Commencal is celebrating its 20th birthday with the release of the limited edition Commencal Meta AM 29 XX with AXS components and holographic decals. Commencal is celebrating 20 years this year and has launched a limited edition Meta AM 29 XX. Each Meta AM XX…
Andi Sykes
Andi is a gadget guru and mountain biker who has lived and ridden bikes in China and Spain before settling down in the Peak District to become Singletrack's social media expert. He is definitely more big travel fun than XC sufferer but his bike collection does include some rare hardtails - He's a collector and curator as well as a rider. Theory and practice in perfect balance with his inner chi, or something. As well as living life based on what he last read in a fortune cookie Andi likes nothing better than riding big travel bikes.
2020 Intense Primer comes in 29er, 27.5 and mullet wheel options
The Intense Primer is no-longer available just as a 29er and for 2020 the new Intense Primer range comes in 29in, 27.5in and a mullet option. Intense’s Primer 29er has been in the Intense range since 2016 and over the years it has gained a…
2020 Santa Cruz Tallboy 4 First Look
First look at the 2020 Santa Cruz Tallboy 4 with updated VPP suspension platform, slacker geo, adjustable dropouts, and delicious colours. Santa Cruz’s Tallboy has received a major facelift for 2020. This Tallboy 4 isn’t the same 120mm travel 29er we’ve ridden in the past,…
The HORROR: 2020 Rocky Mountain Slayer launches in slasher style
It’s a bike that we’ve all waiting to see. The Summer blockbuster is finally here! Meet the re-designed 2020 Rocky Mountain Slayer. That was the official teaser video for the launch of the new Slayer released last week and below are the full details of…
Komoot updates its Garmin app with new and improved features
If you’re a Garmin user you’ll be happy to hear that komoot has recently updated it’s mountain bike friendly Garmin app to make even better. Komoot is a clever app that helps you to discover new trails or create new loops with a simple to…
The Loris Vergier Soundboard is the greatest thing to come out the DH WC
The Loris Vergier Soundboard is the gift that keeps giving! The developers of this fun website plan to keep adding more to it as the season continues. There are many web-based items or apps that come and go. 21st-century fads like the fat camera app,…
Cotic FlareMAX 132 Pack announced with MORE travel
Cotic’s FlareMAX 132 Pack is a shock option that adds 12mm more travel to this sext steel full-suspension bike. Cotic has made a very small but very interesting release this week that might have slipped under your radar. Chances are if you aren’t signed up…
2020 Calibre Bossnut First Ride Impressions – Super affordable fun!
First ride impressions of the 2020 Calibre Bossnut, a bike that proves that you don’t need to spend a fortune to have fun on 2 wheels. I have to admit to being a Calibre Bossnut virgin. Although, I have ridden and reviewed the Calibre Sentry…
First Look: 2020 Calibre Bossnut looks like a million dollars costs £1100
First look at the 2020 Calibre Bossnut. All-new geometry, all new Eagle drivetrain, all-new colours same great value for money. Since 2015 the Calibre Bossnut has been the goto bike for anyone looking for quality full-suspension at a knock out price, but for 2020 this…
2020 Calibre Bossnut Launched
The social media teasers kicked off sometime this week, and now the news is official! Here’s the 2020 Calibre Bossnut, a completely new beast! Read our first look here. Read our first ride impressions here. Believe it or not, but the first Calibre Bossnut was…
