Trek sent ripples throughout the internet earlier this month, after launching a vague online advertisement that included this rather cryptic message; “Cycling’s most important change in 30 years. On 20 March, we’re unveiling something that will change cycling forever.” That bold message was accompanied by…
Wil Barrett
All Hail The Megatower – Santa Cruz’ Brand New Long Travel 29er Enduro Bike!
Well a long-travel 29er is THE bike that everyone has been expecting from Santa Cruz Bicycles. But did anyone expect it to be called the ‘Megatower’? Too bad if you didn’t (and bonus points if you did!) because that’s the name of Santa Cruz’ brand…
Stan’s NoTubes Unveils Strongest Rim Yet – The Flow EX3
Sick of trashing rims? Then you’ll be eager to learn more about the brand new Flow EX3 from Stan’s NoTubes – a super tough alloy rim designed for enduro, downhill and e-MTB use. As the newest mountain bike rim to come from Stan’s NoTubes, the…
Pipedream Cycle’s 2nd generation Moxie hardtail gets new geometry, still bonkers
Pipedream Cycles debuted its prototype long-travel steel hardtail back at the 2017 Eurobike show – in a retina-burning hot pink no less. Designed to accommodate a 140-160mm travel fork, and your choice of either 29in or 27.5+ wheels, the Moxie was pitched as the ultimate…
This 2019 Whyte S-120C RS packages enduro bike geometry into a lightweight 120mm chassis
Some bikes just seem to stand out like a sore thumb. And it would appear that Whyte has developed itself a nasty habit for producing sore thumbs. As the latest full suspension bike from the UK brand, the S-120 is propped up with 29in wheels…
Top 5 Lock-On Grips | The Cheapest Upgrade For Your Bike
What are the best mountain bike grips? Wil’s tested a bunch over the years, and here he’s put together five of his favourite lock-on grips. Over to Wil. Just think about this for a moment. Your hands – those fleshy starfishes at the end of…
ST Recommended | The Ergon GE1 EVO Factory lock-on grips go one better than the original
What are the best mountain bike grips? Wil’s tested a bunch over the years, and here he’s put together five of his favourite lock-on grips. Over to Wil! German brand Ergon may be best known for its popular flared grip design, though it also offers…
Specialized Launches The Outrageous Stumpjumper EVO In Carbon Fibre
In a hotly anticipated (though very much expected) move, Specialized is going all carbon fibre with the raucous Stumpjumper EVO platform. Launched about this time last year, the latest Stumpjumper EVO came screeching sideways into the 2019 Spesh lineup as the foul-mouthed, tattoo-toting, bird-flipping half-sibling…
Review | The Renthal Traction lock-on grips are UltraTacky – in a good way
What are the best mountain bike grips? Wil’s tested a bunch over the years, and here he’s put together five of his favourite lock-on grips. Over to Wil! Makers of handlebars, stems, and chainrings for all things moto and MTB, Renthal currently splits its off-road…
Review | The Specialized SWAT Conceal Carry MTB Multi-Tool Hides Inside Your Fork
According to the photographer Chase Jarvis, the best camera is the one that’s with you. A reference to the proliferation of smartphone camera technology, Jarvis’s famous quote implies that you can own the most technically capable camera in the world, but if it’s too bulky…
Review | The ODI Elite Flow lock-on grips have hidden comforts
What are the best mountain bike grips? Wil’s tested a bunch over the years, and here he’s put together five of his current favourite lock-on grips. Over to Wil! Having invented the concept some 25-years ago, ODI has long been the king of the lock-on,…
Review | The DMR DeathGrip lock-on grips are made for rough ‘n’ rowdy riding
What are the best mountain bike grips? Wil’s tested a bunch over the years, and here he’s put together five of his favourite lock-on grips. Over to Wil! The DMR DeathGrips will be well known to our UK readers, having amassed something of a cult…
Review | The Lizard Skins MacAskill lock-ons are ideal for thin-grip lovers
