Benji ponders the meaning of ‘short’ as he rags these three not-long travel bikes round his local trails. What is short travel? Too short? Short enough? Shorter than what? What…
Ben Haworth
185cm tall. 73kg weight. Orange Switch 6er. Saracen Ariel Eeber. Schwalbe Magic Mary. Maxxis DHR II. Coil fan.
Review: Cotic FlareMAX Gen4
The Cotic FlareMAX Gen4 is reviewed in Issue 142 Bike Test – The Big Short. Gen4 means fourth generation. This is the fourth iteration of Cotic’s shorter travel (125mm) full…
Review: Giant Trance Advanced Pro 29 1
The Giant Trance Advanced Pro 29 1 is reviewed in Issue 142 Bike Test – The Big Short. The Trance has been in the Giant line-up for a long time…
Review: YT Izzo Core 3
The YT Izzo Core 3 is reviewed in Issue 142 Bike Test – The Big Short. The YT Izzo came out a couple of years ago and made waves principally…
Five brand new tyres from Continental
Say hello to The Family 'Tal! The Xynotal, Kryptotal Fr & Rr, Argotal and Hydrotal are a massive revamping for Conti's mountain bike tyres.
Fox 36 gets new crown, more steerer overlap
The iconic Fox 36 receives a new crown with more steerer tube overlap improved stiffness and durability (whilst shaving 20 grams).
Crankbrothers Highline 11: yes, that’s a carbon stanchion
The latest Crankbrothers Highline 11 bum bling uses a carbon stanchion (or 'quill'), a carbon head and oh-so-desirable titanium bolts.
Orange Switch 7 : Linkage bike from Orange unveiled
The Orange Switch 7 is a 170mm travel MX wheeled enduro bike using a linkage-driven trunnion shock, mounted low in the frame.
Ortlieb Seat-Pack QR: best saddlebag ever?
The new Ortlieb Seat-Pack QR is a waterproof saddle bag with ingenious quick-release mounting. Just what you need for a bit of bikepacking.
Things The Bike Industry Will Try To Sell Us This Year
Call us cynical, or call us highly informed industry insiders with our fingers on the pulse. But we think the marketing departments of the bike industry are going to find…
New downcountry and trail bikes from Last
The Last Celo and Last Asco use the same essential frame but with different suspension and build kits.
Factor launch their first ever mountain bikes
The Factor Lando XC full suspension bike and the Factor Lando HT hardtail are outright XC race machines designed to go the (long) distance.
Lazer KinetiCore offers new type of rotational impact protection
Lazer KinetiCore doesn't use a slip liner or stuck-on elastomery things. It uses an internal crumple zone array.
Nicolai Saturn 16: did someone say water bottle?
The Nicolai Saturn 16 is a new development for the German marque and is designed to sit between the Saturn 14 ST trail bike the big G1.
WTB Volt saddle review: safe bet for biking bums
The WTB Volt saddle is not a new saddle. New aesthetics aside, the shape and construction remain unchanged. Thank heavens for that!
Fresh Goods Friday 593: Sunland vs Iceland edition
I would write a slightly longer introduction to this week's FGF but... the sun's out. I'm off out on my bike to ride all the trails that have been off-limits-soggy…
Lapierre XRM and XR: Cross Down Country
Lapierre XRM bumps the rear travel up to 110mm and sports a 120mm travel fork up front. The XR still rocks yer 100mm of XC just-enoughness.
50 minutes of Reece Wilson: The Flying Scotsman
To help tide us all over until World Cup racing resumes, here's a 50 minute film detailing Reece Wilson's 2021 season.
Fresh Goods Friday 592: Too many birthdays edition
What is it with March? It seems like it’s someone’s birthday every day. Well, obviously it is someone’s birthday every day, every day. But you know what I mean. Don’t…
New Uncaged versions of YT Decoy MX and Capra MX
The Decoy and Capra Uncaged 9 bikes are basically Öhlins equipped (RXF 38 m.2 fork and TTX 22m shock) limited edition models.
SRM Power Meter Flat Pedals are not an April Fool
German power pedal specialists SRM have released SRAM X-Power Flat pedals with power meters in them. This is not April 1st.
It lives! Tame Valley Loop to open March 19th
The Tame Valley Loop (TVL) is a 29km predominantly off-road route situated to the east of Manchester and on the border of the Peak District.
Accu-Gage tyre pressure gauge review
The Accu-Gage is the most important tool in my drawers, so to speak. And it's certainly the most pleasing to use too.
Fresh Goods Friday 591: looking out for bluebells edition
Although the pesky wall calendar may claim that it's not spring until March 27th or something ri-dic-u-lous, we've already spotted bluebell shoots er, shooting up.