2020 Kona Process 134 released after two and a half years in the making!
The shorter travel Kona Process 134 receives a well-deserved update and makeover for 2020 with a new frame 2 wheel sizes and both alloy and carbon versions. While it never left the Kona range of bikes, the Process 134 has been rocking the older frame…
Box Prime 9 is a 9-speed cassette for the 12-speed generation
Box Component’s new Prime 9 cassette offers the range of a 12-speed but improved chain line. Box Components often releases drivetrain components that are a little different from what the rest of the industry has been doing. It’s first mountain bike drivetrain featured a unique…
Indonesia’s Patrol releases 4 New Bikes for 2020
Earlier today I posted a first look at the new Patrol E-Six, but that 150mm travel enduro e-Bike wasn’t all Patrol has launched this year. A few weeks ago I was lucky, really lucky, to visit Bali to soak up the sights and take a…
Cedric Gracia will make your own custom Únic riding kit
The flying Frenchman, Cedric Gracia, has today announced another company that he is involved with. Únic is aimed at bringing riders custom mountain clothing at affordable prices. If you’ve been looking through you mountain bike clothing wardrobe recently and thought about adding an injection of…
First Ride Review: Is The Sonder Cortex The 120mm Travel Trail Bike You Should Be Riding?
Andi gets an exclusive first ride review of the latest 120mm travel full-suspension bike from Sonder. Meet the 2020 Sonder Cortex. Sonder, the bike brand of Alpkit, has been making waves in the British mountain bike world for a couple of seasons now, and with…
Rider Inspiration | Clothing and Protection Designed by Dakine
Dakine takes what it has learned from designing technical mountain bike clothing over the years and combines it with some rider input, including a special edition “Aggy” print. The 2019 range of Dakine clothing manages to balance technically impressive features with freeride ready style and…
Review | Ti Hard – Sonder Signal Ti
Our very own Bruce Willis lookalike, Andi Sykes, tested out three titanium hardtails from Kingdom, Nordest and Sonder for Issue 122 of Singletrack Magazine. Here is his review of the Sonder Signal Ti. As I’m sure you all know, but Sonder is the bike branch…
Review | Ti Hard – Nordest Bardino Ti
Our very own Bruce Willis lookalike, Andi Sykes, tested out three titanium hardtails from Kingdom, Nordest and Sonder for Issue 122 of Singletrack Magazine. Here is his review of the Nordest Bardino Ti. Easily the rarest of our titanium trio is the Nordest Bardino Ti.…
Review | Ti Hard – Kingdom Vendetta X2
Our very own Bruce Willis lookalike, Andi Sykes, tested out three titanium hardtails from Kingdom, Nordest and Sonder for Issue 122 of Singletrack Magazine. Here is his review of the Kingdom Vendetta X2. Kingdom Bike is based in Copenhagen and like many other brands from…
HUNT All-Mountain Carbon H_Impact wheel set released for just £789
Wheel wizards, HUNT, have released a new set of carbon rimmed all-mountain wheels with a lifetime crash replacement warranty and low £789 price tag. The £789 HUNT All-Mountain Carbon H_Impact wheelset might not have a name that easily rolls off the tongue, but they have…
Tuesday Treat: The NEW Mudhugger quick-release Short and FRX
MudHugger has re-introduced the quick-release version of its popular mudguard system, boasting new and improved straps for even faster installation. Imagine this just for a second, you’ve woken up to find that the weather is absolutely glorious. You pop on your summer riding kit, you…
Spy Shot: Sonder Signal Steel hardtail spied!
Late last year I was pretty lucky to be one of the first people to ride the Sonder Signal Ti, today I’ve discovered I’m not the first to ride the Signal steel hardtail but I’m still stoked! Steel is real! It’s a fact we can’t…
Stanton Bikes brings Titanium hardtail manufacture to the UK
After hitting a home run with its made in the UK full-suspension frames, Stanton Bikes is now adding UK made Titanium hardtails to the range. As much as we all love to see brands bring manufacturing back to the UK, it’s not always as simple…
Rotor 13-speed drivetrain – The Bike Place Show 2019
We took a little time to get up close and personal with Rotor's forthcoming 13-speed, hydraulically actuated, multi-purpose drivetrain.
