Jürgen from Sour Bikes talked us through the features of this ‘Pasta Party’ bike from Sour Bikes, a German brand that’s managed to make production in Germany work for them. Unique content like this takes time to create, and would normally be paywalled. But we’d…
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Articles and features published exclusively for our full members.
Readers’ Rides: Ally’s Resurrected Nicolai Saturn 14
For this edition, Ally Mitchell shares his “resurrected” Nicolai Saturn 14. What made him choose it? “Geometry and sizing mostly”. Bike brand and model Nicolai Saturn 14. Why this bike? What made me choose it? Geometry and sizing mostly, but I’d be lying if I…
Bespoked Interview: Auckland Cycle Works
I first saw these bikes when they were a very early prototype, at Bespoked in October 2022 at the Velodrome in London, where Gary explained to me how he’d used Lego to help him design his own ‘COLARP’ suspension. Since then he’s continued to work…
Interview: Ted James Designs
I always enjoy chatting with Ted about his bikes. For one, it’s a bit like listening to Tom Waits or Iggy Pop – there’s more gravel in his voice than Kansas. But the other thing I love is that Ted makes everything. He’s not joining…
Cduro Epona: Innovative Carbon Fibre Mountain Bike | Bespoked Interview
Humphrey and Martin brought this wound carbon fibre Cduro Bike to Bespoked, Manchester, all the way from the Czech Republic. As the more confident English speaker of the two, Humphrey talked us through what gives this bike its unique look. How do you say this…
Crankworx – What is it and why it should be on your bucket list
The next round of the Crankworx World Tour takes place on the 19th – 28th July in Whistler, Canada. Here’s our short Singletrack guide to Crankworx. Crankworx is no ordinary mountain biking festival; it’s a mecca for MTB enthusiasts from around the globe. This high-energy…
Bikemon Go! Your July Ride Inspiring Download
Back in issue 153 in February, Hannah proposed an alternative approach to measuring rides. As part of that, we gave you a set of ride ‘achievements’ to collect in the month ahead. Here’s your next seasonally appropriate set of ride goals. Enjoy! https://singletrackworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/issue-153-last-word-weights-and-measures
Bike Check: 18 Bikes Full Suspension Prototypes
Peak District based 18 Bikes had two prototypes on display at Bespoked Manchester. Matt talked us through them. These two bikes are the first prototypes on what is already quite a long course to us finally launching a full-susser that will be available at some…
Readers’ Rides: Rick’s Custom Marino
Whether you’ve got a special new bike or just a bike that’s special to you, this is where you get to tell us about it! You send us your submissions, and then we cast our judgemental expert lustful eyes over them and bring them to the world to ooh…
Bespoked ‘Best MTB Award’ Interview: Craft Bikes
Jim from Craft Bikes talks us through the exquisite titanium bikes, made in Kent, UK, that were on display at Bespoked, Manchester. Their hardtail actually received our ‘Best Mountain Bike’ award – though when we had this chat we’d yet to make our choice. Unique…
Bespoked Interview: Paul ‘Burf’ and the BTR Gasser
Paul 'Burf' Burford, from BTR brought his latest creation, the Gasser DH bike, to Bespoked, Manchester. It's been a long road to this point, and at one point it looked like he might have stopped making bikes, so we caught up with him for a…
Spotted: Ted’s Retro Kona Themed Collection
At the York Cycle Rally I spotted this collection of bikes, which were perhaps curated around a theme. I asked their owner, Ted, to tell us a bit more about it. Is it a Kona collection? Is it a Joe Murray collection? What inspires it?…
Readers’ Rides: George Thompson’s ‘Making Up The Numbers’ XXL Geometron G1Â
George Thompson’s ‘Making Up The Numbers’ XXL Geometron G1in ‘snow leopard’ paint finish is certainly eye catching. It might even have him catching up with the rider in front. We did do a slight double take though – because surely at this size, it should…
Spotted: Fuquay Retrobike Collection
This year’s York Cycle Rally and Festival included a retrobike show, alongside all the stalls, grass track racing, and more. A day out was on the cards, and I clocked a little cluster of Fuquays on display. Given it’s only a couple of weeks since…
Bikemon Go! Your June Ride Inspiring Download
Back in issue 153 in February, Hannah proposed an alternative approach to measuring rides. As part of that, we gave you a set of ride ‘achievements’ to collect in the month ahead. Here’s your next seasonally appropriate set of ride goals. Enjoy!
