As the brand celebrates its 35th anniversary, the Yeti Cycles 2021 range seems to be having a time to take stock and just catch up with everything, after a couple of years of frantic bike launches and revisions. There have been a couple of new…
Chipps
With 25 years as Editor of Singletrack World Magazine, Chipps holds the record for the longest-running mountain bike magazine editor in the world. He started in the bike trade in 1990 and became a full time mountain bike journalist at the start of 1994.
Chipps stepped down as Editor in April 2026 after 25 years at the helm. He's now wondering what to do next, while riding his bike in the French Pyrenees, where he also runs some gites.
Fresh Goods Friday 510 – Where’d They Go? Where’d Who Go?
We’ll start you off with five points if you got the ‘Top Gun’ reference. We actually know one bike journalist who would begin every single ride with the first ten minutes of Top Gun on the big screen to fire them and their riding crew…
Never Ride Outside Again! Zwift Introduces Futureworks Steering, Supported By Elite Trainers
It’s been a fun week or so for indoor cycling fans. Today, we’ve seen dual announcements from Zwift and Elite to say that both companies are now incorporating steering into online workouts. Zwift steering is already in use on its off road trail in Watopia,…
BMC Two-Stroke Hardtail – Not (Just) For Racing
Today, BMC launches its new hardtail, the BMC Two-Stroke. It’s a 100mm forked hardtail designed for going fast, fast, fast, but it’s not for racing. Or rather, it’s not really designed for XCO, UCI World Cup cross country racing. BMC acknowledges that the best bike…
Yeti Launches Yeti ARC Production Bikes For Those Without Nine Grand
Recently, Yeti Cycles celebrated its 35th anniversary with the launch of an eyewateringly expensive, commemorative Yeti ARC 35 hardtail, complete with colour-matched components and a pretty top-shelf spec. The bike itself was so far over most people’s price ranges that we didn’t really pay close…
Shimano’s ME7 And ME5 Trail Shoes Get Full Revamp For 2021
Shimano’s ME7 and ME5 shoes are popular sights on the trails, start lines and after-ride cafés around the place, so for 2021 Shimano decided not to change too much, but to tweak both the ME7 and ME5 shoes to give a bit more grip and…
New EXT ERA Fork Is Big, Stiff, Clever, 29in-only… And £1590
After much teasing back in the spring, EXT has finally announced its enduro suspension fork. There was great speculation about what it might be, how it would be sprung, travel, crowns and so on. And, today we can reveal most of the details for you…
Is This 35th Anniversary Yeti ARC The Most Expensive Hardtail Ever?
The original Yeti ARC is a hardtail of legend. Launched in 1991 at a time when many hardtails frames weighed in at 5lbs or more, the Yeti ARC’s alloy frame – made from Easton’s ProTaper tubing brought the frame weight down to 3.2lbs. Oh, and…
2020 GT Malverns Classic Cancelled. Postponed Until 2021
It was going to be the one event of the season – the one we’d all look forward to and we hoped against hope that it would go ahead. It was going to be open air, with lots of space to keep everyone apart and…
FGF 508 – Fresh Goods Friday Of Hope
OK, we’ve had a couple of weeks of rain, yes, it’s good for the plants and all that. Has anyone noticed just how good it’s been for the nettles? And the brambles? Some of our local trails are going to take a machete to clear…
The 2021 Evil Wreckoning – Bigger, Badder, Meaner And Neater
The Evil Wreckoning is seen by many as the ultimate big-wheel steamroller bike, but with things getting even bigger and badder out there in enduro-land, it was time for a refresh. So, heading in to 2021 the Evil Wreckoning has had a geometry tweak –…
Lauf Announces ‘Direct To You’ Direct Bike Sales
Today, Lauf has announced that, going forward, all sales of its True Grit gravel bikes and Anywhere road/gravel bikes will be done direct from its home base in Iceland in a new ‘Direct to You’ campaign. It promises better pre-sales service and advice, even offering…
Where To Ride In Scotland – Where’s Open? Where Opens Soon?
