Move along. There’s nothing to be read here. And if there was one of us would probably misunderstand the other’s intention and we’d all end up hacked off with each other. It’s been one of those weeks where words shouldn’t be allowed. He said, she…
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.
Review | Stanton Switch9er FS – UK Made Steel Full Suspension Play Machine
Hannah reports back on her time on the Stanton Switch9er FS, a hand made steel and alloy bike from the UK. Stanton Bikes has a well established reputation for building steel hardtails, so it was with some excitement that the move into full suspension frames…
Sick Bicycles – Are Things As Bad As They Sound?
What is going on with Sick Bikes? Hannah has been trying to get to the bottom of it. ‘Sick Bicycle Co‘ first came to my attention in May 2017, when I ran a story on its rather entertainingly named company and bikes. I liked the…
Last Chance To Subscribe! Singletrack Issue 125
You need to subscribe to Singletrack by midnight on 12th May to get the next issue of our magazine! Issue 125. One hundred and twenty five. There’s surely some kind of gemstone for that? A significant colour, metal, element? That’s a whole bundle of reading,…
Fresh Goods Friday 446 | The Products They Came In Two By Two, Hurrah! Hurrah!
Heellllooooo May! Are we pleased to see you! The traditional month for warm sunshine, terrible hayfever, and exam revision. We love you, May. So much promise. So often delivers. We’re clicking our heels and springing our steps. And not before time. Only now have we…
Review | Evoc Neo Protector 16L Backpack
Hannah reviews the EVOC Neo – A Backpack With Protection. I’m a fan of having a back pack on – I like having something between my back and the ground when I crash. Yes, I mean when I crash. I seem to have developed something…
Review | BikeStow Bike Rack – foldable storage, no drills required
The BikeStow offers bike storage without the need for fixing to a floor or wall. How did we find it? The unit is well built and has an appealing ‘thunk’ quality to it that I certainly wouldn’t achieve with a home brewed version of it.…
Review | Bell Super 3R MIPS Helmet – the ideal ‘just in case’ full face?
The Bell Super 3R MIPS helmet is a (surprise, surprise) MIPS equipped lid with removable chin bar, but as a touch lighter than Andi’s Editor’s Choice Super DH MIPS helmet, this one is designed for trail riding rather than more extreme downhill stuff. With 23…
Win! | Are You Ready For The Singletrack Easter Egg Hunt?
Want to win a digital subscription to Singletrack Magazine? Of course you do! We’re going to be giving away 10 FREE digital subscriptions in our Easter Egg hunt, but you’ll need to be quick to the party to be in with a chance of winning! Here’s…
How To ‘Fix’ Your Spongy Reverb Dropper Post In Under 2 Minutes
When my spongy Reverb Dropper is driving me nuts on the trail, this two minute hack gets me rolling again. Maybe you’ve grabbed your saddle and lifted your bike. Oops. Or maybe your Reverb Dropper has just mysteriously developed a bit of spongy squish. It…
Sixth Element To Supply British Olympic Tokyo 2020 Team
British Cycling has asked British wheel builders Sixth Element to supply their XC team wheels. With the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games only a year and a bit off, training plans are firmly focussed on Tokyo 2020, and no doubt the team riders are looking to…
Review | Anita Active Air Control Sports Bra – No Underwire, No Rubbing
I’ve never really had a problem with my sports bra being too heavy, so the fact that this one claimed to be the world’s lightest sports bra wasn’t all that important to me. However, the fact that the Anita Active Air had no underwiring yet…
Singletrack Magazine Issue 124 : Grayson Perry, Bloke On A Bike
The artist and TV personality Grayson Perry is famously a keen mountain biker. Hannah travelled to his north London studio to discover that the legend might be overshadowing the reality. Words & Photography hannah I’d seen a few articles about Grayson Perry in which his…
Singletrack Magazine issue 124 : Last Word
hannah blind. Will following half-heard directions in the woods lead to peril? Or pleasure? I’m following directions that are little more than a rumour: ‘Through the horse gate, turn right at the fallen tree, push up past the puddle, to the top, where two trails…
GPS Scrambler Devices Cause Strava Tracking Chaos
It has been revealed that ‘Strava Scramblers’ are being deployed by local authorities in an attempt to reduce conflict around popular ride spots. On both road and trail segments, it is understood that by interrupting the GPS signal, phones and cycle computers are unable to…
First Look | New SRAM G2 Brakes – New Pads, Lower Price, Same Feel
Today, SRAM launches its G2 range of brakes, which replaces the former Guide brakes. They’re still a four piston brake, and our brief rides out on them suggest they’re still very good at stopping. So what’s changed, apart from the name? The big news for…
Video | The Unsung Heroes of Brendog & Olly Wilkins
