Orange Switch 6er. Stif Squatcher. Schwalbe Magic Mary Purple Addix front. Maxxis DHR II 3C MaxxTerra rear. Coil fan. Ebikes are not evil.
I have been a writer for nigh on 20 years, a photographer for 25 years and a mountain biker for 30 years. I have written countless magazine and website features and route guides for the UK mountain bike press, most notably for the esteemed and highly regarded Singletrackworld.
Although I am a Lancastrian, I freely admit that West Yorkshire is my favourite place to ride. Rarely a week goes by without me riding and exploring the South Pennines.
FGF 600: At Least We Made It This Far Edition
As real life feels more and more like the opening fifteen minutes of Threads (sorry!), let\'s console ourselves with some product gawping.
Follow Joe Smith’s build-up to Red Bull Hardline
The video below is the first episode in a series of edits. Follow Joe as he goes through the off-season and into the race season.
Race Face Aeffect R flat pedal goes bigly
At a whopping 110 x 115mm the new Race Face Aeffect R flatties are 25% larger than the regular Aeffect. Ten pins per side. Six colour choices.
New Danny MacAskill edit: Do A Wheelie
Danny\'s always worth a worth isn\'t he? The MacAskillster\'s latest vid is called Do A Wheelie. We would if we could.
Hoffman and Hart win at Fort William National DH Series
With less than two weeks to go until the MTB World Cup hits Fort William (May 21-22), here\'s how this weekend\'s racing went down.
Fresh Goods Friday 599: Democracy Inaction Edition
We hope everyone (in the UK at least) is recovering from the white heat of excitement that comes with taking part in western democracy.
Still riding North Shore in her 70s
Back in 1993 Betty Birrell had a go at mountain biking. She was 45 years old. Now she\'s 73 and can still more than hold her own.
Do you agree with this tyre pressure calculator?
Goodyear have some new tyres out - the Newton MTF and the Newton MTR. They\'ve also got a new online tyre pressure assistant. From our preliminary messings about, it seems…
50 years of Merida pushbikes
Who doesn\'t love a good ol\' trip down a mountain biking memory lane, hey? Let\'s look back over the last 50 years of Merida...
Fresh Goods Friday 598: Bluebell Search Edition
Hannah is back from the USA in body but not mind. She keeps waking up in the night convinced she’s still camping out in some California woodland, or jerking awake...
YT Capra Core 2 review: doing it for the lolz
After the carbon launch models, then the aluminium Uncaged versions, here is the more affordable alloy YT Capra Core 2.
£290 saddle: Specialized Power Pro with Mirror
The new Specialized Power Pro with Mirror is not for inspecting your undercarriage at leisure, it\'s a honeycomb 3D printed saddle.
Switchcraft Cycles: simple but not ordinary
Switchcraft Cycles is Jakub Junek. Hailing from the Czech Republic and specialising in steel machines with really short back ends.
Canyon Strive CFR: Shark Attack’s hacks maxed
EWS beast and all-round ace human Jack Moir has been a big influence on the new Canyon Strive CFR. His race mods have all been \'made flesh\'.
Santa Cruz Megatower 2 joins the downtube storage gang
The new Santa Cruz Megatower 2 remains a big travel 29in wheel enduro bike with the most progressive geometry to date. And a Glovebox.
Review: Adidas FIVE TEN Freerider Pro
This review featured as part of the Kit Essentials grouptest in issue 142 of Singletrack World. Predictable winner that still has few real rivals Price: £130.00 From: adidas.co.uk Tested By:...
Review: Bontrager Flatline Shoes
This review featured as part of the Kit Essentials grouptest in issue 142 of Singletrack World. Never mind the grip, feel the feel Price: £124.99 From: trekbikes.com Tested By: Benji...
Review: Endura MT500 Burner Flat
This review featured as part of the Kit Essentials grouptest in issue 142 of Singletrack World. Sturdy, sticky and race-focussed Price: £119.99 From: endurasport.com Tested By: Benji There is plenty...
Review: Ride Concepts TNT Shoe
This review featured as part of the Kit Essentials grouptest in issue 142 of Singletrack World. The flattie fan’s winter boot Price: £145.00 From: silverfish-uk.com Tested By: Benji Though I’m...
142 Bike Test – The Big Short
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...
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.