Don't fear the camo. Also available in black, white and coral as well as this invisible colourway. Great big hat.
James Vincent
Having ridden bikes for as long as he can remember, James takes a certain twisted pleasure in carrying his bike to the most inaccessible locations he can find, before attempting to ride back down again, preferably with both feet on the pedals.
After seeing the light on a recent road trip to Austria, James walked away from the stresses of running a design agency, picked up a camera and is several years deep into a mid life crisis that shows no sign of abating. As a photographer, he enjoys nothing more than climbing trees and asking others to follow his sketchy lines while expecting them to make it look as natural and stylish as possible.
He has come to realise this is infinitely more fun than being tied to a desk, and is in no hurry to go back.
Ride Concepts Tallac Clip BOA vs Hellion Elite Clip BOA review
The Tallac Clip BOA is a trail-orientated shoe, whereas the Hellion Clip BOA is designed for gravity racing.
Giant Anthem X Advanced SL first ride review
The Anthem X Advance SL is a genuinely rapid and responsive bike. It hits the design brief with minimal lag when you stamp on the pedals and ask it to go.
Staff Bike Check: James’ Deviate Highlander II
Check out Mr Vincent's more-playing less-monstertrucking Deviate Highlander II.
Issue 152 UK Adventure: South Glen Shiel Ridge
James Vincent rides possibly the best descent of his life in the North West Scottish Highlands. But is it worth the steep price of admission? Words & Photography James Vincent A pleasant surprise greets Luke and I as we crest the first summit and Munro…
Classic Ride 149 – Britain’s Newest Bridleway
James Vincent takes on the classic Borrowdale Bash, complete with new official off-road start. Words & Photography James Vincent If ever there was a route that showcased all there is about Lake District mountain biking in a neat, easily accessible, all-weather package, the Borrowdale Bash…
Pivot Firebird 29 Ride SLX/XT Air review
The Pivot Firebird 29 utilises DW-link suspension offering 165mm of travel, and is paired with a 170mm travel Fox 38 Performance fork.
Sweet Protection Arbitrator MIPS Helmet Review
The Sweet Protection Arbitrator MIPS helmets is the Norwegian brand's foray into the increasingly popular convertible helmet market.
Kona Process 153 DL 29 Review: Mellow Yellow
The latest Kona Process 153 rolls on 29in wheels and sits in the middle of the Process range; Process X on one side, Process 134 on the other.
Fox Racing Outerwear – Layers For All Occasions
Even though we’ve been enjoying some unseasonably warm and dry weather for this time of year, we’re not quite ready to bust out the shorts and t-shirt just yet. Fortunately, the kind folk at Fox Racing sent us over a bunch of their foul weather…
Now there’s a Canyon Spectral for all the family!
27.5, 29, alloy, mullet and even kids bikes are all covered in the new and improved 2022 Canyon Spectral range. One Family, Any Trail In December last year, Canyon filled a sizable hole in their trail bike line up with the Spectral 29. The new…
First ride review 2022 Canyon Spectral CF 8 CLLCTV
The 2022 Canyon Spectral range received a massive update today, and James Vincent has been testing the mullet Spectral CF 8! Update! Canyon has just informed us that they’ve been working on their pricing and have managed to lower it on several models in the…
Review | G-Spec TRP TR12 Derailleur and Shifter Kit Tested
James Vincent takes to the mountains of the Lake District with the G-Spec TRP TR12 derailleur and shifter kit for a full review. It used to be that if you wanted a decent shifter and mech from someone other than either of the Big Esses,…
Rider Gallery and Debrief: #JennRide 2021
The #JennRide is organised by Rich Munro in memory of our late Deputy Editor, Jenn Hill to raise funds for St Gemma’s Hospice. It’s quickly obtained a reputation for being a fun event with a challenging route. Race around s fast as you like, or…
Marzocchi Bomber Z1 Coil and Bomber CR Coil Shock Review
Intro When it was originally launched way back in 1997, the Marzocchi Bomber caused something of a stir. I don’t think there would be many riders to argue against it being the first really good suspension fork on the market. In a world of flexy…
Continental Kaiser Protection Apex 29 x 2.4 Review
James Vincent tests the Continental Kaiser on the knob ripping rocks of the Lake District. Find out how they performed in this review. Brand: Continental Product: Kaiser Protection Apex From: www.conti-tyres.co.uk Price: £64.99 Weight: 1050g Tested: by James Vincent for 4 months Intro The Kaiser…
Propain Hugene Performance Review | One bike to rule them all?
In recent months, you might be more familiar with Propain’s Spindrift being hucked off all manner of ridiculous gaps by crazy Frenchman Remy Metailler. If such gnarly sends aren’t on your agenda, then fear not, for the German brand has the trail focussed Propain Hugene…
Salsa Cassidy and Blackthorn Review – One frame, two dream builds
There are times when this whole bike testing thing can be such a drag, man. Being faced with the prospect of riding a less than ideal BSO* with poorly specced components can really suck the joy out of life, and excuses not to ride pour…
Shimano ME502 Review – An all round trail riding shoe?
