire Pedal and Spoke, Peaslake, Surrey Riders Cycle Centre, Skipton, North Yorkshire Read on to find out more about each finalist. Voting instructions at the end of the article. Cycle Factory, Todmorden Just reading the testimonials left by satisfied…
Best UK Event, Show or Series – Singletrack Reader Awards 2018 Finalists
Normally we have three nominees, but this year, there were so many passionate votes for different events that we had to cave in and go with four nominees for the category of ‘Best event or series’. The Finalists Ard Rock Enduro Malverns Classic MTB Meetup…
Best Author – Singletrack Reader Awards 2018 Finalists
Whether it’s an epic tale of derring-do, a bit of thoughtful reflection, a humorous take on life on wheels, or even a technical review, we love a well written article. In a slight change to previous years, this year we looked for nominations for best…
Best Published Image – Singletrack Reader Awards 2018 Finalists
Singletrack Magazine has always prided itself in the quality of its photographs and the skills of its contributors. In this day and age when everyone is now a photographer and your phone is always to hand to snap whatever catches your eye, it’s easier than…
Best e-MTB – Singletrack Reader Awards 2018 Finalists
Finalists Focus Jam2 Orange Alpine E Factory Specialized Turbo Levo FSR Carbon Voting instructions are at the end of this article. Read on to learn more about each finalist. Specialized Turbo Levo FSR Carbon Not content with merely adding a battery and motor to…
Best Software: Singletrack Reader Awards 2018 Finalists
The Finalists BELL Super DH MIPS helmet Julbo Renegade Glasses Specialized 2FO 2.0 Shoe Voting instructions are at the end of this article. Read on to learn more about each finalist BELL Super DH MIPS helmet Price: £249.99 From: ZyroFisher The BELL Super DH MIPS is…
Dirt, Total Women’s Cycling, RideUK owners file for Voluntary Liquidation
Reported by Bikebiz, news has broken over the weekend of the voluntary liquidation of Factory Media Ltd, owners of multiple sports media brands including Total women’s Cycling, Dirt, RCUK and RideUK. Accountants, Chamberlain & Co, have been appointed to oversee the liquidation. While the Factory Media…
First Look: Canyon Lux CF SL 8.0 Pro Race. The Bike Starsky And Hutch Would Ride
Here’s one for you XC racers, or for anyone with a soft spot for lightweight and racy full-suspension bikes. This all-new Canyon Lux arrived in the office last week and ever since it was unboxed we’ve been waiting for David Soul or Paul Glaser to…
Entries still available for the Hope Pre Peaks Yorkshire Dales
The Pre Peaks is a grand day out in the Yorkshire Dales courtesy of Hope Technology.
Eurobike 2018 LIVE Archive: Watch all our broadcasts from the world’s largest bike show
Hannah, Amanda, Wil and Andi comprise this year’s Eurobike team out in Germany. They are writing, shooting, tweeting, ‘gramming all week. Check this page for all the latest live broadcasts the team are sending out from our Facebook page. Like and follow our page to…
Trek Powerfly LT e-MTB gets beefed up forks, battery and wheels for 2019
Last month Mark was whisked off to the Swiss spa town of Bad Ragaz to get a first look at the 2019 Trek Powerfly LT 9 e-MTB. After a day of riding it and listening to the presentation pitch in a rather swanky hotel he…
Site update, GDPR and being an independent media company in a perfect storm
The last 6 months have been a roller-coaster ride for us here at Singletrack. We’ve completely changed the website from the old theme that we’d been using for almost a decade and brought the software up-to-date to deal with the changing internet landscape. Regular forum…
The New Singletrack Magazine Weekly Spine Line Round-up
Subscribers of Singletrack Magazine (Yes, there’s a magazine) will be familiar by now of the random and seemingly bizarre sentences that appear on the spine of every issue. They are given without explanation and certainly no context. They just exist to stimulate the imagination but…
29in front, 27.5+ back, and Shimano STEPS in the middle. Canyon welcomes you to the e-Party with the unique Spectral:ON!