What are the best mountain bike grips? Wil’s tested a bunch over the years, and here he’s put together five of his favourite lock-on grips. Over to Wil! Makers of grips, bar tape, gloves and body armour, Lizard Skins was an early adopter of lock-on…
Giant Off-Road Factory Race Team to ride $12,000 Anthem 29er, plus no more DVO partnership
Giant Bicycles has just announced the Off-Road Factory Race Team roster for 2019, with some familiar faces joined by fresh youth talent too. In total, there’ll be 15 riders from six different nations competing in everything from DH through to gravel. Kit Changes There have…
On Board | Testing Giant’s Speed-Hungry Trance 29er
Loaded into the Singetrack Grinder for a longterm review is this 2019 Giant Trance Advanced Pro 29er 1. Yeah I know, catchy name right? Because I can never quite remember what order all of those words are meant to be in, I’ve been calling it…
Review | Giant’s latest Rail SX MIPS helmet has more coverage and clever goggle compatibility
Giant may be best known for popular mountain bike models such as the Anthem, Trance and Reign, but the Taiwanese manufacturer actually has a pretty huge array of components and accessories too. Alongside carbon fibre wheels, dropper posts and flat pedals, you’ll also find a…
New Trails Coming To Antur Stiniog Bike Park In North Wales!
We’ve just been sent some fantastic news from our friends at the Antur Stiniog Bike Park, who are announcing three brand new trails set to be built just in time for the Summer riding season! Established back in 2007 just outside Blaenau Ffestiniog, Antur Stiniog…
Review: Bontrager’s XR5 Team Issue might just be the ideal aggro trail tyre
As condition-specific as mountain bike tyres are, some are just a little more versatile than others. Like this Bontrager XR5 Team Issue tyre I’ve been testing for the past 12 months. Having already enjoyed such a positive experience with the Bontrager SE4 – a tyre…
9 Sweet Highlights From Our Merida One-Twenty 8000 Test Bike
Fresh off the workstand and ready for an upcoming review is this slick 2019 Merida One-Twenty trail bike. Ooh er! As the shiniest mountain bike to join the Merida full suspension lineup, the latest One-Twenty is a ground-up redesign of the previous model, and takes…
2019 Canyon Neuron CF 9.0 SL | A Longterm Review Of Canyon’s Carbon Trail Bike
Wil gives us the verdict on the 2019 Canyon Neuron CF 9.0 SL It’s been quite a few years since we last saw a carbon fibre trail bike from Canyon. In fact, it was 2014 when the Nerve CF was last kicking about – a…
Review: The Syncros Guide Multi-Tool Kit comes with almost everything you need
As the component and accessory arm of Swiss mega-brand, Scott Sports, Syncros has been steadily growing its repertoire over the past couple of years. From super high-end carbon fibre mountain bike wheels and one-piece integrated bar & stems, through to grips, dropper posts, saddles, bolt-on…
The £2,600 Wales360 Entry Prize – We Have A Winner!
That’s right folks – voting has now closed, and we can finally announce the competition winner for the free pairs entry to the inaugural Wales360! Valued at £2,600, this entry prize is for two riders to enter the 2019 Wales360; a brand new 6-day stage…
Riding with Kangaroos! On Board The Canyon Neuron CF Test Bike
For the past two months, I've been testing out a 2019 Canyon Neuron CF as part of an upcoming review. Watch out for the Kangaroos!
Saddleback Takes Over UK Distribution Of PUSH Industries
UK distributor Saddleback has just announced that it will be the official home for all things PUSH Industries in the UK. As well as producing aftermarket fork seal kits, shock hardware upgrades, and a range of suspension tools and service kits, PUSH Industries has been…
Santa Cruz Has A New Carba-Carba-Carba-Carba-Carbon-Chameleon
Here’s some news that we think a lot of you are going to be quite interested in; Santa Cruz Bicycles has a brand new mountain bike. Arriving as the Californian brand’s first official bike release for 2019, this one is made from carbon fibre, which…
When Niches Collide: Norco Launches The Bigfoot VLT – A Big, Fat e-MTB
Canadian brand, Norco Bicycles, has just announced a brand new 2019 mountain bike called the Bigfoot VLT.