Airdrop Filter is a 27.5 lip-boosting backside-pumper
This week's little wheeler is the Airdrop Filter. 27.5 is having a mini resurgence of late. Last week we had the Pivot Shadowcat.
New Specialized Ambush 2 and Camber helmets
The new lids from Specialized take helmet peaks to the next level. Literally. Will this high visor aesthetic take off?
FGF 590: Back 2 Life, Back 2 Reality
This week saw Singletrack head back to the office. For the first time since The Before Times, we were pretty much all in the building for one day.
Trans-Savoie: 10 years of not-racing enduro
This summer will see the 10th Trans-Savoie Enduro. Perfect excuse to look at some nice piccies and watch a great little look-back promo edit.
Specialized S-Works Vent EVO: dial up connection for £400
Specialized S-Works Vent EVO are none-more-ventilated XC and gravel performance shoes. At £400 these are some pretty full-on footwear!
Endura mountain bike shoes: flat and clipless options
Endura mountain bike shoes are a thing. New range comprises MT500 Burner Flat, Hummvee Flat and MT500 Burner Clipless for the cleated crew.
Details of new Hope Tech 4 lever
All new Hope Tech 4 is intended to offer increased power but also delivers that power consistently from the moment the lever is pulled.
Pivot Shadowcat 27.5: not for average mountain bikers?
The wheels on the Pivot Shadowcat may be small but the standover is massive. And the suspension capability should be fairly large too.
Fresh Goods Friday 589: The attraction of distraction edition
Are you familiar with that meme of the 'This Is Fine' cartoon dog calmly drinking from a mug whilst its house is burning down all around it?
Giro Merit: two helmets in one, literally
New Giro Merit helmet is built around ball-and-socket Spherical Technology and features dual-density foam liner. SRP £189.
MTB World Cup broadcast rights go to Discovery from 2023
2022 will be Red Bull TV's last year as World Cup broadcaster, as the UCI announce 8 year deal with Discovery Sport.
Maxxis Minion DHR II review: the one tyre for EVERYTHING
Despite its name, the Maxxis Minion DHR II is not just for downhill and it's not just for rear wheel use. It rules everywhere.
New Giant Trance 29 alloy range from £2,699
Like night follows day, after the carbon Advanced Pro models launched the other week, here are the aluminium Giant Trance 29 models.
Canyon Spectral 125 CF 8: first ride review
Canyon has hacked some travel from the Spectral 125 but kept all of the other numbers the same. Is the Canyon Spectral 125 a trail bike?
2022 Merida EX Enduro: dates and deets
The MERIDA EX is set to return for 2022, once again taking place around Minehead on the 16-18th of September. Press Release: Variously described by the press as “one to…
Container of 127 Giant e-bikes stolen from the A12
As reported by the canny folks over at BikeBiz, Giant are the victims of a rather brazen burglary. An entire container load of 127 Giant electric bikes has been stolen.…
Canyon Spectral 125 range starts from £2,449
Here are the full spec sheets, geometry charts and pricing of the latest short travel trail bike from Canyon.
Fresh Goods Friday 587: Bad Gateway Drug Edition
Another Friday is upon us. After another week of digital trials and tribulations. Here's a rundown of what the beautiful rogue's gallery of couriers and posties has cobbed at us…
Bex Baraona confirmed as Yeti rider
Long-standing rumours that the successful British enduro racer - and EWS Overall contender - has signed for the Big Turquoise Brand are confirmed.
Is Scotland the best place for gravel riding?
Author Ed Shoote believes "Scotland is a bikepacker's dream, the options are endless". As for our opinion, we're just here for the pretty piccies.
Shimano’s 2021 operating income up 80% over 2020
Although it's pretty tricky to discern what any sort of net profit was made, by any stretch 2021 was clearly a big year for Shimano.
Details of 2022 Nukeproof full suspension bikes
Nukeproof aim to be as clear as to when bikes and frame will arrive. Included below is a full delivery schedule for 2022 guide expectations.
18 Bikes No.9 is the most UK of hardtails
The new iteration of the 18 Bikes No.9 steel hardtail. Although the details have changed over the years, the remit of the bike has not.
2022 Focus Jam Carbon 8.9 filthy first ride review
It may look like a diet e-bike from certain angles but rest assured the new Focus Jam Carbon 8.9 is very much a pilot powered pedal-bike.
Fresh Goods Friday 586: digital thirst edition
You may have noticed the Singletrackworld homepage looked a bit different yesterday. This was due to the new issue of the magazine coming out.
Singletrack Issue 141 – The Joy of Flex
Welcome to Benji, our new Technical Content Manager. He has opinions and he’s not afraid to share them. As the person who’s just been hired to be In Charge Of…
Specialized confirm direct sales option
Today sees Specialized offer people another way they can buy one of their bikes. Namely, consumer direct via Specialized Ship to Home option.