Wrap that blanket round you a little tighter, snuggle up with a mug of tea, and escape to other places with a round up of this week’s video releases. Lost Paradise 2 Let’s start with some #madskillz. Vertigo, anyone? “I’m really happy to show you…
Hannah Dobson
More than bikes, I like what bikes do. I think that they link people and places; that cycling creates a connection between us and our environment; bikes create communities; deliver freedom; bring joy; and improve fitness. They're environmentally friendly and create friendly environments.
Megasack Giveaway Day 12: Effetto Giustaforza Torque Tool Set
It’s the final week of our daily giveaways! Make sure you’ve entered every day’s draw – you’re too late to win the past daily prizes, but you’ll increase your changes of winning the megasack. We have daily (week day) prizes to be won, plus another…
ESO Reveals Further Details On Next Year’s MTB Season
Still missing from the information is the actual calendar, but apparently that’s coming next week. Enduro races will now be a World Cup series, and will be one day events… Downhill will now feature a broadcast semi final, increasing coverage to a larger number of…
The Trail Pot – A Blueprint to change the fortunes of MTB in the UK?
Peak District MTB has published a call for an ambitious national investment fund to support the development of off-road biking. The fund, which would be filled by microdonations and other sources, would be directly reinvested in projects and groups striving to improve mountain access and…
Singletrack Magazine Issue 146: A Flying Start
Hannah thinks she’s discovered why mountain biking is fun: it’s because it started that way. “I didn’t realise you were trying to go fast.” I wasn’t trying to go fast, but I wasn’t intending to be slow either. I was trying to go as fast…
Megasack Giveaway Day 11: Hunt Trail Wide Wheelset
A whole new wheelset could be yours! Read on to find out how to win… Not been here before? Not sure what’s going on? It’s quite simple: we have daily prizes to be won, plus another of each prize which goes into our Megasack. Each…
Megasack Giveaway Day 10: DMR Bundle of Joy
Ermagerd, ermagerd, it’s another prize! We have daily (week day) prizes to be won, plus another of each prize which goes into our Megasack. Each day that you enter, you might win the daily prize. Whoop! But each daily entry also counts as an entry…
An Alternative Year in Sport
Today’s the day when Strava does its ‘Year In Sport’ thing, and your social media feeds will be filled with miles ridden, feet climbed, cups won and other such data driven achievements. For those of you without a virtual trophy cabinet, or maybe just with…
Specialized Ends Contracts with Global Ambassadors
Specialized has in recent years put a lot of resources into its global ambassador programme, sharing a varied range of content depicting a broad range of riders in a variety of riding styles. In a surprise move however, we understand that a number of ambassadors…
Megasack Giveaway Day 9: Madison MTB Clothing Bundle
Layers! That’s what today needs – and we have them for you, right here. Whoop! Read on to find out how to win… Not been here before? Not sure what’s going on? It’s quite simple: we have daily prizes to be won, plus another of…
Megasack Giveaway Day 8: Finish Line Cleaning Bundle
Another week, another raft of prizes… We have daily (week day) prizes to be won, plus another of each prize which goes into our Megasack. Each day that you enter, you might win the daily prize. Whoop! But each daily entry also counts as an…
What’s Inside Singletrack Issue 146? Out Today!
If you receive a printed copy of the magazine each issue, it’s now in the post – we can’t be sure exactly when it will land with you, but if you’re in the UK and you’ve still not got it by 28th December please email us.…
Issue 146: Last Word: Mountain Biking Soup
If Hannah has you over for tea, don’t eat the soup… Trails are the onions of mountain biking. You can’t make soup without an onion, just as you can’t mountain bike without a trail. Without trails, it’s road riding, or perhaps hippity-hoppity trials. It’s just…
More World Bicycle Relief Match Funding With Trek
Following hot on the heels of the ‘Big Give’ match funding week, there’s another opportunity to give to World Bicycle Relief and double your donation, thanks to Trek. Perhaps if you’re looking for a gift to give someone that has everything, or really don’t want…
Finding Time – Riding every moment life gives you
It’s definitely dusty in here. This film from Teravail shows Steve Bate MBE and David Smith MBE talking about their friendship, and what riding means to them in the face of their respective incurable conditions. It’s uplifting, moving, tear jerking and inspirational, all wrapped up…
Fresh Goods Friday 630: Behind The Radiator Edition
The orange-chested robin redbreast is called redbreast because there was no English word for the colour orange until the 16th century.
