Specialized S-Works 2D helmet Price: £109.99 From: Specialized UK 020 8391 3500 www.specialized.com Tested: Three months
Tom dB
Pace RC405
The RC405 is a floating pivot design; the rear triangle is attached to the front by two pairs of linkages (similar to Santa Cruz, Intense, Iron Horse and Giant designs). Where the RC405 is a bit different is that the rear shock is not anchored…
Santa Cruz Chameleon
Totting up here at Singletrack we reckon this is the fourth incarnation of the Santa Cruz Chamelon. Unlike its users, the Chameleon hasn’t changed a great deal over the years. The ‘Cham’, along with the GT Zaskar and, to a lesser degree, the Cannondale Beast…
Specialized Defroster Boots
A decent pair of winter boots is long overdue from the (other) Big S. In all other fields, they rival both Shimano and Sidi in popularity and (for me at least) usually exceed both in ergonomics and fit. It’s good to see that they’ve done…
Pendle Wheel Support Bike Rack
When it comes to bombproof bike racks the Pendle wheel support rack takes some beating. We opted for the Type Approval two bike model which attaches to your car by way of a plate that bolts behind a two bolt tow bar. Each bike sits…
Petzl MYO XP
Not a riding light, but why shouldn’t your camping, walking and exploring lights not make the most of advances in LED technology too? Running off three AA batteries, the Petzl MYO XP uses one bright LED to give a bright, white light with a diffuser…
Geax Pit Stop Magnum
The Geax Pit Stop is a neat idea. You take a canister of CO2 but also fi ll it with latex sealant and stick a multi-fi t (Schraeder and presta) valve attachment on the end. This Magnum version is a bigger volume canister for bigger…
Extra Wheel Trailer
The Extra Wheel is basically one wheel hitched to the rear axle by a clever steel sprung bracket (you get both an adapted QR and 10mm axle nuts which will fit mountain and road bikes). Your kit is carried in two dry bags in cargo…
Royal Racing SP24/7 jersey
I must confess to being an unwilling tester for this garment. I’ve never worn tops like these before. Mainly because I think they usually look ‘goalkeeper’ naff. It was only when I ran out of other jerseys during a week’s riding in Italy that I…
Ortlieb MudRacer Saddle Bag
Ortlieb are a company who I regard with some reverence. Their Back-Roller Classic panniers have transformed my view of what it is possible to do without a car, so I have tried their other products with some anticipation. Unfortunately, none of my other Ortlieb experiences…
Howies Vail Merino Wool T-shirt
Some things are obviously good value for money. Some things need a little more contemplation before their value becomes clear. The Howies Vail T is a ‘normal’ T-shirt made from thin merino wool. Merino is well known for being able to absorb moisture without feeling…
Rock Shox Lyrik Solo Air
Standing in the queue for the bike-park gondola I compared my Solo Air to a triple-clamp fork on someone else’s late 90’s downhill bike. With 35mm stanchions the single crown Lyric made the other fork look weedy. To have a fork that is as strong…
Knog Frog Lights
Emergency or ‘just get me home legally’ LED lights have been around for a while now and while most consist of single LEDs (one in white, one in red) Knog do things a little differently.
Magura Durin
Looking around at the number of dedicated XC forks you’d be forgiven for thinking fork manufacturers had decided that the market was dead and that we all need 160mm forks on all our bikes. Admittedly the need for 80mm forks isn’t what it was so…
Straitline Stem
There’s something to be perversely admired about a company that kicks convention in the teeth and smiles doing it, and Canadian company Straitline have a lot of shattered enamel on their 5.10s.
Islabikes Rothan
When you find that nearly everyone you meet is doing a double-take at your new purchase you know it’s either because you’ve bought something quite stupid, or you’ve chosen one of those products that attracts attention for all the right reasons.
Freak Bike: Santa Cruz Easy Rider
This bike ticks all the boxes to qualify for a place in Singletrack’s "Bike Pron" feature: Would it draw a crowd if it were leant up against the food tent at Mountain Mayhem? Is it a bike that we’d all like to ride, even if…
Identiti Alloy QR Seat Clamp
Are you a saddle dropper? If not, why not? The usual reply is “I can’t ride with my saddle down”. This confuses me greatly. What advantage to bike handling can there possibly be in having a saddle wedged up your crotch?
Cane Creek Double Barrel Shock
This shock comes out of a collaboration between Cane Creek and Ohlins Racing, the Swedish suspension gurus who have cut their teeth on the likes of Supercross and GP bikes to produce a handmade (every single one is made by just one man, called Paul,…
Hope 1.5in Stepdown Headset
Those of us with fat head tubes have traditionally only had two choices when it came to 1.5-into-1 1/8th headsets: cheap and nasty ball-bearing ones that weigh a ton and go rusty after about three rides, or very expensive ones that are okay.
Singular Swift
Yes, it’s another 29in wheel bike. But for a change, it wasn’t sent from a manufacturer eager to get themselves into this subset of a niche before the boat left, but a bike we wanted to look at because it actually looked ‘right’.
