Following on from the release of the radical new Meta TR, Commencal has announced the 2021 Meta AM with all-new frame, geometry and features. Commencal’s boffins have done it again and totally redesigned the 2021 Commencal Meta AM 29 to bring the design and features…
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.
Commencal tweaks the Meta HT hardtail for 2021
Commencal’s tweaked Meta HT hardtail released with 2021 build and a couple of frame updates. Think Commencal and you will probably picture downhill race runs, enduro wins, and aggressive full-suspension bikes, but full-bounce isn’t all they do. The Commencal Meta HT has been a regular…
First Look: Ride Concepts VICE Kyle Strait Signature Flat Shoe
Ride Concepts’ new VICE shoe is aimed at dirt jump, slalom, BMX and downhill riders who value pedal feel. Ride Concepts produces a whole host of cycling-specific shoes and sponsors some of the biggest talents in the industry. Riders such as the Athertons, Sam Pilgrim…
First Look: Burgtec Mk3 Enduro Stem
Burgtec replaces the much-loved Mk2 with an all-new Mk3 Enduro stem available in all the usual Burgtec colours. Burgtec manufactures a lot of cool kit. From carbon handlebars, and flat pedals, to alloy axles and oval chainrings, the lads in Macclesfield know a thing or…
2021 Commencal Meta TR 29 is lower, slacker, steeper and meaner!
The 2021 Commencal Meta TR 29 has more travel, a steeper 78.6° seat tube, slacker 64.5° head angle and is longer and lower than ever! For 2021 Commencal has made the Meta TR 29 longer, lower, slacker and meaner than ever. The TR, meaning this…
Get your limited edition Troy Lee lid while you can
Troy Lee has released a run of A2 and D4 helmets featuring custom designs available in limited numbers. Do you like standing out from the crowd? Perhaps you like your kit to be a little brighter, more exclusive, or maybe even a tad retro? If…
Meet the Moorhuhn, an utterly fantastic 3D printed Reynolds 953 stainless steel full suspension frame!
It doesn’t matter what you’re doing, I want you to stop it and soak in the majesty of this stainless steel full-sus Moorhuhn! Keywords are important when it comes to writing a story. We need to use the sort of words that will not only…
The 520% Eagle Has Landed! SRAM Updates Eagle to 10 – 52
SRAM announces updates to SRAM GX, X01 and XX1 with a move to a 10 – 52 gearing and boosted 520% range! SRAM’s Eagle has been on the market for a good few years now, and thanks to its 1 x 12 gearing and 500%…
First Ride Review: 2021 SRAM GX Eagle, 2 more teeth and 520% range.
Andi has been on the latest version of the SRAM GX Eagle drivetrain with new 520% range cassette for 2 weeks, and here are his first impressions. Before we delve in I want to stress that this is a first ride impression of the latest…
2021 Specialized Demo with wheel options and adjustable geo launches
The 2021 Specialized Demo has been revealed with new mullet compatibility and adjustable geometry. If you cast your mind back to the past Downhill WC season then might remember that the Specialized Gravity Team had plenty of success on the 2019 Demo. Well, if what…
Reclaimdesigns Speedster 2.0 is a recycled, carbon mini Nomad
Vancouver based Chris Clarke, aka Reclaimdesigns, turns an old Santa Cruz carbon Nomad into a sweet one-off kid’s ride. Carbon fibre is an awesome material with standout properties that make it ideal for building bikes and bike parts from, BUT it isn’t the easiest material…
Review: Crankbrothers Synthesis E Alloy Wheelset
The Crankbrothers Synthesis range is made up of both carbon and alloy wheelsets, and there are wheels to suit everyone from XC racers to eBikers and downhill racers. For the past few months, I’ve been riding the Alloy Synthesis E wheels, E for enduro, not…
Pipedream Teases Updated Titanium Moxie Hardtail
The ultra-rare Titanium Pipedream Moxie hardtail looks set to make a return with updated geometry. If there is one thing that all mountain bikers can agree on it’s the fact that a Titanium hardtail is still considered super desirable. Even in a world of fantastic…
Fresh Goods Friday 503 | Shed, solar, sunflower, Suntour, Stash, saddle and spokes!
Fresh Goods Friday 503 is filled to the brim with new forks, cool Troy Lee Designs clothing, Hope bling, saddles, and even shed accessories. For a break with tradition, we did consider publishing Fresh Goods Friday on a Saturday, but instead we’re going to start…
New and improved Öhlins DH38 m.1 downhill fork can run at 120mm!
Nope, that isn’t a mistake you can run the Öhlins DH38 m.1 with as little as 120mm or as much as 200mm. Swedish suspension maker, Öhlins has released an updated version of the race-winning Öhlins DH38 m.1, the same fork that Frenchman Loic Bruni keeps…
Now groms can have custom kit with the Únic Junior range.
Únic has unveiled a new range of custom mountain bike clothing designed and developed for younger riders in mind. Head to any bike pack in the summer and you’ll be greeted by countless kids who can ride, jump, and schralp better than you ever could…
Who lives in a place like this? Joe Barnes shed tour!