Megasack Giveaway Day 7: 100% S3 Glasses
Whoop! Here we are again with another of our prize giveaways! For those that don’t know, let’s catch you up: we have daily weekday prizes to be won, plus another of each prize which goes into our Megasack. Each day that you enter, you might…
Megasack Giveaway Day 6: Maxxis Shorty Gen 2 Tyres
It’s Thursday, so it’s time to discover the penultimate of this week’s daily prizes… We have daily (week day) prizes to be won, plus another of each prize which goes into our Megasack. Each day that you enter, you might win the daily prize. Whoop!…
Midweek Movies from Cannondale and Transition
It’s nearly mid December, it’s definitely midweek, you might need a break. Zone out from your responsibilities for a few minutes with a couple of new videos. There’s a new video out from Cannondale. Have some PR… Some might say that mountain biking and painting…
Megasack Giveaway Day 5: Lazer Jackal KinetiCore Helmet
Whoop! Here we are again with another of our prize giveaways! For those that don’t know, let’s catch you up: we have daily weekday prizes to be won, plus another of each prize which goes into our Megasack. Each day that you enter, you might…
Dylan Stark gets wild in new video “Homegrown”
It’s a different world out there in California… the sun shines quite a lot, eggs from caged chickens are banned, you can grow up to six cannabis plants at home, and you can only buy one handgun in any 30 day period. YT seems to…
Megasack Giveaway Day 4: Shimano MW7 Gore-Tex Shoes
Yes, we’re back! Day 4, on 6th December? That’s right: the daily prizes are on week days only, because the Singletrack elves need a little rest every now and then. And we don’t want you getting too over excited. Not been here before? Not sure…
Megasack Giveaway Day 3: Ridgeback MX20 Kid’s Bike
Yes, we’re back! Day 3, on 5th December? That’s right: the daily prizes are on week days only, because the Singletrack elves need a little rest every now and then. And we don’t want you getting too over excited. Squeee! Ok, ok… let’s have some…
Laps and Loops: Is It Time To Rethink Trail Centre Designs?
Dave Evans from Bike Corris has previously written extensively on ‘wild trails’ in Wales – it’s all well worth reading, and his latest paper is no different. ‘Evolving The Trail Centre – Lessons From Wild Trails‘ looks at the difference between trail centre designs and…
Dirt Dash(es) Now Open For Entries
The Dirty Reiver might have grabbed the chatter this week for its rapid sell out of places, but there’s much more to gravel in the UK. If you fancy an event that takes in more scenery, more ice cream, and perhaps more silliness, then the…
Megasack Giveaway Day 2: FUNN Mamba S Pedals
Not been here before? Not sure what’s going on? It’s quite simple: we have daily prizes to be won, plus another of each prize which goes into our Megasack. Each day that you enter, you might win the daily prize. Whoop! But each daily entry…
British Cycling announces 2023 Mountain Bike Downhill calendar
British Cycling has finally revealed the dates and venues for the 2023 national downhill mountain bike championships and series! Hmm…. now to look at my calendar and decide if I’m actually going to take the plunge and try racing DH next year… 2023 National Downhill…
British Cycling XC and Endurance Dates Announced
British Cycling has announced the dates and venues for the 2023 mountain bike endurance and XC national series and championships. National Cross-country Series 2023 National Marathon Championships 2023 National Cross-country Short Track Championships 2023 National Cross-country Olympic Championships 2023 The press release in full: The National Cross-country…
Megasack Giveaway Day 1: Massive Lezyne Bundle
Here we go… it’s the first day of our giveaway bonanza. Not been here before? It’s quite simple: we have daily prizes to be won, plus another of each prize which goes into our Megasack. Each day that you enter, you might win the daily…
Give A Bike For Just £60 with World Bicycle Relief match funding!
From 29th November to 6th December, donations made to World Bicycle Relief through this Big Give link will receive match funding. World Bicycle relief will be raising money for their project, Mobilised Communities, this Giving Tuesday. All donations made to this project will be MATCHED…
Norco Announces Un-Pause of Factory DH Team
Norco took their left foot out, put their right arm in… and now they’re back racing Downhill World Cup. You do the hokey-cokey and you turn around… Having barely just announced that they’re not running a Downhill Factory Team next year, Norco has had a…
The Megasack Is Coming Soon!
Yes, it’s that time of year again, when we venture over to our chilly studio and bring you news of wondrous things that you could win. If you’re new round these parts, here’s how it all works… We have daily prizes to be won, plus…
From Dangerous Sport to Fun Activity – Reframing Mountain Biking
I was recently asked to give a presentation on ‘Image and Mountain Biking’, as part of an event held by Ride Sheffield under the topic ‘Reframing Mountain Biking’. The event brought together a range of people from brands, media, trail associations and the MTB industry…
Plan For A Better Cycling Environment – Act Now!