Burgtec components and sexy staff bikes – The Bike Place Show 2019
Burgtec has the usual selection of quality bike bling on show at The Bike Place Show 2019, plus a couple of stunning custom Santa Cruz beauties. It’s always good to catch up with the guys from Burgtec to see what new parts they have for…
Welsh made Unite Components – The Bike Place Show 2019
Welsh designed and manufactured pedals, chainrings, stems and more from upstart brand Unite Components. Andi and Ross have spent the day at this year’s The Bike Place Show, and while many of the items they saw are under strict embargo, there are a few things…
Fresh Goods Friday 454: Purple Rain, a Big Bird and a 1960’s Schwinn!
Fresh Goods Friday is come around already this week packed with the latest purple kit from Nukeproof a retro Schwinn a new Bird and more. We knew that if we hung around long enough mountain bike fashion would finally come full circle and purple would…
Get higher faster with the new 200mm RockShox Reverb Stealth
The 2020 RockShox Reverb Stealth is faster, shorter and offers more drop than ever before, plus a new Vent Valve means no more squishy dropper. Say goodbye to the old RockShox Reverb and hello to the new 2020 Reverb Stealth, with more drop options, better…
Watch Yoann Barelli’s Season Ending Accident
Don’t worry it’s not blood filled, bone snapping, mega crash from the top of a Rampage line. Nope, Yoann is out for 6-9 months after attempting this climb! Yoann Barelli is one of the most entertaining enduro riders on the circuit. He’s known for tackling…
Video: These Panda 4×4 drifting kids will out ride you everyday of the week
No, these young riders aren’t really drifting that classic Panda 4×4, but they are riding those Commencal Clash kids bikes like mini pros. If you have kids that are serious about riding then there’s a very good chance that you’ll have visited the Commencal website…
This carbon fibre, full suspension, 29er, XC bike is just £1690… in France
XC riders living in France can now walk into their nearest Decathlon store and pick up the all-new Rockrider XC 900 S for just €1899! B’Twin, Decathlon’s own bicycle brand, has released a new full-suspension bike that if launched in the UK would surely become…
Cancelled: 2019 Malverns Classic cancelled due to weather conditions
Extremely wet weather and continuous downpours mean that this year’s Malverns Classic will be cancelled. Si Paton, the organizer of the 2019 Malverns Classic, has taken the say but necessary steps to cancel this year’s event. In a post on social media, Si says that…
Vali Holl Injured At Crankworx Innsbruck
Vali Holl will be off the bike for at least 3 weeks following an injury during dual slalom practice at Crankworx Innsbruck. Junior champion, Vali Holl, has taken to Instagram to inform fans that she will have to take some time off the bike after…
This is Caminade’s Ti, Asymmetric, Chilleasy a.k.a. “Pleasure Machine”
Boutique French frame maker, Caminade, makes a welcome return to the mountain bike market with the full-suspension Chilleasy. The Caminade Chilleasy is the latest full-suspension frame to be designed and manufactured by the French frame maker. The bike is actually the brainchild of Caminade newcomer,…
2019 Leogang DH WC Elite Men Results
Find out the results from round 3 of the 2019 downhill world cup in Leogang. 2019 Leogang DH WC Elite Men’s results below. Before we get into the results of today’s Elite Men’s race from Leogang, let’s take a few minutes to get to grips…
2019 Leogang DH WC Elite Women Results
Although Tahnee Seagrave is out for this round of the UCI Downhill World Cup, the racing was as fast and as close as ever. What a contrast from last week! Leogang is sunny, dusty and midge-fee, but what hasn’t changed since Fort William is the…
2019 Leogang DH WC Junior Results are in
We’re not at Leogang this weekend but we’re still on hand to bring you that latest results from the 3rd round of the UCI Downhill World Cup. Junior Men 2019 Leogang Downhill WC Thibaut Daprela Kye A’Hern Matteo Iniguez Jamie Edmondson Patrick Laffey See the…
Meet the Banshee Paradox – An alloy hardtail that rides like steel