Yes, it’s an advert. But it’s an advert with Brendog and Olly Wilkins in it, so that’s a plus. And they do crank flips, and a ridiculous gap jump, so they get an extra point for that. And, it’s an advert for DMR AXE LE…
Crankbrothers Synthesis Tuned XC Wheels Launched With Industry Nine Hydra Hubs
Crankbrothers launched its tuned carbon wheels for the hard hitting end of the market back in October last year. ‘Reinventing the wheel’ headlines abound, with the news that the rims were ‘tuned’. Front and rear specific tuning – what did this mean? The idea came…
Gallery | NAHBS Brings Out The Freaks And The Geeks
It’s been the North American Handmade Bike Show this week. Sadly we’re not able to fly out there and fondle the bikes, so we’re left to rely on the official press release and images to satisfy our freak needs. What we get is a huge…
Interview | Monē Bikes Reveals US Made Fillet Brazed Steel Full Suspension Bike
Some people think social media is a waste of time, that it’s a vortex into which your soul and time will rapidly disappear. It depends what you’re looking at – if it’s cats, the naysayers are probably right. But if it’s bikes you’re looking at,…
Singletrack Newsdesk 4: New Bikes And Old Legends
Hannah runs through this week’s bike related highlights. As always you can watch the Singletrack Newsdesk video or you can skip it and read the highlights below. Orange Alpine 6 Launched More different than you might think to look at it, this long travel 27.5…
British Cycling Wants YOU To Shape The Sport’s Future
British Cycling got in touch specifically to ask us to run this press release, because it thinks you, Singletrack readers, can help it improve the breadth of representation on their MTB commissions. TLDR? Need a summary? They’re looking for people to represent different cycling disciplines…
Mountain Mayhem 2019 Sponsors Announced
Mountain Mayhem, the longest running 24hr mountain bike endurance event in the world, has today announced their sponsors for 2019, to be held at the magnificent Marston Lodge in rural Northamptonshire on 21st, 22nd and 23rd June. The sponsors are: Cycle Surgery – Official Retail…
Video | Veronique Sandler ‘Vision’ Freeride Documentary Coming This Summer
All you can see for now is a sneak peek of a teeny tiny trailer, but we’re told there’s a documentary called ‘Vision’ coming this summer, and we’re pretty damned excited to see it. Promising to be an action focussed documentary about bringing her dream…
Building Our Test Bike | Stanton Switch9er FS – Full Suspension British Steel
Any new bike day is pretty exciting, even if it is a test bike that you’re going to have to bid adieu to in due course. This one, however, is a little more exciting than some – it’s not every day you get to have…
FGF 439 | Where Have All The Good Words Gone? At Least We Have The Goods. It’s Fresh Goods Friday 439!
Where is Barney when you need him? We need words of wonder and wibble to kick this thing off here, and if you’re looking in ST Towers for them, you’re looking in the wrong place. We have used all the words. We’re left with the…
FGF 438: The Elbows Out And Lean In Edition of Fresh Goods Friday
What a week. Totally Mega. Chipps was away at something secret. At least he says he was. Being at something secret would be good cover for just lounging around in a hot tub. The rest of us have been beavering away at our computers, and…
Mike Hall: Coroner’s Report Makes Recommendations For Safety Improvements
The Coroner of the ACT Australian Capital Territory) Magistrates Court, Bernadette Boss, has published her report on the inquest into Mike Hall’s death. The endurance cyclist and Singletrack Legend award winner was killed early in the morning of the final stage of the Indian Pacific…
Gallery | Pirelli Launches First MTB Tyres With Calendar Worthy Photos
Pirelli today reveals its first mountain bike tyre, the Scorpion MTB, following a launch event in Sicily that Stu Taylor checked out for us. You can read his first ride review here. The Scorpion MTB is a tyre that Pirelli claims works equally well in…
Chris Porter wants you to race (with) your kids in the new Mojo Racing Series
The new Mojo Racing series set up my suspension supremo, Chris Porter, allows parents and kids to race together. Bike racing can be an antisocial affair if you’ve got a family. Either you leave them at home while you go and do your thing, or…
Singletrack Magazine Issue 122 : Editorial
finding your place Words hannah Chipps is away. He’s off on sabbatical to what he calls ‘his favourite place in the world’: Moab, Utah. Now, I’m not going to argue with him – Moab is probably wonderful, and there are some ancient petroglyphs there that…
Video: We Still Ride On – We Still Care, We Still Progress
Sometimes the internet is a good place. As part of my ‘learning how to jump’ efforts this year, I bought a BMX. When I posted it in Fresh Goods Friday, a reader recommended I join ‘Ride On BMX’, a Facebook group for BMX riders over…
Win A Santa Cruz Bronson, Help Overcome MS – Only £5 To Enter
We’ve worked with Andy McKenna in the past, and his features have been in the magazine. If you’ve ever had the chance to meet him, you’ll know he’s one of the friendliest guys you could meet. The press release accompanying today’s announcement describes him as…