With venues around Scotland (and Wales) starting to slowly open as lockdown eases (or not, in some cases…) we’ve been in touch with the fine people at Developing Mountain Biking In Scotland (DMBinS) to bring you their handy guide as to where you can and…
Cycling Geeks Unite! Shimano Celebrates 25 Years Of The SPD Sandal
There’s no easier way to suddenly age 25 years than by putting on a pair of these beauties! And in a timely coincidence, the venerable SPD Sandals are now celebrating their own 25 years of heritage. Yes, a quarter century of riding with grit under…
Tweedlove Cancelled For 2020. Roll On 2021!
In a ‘can’t really say it’s a surprise’ move, the organisers of Tweedlove have reluctantly announced that they’re pulling the plug on all events for the rest of the year. Originally, the early June fortnight (which had amazing weather, by the way) was postponed until…
Santa Cruz Extends Reserve Wheels Reach To Road And Gravel
You’ll know of Reserve wheels thanks to its launch by parent brand Santa Cruz. However, given that Santa Cruz is also part of the family that holds the Cervelo road brand too, the reach of the Reserve wheels brand obviously has wider potential, so the…
The new Yeti SB115 – Downcountry? Fast Trail? Whatever?
Call it ‘downcountry’ or ‘fast trail’, we’ve been seeing increasing numbers of bikes coming out in the last couple of years aimed at riders who aren’t necessarily cross country racers, yet they aren’t enduro and who like nothing better than trying to pull their friends’…
Welsh Trail Centres Move To Reopen In July With New Trails On Offer
In a joint statement last weekend, the major uplift bike parks in Wales announced that, in line with Welsh Government advice, and after consultation with Welsh Cycling and the Outdoor Alliance and other bodies, a measured reopening of some Welsh trail centres would start happening…
First Ride Review: 2021 Specialized Epic Pro – No Mercy XC Racing Beast
Wheel this new Specialized Epic Pro out of the box and you’re immediately struck by how neat and purposeful it looks. Thanks to the SRAM AXS Eagle wireless shifting and a puritanical approach to dropper posts, there are only brake hoses coming from the bars.…
2021 Specialized Epic. Lighter. Faster. More Epic Than Ever!
2021 Specialized Epic For the 2018 model year, Specialized did a major revamp of its flagship race bike, the Epic. The full carbon frame was made a lot lighter, while the geometry was tweaked to reflect the changing needs of Olympic-level cross country racing. Well,…
FGF 505 – The Enjoy This Weekend. Nights Start Drawing In Soon Edition
Did everyone’s grandad always greet midsummer like this? Or just mine? Was it a celebration of a summer barely half-through? Or a lament at months wasted and a looming winter to look forward to? Who knows? All we know is that the weather has mostly…
Fort William’s Nevis Range Hopes To Reopen July 15th
We’ve just had word that Nevis Range, the venue that hosts the annual Fort William downhill World Cup will hopefully reopen (with restrictions, obviously) for business and bike riding on July 15th, now that there have been some word on easing of restrictions in Scotland.…
Ibis Mojo 4 – 27.5 Ain’t Dead! The Ibis Mojo Gets Major Update
After the new 29in Ibis Ripmo appeared in 2018, followed by the revamp of the Ibis Ripley last year, it perhaps is no surprise that the venerable Ibis Mojo gets pulled into the new decade with the launch of the Ibis Mojo 4. In line…
UK’s Bespoked Show Postpones Until ‘Spring 2021’
Having already had to postpone its dates once, from April until October 2020, the UK’s handbuilt bicycle show ‘Bespoked’ has announced that it has had to give up on that hope and will start planning Bespoked 2021 instead. Part of that decision has involved news…
All New Cannondale Topstone – Full Suspension Gravel. And Electric too.