The Banshee Paradox is an ultra-rare alloy hardtail that has been designed to ride with the spirit of a steel bike Banshee bikes aren’t exactly ten a penny in the UK. You might bump into a Spitfire now and then but they’re not the usual…
Photo Gallery: 2019 Fort William World Cup Slip ‘N’ Slide
Fort William provided the goods again for this year’s round of the UCI Downhill World Cup, but before we move on to the next leg, let’s check out some the images we caught at the Nevis Range. With a grueling track, extreme weather and crowds…
Crash Carnage at Fort William WC Downhill 2019
With the finals at the 2019 Fort William DH World Cup just hours away, we take a moment to look back at the past few days and the carnage we’ve witnessed so far. Although the final races at the 2019 Fort William DH World Cup…
2019 Fort William DH World Cup: Spied in the pits part 2
Another day of cruising the pits at Fort William uncovers more surprising new tech and bikes we’ve never seen in the flesh before. Juliana She 10 This beautiful Juliana She 10 is hitting the dirt at Fort William this weekend. Like other Juliana models, the…
2019 Fort William DH World Cup Gallery: How the pros deal with the rain
The 2019 Fort William DH World Cup is turning into one of the wettest we’ve had to deal with in years, which gives us a great inside look at how the pros deal with the rain and mud. We have more 2019 Fort William DH…
Spotted At Fort William: The New Commencal Supreme DH bike
Hiding in plain sight at the Commencal Vallnord race pits in Fort William is the latest variation of the Commencal Supreme DH bike. Walking around the pits, and watching the action on track, it’s hard not to be impressed by the number of Commencal Supreme…
Day 1 2019 Fort William DH World Cup: Spied in the pits
We’re here at the 2019 Fort William DH World Cup and although it is absolutely lashing it down, we’ve been through the pits and snapped a few gems for your viewing pleasure. Enjoy! Cannondale’s dual shock downhill bike As soon as we arrived at Fort…
Cash reward for the return of Aaron Gwin’s stolen bike in Edinburgh
Aaron Gwin’s bad luck continues, after hurting his ankle he’s now dealing with a stolen bike ahead of this weekend’s Fort William WC downhill race. The Intense Factory team has suffered a theft on the way to Fort William with Aron Gwin’s bike stolen during…
Review: Northwave Clan flat shoes gives you gecko grip plus
Andi slips on a pair of the new Northwave Clan flat shoes featuring a tread and rubber collab from the rubber wizards at Michelin. We first spotted the Northwave Clan shoe way back at Eurobike in 2018. There the shoe was shown alongside the Northwave…
Fresh Forking Goods 449: Meet the RockShox Ultimate family, and have fun in the sun
The long weekend approaches and naturally our minds turn to fancy new RockShox forks, comfy saddles, fresh threads, and suncream. Oh, and pickles… Fabric Scoop Shallow Race Ti Price: £69.99 (model shown is not available to buy) From: Fabric.cc Ross has been sent an ambassador…
Pace RC529 review: the business in front, party in the back hardtail
Andi reviews Pace Cycles’ low-slung Pace RC529 steel 29er to see what this versatile hardcore hardtail is made of. I remember leafing through mountain bike magazines in the mid-’90s and being drawn to Pace Cycles’ radical products. The Yorkshire based brand was at the cutting…
Newsdesk 12: How to save 47% at Canyon UK, Rich Energy vs Whyte and more
In Newsdesk 12 we take a look at Canyon UK new cycle to work scheme that could save you 47% off a new bike, dip our toes into the Whyte vs Rich Energy saga and spy that new Cannondale It is Newsdesk 12 although I…
10 More Stunning Steel Full Suspension Bikes You Cannot Ignore
Steel remains real in 2019 with no sign of steel full suspension bikes disappearing from the market, in fact, there could be even more on offer than ever before. 2019 Production Privée Shan No5 Price: From €1,499.00 frame only From: Production Privée For 2019, Andorran…
Tuesday Treats: Ty Beic the MTB friendly cottage in Wales you have to visit
Premier Dealer Ty Beic fills us in on what has changed in the past 4 years since we last spoke to them, and tells us all about their all new personal MTB track. Tuesday Treats is a chance where independent MTB related companies have a…