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…
Members’ Feature
Articles and features published exclusively for our full members.
Mental Mondays #4 Crossword & puzzles by Hannah
Hannah is the designer of this week’s fiendishly tricky crossword and those that know her will not be surprised to discover it’s rather cryptic. The crossword is definitely one for…
The Answer To Everything Is…
This piece was originally published as the editorial in our Weekly Word – a newsletter which brings you a piece like this, plus a round up of news, offers, and…
Singletrack Kitchen: Pub Bike Gumbo
By popular demand, here’s another recipe from Charlie to warm you up and fill you up after a ride. This is a really efficient recipe as it is great for…
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.
Mental Mondays #3 – Crossword & puzzles by Chipps
Chipps is the designer of this week’s fiendishly tricky crossword. You may need to have your MTB historical records to hand to complete this one. Good luck. Todays quiz was…
Full Suspension for Short Riders: What’s Out There?
If you’re a smaller adult looking for a full suspension bike, it can be tricky to find what you’re looking for outside of the women’s specific market. Some women’s specific…
Retro Ridgeback gallery and video walkthrough
2023 marks Ridgeback's 40th anniversary and Madison had a bunch of retrobike beauties on display at their recent iceBike* trade show. For those who couldn't attend the show, here's our…
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…
Mental Monday! Singletrack Weekly Crossword #2
Welcome to the first Mental Monday. If you are a full member you will see below three puzzles for you to solve. There’s our tricky Singletrack crossword puzzle designed by…
27.2 Dropper Posts: 15 Options For Skinny Seat Tubes
27.2 dropper posts are not common but if you have a bike frame with a skinny seat tube you can still take advantage of the benefits.
Quiz: Do You Know Your Bike Acronyms?
CNC’d XC BSO with ETT of 571 and BSA fitting… we’ve all scanned our way through the spec list of a new bike and read the letters, but do we…
11 Things That Should Be Standard Issue, Not Special Feature
We've rounded up some of those product 'features' that we think should go without saying. Feel free to disagree, or add your own below! When you're looking at products, especially…
Reyt Good Bikepacking: Rider Kit Lists
Some of you who enjoyed our A Reyt Good Time Bikepacking in the Dales article will no doubt want to know what sort of kit the riders used.
How Long To Rebuild A Bike? – Back From The Dead
Dieter is the kind of bike nerd mechanic that every good bike shop should want. He is endlessly enthusiastic about getting people of all kinds onto bikes of all sorts.…
140mm Suspension Fork Group Test
140mm Suspension Forks AKA Best Modest Travel Trail Forks. Which fork for real world riders on real world trails? Benji has the results.
WHY 2K? Full-suspension bikes under £2000 test
Benji and Rhys look at the world of £2k full suspension bikes. Can a good ride be had at this price?
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…
15 Ways To Spend Less On Mountain Biking
Mountain biking is not cheap. You'll never 'save' money as a mountain biker. But you can stop a lot of avoidable spending if you're canny.
Taiwan: A storm brewing for the bike industry?
Remember when that ship got jammed in the Suez, and goods shipped around the world got stuck? Remember when Covid disrupted the natural flow of shipping containers and products, and…
Best Mountain Bike Saddles: Are You Sitting Comfortably?
Saddle pain can affect both new and experienced riders: so here's our guide to the best mountain bike saddles.
Bike Check: Ross’ Deviate Claymore
The Deviate Claymore is fast and fun, composed in the rough and the steep but also versatile and easy to get along with.
Can Working On Your Bike Void The Warranty?
We asked a selection of bike companies to comment on whether working on your bike could void the warranty.
Bikepacking The EWS – Delirium, Duct Tape and Detours
While still just 17 years old, Matthew Fairbrother from New Zealand set off on the adventure of a lifetime, competing in the EWS, and riding between the stages. He carried…
Buyers Guide to the Best Mountain Bike Glasses
I try to wear glasses all the time. As a short-sighted blindo I am used to such face furniture. The best mountain bike glasses are few and far between in…
What MTB Marketing Works On You?