UK’s First Indoor Bike Park Set To Open In Manchester This February
We’ve just received some very exciting news from a crew called Dirt Factory, who are set to open the UK’s very first indoor bike park – right in the heart of Manchester city centre! The Dirt Factory Indoor Bike Park will be built inside a disused…
Singletrack Editors’ Choice Awards – Wil’s Top 4 Products Of 2018
Over the last year, our writers have tested a bucketful of bikes, a barn load of clothing and gear, and attended a bookcase full of cycling events. Which of these, though, have tickled their fancies enough to warrant the bestowing of a coveted Singletrack Editors’…
Fresh Goods Friday 432 – The ‘Was That Winter?’ Edition
Arriving a little later in the day than usual, it’s Fresh Goods Friday. But fear not, the goods are still fresh. And our fingers are burning, after such frantic typing efforts. Or maybe it’s chilblains. Yes, we’ve had winter. Or some of it. Was that…
Win £2600-Worth Of Entries To The UK’s Newest Multi-Day Race – The Wales360!
There’s a new multi-day mountain bike event in the UK, and we’ve got one free pairs entry for the 2019 event to give away to a very lucky Singletrack reader! The Wales360 is a six-day mountain bike stage race and brand new for 2019, and…
Fox Drops Longer Dropper. The Transfer Post Now Goes To 175mm
It’s been a little while coming, but Fox Racing Shox has finally unveiled a longer travel option for the brilliant Transfer dropper post. And we’ve got one in our grubby little hands to put to the test. Previously only available with 100mm, 125mm or 150mm…
A Mountain Biker’s First Time In Moab
Last year I made the (very) long journey from Manchester over to Utah in the States (via three flights) to get my first ever experience of riding in Moab. And what an unforgettable trip it was. For a lot of riders all over the world,…
Is This 2019 Trance The Most Progressive Giant Mountain Bike Ever?
Though it’s easy to forget, the Giant Trance name has actually been around since 2005. It arrived on the scene as one of the first full suspension models to debut Giant’s (then new) Maestro suspension design and featured an alloy frame, 26in wheels, and 100mm of…
Welcome To Bendigo & The Singletrack Southern Headquarters!
Only a few weeks ago, my partner and I arrived back in my hometown of Bendigo in Australia. Following two and a half years of living and working in the UK, for various family and work reasons, we decided it was time for us to…
Bird Cycleworks Pumps Up Aeris 120 Trail Bike With New ‘LT’ Option
Bird Cycleworks is celebrating the New Year in style with a new full suspension trail bike
Review: With a 120mm fork, the Santa Cruz Blur is a pocket rocket trail bike
As far as contemporary XC bikes go, the latest generation Blur from Santa Cruz Bicycles ticks a lot of boxes. Plugging an important gap that the Tallboy left behind as it steadily morphed into a trail bike, the new Blur (also known as the ‘Blur…
Review: The Fix It Sticks Mountain Kit brings shop tool functionality to the trail
Having launched a wildly popular Kickstarter campaign way back in 2013, Fix It Sticks went on to successfully bring its clever modular tool system into a market that, up until then, had otherwise been dominated by the standard flip-out multi-tools we’re all familiar with. For…
Rocky Mountain Electrifies Two New Mountain Bikes
Having dived into the e-MTB market last year with the all-singing, all-dancing carbon fibre Altitude Powerplay, Canadian brand Rocky Mountain is looking to expand its power-assisted mountain bike range with some more wallet-friendly metal versions too. And so today, Rocky is actually unveiling two new…
Two Bikes, Many Clothes and A Pair of Juicy Nipples – Fresh Goods Friday 426
The Fresh Goods Friday you’re about to see, Was written by journos, numbering three. They’re OK at bikes, and photography But their poetry sucks. You can blame Barney For setting the challenge to introduce This week’s crop of goods, the golden goose, Of Singletrackworld. This…
Nicolai’s new modular Enduro bike comes with ‘Rado Dropouts’ and ‘MUTATOR Chainstays’
If you're one to get uncontrollably titillated about beautiful welds and gratuitous CNC machined alloy, and you're currently reading this in your workplace, then we suggest you look away now.