By the Singletrack Editorial Team In huge news from the German direct-to-consumer brand, Canyon is launching its first e-MTB. Called the Spectral:ON, this is an e-bike that has been a long time in the making, and Canyon is very, very excited about it. We sent…
A Grand Day Out With Canyon
Here at Singletrack Towers, we love it when people drop in to see us. It gives us an excuse to down tools (and keyboards) for a while, have a coffee and catch up on what’s going on and what our visitors might have to show…
Singletrack Magazine Issue 117 Is Out Now
Issue 117 of Singletrack magazine is in shops now and it's not all about the Bamboo Bastard.
Join us LIVE on YouTube this Friday 1:30pm
Ask us anything you like or just watch us perform more magic.
Battle of the e-MTBs: Focus Jam2 VS Specialized Turbo Levo
Mark puts two of the best e-MTBs against each other to see which one is the best
Foot Out, Flat Out – The New Specialized 2FO 2.0 Shoes Will Keep You Glued To Your Pedals
5.10 has ruled them all for quite some time, but now Specialized has come along to try and steal their crown.
Canyon Relaunch Gravity Range – And It’s Not Just Downhill Bikes
Canyon are updating their range of gravity bikes, but not just that: they’re also launching some of their own finishing kit too, under the brand name G5. Of course, this update includes the Sender, Canyon’s downhill bike, but also – hold on. Here’s the Sender:…
Focus Jam² Carbon ALMOST Breaks 40lb FS eMTB Barrier But At What Price?
It was inevitable that a company so Focused (geddit) on shaving weight off their eMTB range would bring out a flagship carbon version.
Singletrack Magazine Issue 116
Take a peak inside and if you are a subscriber we have exclusive download delights for you.
Focus Go Big With Their New Sam² e-MTB
It's not just 'e' for electric but 'e' for Enduro with the new electric assist Sam from Focus.
Is the Focus Raven² An Evolutionary Leap in eBike Technology?
Focus launch a 14.2Kg carbon fibre hardtail e-bike with removable battery AND MOTOR!
Win An All Expenses Paid Tasmanian Adventure WITH Mark Webber
It's all about showing off your 'Aussie Grit Moment'. But if you can there's a once in a lifetime prize on offer.
Specialized Turbo Levo Kenevo 6Fattie Brings eMTB to DH
Ohlins coil shock and 180mm RockShox Lyric fork mean this eMTB is for going down fast.
Fresh Goods Friday Live From Eurobike 2017
It's all over for our gang of intrepid Eurobike 2017 reporters. Watch their final goodbye from the world's largest bike trade show.
Eurobike 2017: The Journey Begins Here
Our guys have just boarded their luxury P&O yacht. Check out their first live broadcast.
Brake Testing Live at Antur Stiniog
Before you click on this story, be warned - Chipps' wardrobe choice is quite shocking today
Specialized Command Post Given the Power of Wu
We've tried hard to pun on the word 'Wu' but it's too early. So.. Specialized made a dropper that tips your saddle.
Brighton Big Dog Gets Underway
The Brighton Big Dog racing and general shenannigans has just got underway. Tom Hill was just live from the start line.
Islabikes 12/24 Kids Endurance Race
The 'Dirty Dozen' was measured in minutes and not hours at the Islabikes 24/12 kids racing at the Pivot TwentyFour12 race
Pivot TwentyFour12 Race Celebrates 12 Years
It was subtitled 'The Dirty Dozen' for its 12th birthday. It turned out to be more on topic than anyone could have imagined.
Watch Our Live Coverage From The Pivot TwentyFour12 Race
If you can't make it in meatspace come and join us in the virtual reality that is our live Facebook broadcasts.
First Look: 2018 Specialized Turbo Levo Carbon E-MTB
More power, magnets, carbon and general high tech app trickery in this latest update to Specialized's eMTB range
Specialized 2018: The All New Chisel Hardtail
Specialized have launched a new alloy hardtail modeled on their top of the line carbon Epic
Specialized Epic 2018: Farewell FSR Hello Single Pivot
How much lighter could this flagship XC race bike get by switching to a single pivot? Quite a lot as it turns out
Presscamp 2017: Camelbak 2018 Range Video
Watch the Camelbak marketing team talk through the highlights of their latest range launch from Park City, Utah.
Fresh Goods Live From Press Camp 2017
Our weekly addition to Fresh Goods Friday. This week Wil strips live on camera from Park City, Utah.
Kenda Tyres At Mountain Mayhem
News of some special offers, competitions and giveaways at next weekend's final 24hr race.