Cannondale has updated its popular rear ‘suspension’ gravel/adventure bike with new models like the Topstone Carbon Lefty 1 and 3, with a matching 30mm travel Lefty Oliver fork. And to further rile up the traditionalists, there’ll be a full range of e-bikes too. Cannondale is…
Roval Control SL Team Wheels – First Ride Review
The world of the carbon-rimmed wheel is a complicated one. After all, you need to know why you’re making your rim out of expensive carbon fibre instead of affordable, durable, but ductile aluminium. The Roval Control SL Team is singleminded in its approach and its…
Roval Wheels Control SL Team – Its Lightest Wheel Of Any Kind Ever
At 1240g, the Roval Control SL Team wheel is the lightest wheel that Roval has ever made. Bearing in mind that Roval makes road race wheels for Tour de France teams, that is quite a statement. And while its previous Control SL wheels were no…
Review: Giro Ventana Fastlace Shoes
The two models of Giro Ventana shoes are looked on as being the spiritual successor to the Terraduro – a shoe whose rise to prominence seemed to parallel the enduro racing movement that inspired it. And despite some early quality issues, the Terraduro has gone…
Reviewed: Specialized Diverge Carbon Comp
The brand new Specialized Diverge was launched to the world earlier this month and, now that I’ve had this bike on test for about three weeks, I wanted to bring you a more in-depth look than just a First Ride, as it’s a bike that…
Cannondale’s New Scalpel And Scalpel SE – XC riding reimagined
There’s a new Scalpel on the block and Cannondale is keen for everyone to see how new and how dramatically different it is from what has gone before. Originally pitched as a full suspension, World Cup-worthy race bike back in 2001, the newest 2020 Cannondale…
Cotic BFeMax Gets The Big Wheel 29in Hardcore Hardtail Treatment
Only a week after Cotic announced that there would be no more 27.5in Cotic Soul bikes in future, it has now announced the new Cotic BFeMax . “It’s the result of gene-splicing our award winning, super fast SolarisMAX 29er trail hardtail, with our tough-as-old-boots, 27.5in wheeled BFe do-it-all fun machine.”…
Shimano ME700 Trail SPDs Upgraded. Leisure Pedals Get Colours
Shimano’s fixed cage, entry level trail pedals, the M530s are getting retired, to be replaced by the new dual sided ME700 pedals. Shimano claims they’re ‘Perfect for use with mountain bikes, e-mountain bikes and gravel bikes’ the new pedals have a wider platform (by 7.7mm…
Fresh Goods Friday 500! Happy Birthday To FGF!
It’s the five-hundredth Fresh Goods Friday! Wow! That means that it’s getting on for ten years of a weekly check of the things that have appeared in the office. Started way back when by the Mark and the great Jon Woodhouse, Fresh Goods Friday has…
SuperBoost And Flat Mount XTR – Things You Didn’t Know You Needed
On the same day that Shimano announced its new 12 (and 11 and 10) speed Deore groupset, it is also announcing a few more items, like bigger capacity batteries for its e-bike motors and, well, there are a few things that are particularly niche… XTR…
New Specialized Diverge – A Proper Modern Gravel Bike?
Specialized isn’t new to this gravel business, it would like you to know. Does anyone remember the ‘Rock Combo’ bike from 1989? We don’t blame you, it was only around for a year, but it featured drop handlebars and very knobbly tyres and was meant…
Shimano new Deore M6100 Goes 12 Speed. And 10 and 11…
Probably one of the most easy to guess developments this year was that Shimano Deore would be going 12 speed. Yes, Deore M6100 is 12 speed – and we’ll get to that in a minute – however what also needs shouting about is that formerly…
First Ride Review – Giro Manifest Spherical
That's some big, sucky venting potential there. Whatever sort of mountain biker you are, you inevitably have special cycling shoes and a particular helmet you wear. Some riders want nothing but the best, most efficient version of everything, while other riders are after the minimum…
Giro Manifest Spherical Trail Helmet – Giro’s Most High Tech Helmet Ever
Today, Giro launches its most high tech helmet ever, the Giro Manifest Spherical trail helmet. Spherical? Yes, this uses MIPS Spherical, a technology developed in partnership with MIPS and first seen on the Giro Aether road helmet; only this time, rather than the pared back,…
First Ride Review: GT Zaskar LT Expert
We’ve had this mossy green-coloured hardcore hardtail in to ride for a few weeks now, and Chipps has been able to take it on enough of his local trails to bring you this first-ride review of GT’s most dramatic new hardtail in years, the Zaskar…
The new GT Zaskar LT – Is This GT’s Definitive Hardcore Hardtail?
