Schwalbe has a new tyre on show at Eurobike, and it’s called the Eddy Current (we’re not sure how Melbourne band, Eddy Current Suppression Ring feels about the name of Schwalbe’s new tyre). Technically, there’s actually two new tyres though, since the Eddy Current features…
Wil Barrett
Spotted at Eurobike! Fox Live Valve electronic suspension!
These days at Eurobike, journos often get a head start on what’s going to be new at the exhibition. We start getting emails months beforehand, with a head’s up of what’s coming and what deserves our immediate attention as soon as those hall doors open…
First Ride: Renthal replaces the Fatbar Carbon with… the Fatbar Carbon 2
Iconic UK moto and mountain bike brand, Renthal, has got a brand new Fatbar Carbon. And it’s called…err…the Fatbar Carbon V2. Joining the recently released alloy Fatbar 2, the carbon version also grows wider from the previous version’s 780mm wingspan, up to a more fashionable…
Surly’s Lowside doesn’t have suspension, carbon fibre or 13 gears, but that’s why we love it
Who the heck needs 13-speed when you’ve got a fully rigid singlespeed klunker with 26×3.0in tyres? That’s how we feel about Surly’s Lowside – a bike that is basically the antithesis of almost everything else on show at Eurobike. For a start, this bike doesn’t…
Exclusive First Look: Ritchey Brings Back The Ultra!
Some 30 years after the original, Ritchey is bringing back the Ultra! Though this one is a little different from the last one… Although Ritchey is technically releasing this bike at Interbike in September, the iconic American mountain bike brand decided to bring along one…
Hayes has a new brake called the Dominion A4, and it looks superb
It’s been a little over 20 years since Hayes entered the disc brake market with the original HFX-Mag. Though there were other brands offering disc brakes at the time, it was Hayes that popularised the modern hydraulic disc brake, changing rim, fork and frame design…
Take that SRAM & Shimano – Rotor goes 1×13 with HUGE 10-52t cassette!
Rotor Components has shown off a brand new 1×13 drivetrain, which includes an enormous 10-52t cassette! SRAM already has its 12-speed Eagle groupsets with XX1, X01, GX and NX, which are built around a 10-50t cassette. Just last month, Shimano just came to market with…
Testing Formula’s new Selva R fork and those funky Neopos volume spacers
Two years ago, Formula introduced its first Boost compatible suspension fork called the Selva. We’ve tested and reviewed one already, and it’s an absolutely brilliant fork with a tonne of adjustability. Formula is keeping that Selva in the lineup, but it’ll now be called the…
Throwback: 14 Highlights From The 2017 Eurobike Show
In less than 24 hours, the world’s biggest bicycle industry show, Eurobike, will be kicking off in Friedrichshafen, Germany. Notching up 26 years in 2018, Eurobike is known as THE show for all things cycling. Whether you’re a bike brand, an accessory company, or a…
Bamboo, Sweat & Tears: Attempting To Build The Bamboo Bastard
Back in February for issue 117 of Singletrack Magazine, we decided to see if a self-confessed perfectionist who’s terrible at woodwork make a bamboo bike from scratch at home? Well, the answer is ‘sort of…’ Read on for the full story and watch out for…
First Ride Review: The 2019 Marin Alpine Trail is a big travel 29er that is tough & simple, but it’s also really good
Brand new from Marin Bikes for 2019 is this long travel 29er called the Alpine Trail. Replacing the outgoing Attack Trail 27.5, the Alpine Trail is an all-mountain bruiser equipped with a 160mm travel fork, 150mm of rear suspension travel, and big 29er wheels wrapped…
First Ride Review: Quiet hubs and smooth shifting – Shimano is BACK with new XTR!
Just over a month ago, Shimano unveiled the most anticipated product launch of 2018: the brand new 12-speed M9100 XTR groupset. Took ’em long enough eh? We brought you all the juicy details in our news story here, and then we gave you a virtual…
Wanna win a £2700 Pivot 429 Trail Frame? Enter the 2018 Pivot TwentyFour12 right here!