Updated for 2021, The Shimano ME502 (or ME5 for short) can be found nestled in Shimano’s Enduro/Trail category along with the ME7 Enduro shoe, and their more insulated winter counterparts. They’re a visibly less beefy shoe than the race focussed ME7, designed as they are…
Deviate Highlander Long Term Test Bike Build
Ladies and gentlemen, please allow myself to introduce… my new Deviate Highlander long term test bike. Or at least it will be once I’ve cut it down from the ceiling and put it all together. For now, let’s just take a moment to appreciate the…
Rider Inspiration: All-mountain clothing from ASSOS
Legendary Swiss brand ASSOS have a solid reputation amongst our lycra clad cousins for outstanding kit at the unashamedly higher end of the market. Their summer 2020 TRAIL collection combines loose fits, protective features and innovative textiles, perfect for demanding riders. Ross, Amanda and I…
Julbo Quickshift MTB Goggles | 2 Modes, 1 Pair of Goggles
James tries out the Julbo Quickshift MTB Goggles – will he be glad of the protection they give his eyes? Ever since I was about 7 or 8, I’ve worn glasses (-5.75 in both eyes on my last test, thanks genetics) and when I’m riding…
Evolution not Revolution – Identiti Mettle Mk 2 Review
James Vincent spends a winter in the Lake District on the new Identiti Mettle Mk2. Introduction For someone who spends a lot of their time riding bikes in the Lake District, I’ve tended to steer clear of your typical “Lakes Bike”, in favour of something…
Cotic CC | All that way for a pint and a bike ride? You must be mad.
What makes The Cotic Cycling Club meet ups worth a 280 mile round trip for a ride and a pint? James Vincent goes to find out what makes Cotic CC so welcoming. Starter for 10 OK, readers, here’s a little pop quiz for you. Starting…
Singletrack Magazine Issue 128 | Revelstoked
On a day off in Revelstoke, Canada, James Vincent has no option but to climb a mountain, just to come back down again. Words & Photography James Vincent British Columbia. Those two words resonate with mountain bikers across the globe and conjure up images of…
Time Speciale 8 ATAC pedal review | Pretty much perfect?
An early convert to clipless pedals, I’ve been riding variations of Shimano SPD clipless pedals for the best part of 25 years, and in that time I’ve never had an issue with Shimano’s durability, their clip in and release action, or their relative lack of…
Canyon Neuron:ON:on:on:on | To Hell With Battery Life, Let’s Play!
Is an e-bike more fun in boost? We take the Canyon Neuron:ON to play fast and loose with battery life in search of as much fun as we can pack into a day. Here we go again I hear you moan… another month, another article…
RedBull Hardline – Bigger In Real Life, But Is It Worth The Effort?
What’s it like to be at RedBull Hardline? Should you make the trip to Wales, or stay home and watch on TV? James finds out. RedBull Hardline 2019 2.11pm, Saturday 14 September 2019. A pack of four sparrowhawks circle ominously in the sky, while butterflies…
2019 Cotic BFe First Ride Review
James Vincent grabs a first ride on the new Cotic BFe hardtail. When launching a new bike, some bike companies whisk a select group of lucky journos off to some exotic location on the other side of the world, wine them and dine them, and…
Manitou Mattoc Pro Long Term Review
James Vincent checks out the Manitou Mattoc Pro Boost fork – how does it stand up to the competition? Another month, another set of suspension forks for review. No fancy linkages on these ones though, just standard telescoping tubes, stanchions, bushings and a not so…
Giant Reign Advanced Pro 29 0 | First Ride Review
James Vincent has been to Canada to ride the new Giant Reign Advanced Pro 29. Read on to see what he thought… As new bike launches go, this one has been pretty special. Giant pulled out all the stops until there were no more stops…
Giant Reign 29 | The Reign of 27.5 is over! Long live the 29er!
