In one of the least surprising announcements of the gravel year, Shimano today has announced an electric version of its popular GRX groupset. If the big news of August 2023’s GRX announcement was that it had one extra gear (or two if you run a…
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.
N1NO BEYOND: Never Quit – New Series with Nino Schurter
This is the first episode in a new series from Cut Media looking at Nino Schurter and his life beyond the race tape. Is it building up to a big final year before retirement, or has he got a lot more still to come? Episode…
Founders Buy Back Kona Bicycles
After a surprise stand shut down at Sea Otter and mass layoff of staff last month, Kona Bicycles has been bought back from Kent Outdoors by founders Dan Gerhard and Jake Heilbron, who have issued this press release to mark what should be a new…
Crossword: The Bike Tools Edition
We’ve got cryptic-ish clues, and the answers are all tools you might use on your bike. If you’re not from the UK, you’ll likely find this a bit harder since tool names are not universal/international. Try doing DIY with an American if you’re British, or…
Fresh Goods Friday 705 – The Freewheelin’ Edition
Good day to you. We trust this Friday finds you well and that you are suitably pre-amped for the weekend. Not pre-amped in the vinyl hipster stylee. That would lead to a low buzz that would interfere with your tweeter response. And NO ONE wants…
Triple Black Diamond ‘Helfare Highway’ comes to Caersws Bike Park
Here’s a track that I have zero plans of ever riding (I’m realistic in my skills goals), but I’m glad it exists (although also slightly glad it’s far enough away that my husband won’t be shredding it every weekend while simultaneously shredding my nerves). Helfare…
McLaren launches 161Nm torque eMTB rangeÂ
Yes, that McLaren. Of Formula 1 fame, purchased by footballers. The makers of supercars have turned their attention to ebikes. There is a long history of car manufacturers doing bikes badly, but you might hope that someone as high end as McLaren could get it…
Join Us Today To Get The June Edition of Singletrack Magazine!
This time round, the Bank Holiday means you need to subscribe by 9am on Friday 24th May to get your copy of Singletrack World. That’s a little earlier than usual, so don’t miss out! How To Get Singletrack Magazine What’s inside Singletrack World issue 155?…
Last Chance To Respond! UK Trails Project Survey: Shape your riding future here
This survey closes at midnight on Wednesday 15th May – take your last chance to respond now! Whether you’re a rider, a landowner, a trail association, or a mix of the three, there’s a survey for you here. It’s probably the best chance the mountain…
Bikemon Go! Your May Ride Inspiring Download
Back in issue 153 in February, Hannah proposed an alternative approach to measuring rides. As part of that, we gave you a set of ride ‘achievements’ to collect in the month ahead. Here’s your next seasonally appropriate set of ride goals. Enjoy!
Fresh Goods Friday 704 – The Nadir E Me Edition
Welcome to episode 704 of the Freshies, as nobody calls them. Benji is all waffled out, so you can have an opening rant from Hannah instead.
Book Review: Potholes and Pavements
Some years ago I met Laura Laker and she seemed to me to be an essentially nice and positive person. One of those people it would be hard to be miserable around, possibly because she’d have whisked you off on a bike ride in search…
Stolen! Frameworks Racing’s Van Full of Gear and Bikes
Neko Mulally has taken to Instagram in an appeal to recover his team’s stolen bikes and gear. The van, containing a number of bikes and spares, was stolen from outside a hotel in Milton Keynes as they travelled from the Fort William World Series DH…
Bike Check: Ministry Cycles CNC Protoype
This bike at the EXT stand at Sea Otter caught my eye, so I stopped its designer Chris Curry for a bit more insight into what it’s all about. What are you making here? So I have started a company called Ministry Cycles. I began…
Bike Check: Erik’s Rat Race Drop Out Cargo Bike
One of the joys (for me, anyway) of the Sea Otter Classic is the unusual bikes that people turn up with, and the stories behind them. I clocked this heavily stickered and accessorised cargo bike and had to find out a bit more about what…
Socks Of The Sea Otter Classic
I was going to call this ‘Socks of Sea Otter’, but then I thought ‘shiny boots of leather’ and thought that socks made of Sea Otter would be distressing. Probably waterproof, but all kinds of wrong. Anyway. Yes, my sock drawer needed a refresh. But…
British Team for 2024 UEC MTB European Championships Announced
The road to the Olympics hots up with the European Champions in just over a week in Romania. British Cycling has just announced who will be racing for Britain at this event, and is fielding a particularly strong female team across all age groups. Here’s…
Retro Bike Check: Foes LTS 16
I felt like there were a few fewer retro bikes rolling around this year’s Sea Otter Classic, but this one caught my eye so I stopped its owner for a quick chat. You can be pretty sure that anyone riding something like this around will…
Smart Tires: Tyres From Space Coming Your Way Soon?
