We’ve collated our top favourite bikes of the 2018 Cycle Show from over the weekend, and come away with a list of 10 bikes that grabbed our attention for some reason or another. We’ve got race bikes, new bikes, retro bikes, custom bikes and weird…
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Not just #MakingUpTheNumbers – Gloopy Glory at the final round of the HSBC National Downhill Series
‘You just need to commit.’ I know Binnsy’s right but there are far better riders than I going face first into the mud. ‘Come on, give it a go at least’ I tell myself. I commit fully. I crash faster. The bike remains prone in…
Interview: Dan Jarvis – it doesn’t take much to sell women’s racing, they’re the ones serving up the drama
Dan Jarvis has been involved in promoting women’s mountain biking for many years, first through his university club in Brighton, then as the head of the BN3 DH team, and finally in his commentary and advocacy for all things MTB
Feeling Flat? 12 Tubeless Repairs that nearly all work
Back in the not so dim and distant past, when it came to repairing punctures, life was pretty simple. Pull out your half deflated tube, pore over it to find the offending hole (or two if you had experienced a pinch flat), open your Chemco…
8 Top US Metal Acts From Interbike 2018
Rather than making the long trip to the sunshine of Reno, Nevada, for this year’s Interbike trade show, we stayed home in the comfort of Todmorden rain and let roving reporter and almost-local Fahzure risk the wildfires of the American west to make the trip…
Internal Struggle – making your dreams come true isn’t always easy
This article was first published in Issue 118, and Tom has been nominated for Best Author for the Singletrack Reader Awards 2018. Tom Johnstone rides across Iceland’s interior and learns that making your dreams come true isn’t always easy. Words & Photography Tom Johnstone This…
The 7 Top Apps That Will Make Mountain Biking More Fun, Safer, and Social
There’s an App for reminding you to drink enough water, there’s an App that can add a lifelike crocodile into your riding photos and there was even a social networking app that lets you find people who simply want a cuddle (we kid you not!).…
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 pothole, but quite a substantial chasm. In the way of things in small towns where…
Why Tyre Pressures Matter – And Why You Need A Pressure Gauge
Modern mountain bikes come with a dizzying amount of adjustability. To get your riding position nice and comfy, you’ve got things like bar height, saddle tilt, saddle height and brake lever reach to dial in. For those with a hardtail or full suspension bike, there…
Bike Check: Richard Baybutt’s Murdered Out Longshot Cotic Rocket
Richard Baybutt is Cotic’s marketing man, he’s also a wheelie machine and Megavalnche slayer, and this murdered out Longshot Cotic Rocket is his current ride of choice. Richard didn’t know he was going to be doing this bike check with us when he arrived at…
These Are The 8 Bikes To Get Fox Live Valve First For 2019
After years of speculation and rumour, Fox finally announced Live Valve this week. If you want to know what Live Valve is and what it does we have a full write up here, or you can watch our video explanation below. Basically though, the system senses…
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.
Interview: Sally Bigham – I’ve certainly not made it easier by having a baby
Our Inspiring Women interview series has featured a wide range of people doing impressive things in the world of mountain biking. This month we feature our first professional rider: Sally Bigham. Sally is probably one of the most successful British MTB racers of the current day…
These Are Our Top 12 Orange Bikes From The Past 30 Years
With the 30th Anniversary of Orange Bikes fast approaching we thought we would look over the past 3 decades and pick the Orange models that meant the most to us. Below are 10 bikes which we either lusted over, owned or have reviewed from the…
Aretha Franklin: A Playlist For Mountain Bikers
Here at Singletrack Towers we’ll take any excuse to play a tune to everyone in the office. There’s a fair amount of track sharing goes on, whether it’s new and cool stuff, or golden oldies we’d forgotten about. While choosing today’s Fresh Goods Friday tune,…
David Turner E-bike Interview: ‘This is an opinion on our nature, which of course is arguable to the end of time.’
