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Members’ Feature
Articles and features published exclusively for our full members.
Things I’d quite like the bike industry to stop doing now please
Getting a few things off my mountain biking chest
Staff Bike Check: Chipps’ Genesis Croix de Fer 931
A look at the gravel bike Chipps uses for his, er, style of gravel riding when he's not mountain biking.
Opinion: Click and collect (much later)
Take a minute to think about the moments you'd like to experience this year, and start sowing the seeds
Meet The Maker: Paul ‘Burf’ Burford of BTR Bikes
Paul ‘Burf’ Burford is a maker through and through. As you’ll see if you follow his Instagram feed, if something breaks, his response is rarely ‘Where do I buy a new one?’, but instead ‘How can I fix this?’. You’ll also clock him on Dad…
Meet the Maker: Jack Kingston – tea, and tartan paint
You know the joke about tartan paint? Jack Kingston is a sought-after bike finisher and painter from Yorkshire who can make your tartan paint dreams come true.
Bike Check: Ted James’ Adjustable Moto Proto
On the Ted James stand at Bespoked Manchester, this bike was practically just cooling down, having still been being built the night before. Ted talked us through the build of this Moto Proto.
Alfano Froad: when Fat Bikers hit the drops
'Watching it go from a pile of loose tubes to a bike frame never ceases to be magic.' Meet the maker of the Alfano Froad bike
Bike Check: Harry’s HP Bike Project ‘My Downhill Bike’
Check out this impressive first effort at bike building!
Tools: A love letter to those who put them in our hands
This was originally the editorial piece in a Weekly Word Newsletter. When it went out, a few people suggested that it would make a great Forum discussion/reminiscing topic. So here it is for you to read, and then head to the comments to recall the…
Sideways – a journey from motorsports, fishing and sailing to custom carbon fibre bikes
Vee from Sideways makes custom carbon fibre bicycle frames. Mainly road and gravel and ‘single speed fun bikes’, but she also says there’s a ‘hardtail pending’. I spent a few minutes with her at Bespoked Manchester in order to find out a bit more about…
Bike Check: Creature Cycles Galago – with bushings, not bearings
James from Creature Cycles had one of the more eye catching bikes on display at Bespoked Manchester. The pearlescent turquoise paint, the low offset stem, and the organic form of the bike were all likely to grab your attention, but there was plenty more going…
Tomo Bikes: Tall Bikes and more, for more fun
Jonathan Thompson from Tomo bikes was at Bespoked Manchester with three very different creations. His Apocalypse build entry was pretty epic, while his mid-tall bike with giant hooter looked as refined as a Victorian penny farthing. And then, as if to prove he can be…
Meet The Maker: Rasch Bikes – second ever frame!
Kata Rasch was at Bespoked Manchester with her steel brazed hardtail. As a new builder landing in a foreign land and having a whole bunch of people ask you about your frame in a second language, it must have been quite an intimidating experience. I…
Meet The Maker: RTiiiKA’s bike art with attitude
Rosa Ter Kuile, who works under the name RTiiiKA, was at Bespoked Manchester with her range of bike inspired art, and drawing bike portraits. I’m in awe of anyone who can draw, and I liked the punk attitude in her creations, so I took a…
Burf’s Rat Bike Project: affordable UK made frames for making chores fun
Paul ‘Burf’ Burford is best known for his BTR range of mountain bikes and trail tools, as well as his Gasser downhill bike. On his stand at Bespoked Manchester, he had all those things on display (including the Forum’s own Tom ‘How Much!’ Howard’s new…
Craig’s StAyTB – old school bike with all mod cons
Craig, more commonly known as 2nd Life Bikes, brought this Stayer ATB to the Bespoked Manchester bike show. While this bike was built for him by Stayer, you can also go on one of their Frame Building 101 courses and build one yourself. Or, build…
Best MTB at Bespoked: Ballern Pressing Iron
Bennet Janz is the man behind Ballern Cycleworks, and the winner of the Best Mountain Bike Award at Bespoked Manchester 2025, for his ‘Pressing Iron’ full suspension bike. Bennet is described in Petor Georgallou’s article in Singletrack Issue 160 as ‘built like a horse conditioned…
Sneak Peek: 20 Years of MTB Photography With Ale Di Lullo
If you’re a Singletrack Subscriber, you can go and read our full interview with Ale di Lullo, one of the most prolific photographers in the mountain bike world. Here’s a teaser. Subscribe today and get instant digital access to all our content, including the full…
Interview: Ale di Lullo – 20 Years of MTB Photography
Ale di Lullo is one of the most prolific photographers in the mountain bike world. You’ve definitely seen his work – he’s photographed 19 years of Mountain Bike World Cup races, as well as countless product launches and sponsored athletes. It’s his shot of Brage…
Quick Crossword: All Hail The End Of Winter
Well done, you made it. Give yourself a pat on the back. The clocks are changing and it’s British Summer Time. Which isn’t really summer yet, so this crossword is a celebration of all things spring. Now, spring out of bed, or off the loo,…
Bike Check: Petor G’s Star Wars Sturdy Cilla
I took a custom-made Sturdy Cilla, with a deep design connection to the X-Wing from Star Wars, which was appropriate in the landscape.