Of course, you’ll probably say ‘none of it’, right? But something, somewhere, informs your buying choices, and you have to hear about a product in the first place to know…
What We’re Looking Forward To In 2023
Let us raise our spirits, look on the bright side, and feel the warm rays of positivity. 2023 is gonna be great, OK? There are going to be highlights, and…
Buyers Guide to the Best Mountain Bike Gloves
I hate gloves. Which makes me the ideal tester for them. For a glove to stand a chance of being worn by me for more than one ride it needs…
Gravitating Around The Aneto Discovering The Pyrenees’ Highest Summit
Slowing down the pace in order to take in the surroundings has paid off for this group of bike packers. Join Simon, Ulysse, Dani, Chris and Thomas for a journey…
Buyers Guide to Mountain Bike Shoes for Big Feet
We point you at decent mountain bike shoes for big feet. If you are looking for mountain bike shoes in size 12, 13 and even 14… read on.
Predictions For The Mountain Bike World In 2023
Every year we make our predictions for the world of mountain biking. Some take it seriously, some less so... Last year Mark predicted that the influencer bubble would burst... does…
Internet Rummagings – Tom’s Christmas Baubles
Season’s greetings and welcome to this edition of Internet Rummagings where, rather than doing my Christmas shopping on the internet I once again have been rummaging around in the WWWLBS,…
Peanut Butter Squares Recipe
Rick Hamilton shares his popular peanut butter squares recipe, having fuelled the Slymefoot Slide route with them. I got this recipe from my friend Louise. These are fabulously dense and…
An Alternative Year in Sport
Today’s the day when Strava does its ‘Year In Sport’ thing, and your social media feeds will be filled with miles ridden, feet climbed, cups won and other such data…
Back From The Dead – ‘Tis The Season For Good Vibes
Dieter is the kind of bike nerd mechanic that every good bike shop should want. He is endlessly enthusiastic about getting people of all kinds onto bikes of all sorts.…
Laps and Loops: Is It Time To Rethink Trail Centre Designs?
Dave Evans from Bike Corris has previously written extensively on ‘wild trails’ in Wales – it’s all well worth reading, and his latest paper is no different. ‘Evolving The Trail…
Buyers Guide to the Best Mountain Bike Shock Pumps
Bust one? Lost one? Never had one? Need one? Here's what to look for in a decent shock pump that won't let you - or your suspension - down.
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…
Buyers Guide to the Best Mountain Bike Chain Lubes
This guide is going to be very much based in The Real World. We're going to be offering advice for people who don't really like to wrench.
Buyers Guide to Gravel Commuter Bikes
Wondering how to stay fit through winter? Beat the train strikes? Use the car less? A gravel commuter could be the bike you're looking for.
Drool This Way: A Lust Worthy Gallery of Hand Built Bikes
This year’s Bespoked organisers made a point of getting nice photos of at least one bike by every builder at the show. Because bike builders might be good at building…
Back From The Dead: We Need To Talk About Jack
Dieter is the kind of bike nerd mechanic that every good bike shop should want. He is endlessly enthusiastic about getting people of all kinds onto bikes of all sorts.…
Red Bull Rampage: Wish You Were There?
You may have heard people say things like ‘Rampage is too groomed these days, it’s getting too easy’, or ‘It’s just tricks, it’s not mountain biking’. Alternatively, there’s the ‘It’s…
Buyers Guide to the Best Mountain Bike Mudguards
The best mountain bike mudguards keep filth out of your face and do it without shifting around or clogging up. That's it.
Buyers Guide to the Best Mountain Bike Flat Pedals
We're not going to try and explain why you should ride flat pedals. You're clearly already sold on the concept. That's why you're reading.
Best In Show – Judging Bespoked’s Best Mountain Bike
When I was asked to judge the Best Mountain Bike at Bespoked, I had no idea how hard it would be. Last year I’d been along and picked my own…
Buyers Guide to the Best Mountain Bike Lights
These are the best mountain bike lights that will extend your riding season into the winter months and beyond!
Buyers Guide to the Best Mountain Bike Trousers
Our guide to the best mountain bike trousers around. MTB trousers have come a long way in recent years. Pull on a pair of pants and ride!
Bespoked Bike Check: SmithyFrameworks Ullassa
We’d love to tempt you along to Bespoked, the Handmade Bicycle Show celebrating handmade bikes and the people that make them. To give you a taste of what you might…
Bespoked Bike Check: Coal Bikes 84
Coal Bikes turned a few heads at last year’s Bespoked show in Harrogate. This year, Bespoked has moved to the Lee Valley Velodrome in London, on 14-16th October, perhaps you’ll…