Grumpy, happy, hairy, overweight and awesome. I started riding offroad in 1978, and never stopped. I was once Charlie The Bikemonger, I invented orienBEERing, the Clunker Classic, and the Dorset Gravel Dash. I own the Bum Butter brand and I'm a co-owner of Dirt Dash Events. I also work at Singletrack, I have the self-appointed job title of "Overlord of the leftovers" and look after the merch shop, and marketing. Other interests include skateboards, surfboards, motorbikes, and cooking (I invented the Beefer Reefer).

It’s not easy being Singletrack. Please help.

Tough Times. These are not easy times for almost everyone right now, and we know this at Singletrack as individuals and as a business. Let me explain, and then ask for...

Fresh Goods Friday 637: The Warranty Edition

This in the \'kin-tro... A bit like the flippin-tro but just that little bit coarser. Because we all just want to go out and ride our ATBs today, let\'s dive…

singletrack XXL sale

XXL Singletrack Sale and “Unconscious Bias”

There has been a lot of talk about “unconscious bias” recently, largely relating to ultra-privileged people saying things they should not say. At Singletrack we are also guilty of this…...

Buy Art, Do Good: Singletrack Cover Print with Rider Resilience

We are super jazzed with the cover of issue 147 for a handful of reasons. Since we’ve been waiting since last April for the right alignment of season and magazine...

big shoe

Buyers Guide to Mountain Bike Shoes for Big Feet

We point you at decent mountain bike shoes for big feet. If you are looking for mountain bike shoes in size 12, 13 and even 14… read on. There\'s more…

Issue 146: Singletrack World Kitchen: Bacon Jam Recipe

Charlie whips up something that sounds wrong, but tastes right. Especially after a few miles on the bike. Bloody Brilliant Bacon Jam. Words Charlie Photography Amanda Imagine a world where…

Save £5.00 on Singletrack Merch with this Code

AKA The Singletrack Guide to a happier Black Friday! Use this code to get £5.00 off in the Singletrack Merch Store. T&Cs: spend over £20.

HLPIS – bringing excellence to your head?

Our new Singletrack Pom Pom Hats are here. Mark described these as a “Hyper Localised Personal Insulation System”, and he is right. We should register HLPIS as a trademark and...

Fresh Goods Friday 626: Silver Serfing Edition

This is the bintro... the intro that actually got written on bin day (which is Thursday round here).

Fresh Goods Friday 625: Oh, that’s actually quite reasonable edition

Everyone sitting bored at home and wondering what to do with themselves this weekend? Kids getting antsy cooped up? Adults getting antsy looking at their bank statements? Let me present...

Fresh Goods Friday 624: Gold Leaf Edition

Eee... I don\'t know about you but there seems to be an inordinate amount of leaves on my lines all of a sudden.

Fresh Goods Friday 623: Rechargeable Battering Edition

This is the \"Wintro\". The intro of winners. What have we won exactly? We\'ve won the satisfaction of making it through another week. We\'ve won ourselves a weekend.

Issue 145 – Singletrack Kitchen: Gloriumptious Dahl

Singletrack’s resident Nigel Slater brings you more tasty things to make and eat trailside, or as a post-ride reward. Words Charlie, Photography Amanda The world is changing. Veganism is a…

Fresh Goods Friday 620: The Harnessing Cyclists Edition

Reassuringly just about lunch time. Chant your \'how much!\' mantras and feel that feeling of calm descend upon you.

Fresh Goods Friday 619: Accept No Substitutes Edition

Truth bombs: George Benson sang \"The Greatest Love Of All\". Rupert Holmes sang \"Escape (The Piña Colada Song)\".

knog scout alarm

Knog Scout Bike Alarm and Finder

The Knog Scout is an 85 decibel motion detection alarm, coupled to Apple’s “find my” app, which also makes it a tracker. In this product, Knog the Australian company best...

Fresh Goods Friday 615: Rave On Edition

Welcome one and all to the show your telly was made for – or the regular web feature your phone and/or computer was made for – Fresh Goods Friday! What...

Issue 144: Singletrack Kitchen Taking The Rough With The Smoothie

I love smoothies. They tick the ‘healthy’ box with minimal effort, skills or fuss. Just lob it all in and whiz it up, and you can say you’ve had your…

road trip distressed

Grunge is not dead – it just smells funny

Our Road Trip artwork is now available on a rather grungy and distressed organic T Shirt. Ready for adventure.

club ride shirt

Summer Riding Shirt Member Special

Here comes the sun. Isn’t the summer just the best with its dusty trails, warm air, and long days in the saddle. How could it possibly be any better? (Hold…

Issue 143 Kitchen: Charlie’s New Wave Hipster Starters

Just as mountain bikes keep evolving, so does food. There was a time when a prawn cocktail would impress people with its juicy shellfish piled high on lettuce with a…

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.

Review: Adidas FIVE TEN Gore-Tex Trailcross

This review featured as part of the Kit Essentials grouptest in issue 142 of Singletrack World. All-mountain meets all-weather excellence Price: £160.00 From: adidas.co.uk Tested By: Charlie The Adidas Five...

forum bottle opener

Singletrack Forum Tool & Beaverage Ratios.

Introducing the Singletrack Forum Bottle Opener. The Singletrack forum really is one of the most amazing corners of the interweb. It is the virtual lounge bar that makes Singletrack so much more...

Issue 142 Singletrack Kitchen: Chipps’ Stag Breakfast

When Chipps got married last year, inevitably there was a stag gathering in the mountains with bikes. Much to everyone’s relief it was a rather civilised affair with lots of good wine,…

charlie skateboard

Never Stop Playing – Charlie’s Birthday Merch Deal

At Singletrack we like to do a mega merch deal when we have a staffer birthday. Today I turn 50. Blimey. 50. Fifty. 50. Five O. Hmmm? For many years...

Benji’s Turbo Mega Birthday Deal Thing.

Singletrack’s leading bike tech botherer, Mister Benjamin Haworth, is celebrating his birthday this weekend. Benji has been in the mountain bike publishing game for literally ages. He has written guide...

Singletrack Kitchen: Charlie’s Cheesy Chilli Cakes & Roasted Red Soup

This is a nice winter recipe that will warm you through on one of those ‘can’t feel my toes, but can see my breath’ days. Really, it’s just cheese scones…

Specialized Levo SL Comp – Editors’ Choice Awards 2021

The Singletrack Staffers pick the standout products and locations from their riding year. This article was originally published in Singletrack Magazine Issue 140. The year has felt a little like...

Fresh Goods Friday 575 – Tah Dah! All the Fuzzy Feels

This is a warm and fuzzy Fresh Goods Friday – good vibes all round, as you lot kindly donated over £1000 to World Bicycle Relief last weekend, which will get...