What Sort Of Van Lifer Are You?
Ah, the open road. Sea views. Mountain air. Waking up to the sunrise, going to bed by moonlight. Wee scented lay-bys. Supermarket toilets. Van life can be a necessity for the low-budget racer, or a lifestyle choice for the digital nomad. Take our quiz and…
A Mountain Biking Manifesto
With a snap election called in the UK, the key policies are already likely to be decided by the parties – the professional lobbyists who have been influencing their way through the halls of Westminster in the past years and months will have said their…
Crossword: The Bike Tools Edition
We’ve got cryptic-ish clues, and the answers are all tools you might use on your bike. If you’re not from the UK, you’ll likely find this a bit harder since tool names are not universal/international. Try doing DIY with an American if you’re British, or…
Bikemon Go! Your May Ride Inspiring Download
Back in issue 153 in February, Hannah proposed an alternative approach to measuring rides. As part of that, we gave you a set of ride ‘achievements’ to collect in the month ahead. Here’s your next seasonally appropriate set of ride goals. Enjoy!
Bike Check: Ministry Cycles CNC Protoype
This bike at the EXT stand at Sea Otter caught my eye, so I stopped its designer Chris Curry for a bit more insight into what it’s all about. What are you making here? So I have started a company called Ministry Cycles. I began…
Bike Check: Erik’s Rat Race Drop Out Cargo Bike
One of the joys (for me, anyway) of the Sea Otter Classic is the unusual bikes that people turn up with, and the stories behind them. I clocked this heavily stickered and accessorised cargo bike and had to find out a bit more about what…
Retro Bike Check: Foes LTS 16
I felt like there were a few fewer retro bikes rolling around this year’s Sea Otter Classic, but this one caught my eye so I stopped its owner for a quick chat. You can be pretty sure that anyone riding something like this around will…
Smart Tires: Tyres From Space Coming Your Way Soon?
At an unassuming looking booth at Sea Otter there was some mega science going down. You’ll have to take my word for it, but the hollow rod of this Nitinol could be bent – and it would instantly get warm on the bend – and…
Bike Check: Jordy Scott’s Dual Slalom Hyper
Jordy Scott is one of those up and coming riders that might not have come onto your radar unless you follow the Crankworx scene. She was just about to go and compete in Dual Slalom but took a moment to have a chat. Expect to…
Bikes Bikes Bikes! The Show Bikes of Sea Otter
Whether it’s a tricked out bike for a show stand, a special lucky race build, or just the garage geek project, there are some unusual bikes to be spotted at Sea Otter. Here’s a massive gallery for you, with a few mini interviews thrown in.…
A Closer Look At The We Are One Modular Prototype DH Bike
We Are One makes their bikes and components in Kamloops, Canada. The Hope of Kamloops, perhaps? Their onsite manufacturing lets them prototype things quickly, which led to the slightly unexpected position of them having a UCI DH team this year, with local lad Jon Mozell…
Martha Gill: The New Sea Otter Dual Slalom Champion
Martha Gill was out at Sea Otter racing Dual Slalom and Downhill. She took the gold in Dual Slalom, finally breaking Jill Kintner’s 11-year run on the top spot. I caught up with her at the Marin booth just as Martha had finished fourth in…
Bike Check: Ryan Pinkerton’s Sea Otter Mondraker Raze Carbon
Ryan Pinkerton is out at the Sea Otter Classic with his eye on the Downhill race. We had a little look at his bike and asked him how it was going in practice. Just the downhill this weekend? Just downhill, no slalom for me. How’s…
Braydon Bringhurst’s Dual Slalom Sea Otter Special Spectral
Braydon Bringhurst – a man who loves to climb as much as descend, as is big on figuring out the technical side of riding just so – is at the Sea Otter Classic racing Dual Slalom. To help with the motivation and mental focus, he’s…
Privateer’s Fergus Ryan on Racing 3-on-1 at Sea Otter
Fergus Ryan is out at the Sea Otter Classic in California racing the new Privateer 161 Gen 2. He’s using the one bike to race all three events of enduro, dual slalom and downhill. We stopped him for a chat to see how it’s going.…
Crossword: The Outdoor Clothing Edition
This one is designed to be gentle, just enough to get the brain cells going over a morning coffee, or while you’re dropping the kids off at the pool. Straying from strictly bikes, it’s outdoor clothing brands. Or Gorpcore, as apparently the cool kids are…
Bikemon Go! Your April Ride Inspiring Download
Back in issue 153 in February, Hannah proposed an alternative approach to measuring rides. As part of that, we gave you a set of ride ‘achievements’ to collect in the month ahead. Here’s your next seasonally appropriate set of ride goals. Enjoy!