Looking for that ideal MTB party weekend for you, your family and friends? Then look no further than Twentyfour12! The event is a 4 day festival of fun, centred round a little bit of mountain bike racing. There’s something for everyone; young and old, slow…
DT Swiss has a new fork! Introducing the 130-160mm travel F 535 ONE
DT Swiss has finally unveiled its new trail fork, and it’s called the F 535 ONE. Featuring 35mm diameter stanchions and up to 160mm of travel, the F 535 ONE is the biggest and burliest fork to come from DT Swiss. The F 535 ONE…
Comfortable kit upgrades, many components and one VERY nice frame – It’s Fresh Goods Friday 402
Did you know that in Idaho there is a button you can press that induces pancakes? Instant, fresh, warm pancakes! Hannah has been over there checking out that button, so expect a full write up soon. Rigorous testing has been done. In other news, we’ve…
2-piston or 4-piston? Testing & comparing Shimano’s brand new XTR disc brakes
Last week I was lucky to find myself in the wonderfully atmospheric Kranjska Gora in Slovenia. A location unfamiliar to this antipodean, Kranjska Gora is squeezed into the north western corner of Slovenia, right up against the intersecting border with Italy and Austria. Surrounded by…
26 Ain’t Dead! Cotic has just released a new BFe hardtail 🤘🤘🤘
Peak District-based Cotic Bikes has just released what we believe to be the only new 26in mountain bike frame launched in 2018 – the BFe26. Following in the footsteps of the latest 27.5in version, the BFe26 takes the same robust steel construction and 66° head…
2 Videos To Show You How Good Shimano XTR 12-Speed Is
Unless you’ve been residing below a stone-based dwelling for the past month, you’ll be well aware that Shimano recently delivered one of the biggest product stories of 2018; new, 12-speed XTR. In one of the most eagerly anticipated moves of the year, Shimano finally retaliated…
9 hot product highlights from SRAM, Formula, Bell & MET that you need to see!
A brand new event for 2018, Bike Connection is a relatively small, multi-brand press camp. The first event – the winter edition – was held back in February of this year in Italy. Chipps went along and caught up with brands including Nukeproof, which launched…
First Ride Review | 2019 Canyon Lux CF SLX 9.0 Pro Race
In June 2018, the German direct-to-consumer giant, Canyon Bicycles, invited me out to Girona in Spain to test out the all-new Lux full suspension race bike. Featuring a full carbon fibre frame, 29in wheels, 100mm of travel, and thoroughbred race geometry, the Lux is Canyon’s…
First Ride Review: 2019 Canyon Lux CF SLX 9.0 Pro Race
Earlier this month, the German direct-to-consumer giant, Canyon Bicycles, invited me out to Girona in Spain to test out the all-new Lux full suspension race bike. Featuring a full carbon fibre frame, 29in wheels, 100mm of travel, and thoroughbred race geometry, the Lux is Canyon’s…
Canyon’s new Lux full suspension XC race bike will fit two bottles and has a sub-2kg carbon frame. Sort of…
Following two years of development, and a few rounds of testing on the World Cup XCO circuit, today Canyon proudly launches its brand new Lux full suspension race bike. Replacing the existing Lux – a model that has remained largely unchanged for five years –…
First Ride Review: Pivot Firebird 29 Pro X01
After the first day of riding at the Pivot Cycles launch in Moab last month, we gathered inside the living room of one of the apartments Pivot had taken over, to get the full product presentation on the new Trail 429. We’d been out on…
Pivot Cycles Goes Big With 170/162mm Travel Firebird 29er
Officially unveiled as of today, Pivot Cycles has just taken the wrappers off this brand spanking new long-travel 29er called the Firebird 29. Joining the existing Firebird 27.5, the 29er version takes on many of the same ingredients including a gargantuan carbon fibre frameset that…
SRAM Introduces NX Eagle 1×12 Groupset, Including A Sub-£100 Cassette
You read that correctly – SRAM has just unveiled its fourth – and cheapest – 1×12 Eagle drivetrain. Badged with the NX Eagle label, this new 12-speed groupset slots in underneath the GX Eagle, X01 Eagle and XX1 Eagle groupsets. However, it makes use of…
