Rants, opinions and general observations from the wide ranging smorgasbord that is our pool of editorial contributors. The usual stuff about what gets said in here isn’t necessarily the view of Singletrack blah blah.

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Is It Time For A Shakeup In The MTB World?

We can’t pretend that mountain biking is green. Riding your bike instead of getting in a car is green, but that’s not what mountain biking is. Mountain biking is play,……

High School Mountain Biking: How the bike industry could save itself?

But perhaps there’s a possible option that might see bikes put to good use, and actually generate demand in years to come? Take a look at the USA and I…

Off The Beaten Track

This piece was originally published as the editorial in our Weekly Word newsletter. It’s free and available to anyone who signs up. There’s also the Members’ newsletter – only available………

Not In My Name: Trans Athlete Bans

Hannah has been pondering this article all summer, trying to find the words to express how she feels about the emerging bans on trans women’s participation in women’s cycling –……

be nice say hi

Know Your Trail Users

Charlie takes a light hearted look at the wonderful variety of people we share the trails with. It’s that time of year again when the clocks go forward, the sun...

How Much?! Why we should care about the closure of Kitsbow

If you’re in the UK, there’s every chance you’ve never heard of Kitsbow, so why should you care that they’re closing? And who even are they? Kitsbow were (or, until……

After Slashing Active Travel Funding, Government Keeps £4.8 billion Fuel Price Discount

Hannah argues that the 2023 budget is taking us in the wrong direction. There\'s more to this story... BUT IT\'S A MEMBER-ONLY STORY.JOIN US TO UNLOCK IT AND MORE FOR…

Women and Bikes: How Far Have We Come?

Hannah charts the advance of women in the bike industry, as she sees it. Are you as optimistic? What changes have you seen? Apparently I am now long in the...

From The Archive: Womens’ Specific Bikes – do we need them?

Back in issue 15 of Singletrack Magazine, in 2004, we reviewed three of what were then a new development: women’s specific bikes. We followed it up with a head to...

Do we need trail maintenance trousers?

Rapha has launched a limited edition collection of clothing. It’s a collaboration with ‘Brain Dead’, a trendy LA-based international fashion collective.  With its disruptive, graphic-led approach, Brain Dead takes its……

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……

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Don’t think about Monday

This editorial was originally published in one of our Weekly Word newsletters, which comes out every Friday. To get your Weekly Word delivered to your inbox, sign up now –...

Strava adds mountain biking as an activity: hurray or uh-oh?

A recent update to Strava has given users the option of selecting mountain biking as an activity. There\'s more to this story... BUT IT\'S A MEMBER-ONLY STORY.JOIN US TO UNLOCK…

Why You Should Read The Outsiders Project: Beyond Representation

The Outsiders Project report ‘Beyond Representation: The Future of Diversity and Inclusion’ is aimed at brands in the outdoor industry. Its goal is to shift brands’ understanding and perspectives on...

Why we (probably) won’t be making a themed women’s issue of Singletrack Magazine

As part of our Members’ Newsletter we give our readers the chance to ask us questions about what we do. Not all of them are quite so in depth as……

Map access

Access Rights: Be Nice, Say Hi, Ask Why

Recently, I’ve been thinking again about access rights. Previously I was definitely on the side of ‘ride legal, or keep it quiet if you’re not’. Now, I’m not so sure....

Environment sustainability butterfly

A Closer Look At Trek’s Sustainability Report

Tom is a Climate Change and Green Infrastructure Officer, a mountain bike guide, Cytech mechanic, Greenpeace activist and holds a BSc in Outdoor and Environmental Education and MSc in Marine……

Throwback Thursday: Shakespeare’s Sister

‘All the world’s a stage, and all the men and women merely players’. How your ride will play out – whether it results in comedy, tragedy or historic triumph –...

From Enduro To E Cargo | A New Perspective on 2 Wheels

Aran Francis is giving teenagers – and cyclists – a good name. What has this keen enduro rider learnt from riding for a cargo bike delivery service? This morning I……

Ibis Exie Is Made In-House – Is This A New Movement For Bike Companies?

This week, Ibis Cycles has launched the Ibis Exie (‘X C’ – geddit?) cross country race bike. It’s a 120/100mm carbon fibre race bike that saves weight over the already……

Lauren night ride

Sometimes Riding Really Freaks Me Out

I start to pedal, anticipating the ride ahead. My mind is quiet. I chat on the climb, everything is normal and I have no anxiety or worry, I’m just happy………

Is What3Words Really That Bad? Or Good? Let’s Ask Mountain Rescue.

Given the recent fuss about What3Words in the outdoor world, we thought we’d ask forum member and rider, Jon Bateman. Jon is a mountain biker and also an active member…

Making Time To Ride: a health check for your home

Leave the ‘mum guilt’ and ‘dad guilt’ at home – check your habits and find everyone the ride time and headspace they need. It’s International Women’s Day. In some respects,...

Opinion: The Illegal Trail Builder

Building unsanctioned trails is a touchy subject. But are there shades of grey when it comes to building illegal trails or is it a black and white issue? We talk…

You Can’t Buy Happiness – but you can buy an eMTB

Hannah explains why she thinks an eMTB should be your next gift to yourself if you want to add a little joy to your life. I have never really ‘had……

Credit: Remy Vroonen Jack Reading Column

British Cycling – Not Stepping Up For Downhill

Racer and team manager Jack Reading explains why he thinks British Cycling is failing its downhill athletes. This article will be accessible by Free Members on the 23rd November. It...

Whether you like it or not, bikes are political

Columnist Mildred Locke addresses those who would say ‘stick to bikes, keep politics out of it’ – she thinks bikes are political. Following my last column, there’s another phenomenon I……

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What people mean when they say cycling has a race problem

…Spoiler alert: it’s not about you. Mildred Locke examines why cycling brands’ support of the Black Lives Matter movement gets some riders in a flap. With the rise of the...

Would You Give In To An E-Bike – Or Resist?

To E-Bike or not to E-bike, that is the question? That’s the question that Gary from Dorset is having to consider as one by one his local riding group has…

lock down friends

Dear Diary, Lock Down 2020 | Trails Are Better With Friends

One of our readers shares his tale of discovering that in lock down the trails are quiet – just a bit too quiet. Lock down, the meaning of: The confining……