The GT Zaskar is one of the mountain bike world’s longest-running names and one of the most versatile. Introduced in 1991, the Zaskar has seen World Cup victory in downhill, cross country, slalom and trials. And now, GT is introducing a more playful, almost UK-spec…
Then And Now | 19 Years Of Advertising Singletrack Supporters
When Singletrack magazine started, back in 2001, the publishing world revolved around print advertising. Online advertising didn’t really exist, and the online ads that were around normally sent the viewer to a web page inviting you to phone or perhaps email the company… Advertising sales…
Cane Creek eeWings Cranks – Now in 165mm and now in Raven black
Cane Creek has had some good (and you’d have to say surprising) success with its £1000 titanium cranks, and even launched a limited edition tie-dye set last year for the peacocks out there. However, they’re not all for show and the cranks have had some…
First Look And Competition: Win Shimano XC501 Fast Trail Shoes
Price: £139.99 From: Freewheel We’ve got a first look at Shimano’s new XC501 fast trail shoes and a chance to win yourself a pair. Read on for all the details. At what point does fast trail riding cross over into cross country racing? Is it…
Fresh Forks Friday 495 | 4 new bouncy forks in time for Spring!
Hey, listen up! We know we had to remind you last week when it got to Friday, but now it’s Friday again and you should know that it’s Friday, because you’re sat at home, enjoying some time off – so, completely different to last week……
2021 Rockshox Pike | First Ride Review
We’ve had a new Pike, in a 29in x 150mm flavour, for a few weeks now and, despite chunky riding being out of the question for the last couple of weeks, our local trails have enough lumps and bumps to be able to give us…
2021 RockShox Pike Rides Higher, Leaving More Travel For Hitting Rocks
All hail the 2021 RockShox Pike Ultimate! It’s new, it’s fresh and it’s different. Not that you’d actually be able to tell that because even to a trained eye, it appears identical to the already well-regarded 2020 RockShox Pike Ultimate. It’s true – from the…
Salvation Through Spirits – A Lakes Distillery Subscriber Special
There are many benefits to being a Singletrack subscriber… For a start, and most obviously, you’ll get every issue of Singletrack through your letterbox every other month, but you’ll also get good prices on everything we sell – from coffee to T-shirts to hipflasks and…
The Starling Tellum 79er. A Better Bike Through Science!
The new Starling Tellum is a ground-breaking, industry-shaking full suspension mountain bike… with a difference. It takes the scalpel-precision of a fast and maneuverable 27.5in wheel and places it up front. Then, adds the blunt (but stable) force of a tough, hard hitting 29in wheel…
New Giro Sector Clip In Shoes. Just don’t say ‘gravel…’
Giro has just announced its new Sector clip-in shoes. Lightweight, stiff, adjustable and with a dual BOA system to keep them tight, the look ideal for hard trail riding, racing and we’re not saying ‘gravel’ as that’s just bike riding, right? But yes – they’ll…
Fresh Goods Friday 493 | The Lockdown Birthday Edition
Happy Birthday to Amanda, Happy Birthday to You, Happy Birthday to Amanda, hope you know we love you! Yes, today is Amanda’s birthday, and she is not entirely happy about it. She’s not entirely happy about anything at the moment, thanks to the local annoying…
NRW Mountain Bike Trails Close In Wales
Yep, you might have guessed. It’s another story about closures, sorry. This time, Natural Resource Wales has announced that all of its mountain bike trails are closed. No maintenance is being carried out until further notice. The trail centres are closed already, but now the…
