The previous Cannondale Moterra SL was our 2024 e-Bike Of The Year, so these new full-fat models have quite a lot to live up to. We haven’t seen one in…
First Look
A pre-review, initial look at the spec of new products. Open to all readers.
First look at new Fox Speedframe Pro helmet
Meet the new Fox Speedframe Pro: integrated sunglasses holder, one-hand adjustable visor, and the same head form as previous Speedframe offering. Fox Racing: “”The all-new Fox Speedframe open-face trail helmet…
Quick drool: Starling Cycles Mega Murmur
Our resident steel boinger fan Benji is currently having a bit of lie down after receiving details of the new Starling Cycles Mega Murmur.
Cotic FlareMAX Gen 5: First Looks ‘N’ Feels
This Cotic FlareMAX Gen 5 is the brand's 29er short-travel ripper. Besides looking very pretty in the bluebells, what is it all about?
Kids Ride Shotgun Dirt Hero off-road balance bike
Say hello to the Kids Ride Shotgun Dirt Hero. The Kiwi company has launched Magura-equipped, off-road balance bike that can be fitted with 12in or 14in wheels. Looks rad!
First Look: Saracen Ariel 60 Pro
The Saracen Ariel 60 Pro model here is both fab looking on paper and in the flesh. From the MInion DHR IIs to the ODI grips, it is lit.
First Look: Orbea Occam M10 LT
Occam LT is the wilder Occam. More aggressive geometry, Fox 36 forks. 10mm more travel at each end. Looks like a very handy burly trail bike.
First Look: Vitus Rapide FS CRX
The Vitus Rapide FS CRX mountain bike is a full carbon race-spec bike designed for today's cross-country courses.
Ortlieb Seat-Pack QR: best saddlebag ever?
The new Ortlieb Seat-Pack QR is a waterproof saddle bag with ingenious quick-release mounting. Just what you need for a bit of bikepacking.
Quick thrash on the Privateer 141 Öhlins edition
Here's a quick braindump about the prog rocking Scando-Brit colab called the Privateer 141 Öhlins edition.
First ride review 2022 Canyon Spectral CF 8 CLLCTV
The 2022 Canyon Spectral range received a massive update today, and James Vincent has been testing the mullet Spectral CF 8! Update! Canyon has just informed us that they’ve been…
First Look – The Sonder Dial gets a SID Ultimate and costs just £1699!
In the spirit of supply chain issues, our test bike has come with a Reba, but still… the Sonder Dial looks ready to race! The Sonder Dial XC is a…
First Look: Juliana Wilder Carbon CC X01 AXS TR, XC/Trail Whippet
Sitting between the Santa Cruz Highball and the Juliana Joplin in the range of XC to short-travel trail bikes, the Juliana Wilder is an XC-Trail lightweight race bike. The Juliana…
Santa Cruz Blur Carbon CC – XO1 AXS Reserve Kit
The 10th generation Santa Cruz Blur XC bike has landed at Singletrack Towers, and before we could get a good look it raced off to its keen temporary owner, who’s…
First Look and Giveaway | 3 x Giro Source MIPS Helmet to be won!
First look at the Giro Source MIPS helmet, a cool, fashionable and safe trail lid suitable for all off-road riding. I think it’s safe to say that we all think…
EarShots – first look and giveaway of these magnetic earphones for riders
Listening to tunes while you ride is a contentious topic. Even if we put aside the arguments about safety if you ride with traffic there’s still the purist POV about…
First Look: Our newest long term test rig is a custom Cotic BFE Max!
You’ve seen this frame before, and you’ve seen the parts hanging from it, but now it’s finally alive and ready to hit dry dusty trails. First of all, I would…
First Ride: The Gen 4 Cotic FlareMax punches way above its weight!
Now in its 4th incarnation, the Cotic FlareMax takes on frame updates, new build options and a ‘down country’ alter-ego. Can you believe that the first generation Cotic FlareMax is…
First Ride Review of the new Pirelli Scorpion Enduro S, Trail S and Enduro R tyres
Pirelli says that “Power is Nothing Without Control” so how does the new range of Pirelli Scorpion Enduro and Trail tyres perform? Just over 2 years ago, Pirelli launched the…
The RockShox Domain Fork Is Back! First Look & Podcast
If you’ve been riding mountain bikes for a decade or more then you will probably at least have some part of the back of your brain ringing that bell of…
Andi’s purposely alternative, accidentally purple Pole Taival build
In a world where the usual bike parts are as rare as hen’s teeth, Andi set out to see if he could build a bike using parts from the less…
First Look: Feature-Packed Troy Lee A3 Helmet
The 2021 Troy Lee A3 helmet is packed full of style, safety and features that make this the most comfortable TLD open face lid to date. The Troy Lee A2…
Nukeproof Cub Scout First Look – a proper hardtail for kids
It’s been new bike day at Singletrack Towers this week – this Nukeproof Cub Scout 26 Race has made its way to a very lucky junior member of the STW…
First Look: Five Ten Parley Primeblue Recycled Freerider Pro Shoes
For Spring 2021 Five Ten is launching the popular Freeride and Freerider Pro shoes using Parley Ocean Plastic, here’s a first look. Five Ten being part of the larger Adidas…
First Look: Patrol C091 Carbon Hardtail
Andi takes a close look at the carbon-framed Patrol C091 hardtail, a budget bike with great spec and a confidence-inspiring geometry. We see a lot of people in the comments…
Nukeproof Giga Launched: A Super-Enduro shouldn’t descend AND climb this well!