Shed Shackle
The Shed Shackle is a security device that you fit to your shed, providing a fixed er, shackle to lock your bike to. It’s not going to stop anyone breaking into your shed but it might stop them making off with your bike, which has…
661 Veggie Wrap Shin Pads
For SPD users the journey into flat pedal riding can be a perilous one. Sure, you’re going to improve your technique and learn to bunnyhop properly, but you’re also liable to landing a set of pins into your leg. The problem is that a lot…
Alpkit Fat Airic
My body is definitely getting old. If it’s not, then I’m getting a lot weaker. There was a time when I’d sleep straight on the ground or with a thin Karrimat. There was a time where dossing in a phone box would do as well…
Shimano M300 shoes
These are Shimano’s top of the range, none-higher, all-singing and quite a bit of dancing, race shoes.
Fresh Goods
It’s about time we showed you some of the fab stuff that’s been arriving in the office while we were busy finishing the previous issue of Singletrack magazine.
Wiggle Enduro6 Results
The new ‘weather proofed’ course at Catton Park was unveiled at the weekend after much work by the organisers to try and limit the suffering brought about by a good downpour on the otherwise fast and entertaining course. However, the new sections were not needed…
Fresh Goods
Cheese, Giro, Bell, Giant, Titus, Specialized, Alpkit, MobiWasher, DMR, Diadora, Cannondale, Bontrager, Mavic and Kona...
Fresh Goods
Japanese bling from Shimano, French footwear from Mavic and American hand socks from Bontrager.
Fresh Goods
Through the door so far this week, products from DT Swiss, Syncros, Santa Cruz, Endura and Howies.
chub wheel goods
Chub hubs with high flanges give you decreased spoke stress and build a super strong wheel.
Fresh Goods
Bits just in from RaceFace, Maxxis, Authority, Commencal, Chris King, Genesis and Gaerne
Fresh Goods
More fresh goodness from Maxxis, Titus, Surly, Halo, Ergon, Topeak, Giro and Neoguard
Fresh Goods
Zips.. sticky rubber... latex... cake...
An Evening with Gary Fisher
Chevin Cycles of Otley arranged an evening showing of Klunkers followed by a talk by Gary Fisher on March 14th '09 at Otley Town Hall. We video'd the event and squashed 40 minutes of talk into a handy 10 minute bite size nugget.
Fresh Goods
Bits and also bobs from Hydrapak, Park Tools, Wheels MFG, Utopia, Specialized and Oddies.
Fresh Goods
So what's arrived at Singletrack Towers this week then? Stuff from Bontrager, Abus, Wheels MFG, Spank, Marmot, Orange and Hawaii...
Fresh Goods
This week's new stuff from Bontrager, Altura, Lowepro, Outland, Avenir, Raleigh, Crank Bros and Vaude...
Felt Breed
Steve Makin reviews a big lad's bike with shonky brakes, skinny tyres, dodgy bars, a very racy saddle and no gears. Possibly the most fun bike he's ridden in years.
Fresh Goods
It's back. More fresh goods from Salsa, Dakine, Royal Racing, Bontrager, Torq, Tektro, Vredestein, Lifeventure, Orange, Outland and Red Bull Rampage...
Fresh Goods
Your bi-weekly update on what's arrived here at Singletrack HQ with products from Rido, Brooks, Royal, Kinky Bikes, Genuine Innovations, VeloSolo, Cane Creek and Yeti.
Lizard Skinz Blizzard Gloves
Lizard Skinz Blizzard Gloves Price: £28.00 From: www.2pure.co.uk A winter glove with neoprene trimmings over the knuckles and round the cuff but despite the neoprene this glove is water resistant rather than waterproof. The lining is thick and instantly warm and the Velcro cuff strap…
Altura Whinlatter Challenge
The Altura Whinlatter Challenge is the 1st mountain bike cross country endurance event to take place, on THE ALTURA TRAIL on Sunday, March 29th at Whinlatter Forest Park, near Keswick.
Fresh Goods
More new stuff? You bet. Take a look at what's landed at Singletrack HQ so far this week with products from Cube, NS Bikes, Charge, Ortlieb, Exped, Panaracer, Bontrager and Trail Tech.
Lifesystems Mountain Thermal Bag
Lifesystems Mountain Thermal Bag Price: £9.99 From: www.lifesystems.co.uk It may not be sexy and you’ll probably never have to use it but this metalised polyester based survival bag should be on your list of things to carry on a ride. Weighing a mere 85 grammes,…
Ortlieb Medium First Aid Kit
Ortlieb Medium First Aid Kit Price: £13.69 From: Lyon Equipment www.ortlieb.com Having a First Aid kit and the knowledge to use it should be something that every mountain biker has. The Ortlieb First Aid pack is a basic but effective piece of kit, small and…
Sealskinz Technical Mountain Biking Glove
Sealskinz Technical Mountain Biking Glove Price: £37.50 From: Sealskinz 01553 817990 www.sealskinz.com These winter gloves are the highest spec mountain biking glove in the Sealskinz range, they are waterproof, breathable and have specific gel padding on the palm to help absorb the shock from mountain…
Jimi Wallet
Jimi Wallet Price: £12.00 From : 2pure www.2pure.co.uk The Jimi Wallet so the marketing goes is the wallet for people that don’t do wallets. It’s a classic I-generation product. (How much of the last 8 years designs have been influenced by the I-pod?) the Jimi…
