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.
FGF 565 – The future has landed
We’ve made it through another week of mis-forecasts, warm nights, high pollen levels and it’s finally the weekend. We’re sure you all have lots planned, but if you find the...
The 2022 Orbea Rallon launches with new EVERYTHING! | First Ride Impressions
The 2022 Orbea Rallon has been hitting the EWS circuit this year, and Andi has swung a leg over to give us his first impressions. The Orbea Rallon has always...
FGF 564 – Everything Is Different But The Same
This week while some of the STW crew had our first taste of heading back to the office, Chipps started larging it as Editor as Large – starting with a...
Podcast | What connects mountain biking to Formula One? Andi speaks to Pirelli to find out.
Will we ever see Formula One tyre technology make its way into mountain biking? This is just one of the topics Andi touches on as he chats to Pirelli following...
Cotic BFe Max Review – Another Cotic Classic!
Cotic BFe Max review! Cotic takes the BFe name made famous 16 years ago and gives it a 2021 29er spin. There are a few bike models that have really...
Fresh Goods Friday 563 – Bank Holiday Treats
The sun is shining, the birds are tweeting, the bees are buzzing, and it’s the weekend! If you’ve failed to make plans for this summery treat of an August Bank...
Halo Gravitas Review | Downhill ready performance that won’t break the bank!
Halo’s new Gravitas wheelset is aimed at downhill riders, and in fact, has already been tested on the Downhill World Cup, so surely they can survive a few months of...
2022 Fox 34 Grip 2 Review | The king of trail forks?
Andi rides and reviews the 2022 Fox 34 Grip 2, a trail fork he thinks you should have at the very top of your wish list. A couple of weeks...
Fresh Goods Friday 562 | The Raw Tubes and Rubber Edition
This week in Fresh Goods Friday we have cordless tools, beautiful German bikes, and limited edition rubber! Has the bike and component shortage finally come to an end? No, we...
Granite Design Cricket Bell Review | ding ding for trail harmony!
Granite Design produces some great little items that you’ll use once and wonder how you lived without them, is this what we think of the Cricket Bell though? What is...
Review | SILT Carbon AM 29, strong, light and cheap?
“Strong, light, cheap: pick two” is the phrase that is often punted around, but has SILT managed to tick off all 3 with the new SILT AM Carbon wheels? We...
Sendhit Nock Handguards | Should you go full enduro?
Made in France and designed to protect your hands and your brake levers in the event of a crash, but are Nock Handguards worth it? What is it? Before I...
Fresh Goods Friday 560 – The Padded Pyjamas Edition
Ahh yes. Early summer holiday weather. Schools have broken up, the caravans have been woken from their slumber and it’s still a bit tricky to go abroad, so most people...
Review: Syncros Hixon IC Rise integrated bar and stem
For almost a year now, Andi has been riding the super slick Syncros Hixon IC Rise bar and stem combo and he is absolutely smitten! What is it? This is...
Hope Union, a trio of new SPD pedals to suit gravity, race and trail riders
Hope Technology has announced a trio of SPD pedals suited to gravity, race and trail riding. The new Hope Union pedal range has been announced with an SPD/clipless pedal model...
RockShox Pike Ultimate Review | Lots of small changes for big performance
The 35mm stanchion RockShox Pike looks positively skinny compared to new school forks, but the latest Pike Ultimate is perfect for trail duties. Way way back, not Judy DH or...
Fresh Goods Friday 559 – Le Freak, C’est Chic
How very odd. Tonight, at the Trades Club just along the road from Singletrack Towers, it is possible to go to a disco. Not an outdoor silent disco with headphones,...
Exclusive | Orange Alpine Evo Review a big travel bike with trail bike manners
The Orange Alpine Evo is the latest development in the Alpine range, offering big travel capabilities in a lively and efficient trail-friendly package. The Orange Alpine Evo isn’t designed to...
Video | Watch Joe Barnes shred on the new Orange Alpine Evo!
The Orange Alpine Evo has been developed to offer riders big mountain capabilities but in a lively, and efficient trail package. The following is the official press release for the...
Review | Michelin Wild AM and Force AM tyres, as good as their Enduro cousins?
Off the back of testing and falling in love with the Michelin Wild Enduro, Andi tests the new Michelin Wild AM and Force AM. Will he be impressed? Earlier this...
Review: Patrol C091 a carbon hardtail with all the gear for just $2199
Low-cost, huge value mountain bike options are drying up fast, so perhaps the Patrol C091 is just what the mountain bike market needs. It seems like just a couple of...
Hope XCR Pro X2 Review | How good can 199g brakes really be?
Fresh new Hope XCR Pro X2 stoppers for XC racers or trail bike riders wanting to save on weight, but do they offer as much power as the competition? While...
Öhlins brings 38mm stanchions and downhill performance to Enduro and eMTBs with the new RXF38 m.2
Swedish suspension makers, Öhlins has taken the burly chassis and competitive damping of its DH fork to make the new RXF38 m.2. As eMTBs become faster and more capable, and...
Review – Fox 38 Factory Grip 2 does the burly chassis and new features make a better enduro fork?
The Fox 38 launched last year right at the start of lockdown, but over the year we have ridden various models of this burly enduro fork and this is what...
New Manitou Dorado gets new chassis, new internals and could be used for Enduro
The Manitou Dorado is the longest-running inverted suspension fork in the mountain bike market, and the latest looks better than ever! The Dorado has been a constant in the Manitou...
First Look and Giveaway | 3 x Giro Source MIPS Helmet to be won!
First look at the Giro Source MIPS helmet, a cool, fashionable and safe trail lid suitable for all off-road riding. I think it’s safe to say that we all think...
Bike Check: Joe Connell’s Orange Stage 6 with prototype dual crown Formula fork
Check out what Orange Factory Racing rider, Joe Connell with be racing at EWS La Thuile this week in our latest bike check. Joe Connell will be hitting the EWS...
Mexico City bus drivers probably won’t pass cyclists so close after this terrifying training!
Spanish language Instagram page Trafico Zmg recently shared a video showing drivers getting a taste of what a close pass really feels like. You can see the Instagram post here,...
Bike Check: Lachlan Blair’s Orange Stage 6 EWS Bike Check
Name: Lachlan Blair Height: 175cm Weight: 78kg Lachlan Blair is one of the fastest young riders of the newly reformed Orange Factory Racing Team. For this season he is racing...
Watch Andreas Kolb avoid a car accident on the Les Gets World Cup Course
MTBnews.de shared this shocking footage showing Andreas Kolb‘s near-miss with a car on the Les Gets World Cup Course! Downhill riders have a lot to keep an eye on during...