Crossword: Very British (MTB) Problems
Ah, this green and pleasant land. No bears or wolves or poisonous killer spiders. Just miles of trails, free of hazards of any kind. Roll along, taking in the view, don’t trouble yourself with thoughts of mountain lions or brown snakes. Sigh. It’s all so…
Philly Bike Expo 2024: Gallery of WANT
The Philly Bike Expo is a hand made bike show in Philadelphia, USA, that’s known for being more than just a display of shiny things. It’s got a history of being progressive, maybe political even, with workshops and scholarships aimed at helping frame builders beyond…
Bikemon Go! Your March Ride Inspiring Download
Back in issue 153 in February, Hannah proposed an alternative approach to measuring rides. As part of that, we gave you a set of ride ‘achievements’ to collect in the month ahead. Here’s your next seasonally appropriate set of ride goals. Enjoy!
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, and activity. But by getting us out and about into nature, it can encourage us…
The International Variations Of Faff: What Do You Call It?
Last week’s Weekly Word newsletter was about ‘faff’. Here in the UK, we are very familiar with faff – but what is it called elsewhere in the world? Take a read, see if you recognise its symptoms, and offer up your versions of it. Faff…
A-Z of The Singletrack World Forum
If you're new to the world of mountain bikes, you might find it an unfathomable world of tech jargon, incompatible standards, and marketing babble. To cut through it all, you might go in search of advice, from other humans that ride bikes. Maybe you find…
Spot That Bike: the Short Travel edition
Think you know bikes? Do you even XCO? Have yourself a short travel quiz and see which bikes you can identify.
Retro Bike Cryptic Crossword
Twist your melon and cast your mind back for the answers to this mostly cryptic crossword. The answers are there, don’t let all the anodising dazzle you! And beware of googling the answers – it may lead to accidental nostalgia purchases. Mark is unimpressed. How…
Members Survey: Help us make your membership better
As a Singletrack subscriber, you have access to Singletrack Rewards – a wide range of bike related discounts that can save you money! This survey is to gather feedback on these rewards and how we may be able to improve. As a thank you, one…
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 think you'll see a potential answer: High School mountain biking.
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 to paid up subscribers. Sign up to both or either here. When we put on…
The Bike Brand Old Logo Quiz
Before marketing bods sat around in ball pools having thought bombs, these are some of the logos and head badges that were being used. How many do you remember?
Fake Bikes? How To Spot A Scam Website
Off the back of a couple of stories we’ve published, and a suggestion from someone in the Forum, we thought we’d give you a bit of a guide to spotting a scam bicycle sales website. Even if they pass all these tests, if something smells…
Spanish Bikepacking Diary: Lessons Learned
The holiday blues you get in the days following a bikepacking trip are like none I’ve ever experienced. You become so reliant on and in tune with the minimal kit you’re carrying that acts like cooking and bathing become simplified and require very little thought.…
Spanish Bikepacking Diary – The End?
The final day of a 1,400km ride with just shy of 21,000m ascent. Will it be an emotional end to an epic trip? Will Amanda throw her bike into the ocean? Catch-up: Granada – Torrox Costa Today is the roadie equivalent of an uplift day,…
The Singletrack Quiz of 2023
Have you paid any attention to anything this year, or have you been eyeballs out, race face on, trail focussed? Here’s our MTB quiz of the year, so you can see if you’re an all-round fan, a niche nerd, or just happily riding along without…
Spanish Bikepacking Diary Day 12
Amanda and Rhys are nearing the end of their journey from Barcelona to Malaga, and continue to avoid the passing snow storm. Today’s destination: Granada. Catch-up: Quesada – Granada Our day off in Quesada yesterday was as lazy as we could manage, although the tall…
The Singletrack Giant Crossword Puzzle
We're back with a mega crossword. Get your brains a bit sideways and see if you can make sense of Hannah's version of cryptic clues. Except they're not all cryptic. Once you know the answer, it's obvious. Obviously.
Bike Names Quiz
Picking a name for your new bike model must be tricky. Perhaps it needs to convey what your bike is for, or how you want the rider to feel. Maybe you want it to be funny, or memorable? But will it work across the world,…