When Joe Barnes offers you the chance to look around his shed, think less B&Q lean-to and more mini chalet! Orange rider and all-around nice chap, Joe Barnes, has posted another instalment of his Lockdown Bites series, giving many of us at STW severe degrees…
Looking for RADVenture? Then you need a Stooge Scrambler!
The Stooge Scrambler is a fully rigid, adventure/drift machine designed to look like the old school scramblers of yesteryear. Talk about a niche within a niche! Stooge Cycles plans to put a new frame into production, one that combines the fun of pulling skids and…
Join The Fort William Virtual World Cup and Gathering, Sunday 7th June
We’re not able to race or spectate at the Nevis Range, but we can still mingle with racing legends on the 7th June via Facebook for the Fort William Virtual World Cup. Mountain bike fans could finally get a taste of some World Cup Racing…
Granite Design adds the new Talon stashable tool to its range
Granite Design has introduced the £10.95 Talon, a ‘virtually indestructible’ pair of tyre levers / quick link pliers. Singletrack regulars will already know Granite Design for the Stash multi-tool we reviewed here, and our new Singletrack branded Granite RockBand on sale here. The company is…
If Santa Cruz made steel bikes they would probably look like this
No this isn’t an early Santa Cruz prototype, but an entirely different steel frame handcrafted by the folks over at Zoceli Bikes in the Czech Republic. We all know that steel is real, but did you know that steel is real popular right now? It…
Review: Leatt DBX 3.0 Flat Pedal Shoes
Leatt DBX 3.0 shoe review. Leatt entered the highly competitive shoe market in 2020, so how does the DBX 3.0 stack up? Leatt finally achieved its goal of offering a complete rider outfit at the beginning of 2020 with the release of the brand’s first…
More EWS 2020 Dates Announced!
There’s still some hope that the Race Series could be held later this year, with more EWS 2020 dates just announced. More dates have been added to the 2020 Enduro World Series Calander as organisers rush to salvage a season before the end of the…
Fresh Goods Friday 501 – Dicing With The Gods Of Luck
This Fresh Goods Friday is not brought to you in multiples of thirteen. There are no thirteens in this Fresh Good Friday, none at all, no. There are no black cats, either, or ladders, or new shoes on tables. There are not thirteen products bringing…
First Look: Microshift Advent X 11×48 10-Speed
Microshift’s Advent X promises to be a great, low-cost drivetrain. We take a first look at this new wide-range 10-speeder ahead of our long-term review. Microshift has quietly been making a name for itself as a value for money alternative to wide-range groupsets from the…
Millyard Racing shows off Hyper Ride 2 rear shock – 1950’s parts 2020 tech
Millyard Racing, the same chaps behind one of the most iconic UK downhill bikes, have released details of a Hyper Ride 2 rear shock made from 1950’s parts to 2020 specs. What do you do when you have a couple of 1950’s engine parts, a…
TRP goes 12-speed with the new TRP TR12 rear mech and shifter
TRP takes a different approach to offering 12-speed, focussing on just the 12-speed shifter and rear mech for the TRP TR12. TRP released the DH7 downhill shifting combo last year, now based on the same tech here’s the TRP TR12, a 12-speed shifter and rear…
SDG Bel-Air 3.0 launched | 25 years in the making
SDG’s iconic Bel-Air saddle gets fresh new features for 2020, a saddle 25 years in the making! Want to feel old? Well, did you know that the first SDG Bel-Air saddle was released back in 1995! Yup crazy but what’s even crazier is that the…
Bike Check: Chloe Taylor’s custom Privateer 161
Chloe Taylor switches to the Privateer 161 for 2020 and has just completed this race-spec build ready to take on the EWS (whenever that might happen). Check out the full build below plus excellent photos by Martha Gill. I received my Privateer 161 just after…
Updated 2020 UCI World Cup Dates Announced
The UCI plans to hold 7 rounds of the World Cup this year kicking off in September with XCO and DHI races in Lenzerheide. The UCI is planning a 7 round World Cup of XCO and DHI races starting on 5th September and ending in…
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…
Review: Únic Signature Series, custom riding kit for everyone!
Únic Wear offers riders quality riding kit, with custom design options for the same price as off the shelf brands. If you’re in the market for new clothing to take to the trails in then you’re in a pretty good position. These days, riding kit…
Únic Essential line cuts the cost of custom mountain bike kit but not the quality
Flamboyant Frenchman, Cedric Gracia, and the Únic team launch a new affordable way to get custom kit with the Únic Essential line. Andorran clothing brand, Únic, launched a range of custom mountain bike clothing earlier in the year, and with the help of Cedric Gracia,…
Stanton Bikes working on carbon swingarm prototypes for full-sus range!