Readers’ Rides: Aaron B’s Bird Aether 7
For this edition of Readers’ Rides, Aaron B shares his Bird Aether 7 which we just found down the back of our cyber sofa.
Catching A Break: From Baseball Pro to MTB YouTuber
Matty Johnson is a pro baseball player turned MTB YouTuber. He’s on a mission to make people see mountain biking differently and get everyone out on the trails. Matty Johnson is a professional baseball player turned mountain bike YouTuber. His videos caught my eye because…
What should you upgrade on your mountain bike?
Some things are worth the money. Some things very much are not. Here’s where you should splash your cash for maximum reward. Every bike is different and so not every one of our suggested upgrades will be applicable to you bike. But there are still…
20 truths about indoor training from a mountain biker
Lessons learnt. Myths and truths. The good, the bad, and the ugly. They'll prove useful if you're contemplating starting indoor training - you may also have a laugh at my expense.
Crossword: The GT Edition
Just before Christmas, the ‘pausing’ of the GT brand was announced. It seems like a good time to have yourself a trip down memory lane and see if you can fill in the blanks. Need a bit of a refresh? Here’s a video that might…
Singletrack Quiz Of The Year 2024
Quizzy times ahead. To make it harder still, we’ve added a time limit – you’ve got one minute to answer each question. Which means you’re going to have to be very quick at typing if you’re going to cheat… Maybe do a spot of revision…
Singletrack Spineline Quiz
You know those slightly odd words printed down the spine of the magazine? They’re ‘spinelines’. Each one has been said by someone in the office, to odd looks and cries of ‘Spineline!’. The context of most has been forgotten – we’re quite good at writing…
Editors’ Choice 2024 – All our fave stuff of the year
The Singletrack Team pick their favourite products and bicycles from their year of riding. Benji’s Picks “Time to tally up. And it’s been another good year for keeping on keeping on. Bicycles continue to be rad. Riding them is even radder. According to my files,…
Recreation Must Pay – But It’s Everyone Who Will Suffer
Hannah thinks that public funding of outdoor recreation is at a crisis point. In the race to balance budgets, we’re at risk of a long legacy of cost. Last week I went to an online public meeting about the future of the visitor centres at…
Crossword: The Forum IYKYK Edition
If the words ‘the great hack’, ‘Tractor Trumps, Glos Rules’, or ‘Big Hitters’ mean nothing to you, then you should probably move along and go and ride an actual bike. Is this a plumbing forum? Is anyone here not in IT? IANAL, or Louise. Test…
Good Vibes Only: Drafting A Squirrel
Today I drafted a squirrel. Pedalling along, the canal beside me steaming tendrils into the frozen air, my lead out squirrel sat on the frosted fence ahead. Spotting me, it turned tail and ran along the wooden rail, fluffy tail extended in a squirrely version…
Quick Crossword: The Electric Edition
Get your synapses firing, this should be of the quick and easy variety. Lightning fast maybe? Feel the power of your intellect. Maybe boost yourself with a cup of coffee if you’re feeling slow. How did you do? Limped home in eco mode with one…
Bike Check: Andi’s Production Privée Shan G.T.