Gunn-Rita Dahle ‘Most Successful Mountain Biker Of All Time’ Decides To Hang Up The Cleats
Gunn-Rita Dahle retires. 30 World Cup wins. 9 World Championship Gold medals. 8 European Championship Gold medals. Olympic Gold. Just let that sink in for a minute. Not a bad resume eh? After two decades of racing at the highest level and establishing herself as…
First Look: Get up close and personal with the 2019 Canyon Neuron CF 9.0 SL
Released into the wild a little over a week ago, the Neuron CF has emerged as a brand new carbon fibre trail bike from German company, Canyon. Sitting in between the 100mm travel Lux cross-country race machine, and the 150mm travel Spectral trail bike, the…
13 Top Tips For A Mountain Biking Road Trip
The plan was relatively simple. It went something like this; Step 1: Finish jobs in early August Step 2: Trade in car and buy sweet camper van Step 3: Book Chunnel ticket Step 4: Spend two months travelling Europe while eating lots of food, drinking lots…
Review: Formula’s compressible Neopos spacers change the way your air fork works
Ever since RockShox brought its Bottomless Token system to market in 2014 alongside the re-release of the Pike, more riders have been considering air spring volume as a legitimate way of tuning their suspension.
New Carbon Wheels From Santa Cruz, Plus Two New V-10 Downhill Bikes!
Santa Cruz has just expanded its carbon fibre mountain bike wheel range, with a brand new Reserve DH model. Joining the existing Reserve Carbon range (which includes the Reserve 25, 27, 30 & 37), the Reserve DH also makes use of a carbon fibre rim…
Hans Rey Burgled. Then Burgled Again. Thieves Take The Lot.
We bring you some rather unfortunate news today, as we report on a whole swag of bikes that have been nicked from Hans Rey in two separate burglaries. Yes, the Hans Rey. It would seem that not even the pro’s are immune to the abominable…
Mark Weir Hospitalised From Suspected Heart Attack
As reported via his personal Instagram account, Mark Weir has been hospitalised from a suspected heart attack. In the social media post, 45-year old Weir explains that he had been suffering chest pain (angina) for six weeks prior to the heart attack. However, the event…
Canyon expands e-MTB lineup with Neuron:ON, and pricing starts at £2,999
Today Canyon unveils its second ever e-MTB, and it’s called the Neuron:ON. Following hot on the heels of the Spectral:ON – Canyon’s burly, 150mm travel e-MTB that was released earlier this year – the Neuron:ON glides into the lineup as the little brother to the…
Review: The brand new 29×2.6in Maxxis Minion DHF is an absolute monster of a tyre
The Minion DHF may be a classic tyre for Maxxis, but this 29×2.6in size is brand spanking new. In fact it’s so fresh, that it isn’t even on the Maxxis website yet. They are on the way though – stock is due to arrive in…
Fresh Goods Friday 423 – The Dark At Four Edition
Welcome to the ‘Dark at 4pm, deadline week, Chipps is back and we’re ignoring him’ winter Fresh Goods Friday special! Yep, there’s no getting away from it that we’re fully into the grips of the winter months now, and yet it’s just that little bit…
A Klunker From The Future – Stooge Cycles Unloads The Dirtbomb
Given the unrelenting daily churn from the bike industry’s marketing hype machine, you could be forgiven for thinking that mountain bikes have always had suspension. Our more ‘mature’ readers will know that this simply isn’t true. The wonderful leisure activity of mountain biking did actually…