When Hannah was in Idaho for the Impact Sun Valley Media Event she caught up with David Turner to talk about his new all-road titanium drop bar bike. Somewhere along the way, Hannah asked him about e-bikes. If you want, you can watch the interview…
Slip Slidin’ Away – #MakingUpTheNumbers At HSBC National DH Series – Round 4, Rhyd-Y-Felin
“Is it impolite to hurry the pharmacist along?” I message Mrs MakingUpTheNumbers. The response comes quickly “Can you check if the missing box from my online order has arrived?” If we all had a special superpower, I have no doubt Mrs MakingUpTheNumbers’ would be making…
Jessica Brousseau – Bike mechanic, pro wheel builder and free spirit
I’ve recently spent some time in British Columbia on a press launch, courtesy of Liv Bikes. From the moment I stepped foot outside the airport, I’ve been overwhelmed with beauty. Driving through Vancouver and seeing the landscape change from a bright, vibrant city to a…
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? Because the Transport Committee of the UK Government has launched an inquiry into Active Transport.…
As Seen In Singletrack Issue 120: Yorkshire Cycle Hub
In Issue 120 of Singletrack Magazine, our Classic Ride writers stayed at the Yorkshire Cycle Hub. Here’s what’s in store if you choose to do the same. “I’d like a pink gin and tonic” said my wife. Good choice, I thought, I’ll have one of…
Inspiring Women: Michelle Haigh and the MTB Chix and Trails internet sensation
So far we’ve featured quite a different range of people in our Inspiring Women series. From Rachael Walker in the bike industry at Hope Technology, to the 75 year old downhiller Pat Horscroft, to MTB coach Ally Campbell and finally Amanda Tanfield who is the…
Finland. It’s not all about snow (okay mostly…)
This article was originally published in Issue 115 of Singletrack Magazine. Words & Photography by Hannah. Hannah takes a wintery fat bike trip to the Arctic Circle to discover dangerous downhills, Russian border stations, saunas and moose stew. Before it came to mean an afternoon’s bike…
It’s coming home! – #MakingUpTheNumbers at Masters Worlds 2018 – Vallnord, Andorra
“It’s an honour to ride this track in these conditions!” It’s 11am on Monday morning and Mark Weightman is eulogising. Mark’s one of a kind, like a Graeme Obree of DH; not building bikes out of washing machines but just thinking about things differently. The…
Talking Trickstuff: Factory Tour
Back in Premier Edition issue 116, Team Singletrack caught up with German precision engineering company Trickstuff, in its hidden factory deep in a German housing estate. Photography: James Vincent We’re not the first to follow the ‘Trickstuff’ signs off the main thoroughfare into the residential…
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 days I took notes on products from 32 different brands, plus spoke to many more.…
Bamboo Bicycle Club: Go behind-the-scenes to see what it takes to build your own frame
For those of you who missed it, last year Wil was challenged to build a bike out of bamboo. A home build kit, complete with an extensive manual and support from the suppliers throughout the process. Should be easy, right? Well, I started working at…
Eurobike: The Predictions That Came True
Before we even scanned our press passes through the gates of Eurobike, we’d looked into our crystal balls and brought you some predictions of what we thought the future held. It turns out that some of us should probably consider a career in picking lottery…
19 Brands In 2 Days: CrankTank Impact Sun Valley Round Up
A couple of weeks ago Hannah went out to Ketchum, Idaho, to a new media event ‘Impact Sun Valley’. It was a chance for brands to get a bunch of bike journos together in one place to show off their wares and talk about their…
We Asked Rachel, Gee And Dan Atherton 21 Questions They Weren’t Expecting
A few weeks ago, we had a young lad, Aran Francis in on work experience. Along with the regular work experience jobs of going to find some tartan paint, a long stand (ta!) and a left handed screwdriver, and after he’d made us all a…
7 Essentials For Riders With Tiny Hands
Oh my god it’s Friday, easily the best of all the days, Friday, Friday, Friday. Did you know that we actually invented the word Friday? It’s the greatest. So to make Friday great again, we’ve put together a super listicle so incredible that your neighbours…
Making It Out Alive – National Downhill Series Rd 3: #MakingUpTheNumbers at Rheola
“Once more unto the breach dear friends, once more” It’s not often that you hear a bit of Shakespeare in the Land Rover on the way up for race runs but it’s just summed up the mood pretty perfectly. In four years of racing I’ve…
What’s going to be hot this year? Here’s our 10 predictions for Eurobike 2018!