Andi is a self-confessed Production Privée fanboy, so when he dropped by the office with this latest bike we asked him to explain the attraction. I used to read Dirt Magazine… and I remember reading a review of the Production Privée, the original one, and…
Readers’ Rides: Will’s Fat Chance Yo Eddy
For this edition of Readers’ Rides, Will shares his 2020 Fat Chance Yo Eddy complete with “Custom painted Thompson Elite stem”, obvs. Bike brand and model Fat Chance Yo Eddy Why this bike? Having started biking as a teen in the early 90’s, I blame…
Red Bull Rampage: What’s The Motivation?
“Seriously, people do that for fun? They’re not being punished for some heinous crime?”This was my Aunt’s incredulous response to seeing footage from Red Bull Rampage, and while those of us who ride bikes might be slightly less surprised by what we see, many are…
Thin Pickings For Cycling In UK Autumn Budget Announcement
I had high hopes for yesterday’s Budget announcement. Today, I’m feeling deflated and defeated – was I just too optimistic? The Budget announcement has been tentatively welcomed by Cycling UK and Sustrans, as the £100m for cycling and walking infrastructure goes some way to undoing…
Georgia Astle: Finding Fun In The Process At Red Bull Rampage
Born and raised in Whistler, Georgia Astle didn’t actually like mountain biking as a kid, preferring instead to run alongside her mum, who’d ride regularly with group of friends. Always active, from a family of surfers and kite surfers, Georgia only signed up for mountain…
A Spectator’s Guide To Red Bull Rampage
Maybe you’re interested in heading out to watch Red Bull Rampage first hand. After my experience last week, I figured a few hints and tips on what to take with you might be useful. First up, if you think there’s a lot of hanging around…
Cool Head And A Spicy Line: Tom Isted’s Red Bull Rampage Debut
Tom Isted has me nervous. Despite his reassurance that he’s going to keep things chilled and just try and get down in one piece, his YouTube videos speak to a ‘wreckers or chequers’ approach to riding. That might not be too consequential at his local…
Rampage Diary 4: Location Location Location
Red Bull Rampage owes everything to its location. If it were anywhere else in the world it would a different event. The Rampage sites, just outside Virgin, Utah, are a couple of hours’ drive from Las Vegas, and about half an hour from St George,…
First Ever Women’s Red Bull Rampage: The Results
Shovels down. It’s competition day. The dig teams are heading towards holiday mode, all the heavy work done. The riders, too, are horsing around in the car park. Maybe they’re distracting themselves from what’s ahead? The lines were set, coming together in a series of…
Red Bull Rampage Diary 3: Go Big, But Come Home
Today was the last day of practice for the women, tomorrow is showtime. But when you watch Red Bull Rampage on the TV, with all the Loud Hype Stoke production values, you’re seeing a teeny tiny tip of the iceberg. You’ve missed the days of…
Red Bull Rampage Diary 2: A Changing Soundtrack
Yesterday’s percussive accompaniment of the slapping of shovels picked up a different rhythm today at Red Bull Rampage, for the second day of practice. As I walked up the lower section of the women’s hill, dig teams were still accompanied by their bluetooth tunes of…
Rampage Diary Day 1: First Hits, And A Sense of Scale
Our Rampage coverage is supported by.. Win an ABUS full face helmet. Details below Today was a day of firsts at Red Bull Rampage 2024. After five dig days for the women, and four for the men, today was the first day bikes were allowed…
Readers’ Rides: Brian E’s Kona Process 153 DL
For this edition of Readers’ Rides, we dug one out from behind the sofa. Here’s Brian Evans’ “glorious purple” Kona Process 153 DL. Your Name Brian Evans Bike brand and model Kona Process 153 DL Fork Dt Swiss 535One Shock Fox DHX2 Suspension Set Up…
Readers’ Rides: Roland L’s Curtis AM9
For this edition of Readers’ Rides, Roland Lovell shares his Curtis AM: “it was bound to happen eventually”. There’s not a whole lot of deep detail in this submission but we’re overlooking that this time because… well, look at it. It is Peak Hardtail Perfection.…
Forestry England’s Cycling Strategy: A sign of things (not) to come?
Forestry England published its first Cycling Strategy a few weeks ago. Big organisations need this sort of thing so that everyone knows what they should – or shouldn’t – be spending their money on, and what their goals are. On first reading, I got pretty…
Interview: Joe Breedon – chasing the fractions of seconds
While at the Saddleback House Show, I had a chat with Joe Breedon, who was there with his bike and team mate Lou Ferguson. I stopped him for a chat about some of the more eye catching additions to his race bike. Your bike has…
