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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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…

Deciding Not To Die Isn’t The Same As Choosing To Live

Just over a year ago, we published a powerful piece on mental health called ‘What If I Want to Die Every Day of My Life’. Since then, the author has…

who gives a crap loo roll

How to be a dick during the Coronavirus

Never one not to be topical, or controversial, Sanny is back with his latest in his “How to be a dick….” Series. This time he sets his sights on a…

mud shoes wet winter

Winter Cycle Commuting | It Might Be Grim, But It’s Not All Bad

Hannah peers into the driving rain of the daily commute and sees sunshine and spring at the other end. The worse the weather the better. Giant puddles, torrents from the…

A Bike Love Affair | My Ragley Piglet

The day my new Ragley Piglet frame arrived I washed my hands before opening the box. I didn’t want to put any fingerprints on it before I’d applied the EcoCoat…

heather sunrise blue skies

Remembering Jenn Hill – And All Those Who Remind Us To Live

It’s been four years since Jenn Hill, our Deputy Editor, died. Hannah reflects on the legacy she’ll never know she created. I came to Singletrack just over four years ago....

Stolen | It’s More Than Just A Bike

Hannah and Amanda had their bikes stolen from under their noses. In the immediate aftermath, Hannah wrote this. I had a bike stolen once before. I don’t know what make…

Opinion: Insult and Battery – The Times Has A Pop At E-Bikes

I’ve written before about the fractious relationship that cyclists have with newspapers, and it seems like it’s not getting any better. This week it’s the turn of the Times, who...

Misty clouds sun breaking through

Mental Health | What if I want to die every day of my life?

I’ve asked Singletrack to withhold my real name and publish this piece under a pseudonym. Why you might ask? Whether you suffer from poor mental health or not, starting up...

beard shaving

Opinion: Facial Hair Rorschach Test

Do fellow riders acknowledge your cheery greetings, or swiftly look at their front derailleur? If they have one There\'s more to this story But it\'s a member-only story Join us…

The Future of Mountain Biking Isn’t in the Mountains

I’ve been thinking a bit recently about the future of mountain biking, and what it might look like. There will undoubtedly be more technical innovations that make bikes faster and...

Hannah cliff sea

Warning: Cliff Edge Ahead – we need to talk about mental health

As I climb back onto my bike I realise I’ve just seriously considered stepping off a cliff edge to escape the turmoil that is going on inside me, that’s not…

box

Column: Moving On – mountain bikers don’t need to ride to stay fit

Jason Miles has moved to another country. Well, Scotland.  I’ve very recently moved house. It wasn’t a particularly straightforward move – we upped sticks and relocated from Manchester to a…

Ride and Prejudice – how mountain bikers became the bad boys of the outdoors

Recently I wrote about how most of the UK’s outdoor access laws favour users who don’t happen to be mountain bikers. Sadly, that’s just part of the picture. There are…

UK Mountain Biking’s Dirty Secret

As you might already know, we had some disappointing news recently. The Welsh government looked like it was about to follow Scotland in opening up access to its amazing countryside…

There’s A Hole In The Road, Please Can We Keep It?

Hannah reflects on the disruption that a burst water main near home has caused, and hopes it continues. There’s a hole in the road where I live. Not your average…

road race

Geraint Ain’t Right: why helmets are a good idea, but shouldn’t be mandatory

A British cyclist wins the biggest sporting event on earth, then almost immediately opens his mouth and spoils it. There\'s more to this story But it\'s a member-only story Join…

law legislation

UK Government Launches Entirely Unnecessary Consultation Into Active Transport.

Hannah’s had enough with Government transport planners. Again… I’m going to scream. Actually, I did, though it was more of a desperate guttural groan of suppressed rage and frustration. Why?…

Are We Blinded By Bling?

This year marked my first trip to Eurobike, the enormous trade show at which all parts of the bike industry converge on the small German town of Friedrichshafen. In three...

Site update, GDPR and being an independent media company in a perfect storm

The last 6 months have been a roller-coaster ride for us here at Singletrack. We’ve completely changed the website from the old theme that we’d been using for almost a…

From Big Miles To Tiny Wheels – It’s All On The Spectrum

If you’ve followed Greg’s riding, you’re probably used to seeing him gobbling up the off-road miles, probably wearing lycra, possibly sleeping in a ditch. So when we saw him hopping…

What One Old Lady Can Teach You About Cycling

Betty was our next-door neighbour. She was the archetypal elderly spinster: she was feisty, she was fiercely independent, and she used her home as a sort of hostel for local...

TransPennine Express Fails Basic Cycle Proficiency

Last year the Department for Transport published its Cycling and Walking Investment Strategy, bolding asserting: “We want to make cycling and walking the natural choices for shorter journeys, or as...

7 simple tips for taking care of your trails

If you’re a mountain biker in the UK right now, you might be feeling a bit sorry for yourself. Winter, which is hardly ever a delightful time of year here,…

Lake District Hannah Clouds View

Here’s One Tip On How To Enjoy Riding More: Stop

Riding bikes is about movement. It’s about getting from here to there, or about the fun you have while you swoop round that corner, or bounce down those rocks. It’s…

Are We Taking Crashing Seriously Enough?

Chris Hall look at the very real daily dangers of mountain biking and asks if we’re taking concussion seriously enough? Or even noticing it when it happens There\'s more to…

Doping

Amanda Batty: Why We Should Stop Writing About Lance Armstrong.

Amanda thinks Lance is a distraction from a whole bunch of more important issues There\'s more to this story But it\'s a member-only story Join us to unlock it and…

Beyond Fear And Feelings: An Evidence Based Look At Why Women Aren’t Cycling

The evidence explains why women aren’t cycling – and what we might do about it There\'s more to this story But it\'s a member-only story Join us to unlock it…

intersection car crossing road

Updated: Ipley Cross | Why This Type Of Road Junction Will Keep Killing Cyclists

Bez suggests that sometimes a steady driver can be the most dangerous driver - now with added content responding to comments and questions you raised