In a somewhat inevitable and not wholly unexpected move, Giant’s long travel enduro race bike, The Giant Reign 29, will be rolling on 29in wheels for 2020. The new Giant Reign is a direct replacement for the previous model and sits above the Trance 29…
Review | Who needs carbon when the Hunt Enduro Wide wheelset is as good as this
James gives us his review on the Hunt Enduro Wide wheels after 9 months of punishment What do you do when you can’t find a wheelset with the exact specification that you’re after? Most of us would either compromise or go down the custom route,…
Longterm Review | FSA Flowtron Dropper Post
After six months of testing, James Vincent delivers us his verdict of the FSA Flowtron dropper post Which has revolutionised trail riding more; 1x drivetrains or dropper posts? Now there’s a question. Sure, 1x drivetrains have made gear shifts easier, cockpits less complicated and given…
Review | These Leatt 3DF 5.0 soft-shell knee pads are almost perfect
James Vincent gives us his longterm review of Leatt’s soft-shell 3DF 5.0 Knee Guards It’s incredibly rare that you’ll see me out on a bike sans knee pads. Ever since I had a relatively innocuous low speed crash that left me with a loose ACL…
Inside the Continental Factory | Meet the new Baron, same as the old Baron
Ever wondered how Continental tyres get made? Or indeed how any tyre is made? We sent our man James Vincent to have a look behind the curtain at the Continental tyre factory, Korbach, Germany. I’ll tip my hat to the new constitutionTake a bow for…
Review | Forget 12-speed with e*thirteen’s 9-46t TRS Race 11-speed cassette
It feels like 1×11 drivetrains have been around forever (go on, take a guess. No Googling mind. Answer* at the bottom of the review). I don’t think it would be too much of an exaggeration to say that they’ve revolutionised mountain biking. Riders have less…
Review: The Leatt DBX 3.0 Enduro V2 Is a Transformer Helmet
The convertible helmet market continues to heat up, with Leatt throwing its hat in the ring with the DBX 3.0 Enduro V2, which converts between a half shell and a full face helmet with the click of two bindings. Is it the best, or the…
Enduro Rubbers – 4 Maxxis DoubleDown Tyres Reviewed & Compared
Maxxis has a growing range of Wide Trail (WT) mountain bike tyres, including several options with the more robust DoubleDown casing. To make sense of the range, we gathered the Aggressor, Minion DHF, Minion DHR II and Shorty in their respective WT DoubleDown outfits, and…
Singletrack Issue 123 : Grate Expectations
James Vincent travels to Cheddar, in the West Country for this issue’s Classic Ride, hoping to find fun trails and the one true cheese. Words & Photography james vincent They say knowledge is power. I say knowledge plays its part, but it helps to get…
Review: Maxxis Shorty 2.5 WT DoubleDown Tyre
Maxxis has a growing range of Wide Trail (WT) mountain bike tyres, including several options with the more robust Double Down casing. To make sense of the range, we gathered the Aggressor, Minion DHF, Minion DHR II and Shorty in their respective WT Double Down…
Review: Maxxis Minion DHR II 2.4 WT DoubleDown Tyre
Maxxis has a growing range of Wide Trail (WT) mountain bike tyres, including several options with the more robust Double Down casing. To make sense of the range, we gathered the Aggressor, Minion DHF, Minion DHR II and Shorty in their respective WT Double Down…
Review: Maxxis Minion DHF 2.5 WT DoubleDown Tyre
Maxxis has a growing range of Wide Trail (WT) mountain bike tyres, including several options with the more robust Double Down casing. To make sense of the range, we gathered the Aggressor, Minion DHF, Minion DHR II and Shorty in their respective WT Double Down…
Review: Maxxis Aggressor 2.5in WT DoubleDown Tyre
Maxxis has a growing range of Wide Trail (WT) mountain bike tyres, including several options with the more robust DoubleDown casing. To make sense of the range, we gathered the Aggressor, Minion DHF, Minion DHR II and Shorty in their respective WT DoubleDown outfits, and…
3 Consumer-Direct Mountain Bikes Tested & Reviewed
With more and more brands selling complete mountain bikes direct to consumer, we decided to check out three of the latest options from Intense, Bird, and Sonder, to put each brand’s service – and bikes – to the test. Over to James Vincent for the…
Review: The UK-designed Sonder Evol aims to deliver maximum grins-per-mile
With more and more brands selling complete mountain bikes direct to consumer, we decided to check out three of the latest options from Intense, Bird, and Sonder, to put each brand’s service – and bikes – to the test. Over to James Vincent for the…
Review: The Intense Primer Expert comes with extra enthusiasm as standard
With more and more brands selling complete mountain bikes direct to consumer, we decided to check out three of the latest options from Intense, Bird, and Sonder, to put each brand’s service – and bikes – to the test. Over to James Vincent for the…
Review: The Bird Aeris 145 GX Eagle is uber-long and uber-fast
With more and more brands selling complete mountain bikes direct to consumer, we decided to check out three of the latest options from Intense, Bird, and Sonder, to put each brand’s service – and bikes – to the test. Over to James Vincent for the…
Unfinished Business: One Mountain, Three Ways
Earlier this year for issue 119 of The Magazine, I had a great day out on Helvellyn and subsequently wrote up a classic ride taking in (after much debate) what I thought was the best way to tackle the highest legally rideable peak in England
Review: Commencal Meta Trail V4.2 Race 650B: Fun and confidence inspiring
When the bike first arrived, aside from being blown away with just how damn good the bare aluminium with orange and black graphics looked, I was puzzled; Commencal Meta TR 4.2 Race. Race. What sort of race? XC race? Nah, can’t be – it’s got…
Trail Hunter, The Quantock Hills: From Singletrack Issue 120
It’s rare that a good idea is found at the bottom of a bottle…