Ah, Eurobike. It’s the humongous bike show where tons of brands, media, buyers and even the public come together to check out all that is new in the bike world. It’s not just mountain bikes – there’s every sort of two wheeled pedal powered (and…
Throwback: 14 Highlights From The 2017 Eurobike Show
In less than 24 hours, the world’s biggest bicycle industry show, Eurobike, will be kicking off in Friedrichshafen, Germany. Notching up 26 years in 2018, Eurobike is known as THE show for all things cycling. Whether you’re a bike brand, an accessory company, or a…
Bamboo, Sweat & Tears: Attempting To Build The Bamboo Bastard
Back in February for issue 117 of Singletrack Magazine, we decided to see if a self-confessed perfectionist who’s terrible at woodwork make a bamboo bike from scratch at home? Well, the answer is ‘sort of…’ Read on for the full story and watch out for…
We Bet You Didn’t Know There Was This Much To Know About Fabric: An interview with 7mesh
Enduro baggies, XC lycra, gravel shorts, merino baselayers, merino boxers, waterproof jackets, windproof gilets…the list of possible ride kit is pretty endless. How much of it do you need? How much is just nice to have? And is ‘nice to have’ actually a need when…
Interview: David Turner – “You’re either ‘enduro’ – or you’re not”
This article was first published in Issue 109 of Singletrack Magazine. Subscribe today from just £1.99 Chipps tracks down the quiet man with his name on the frames at Turner Bikes and finds out that you’re either enduro, or you’re not, why Turner was forced…
Interview: Amanda Tanfield – When Ladies Do DH
We’re now well underway with our series featuring inspiring women (and those that inspire women) in MTBing. If you’ve missed the interviews so far, you can read about HopeTech’s Rachael Walker, Campbell Coaching’s Ally Campbell and DH hero Pat Horscroft. This month we’re featuring Amanda…
Eating Dust With #MakingUpTheNumbers – Pearce Cycles Rd 3: Bala
They say, ‘if you want to get faster, ride with faster people’ and Lord knows I’m trying. As I sit on the start line for the first of my two race runs I’m not a hundred percent sure what’s going on. Another visor destroyed in…
The Ten Best Carbon Wheel Crash Replacement Schemes
Lighter, stiffer and more available than ever. Is there anything about a carbon wheelset that there’s not to like…? Oh yes, the fact that they’re monumentally expensive compared to most alloy versions and if you do bash your carbon rim too hard it’s unlikely to…
Notes from a small island: A Scottish sea to sky adventure
In association with Canyon UK “So I’m off to Arran for a biking adventure” I said with no small degree of excitement and genuine anticipation to my erstwhile riding companion Dave. “Arran? Are you kidding me? That sounds far too dangerous to me. How will…
Stu Taylor’s Highland Trail 550 – Done And Dusty!
This article was written by and stars Stu Taylor. That’s it done, the Highland Trail 550 2018, in 4 days 7 hours and 24 minutes of the most amazing Scottish riding…and hiking. In the build-up and preparation for the event it never even crossed my…
What’s It Like To Work At Fort William? Amanda finds out
My first Fort William experience was in 2017. I was relatively new to mountain biking, said yes to everything I was invited to and completely ignored the fact I had a freshly sprained ankle and a set of crutches. I did not enjoy myself. I…
Gallery: Working Fort William – Through the eyes of Mr Love
This is a retrospective look at Round 2 of the UCI Downhill World Cup. The weekend of the 2nd and 3rd of June at Fort William was a great time for many. There were of course highs and lows, snapped chains, brake fails, high speeds,…
My Top Shots: Andi Shares His Favourite Photos From Fort William 2018
Last week I was somewhere hot, dusty and full of amazing people from all of over the world. No, I wasn’t in Barcelona, Monaco or Naples, I was in fact up in the Scottish Highlands enjoying the 2nd round of the World Cup downhill at…
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 decade and brought the software up-to-date to deal with the changing internet landscape. Regular forum…
11 Questions With Chris Cocalis On The New Pivot Trail 429
Last week Pivot Cycles introduced its newest mountain bike called the Trail 429. Replacing the existing Mach 429 Trail, the new Trail 429 not only has a revised name, it also has a brand new carbon fibre frame with an increase in rear suspension travel…
Stu Taylor’s Highland Trail 550: Ready, Get Set…
Stu Taylor doesn’t just make Singletrack Beer. And he doesn’t just roast coffee (but he does that too – he’s a good man to know at any time of day). Somewhere in between the beer and the coffee, he also finds time to ride a…
Interview: Ally Campbell – it’s all about the confidence
A couple of months back we started off a series of interviews about inspiring women in mountain biking by chatting to HopeTech’s Rachael Walker and then 75 year old downhill racer Pat Horscroft. This month’s interviewee is MTB coach Ally Campbell of Campbell Coaching. Why…
Four 2.6in mountain bike tyres tested & reviewed
If a 2.4in tyre is considered ‘normal’, and a 2.8in tyre is considered ‘plus’, then where does that leave the new breed of 2.6in tyres? An emerging trend amongst modern trail and enduro bikes, this Goldilocks tyre width claims to offer similar levels of traction…
Quit Your Job! Work with pushbikes instead!
This article was originally published in Issue 117 of Singletrack Magazine. Hannah interviews five people who’ve said ‘Right! That’s it! I’m leaving to go and work with pushbikes!’ Then they’ve carried through with the threat. And how. Words: Hannah, Photography: Various Whether it’s ‘just a job’,…
Behind The Scenes On The Specialized Stumpjumper Launch
Two months ago, I had the fortune of travelling to Ainsa in Spain for the launch of the all-new Specialized Stumpjumper range. Having been there the year prior for the Levo Kenveo launch, Specialized had chosen to return to Ainsa for the Stumpy launch due…