Review: SRAM NX Eagle 1×12 Drivetrain
Following the release of the XX1 and X01 Eagle groupsets two years ago, then GX Eagle last year, the latest NX Eagle groupset slots into the lineup as the fourth, and cheapest 1×12 drivetrain option to come from SRAM. Equipped with the same 12-speed technologies…
UPDATE: milKit Booster tyre inflator recalled due to safety issue
Update: We’ve just received the official recall notice from milKit regarding the Boost tubeless tyre inflator – see below for the full recall notice. Madison, the distributor that imports and sells milKit products in the UK, has just gotten in touch with us to let…
Bike Check: Matt Walker’s Saracen Myst 29er
At last year’s Fort William World Cup, the one theme that dominated all of the hubbub both in the pits, and out on the race course was the 29er. Everyone wanted to know what teams were bringing out 29in wheeled race bikes, and which athletes…
Fort William 2018 – Elite Men’s Results
Following on from the Elite Women’s finals (check out the results and race report here), it was time for the men to come down Aonach Mor. Though earlier weather forecasts had predicted heavy rain around lunchtime, somehow, despite Scotland’s reputation for, shall we say, ‘eclectic’…
Fort William 2018 – Elite Women’s Results
It’s the fourth and final day of the 2018 Fort William World Cup, and you know exactly what that means – it’s FINALS TIME! Reaching a thundering crescendo after several days of growing excitement, anticipation and anxiety for many, Sunday stood as the opportunity for…
The Calm Before The Storm – Fort William Qualification
With practice in the morning and qualifying in the afternoon, Saturday was chock-a-block from start to finish at Fort William. Riders had plenty of time to get more familiar with the race track and the new rock-armoured section in the woods, while also getting their…
Vaughan Evans’ Nasty Orange 329 Prototype 29er Downhill Bike
And we mean ‘nasty’ in the good kind of way. Orange first showed a prototype 29er downhill bike at Eurobike last year, which was originally labelled up as the ‘Strange DH29’. The Halifax-based bicycle manufacturer has been refining its big wheel concept since then, with…
Fort William 2018: Qualification Results Are In!
It’s the end of Day 3 at the 2018 Fort William World Cup, and both the Elite Women’s and Elite Men’s fields have made their way down the side of Ben Nevis to post their most rapid qualifying times in preparation for tomorrow’s big race.…
Dean Lucas’ Crash, Flat Tyres & Midges – It’s The 2018 Fort William World Cup
Friday was the first day of proper riding at the 2018 Fort William World Cup, after racers had a chance to scope out the course on Thursday’s track walk. Having seen the new rock-armoured section in the woods, riders were then able to see how…
Claudio Calouri talks pump tracks, concussion, and why he didn’t do the course preview at Fort William
For many mountain bikers and fans of the the sport, Claudio Caluori won’t need an introduction. Thanks to his hilarious course preview videos (many of which have gone viral online) and his entertaining race commentary, the Swiss downhiller has become synonymous with the World Cup…
We Get Our Grubby Paws On Shimano’s Brand New 1×12 XTR Groupset
Shimano XTR M9100 may have only launched a week ago, but already the 12-speed groupset has been making waves amongst the global mountain bike media and on internet forums everywhere. Aside from taking the logical step to go 12-speed in order to keep up with…
Trillion Unveils New Shug Steel Hardtail At Fort William
Shown on the first day of the 2018 Fort William World Cup, the Shug is an all-new steel hardtail from Trillion Cycles. Joining the Prime hardtail (a bike we tested and reviewed last year), the Shug is also manufactured in the UK, and it’s also…
Kona has a new carbon Operator downhill bike, and it’s 29er ready
Connor Fearon of the Kona Gravity Team is racing aboard a new Operator downhill prototype that features a carbon fibre frame and dual wheelsize capability. Everywhere we turned in the race pits during today’s opening day of the 2018 Fort William World Cup we seemed…