Super-Enduro goes nuclear with the release of the Nukeproof Giga a 170mm or 180mm travel big rig with 27.5in or 29er wheel options. At a time when every brand has…
Kona Honzo ESD first ride review: Kona’s classic hardcore hardtail gets an update
On one of the hottest days of the year, Andi takes out one of the hottest new bikes of the year. Here are his first ride impressions of the Kona…
Specialized Status First Look | All new, all mountain, affordable trail bike
Today we can, finally, tell you about the new Specialized Status – a bike we’ve had under us for the past two months. Since the ‘launch’ campaign for this bike…
First Look: Ride Concepts VICE Kyle Strait Signature Flat Shoe
Ride Concepts’ new VICE shoe is aimed at dirt jump, slalom, BMX and downhill riders who value pedal feel. Ride Concepts produces a whole host of cycling-specific shoes and sponsors…
2021 Santa Cruz 5010 & Juliana Furtado: More travel!
The Santa Cruz 5010 and Juliana Furtado are the 27.5in ‘all-rounders’ of each brand. Designed to go up as well as they come down, the nimble trail bikes have had…
First Look: Burgtec Mk3 Enduro Stem
Burgtec replaces the much-loved Mk2 with an all-new Mk3 Enduro stem available in all the usual Burgtec colours. Burgtec manufactures a lot of cool kit. From carbon handlebars, and flat…
First Look: Microshift Advent X 11×48 10-Speed
Microshift’s Advent X promises to be a great, low-cost drivetrain. We take a first look at this new wide-range 10-speeder ahead of our long-term review. Microshift has quietly been making…
Bike Check: Chloe Taylor’s custom Privateer 161
Chloe Taylor switches to the Privateer 161 for 2020 and has just completed this race-spec build ready to take on the EWS (whenever that might happen). Check out the full…
Nukeproof Reactor 290c ST – Ltd Edition More Mileage Build
Following on from the re-release of the 2020 Nukeproof Reactor in October last year, Nukeproof have added an XC/trail build to the mix. The existing Reactor was introduced to bridge…
First look: YT IZZO a trail bike from the masters of gravity
YT Industries is known for aggressive gravity bikes, but the new YT IZZO signs a departure from the norm and we’re loving it. I don’t know about you, but when…
First Look | Pipedream Cycles The Full Moxie Is Sexy Steel Stunner
British based bike brand, Pipedream Cycles, introduced the world to the The Full Moxie this week and we’ve snapped up an early look at one of the first bikes off…
2021 RockShox Lyrik rides higher and performs better thanks to 2 simple upgrades.
With a new Debonair air spring, the 2021 RockShox Lyrik is easier to live with and better on the trail, but best of all the upgrade is backwards compatible. We…
First Look: Fox 38 everything you need to know and first look video
The Fox 38, a fork we have all long suspected, and one that is now finally official! Here is our first look at the beefiest single crown Fox fork on…
Leatt MTB Shoes | Release of their first ever shoe range
The brand that developed the very first protective neck brace for riders and has continued to put safety first, Leatt has launched their first line of 2020 MTB shoes. Leatt…
Fox Speedframe Pro Helmet | 360° of comfort & safety
Aimed at the aggressive trail rider, the Fox Speedframe Pro offers a high level of protection paired with good ventilation and comfort, achieved through 19 vents and internal channels, a…
Nukeproof Horizon Sam Hill Enduro Pedals
These aren’t just a Nukeproof Horizon pedal with Sam Hill’s signature – find out below how the EWS winner helped develop the Pro Enduro pedal. The story behind the pedal…
2020 Propain Tyee | First Ride Review
The Tyee has been in the Propain lineup for around 6 years and has been Propain’s go to enduro bike. Based around 27.5 wheels, the Tyee was designed as a…
Knolly Warden LT | First Ride On Board Video Review
Whistler is perhaps not the most neutral location for a bike test – especially a first ride review – but I try and pride myself of not being taken in…
2020 Marin Rift Zone Carbon 2 first look
If you wanted a carbon fibre Marin full-suspension bike ahead of today then you would be looking at one of the innovative looking Naild bikes with its sliding cylinder and…
Patrol 691 first look at the big wheeled, Bali rider.
Indonesia’s latest enduro rig rocks up to rail UK trails, and just in time for the wet season too, here’s our first look at the Patrol 691. Patrol is an…
2020 Nukeproof Reactor switches from trail to rail in 30 seconds
Nukeproof enter the trail bike race after exiting the market for a few years with the new 2020 Nukeproof Reactor. The Nukeproof Reactor is an old name attached to an…
2020 Orange Stage 6 – Exclusive First Ride Review
In 2017 Orange launched the Stage 6, a long travel, big mountain, do everything, enduro bike. The Stage 6 was Orange’s answer to the increasingly growing aggro 29 full suspension bike…
Sector 9i Carbon Wheels With TeXtreme First Look
Sector has launched the new Sector 9i carbon wheelset today with low-weight, competitive pricing, and added Textreme. Sector is a new wheel maker, but the people behind the name have…
2020 Santa Cruz Tallboy 4 First Look
First look at the 2020 Santa Cruz Tallboy 4 with updated VPP suspension platform, slacker geo, adjustable dropouts, and delicious colours. Santa Cruz’s Tallboy has received a major facelift for…
Trek Fuel EX 9.8 | First Ride Review
Chipps nips over to take in some Italian singletrack and bring you this Trek Fuel EX 9.8 First Ride Review For the first ride launch of the Trek Fuel EX,…