At an unassuming looking booth at Sea Otter there was some mega science going down. You’ll have to take my word for it, but the hollow rod of this Nitinol could be bent – and it would instantly get warm on the bend – and…
Bike Check: Jordy Scott’s Dual Slalom Hyper
Jordy Scott is one of those up and coming riders that might not have come onto your radar unless you follow the Crankworx scene. She was just about to go and compete in Dual Slalom but took a moment to have a chat. Expect to…
DEADLINE Midnight Tonight! Government Consults On Legalising Higher Powered Ebikes
The consultation for this closes at midnight tonight. It seems pretty unanimous among the bike world that the proposals would be a big mistake. The Bicycle Association has created a draft response, so at the touch of a couple of buttons you can submit an…
Bikes Bikes Bikes! The Show Bikes of Sea Otter
Whether it’s a tricked out bike for a show stand, a special lucky race build, or just the garage geek project, there are some unusual bikes to be spotted at Sea Otter. Here’s a massive gallery for you, with a few mini interviews thrown in.…
Even More Sea Otter New Things
Phew, by the power of airport internet, jet lag, and many battery pack charges, here’s the second and final instalment of new things spotted at Sea Otter. Look out for more interviews and bike checks to come! Maxxis The Aspen ST for short track racing,…
A Closer Look At The We Are One Modular Prototype DH Bike
We Are One makes their bikes and components in Kamloops, Canada. The Hope of Kamloops, perhaps? Their onsite manufacturing lets them prototype things quickly, which led to the slightly unexpected position of them having a UCI DH team this year, with local lad Jon Mozell…
Martha Gill: The New Sea Otter Dual Slalom Champion
Martha Gill was out at Sea Otter racing Dual Slalom and Downhill. She took the gold in Dual Slalom, finally breaking Jill Kintner’s 11-year run on the top spot. I caught up with her at the Marin booth just as Martha had finished fourth in…
Bike Check: Ryan Pinkerton’s Sea Otter Mondraker Raze Carbon
Ryan Pinkerton is out at the Sea Otter Classic with his eye on the Downhill race. We had a little look at his bike and asked him how it was going in practice. Just the downhill this weekend? Just downhill, no slalom for me. How’s…
Braydon Bringhurst’s Dual Slalom Sea Otter Special Spectral
Braydon Bringhurst – a man who loves to climb as much as descend, as is big on figuring out the technical side of riding just so – is at the Sea Otter Classic racing Dual Slalom. To help with the motivation and mental focus, he’s…
Privateer’s Fergus Ryan on Racing 3-on-1 at Sea Otter
Fergus Ryan is out at the Sea Otter Classic in California racing the new Privateer 161 Gen 2. He’s using the one bike to race all three events of enduro, dual slalom and downhill. We stopped him for a chat to see how it’s going.…
Bounce, Bags and Bling – Spotted at Sea Otter
Another lap of the stands at the Sea Otter Classic in California, another round of new things. Some are new and available now, some are still to come, and some are still prototypes under development. We’re not done yet, and there’ll be more bike checks,…
Nipple shufflers and new rubbers: products and prototypes spotted at Sea Otter
Sea Otter, the massive bike event in California that combines expo, racing, camping and a lot of bike love, gets underway on Thursday. We popped in to collect our media passes and did a quick walk around while folks were still setting up their stands.…
Issue 154 MTB Culture: Having The Wrong Thing
Necessity is the mother of invention, and stupidity its cousin. We bring you a selection of instances where ‘Having the wrong thing’ (or forgetting the right thing) brought the family together. Don’t chuckle too hard – next time, it might be you. Thanks to our…
Issue 154 Interview: Gladiators… Ready!
It’s perhaps no surprise that one of the new competitors on TV’s Gladiators is a pro mountain biker. Hannah catches up with Privateer Bikes rider Kerry Wilson to find out what makes her tick. Look up Kerry Wilson on Instagram and you might need a…
Lezyne Helmet Lite Drive 1200+ LED review
Lezyne Helmet Lite Drive 1200+ LED has eight LEDs, delivering a broad 1,200 lumenbeam, 60-hour runtime and USB-C port recharging.
The Grinder: Zefal Bike Taxi Tow Rope, Continental Argotal, Fox Dropframe helmet, Zipp 1ZERO HiTop Wheels
Is that creak me or the bike? Real-world product reviews from real-world riders.