Brendog’s Prototype Scott Downhill Bike
Scott Sports has a new prototype downhill bike, which is currently being raced on by the Scott-Velosolutions team this weekend at the 2018 Fort William World Cup. First shown in Losinj, Crotia, for round one of the 2018 World Cup series, the prototype is a…
Rachel Atherton’s Stunning Custom Painted Trek Session 9.9 Race Bike
Today marks the first official day of the 2018 Fort William World Cup – the second round of the 2018 World Cup series – with all of the teams, managers, racers, and mechanics descending on the race village to get everything setup in preparation for…
Breaking News! Greg Minnaar Out Of 2018 Fort William World Cup
That’s right – Greg Minnaar is out of the 2018 Fort William World Cup with a broken right arm! Uh-huh. We’ve only just arrived in Fort William, Scotland, for the second round of the 2018 World Cup Downhill Series, and already the drama is starting…
Review: Hutchinson Taipan Hardskin 29×2.25in Tyres
Hutchinson is a well-known brand in the mountain bike tyre world, but in recent years the French rubber manufacturer hasn’t exactly been at the forefront of the scene. After nabbing an award in last year’s tyre group test however, we decided to see what else…
Review: G-Form’s Elite knee pads are burly and flexible, but they’ll make you like ‘The Thing’
I used to detest wearing knee pads, or any other kind of body armour for that matter. Living in a warm climate was part of it, and up until a few years ago, I guess my expectation was that only beginners or hardcore downhillers wore…
11 Questions With Chris Cocalis On The New Pivot Trail 429
Last week Pivot Cycles introduced its newest mountain bike called the Trail 429. Replacing the existing Mach 429 Trail, the new Trail 429 not only has a revised name, it also has a brand new carbon fibre frame with an increase in rear suspension travel…
First Look: Shimano Introduces 12-Speed With XTR M9100
They’ve only gone and done it! That’s right, Shimano has finally gone 12-speed in one of the most anticipated moves of the millennium. While SRAM has been dominating the drivetrain market with its superb 1×12 Eagle groupsets including XX1, X01 and GX, Shimano has been…
Longterm Review Part One: 2018 Scott Genius 900 Tuned
Scott’s popular Genius has been in the lineup for no fewer than 14 years now, occupying a position smack-bang in the middle of the range between the XC-oriented Spark, and the DH-focussed Gambler. There have been numerous Genius models over the years built with varying…
Longterm Review: Shimano XC7 vs XC9 SPD Mountain Bike Shoes
At the risk of RUINING EVERYTHING, consider this a somewhat cautious announcement that summer is now finally upon us. The weather is (steadily) improving, the trails are (sort of) drying out, and the over-ripened muddy puddles of a brutally long winter are (mostly) making a…
On Test: 3 UK-Made Full Suspension Bikes
We’ve been working on something special for the upcoming issue of Singletrack Magazine, and we think a lot of you are going to be very interested in this one. Oh and a quick note – for those of you who aren’t subscribers to the UK’s…
Behind The Scenes On The Specialized Stumpjumper Launch
Two months ago, I had the fortune of travelling to Ainsa in Spain for the launch of the all-new Specialized Stumpjumper range. Having been there the year prior for the Levo Kenveo launch, Specialized had chosen to return to Ainsa for the Stumpy launch due…
First Ride: The All-New Trail 429 From Pivot Cycles
Setting out to redesign your most popular full suspension bike must be an incredibly daunting task. Get it right, and you can potentially turn a great bike into an even greater bike. Get it wrong however, and you have a very real risk affecting a…
This Australian made hardtail uses 3D printing to make its exquisite steel frame
Part of the international contingent who turned up to the UK Handmade Bicycle Show on the weekend, Mark Hester from Prova Cycles made a very long trip over from Melbourne, Australia, in order to be a part of the 8th edition of Bespoked. Hester brought…