Derbyshire based Stanton Bikes is working on a carbon swingarm for its range of steel full-suspension bikes. Stanton Bikes might be best known for producing steel and Titanium frames, but the Derbyshire based company is now dabbling in fantastic plastic. In Instagram posts from last…
It’s Friday? Again? | Fresh Goods Friday 499
It seems my rum recipe went down quite well last week, so I delved deeper into my drinks cabinet and made this fine concoction below. The theme this week is not Green Health Sauce, but Rouge Bitter Throat Lube. I had a craving for an…
Shimano boosts eMTB range with BT-E8036 630Wh battery and 12-speed goodies
Shimano STEPS powered eMTB’s could are set to get a range extension thanks to new BT-E8036 630Wh batteries and 12-speed kit. You’ve probably already read the news that Shimano’s Deore drivetrain has gone 12-speed, well at the same time as announcing that news, Shimano decided…
The Last Tarvo is a super lightweight German enduro machine!
Last Bikes from Germany always pique our interest with unique bikes, and the super-lightweight Last Tarvo is no exception! Last Bikes is a German brand that consistently impresses me with the types of bikes that it releases. The first time the company grabbed my attention…
New TRP DH-R Evo disc brakes are powerful enough for a homemade Rampage
TRP has released 2 pairs of high-performance disc brake systems for both eMTB and DH applications, but are they powerful enough for a homemade Rampage? If you’re wondering what kept Fairclough in control while doing this the answer is massive amounts of skill, but we…
5-minute Bike Check: Isak Leivsson’s homemade steel downhill sled!
We had a chat to Isak Leivsson last week to give us details of his custom steel downhill bike that he made himself. We met Isak back at Fort William a few years ago where he was racing a prototype Pole downhill bike with the…
Kenda and Aaron Gwin launch the predictable and fast rolling Kenda Pinner Pro
The Kenda Pinner Pro is an all-new dry weather gravity tyre developed with the help of downhill legend Aaron Gwin for fast rolling and cornering performance. Aaron Gwin is well known for working with sponsors to develop products to his liking, so it’s hardly surprising…
Video Bike Check: Andi’s Custom Patrol E-Six long-termer eMTB
Andi takes us for a look around his highly modified Patrol E-Six, a rare Indonesian eMTB that hopes to make it big in the U.S and Europe. Patrol isn’t a household name in the U.K, but that could be set to change as the Indonesian…
Hope and Commencal are 3D printing PPE masks for hospitals
Commencal and Hope Technology have put aside printing prototypes to help 3D print PPE face masks for local hospitals. Although it’s a sad and crazy time, it has also been a time that has shown the cycling industry give back to the local community. During…
Must Watch! Allen Millyard talks us through the Millyard Racing 001 Downhill Bike!
Allen Millyard, the man behind the Millyard Racing 001 downhill bike, has just released a video talking about this revolutionary machine and we’re geeking out! The Millyard Racing 001 Downhill Bike was one of the most revolutionary downhill bikes of its time, actually, it’s still…
Tahnée Seagrave starts a YouTube channel with Kaos vs Kade game of B.I.K.E
Tahnée Seagrave has used recovery and lockdown time to start her own YouTube, kicking the channel off with a Kaos vs Kade game of B.I.K.E video. With racing out of the window for the present time many pro riders are looking at other ways to…
Looking for the ultimate tyre lever? CushCore releases the Bead Dropper
Thought you had the best tyre lever on the market? Well, think again as CushCore releases the Bead Dropper, the ‘Ultimate Tyre Lever’! CushCore tyre inserts are a great addition to any bike, but unless your a wizard with your fingers and thumbs they can…
The sexy, steel The Full Moxie costs £200 less in pre-order offer
Pipedream Cycles has launched a pre-order special offer where customers can save £200 of the cost of their new steel full-suspension frame. It might be Friday, the sun might be shining, but we know there are a few people out there who just need a…
Fresh Goods Friday 497 | Funn in the sun, gravel and rainbows
Fresh Goods Friday 497 drops with rainbow, gravel bikes, Funn and Granite components, plus a new big travel enduro frame that’s affordable! Yes, there’s a whole pile of exciting stuff below, but nothing is as exciting as the cover of the next issue of Singletrack.…
Video: Andi’s Custom Commencal Meta AM 29 SRAM Edition Bike Check!
We might not be able to test a lot of gear during lockdown, but the fresh kit keeps pouring in meaning Andi has customised his Commencal Meta AM 29 with 2021 forks and more fresh test kit. Who knows when the lockdown might be finally…
Joe Smith Joins Vitus Bikes for 2020
Great news for Joe Smith who has successfully signed for Vitus Bikes for 2020, riding DH, Enduro and eMTB bikes from the brand. Press Release Follows We are excited to announce that Joe Smith will be joining the Vitus family. One of the UK’s most…
COMMENCAL Media Crew: Chapter one – Jb Liautard
Commencal’s Media Crew has been on the seen shooting pros and products over the past few years, in this article we get to meet one of their media artists, JB Liautard. I’ve been working closely with COMMENCAL for the last 3 years, traveling around the…