How Sam Pilgrim Made Me Jump
While wandering around Eurobike last year I found myself being introduced to Sam Pilgrim, YouTube personality and former Freeride Mountain Biking (FMB) World Champion. As you do if you’re a bike journo meeting someone (fairly?) famous, I sat him down for a quick interview. It…
5 Thoughtful Valentine’s Gifts For Cyclists
There are a thousand cheesy bike themed things you might be tempted to get your cycling loved one for Valentine’s Day. But before you get them an ‘I ♥ Bikes’ sign for their shed, or love sausage, or a picture frame made out of a bike…
#DarkFEST Course Preview – With Mum Commentary
There’s something called #DarkFEST happening in Stellenbosch, South Africa. It’s not an event for those of you with a sensitive disposition. We’ve already ignored the press release titled ‘Sam Reynolds Injured’ with a link to ‘Instagram Crash Clip‘, because, eew. Who wants to see that?…
Fresh Goods Friday 434 – The Ross Isn’t Our Friend Edition
Chipps is still on holiday, none of the rest of ST Towers cares. Except maybe Amanda, who is falling out of love with Jess The Love Croissant Very Naughty Dog. Techno Pigg is too poorly to care, the only bit of him that isn’t dying is…
SRAM AXS: Ditch The Cables And Go Wireless
Having pretty much convinced us all that life is a lot easier when your thumbs have less to think about, SRAM is today launching its next development which aims to keep the tiny brains in our thumbs from having to think too much. AXS is…
Fit For Alien 7? Trust Message linkage fork – First Look
We had wind that something was coming from the minds of Dave Weagle, Hap Seliga, and Jason Schiers. Respectively, these guys are: arguably one of the brains behind modern mountain bike suspension and inarguably the DW-link; co-founder of Competitive Cyclist; and co-founder of EDGE (ENVE) Composites.…
Video: Shifting Perceptions – A new dawn for women’s MTB?
Crankworx today presents the first episode of a new three part series looking at women in mountain biking. The press release reads: “It’s a time in mountain bike history like no other. For years, women were outnumbered and underrepresented. Their accomplishments, understated. Through it all,…
The Return Of Ragley – Old favourites, favourable pricing
Riders around Singletrack Towers are familiar with the likes of Mmmbop and Blue Pig as local trail names. However, thanks to their origins with local designer Brant Richards, these are also bikes in the Ragley (Woods, to us locals) line up. Old favourites that have…
Singletrack Editors’ Choice Awards – Hannah’s Top 4 Picks 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…
First Ride Review: Islabike Jimi – A Mountain Bike For Those Who Refuse To Grow Old
Islabikes is best known for making good quality children’s bikes. Owner, Isla Rowntree, developed the children’s bike range when she found her friends’ children needed bikes, but that there wasn’t anything out there that met their needs. A similar desire to meet an unmet need…
Islabikes Launches ‘Icons’ Range Of Bikes For Over 65s
That headline isn’t a typo. The brand best known for changing the face of the children’s bike market has launched a range of bikes specifically for the older rider. Owner, Isla Rowntree, first designed her range of children’s bikes having discovered that the market lacked…
With Extra Bundles Of Joy – It’s Fresh Goods Friday 431
There are nerves in the office. A substantial number of staff are all on holiday. But it’s not the extra workload that’s worrying us – it’s the wellbeing of our absent colleagues. It’s a heady concoction of injury potential that’s scattered around the globe right…
Subscribe Today To Get Singletrack Issue 123 Delivered!
Everything is going downhill. The end is in sight. But in a good way. We’re over the hump of winter, it hasn’t been too unkind, and we’re nearly ready to send our next issue of Singletrack to the printer. Subscribe To Singletrack from as little…
Miranda Miller Joins Kona: “me is a little weird like them”
After a difficult couple of seasons, former DH World Champion Miranda Miller has moved from Specialized to Kona, and with that is shifting her focus to the EWS and – it sounds to us – more fun. The press release announcing the move includes this…
Pro’s Pedals: YT’s Erik Irmisch talks about the perfect pedal/shoe pairing
Out at the launch for the new YT Jeffsy last year, I spotted some unusual looking pins on the pedals of a bike on the uplift trailer. It turned out they belong to Erik Irmish, one of YT’s sponsored riders. Erik rides a lot of…
There’s More To Life Than Shredits: Singletrack’s Top Ten Videos Of 2018
Where we list our most popular Singletrack videos of the year featuring our resident token attractive Australian.
2019 YT Jeffsy Range Revealed!
We’ve been playing you. Sorry, but it had to be done, because some things have to be secrets. Yes, when the new YT 2019 line up was launched, we knew fine well what was coming with the Jeffsy because we’d already ridden it. Sneaky, aren’t…