Planning regulations are about more than if your neighbour is allowed to build that giant extension, or what sort of new windows you can fit. Cycling UK wants your help in making sure planning rules make it easier to ride your bike. Here’s what to…
Scottish MTB Strategy – Submit your views
Developing Mountain Biking In Scotland has issued a draft refresh of the Scottish Mountain Biking Strategy and is seeking your views on what it should contain. The refresh will help DMBinS and all the members of the Scottish Mountain Bike Consortium (MTB Consortium) continue to…
Podcast: New designs and trail tribulations
In this week’s podcast we’re joined by Anthony de Heveningham, fresh from a trip to the Developing Mountain Biking In Scotland conference. He gives us a debrief on the key issues, including a likely new policy from the forestry world that has worrying implications for…
Rider Resilience and Stoked On MS – The Ride It Out Show
When two of the most inspirational and lovely people in the bike world come together in a video, you know you’ve got to tune in. Nils Amelinckx, winner of the Singletrack Reader Award for Best Writer 2022, meets Andy McKenna for his second episode of…
Singletrack Reader Awards – The Winners Revealed!
The Singletrack Reader Awards are voted for by you, so thank you to everyone who cast their vote in the name of mountain bike democracy. Congratulations to all the finalists and winners, and thank you all for your contribution to the mountain bike world. Let’s…
How To Support The Brands You Love – Without Spending A Fortune
The news this week that Stanton Bikes is in administration saw many in the comments section expressing dismay: they’d always lusted after a Stanton; one day they hoped to be able to buy one; they liked the Stanton ethos. This kind of outpouring of appreciation…
British Cycling Update on Transgender and Non-Binary Participation Policy
It is Transgender Awareness Week, and British Cycling has issued an update on its Transgender and Non-Binary Participation Policy, which was suspended in April this year. The policy review remains ongoing, however the new guidance published today gives some clarity to racers wishing to race…
Showers Pass Timberline Jacket & Trousers Review
These Showers Pass Timberline Waterproof items are designed for the more casual wearer and they’re not so packed full of features.
Stanton Bikes Statement Re Administration
It’s being reported that Stanton Bikes has called in the administrators. As a brand with a committed fanbase, this will no doubt be a source of sadness among many, although the past few years have clearly been difficult for the Peak District company – as…
Join Us Now! A new and improved Singletrack Magazine is coming…
I mean, it’s already a pretty fabulous magazine, with a great balance of stories and plenty of beautiful pictures to exercise your eyes. But we think it can be even better, so we’ve been busy behind the scenes, and we’re just about ready to send…
Dawn Raid! Ard Rock Tickets On Sale Tomorrow!
Ard Rock tickets will go on sale tomorrow morning at the rather anti-social time of 6.30am. This is your warning to set your alarm if you’re hoping to be there, as this is an event which regularly sells out. You’ll also need a certain amount…
Buyers Guide to Gravel Commuter Bikes
Wondering how to stay fit through winter? Beat the train strikes? Use the car less? A gravel commuter could be the bike you're looking for.
No Propain Factory Racing Team in 2023
Propain has announced it is ‘pausing’ its downhill factory team for 2023, joining Norco on the list of big brands sitting next season out. As Pivot rider and team manager, Bernard Kerr, points out in this week’s Making Up The Numbers podcast, there are still…
Drool This Way: A Lust Worthy Gallery of Hand Built Bikes
This year’s Bespoked organisers made a point of getting nice photos of at least one bike by every builder at the show. Because bike builders might be good at building bikes, but they’re not always good at photographing them. Luckily, Adam Gasson is good at…
A Mountain Bike Bedtime Story, With Joe Barnes
A Joe Barnes film is usually a good way to brighten your day. We can’t help but feel that any bedtime story he might read would be more like when Rik Mayall read George’s Marvellous Medicine, getting the kids bouncing off the walls instead of…
Fresh Goods Friday 625: Oh, that’s actually quite reasonable edition
Everyone sitting bored at home and wondering what to do with themselves this weekend? Kids getting antsy cooped up? Adults getting antsy looking at their bank statements? Let me present to you the all in one money-saving-exercise-getting-treasure-hunting-charity-supporting solution. Hey kids, we’re going on an outing,…
Bolehills Forever: The community of a dig spot
This video should warm your cockles, and will likely have you planning a visit. If you don’t have a similar facility near you, it may also have you wondering why not. It’s really a celebration of a great facility and the community that supports it,…
Vivobarefoot Primus Trail FG Review – Ideal for an active lifestyle?
Almost every time I review a shoe, someone will pop up in the comments and cry ‘more shoes that aren’t foot shaped!’. These are very foot shaped, but they’re not very bike shaped. Nevertheless, as a group of outdoorsy active fitness types (even Binners goes…