Bikemon Go! Your April Ride Inspiring Download
Back in issue 153 in February, Hannah proposed an alternative approach to measuring rides. As part of that, we gave you a set of ride ‘achievements’ to collect in the month ahead. Here’s your next seasonally appropriate set of ride goals. Enjoy!
How To Read Singletrack Magazine – April 2024, Issue 154
Rattle, thunk, slap. For some lucky people, the print magazine has already landed, and for a few more it’s in the post. If you fancy joining riders and readers all over the world with some time out and a good long immersion in mountain biking…
Take Care Of Your Trails 2024
Whether you’re an established or aspiring trail builder, or even just a weekend rider, there’s something here for you in the Take Care Of Your Trails 2024 campaign. The Take Care of Your Trails campaign is based on a successful pilot project initially developed by…
Hillbomb: This Video May Induce a Midlife Crisis
The latest movie from Utah based freeride crew In The Hills Gang is out. 44 minutes of freeride vibes, following in the tradition of the original Down trilogy that helped spawn the big branded freeride scene that we see today. And while the music –…
Fresh Good Friday 699 – The From Thin Air Edition
It is too soon after last Friday for it to be Friday again. In many respects this is a good thing: we can now take full advantage of the weekend and all that extra sundaylight that we have access to. But in the world of…
DMBinW: Developing Mountain Biking In Wales – Be Part Of It!
If you’re a ‘sector leader’ in Wales, here’s your chance to get involved in a new project – which, if it’s as successful as DMBinS (Developing Mountain Biking In Scotland), could bring a big leap forward for Welsh mountain biking. After a few years of…
New Affordable Shimano ESSA, Short Reach Levers, and Cross Compatibility
Hang on a minute, cross compatibility… affordable groupset… short reach levers so everyone can ride bikes… it’s not a late April Fool, it’s a happy reality from Shimano. It’s apparently part of a move to simplify the line up, but it’s taken a bit of…
Bespoked Manchester Early Bird Tickets On Sale Now!
Bespoked is the place to be if you’re into hand made bikes, accessories for bikes, and interesting components. This year, it’s coming to Manchester, in a very cool Victorian ex-swimming pool building. Whether you jump in two feet first and order a whole bike, or…
Calibre Line T3 27 review
If you're new to mountain biking, or upgrading from heavy bike shaped object, you'll find the Calibre Line T3 27 feels pretty impressive.
Earth Day Spring Clean With Trash Free Trails
Trash Free Trails is hoping you’ll join in the Earth Day Spring Clean on April 22nd. Or, of course, do your bit every day (we know plenty of you do). Here’s the press release. Over 1000 volunteers across the UK set to celebrate Earth Day…
Cannondale Scalpel 1 Lefty: First Ride Review
The new Cannondale Scalpel has essentially been modernised to give it more travel, and more capable, more stable handling.
Monday Avoidance Movie Sesh
It may be spring, but it’s still Monday. Avoid your inbox just a little longer with a selection of the latest mountain bike video releases. First up, how you’ll never look riding Dyfi Bike Park: Next up, this is a sort of trailer/teaser for a…
Philly Bike Expo 2024: Gallery of WANT
The Philly Bike Expo is a hand made bike show in Philadelphia, USA, that’s known for being more than just a display of shiny things. It’s got a history of being progressive, maybe political even, with workshops and scholarships aimed at helping frame builders beyond…
Frasers Group To Relaunch Wiggle and Chain Reaction Websites
OK, hot off the press… Wiggle and CRC are to make a return. We honestly don’t know what this corporate speak below actually means, so we’ve reached out to Frasers Group to see if they’ll tell us in something a little more bike-world friendly! Meanwhile,…
The Government, The New Road, and FlyUp 417 Bike Park: What’s Happening?
Many of you have seen FlyUp 417 bike park’s recent video about the potential for them to have to close as a result of works being done by National Highways. It’s a complicated issue, and hard to explain in a YouTube video (or even a…
Hamish Hamilton, Buffalo Founder and Pertex Inventor, Dies
We’ve just heard that Hamish Hamilton, the man who invented Pertex, and founded Buffalo (of jacket fame), has died. As yet, we’ve not seen an official obituary – just an announcement by Buffalo on social media – and the internet is a little scarce on…
Don’t Miss Out On April’s Edition Of Singletrack World
We’re heading into longer days, winter is on the way out, something is in the air. Is it spring? The drifting scent of daffodils on the breeze? Or you, taking flight and hitting that jump? With a perfect landing too, of course. Swoosh, bzzpt. And…
