George Thompson reports from the English Championships Gravity Events Round 1 – Hamsterley As I arrive at Danny Hart’s Descend Bike Park in Hamsterley Forest, I’m three-quarters of the way through a podcast with ex-World Cup racer Eliot Jackson. He still hasn’t mentioned Making Up…
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Gallery | NAHBS Brings Out The Freaks And The Geeks
It’s been the North American Handmade Bike Show this week. Sadly we’re not able to fly out there and fondle the bikes, so we’re left to rely on the official press release and images to satisfy our freak needs. What we get is a huge…
Skinny Dipping #003: British mud, South African dust and Brazilian firsts
From the mud of northern and middle England to the dust of South Africa and Brazil, we’ve got it here in this month’s round-up of XC and endurance news. Rain in Manchester shocker! We start up in the glorious setting of Whitefield, Manchester and hand…
Interview | Monē Bikes Reveals US Made Fillet Brazed Steel Full Suspension Bike
Some people think social media is a waste of time, that it’s a vortex into which your soul and time will rapidly disappear. It depends what you’re looking at – if it’s cats, the naysayers are probably right. But if it’s bikes you’re looking at,…
Building Our Test Bike | Stanton Switch9er FS – Full Suspension British Steel
Any new bike day is pretty exciting, even if it is a test bike that you’re going to have to bid adieu to in due course. This one, however, is a little more exciting than some – it’s not every day you get to have…
#MakingUpTheNumbers | Ae-bandoned – SDA Round 1
‘What’s your favourite season?’ MrsMakingUpTheNumbers asks.Every fibre of my being wants to respond with ‘race season’ but as I open my mouth, I think better of it. ‘Spring’. Tension has been building over the past few weeks. We’ve not talked about it but we both…
International Women’s Day | A year of Inspiring Women
On International Women’s day last year we didn’t want to just do a one-day thing to say how awesome women riders are so instead we launched a year’s worth of interviews with inspiring women within mountain biking or people who have done lots to promote…
Interview: Gowaan Gals – Give It A Go And Remember To Be Silly!
It’s the last month of our Inspiring Women interview series and we’ve saved the most fun for last after I spent a very entertaining evening chatting to Enduro racers Bex Baraona and Martha Gill. Trying to keep track of our conversation at the time was…
Skinny Dipping #002 – Kielder, Courtney and the Cape
It feels like 2019 has got off to a galloping pace. Not only are we already on our second edition of our XC and endurance news, the year’s second 24 hour race has already been and gone. Kielder Chiller, Almost Weather Thriller Only in its…
How Sam Pilgrim Made Me Jump
While wandering around Eurobike last year I found myself being introduced to Sam Pilgrim, YouTube personality and former Freeride Mountain Biking (FMB) World Champion. As you do if you’re a bike journo meeting someone (fairly?) famous, I sat him down for a quick interview. It…
5 Thoughtful Valentine’s Gifts For Cyclists
There are a thousand cheesy bike themed things you might be tempted to get your cycling loved one for Valentine’s Day. But before you get them an ‘I ♥ Bikes’ sign for their shed, or love sausage, or a picture frame made out of a bike…
If You Don’t Own A Flannel Shirt, Are You Really A Mountain Biker?
There’s no denying it, flannel shirts are a staple item of a mountain biker’s wardrobe. Some might say they are our uniform, or even a shirt of honour, worn to let others know that we’re outdoorsy. Fashion-proof in the sense that they are (and always…
Interview: Cycling UK’s Julie Rand – celebrating the good stuff
For this month’s Inspiring Women interview we talk to Julie Rand, Cycling UK’s Volunteer Communications and Engagement Officer. Julie’s been mountain biking since before it was a thing, and her enthusiasm for women’s riding and mountain biking has helped steer one of the Britain’s key…
Skinny Dipping #001 – ‘Puffer’s done, the rest of the season’s to come
In the modern MTB world of bike parks and 160mm full sussers it’s easy to forget that there are many other ways to ride and race mountain bikes, some of which involve actually pedalling uphill. This year on Singletrack we’re going to balance things out…
Editors’ Choice: Chipps’ Cream Of The Crop Gear Of The Year
What a year! After enduring about four winters, we finally had the summer that everyone had been dreaming about for years. Long, dry days, a collection of riding buddies
Editors’ Choice: Andi’s Awards For Excellence
Over the last year, our writers have tested a bucketful of bikes, a barn load of clothing and gear, and attended a bookcase full of cycling events. Which of these, though, have tickled their fancies enough to warrant the bestowing of a coveted Singletrack Editors’…
Singletrack Editors’ Choice Awards – Accolades from Amanda
Over the last year, our writers have tested a bucketful of bikes, a barn load of clothing and gear, and attended a bookcase full of cycling events. Which of these, though, have tickled their fancies enough to warrant the bestowing of a coveted Singletrack Editors’…
Singletrack Editors’ Choice Awards – Hannah’s Top 4 Picks Of 2018
Over the last year, our writers have tested a bucketful of bikes, a barn load of clothing and gear, and attended a bookcase full of cycling events. Which of these, though, have tickled their fancies enough to warrant the bestowing of a coveted Singletrack Editors’…
Singletrack Editors’ Choice Awards – Wil’s Top 4 Products Of 2018
Over the last year, our writers have tested a bucketful of bikes, a barn load of clothing and gear, and attended a bookcase full of cycling events. Which of these, though, have tickled their fancies enough to warrant the bestowing of a coveted Singletrack Editors’…
A Mountain Biker’s First Time In Moab
Last year I made the (very) long journey from Manchester over to Utah in the States (via three flights) to get my first ever experience of riding in Moab. And what an unforgettable trip it was. For a lot of riders all over the world,…
Pro’s Pedals: YT’s Erik Irmisch talks about the perfect pedal/shoe pairing
Out at the launch for the new YT Jeffsy last year, I spotted some unusual looking pins on the pedals of a bike on the uplift trailer. It turned out they belong to Erik Irmish, one of YT’s sponsored riders. Erik rides a lot of…
There’s More To Life Than Shredits: Singletrack’s Top Ten Videos Of 2018
Where we list our most popular Singletrack videos of the year featuring our resident token attractive Australian.
Ski Biking: The latest bike/snow crossover trend
Are you a cyclist looking to quickly pick up a winter sport or have another one that builds on your cycling technical abilities?
We Predict The Future: What will 2019 hold for mountain biking?
Close your eyes. Breathe in, and out, and relax. Let your mind drift. Drift like smoke on the air. Picture yourself in a darkened space, floating, floating with the smoke. Now, follow that smoke as it drifts. It is your spirit guide, leading you onwards.…
Interview: Adele Mitchell – it’s not about what you wear, it’s about how much fun you have
Our Inspiring Women interviews have featured a wide range of people from local heroes to seasoned pros. Whatever they are doing now they’ve all had an adventure sport background which makes it easy to see how they’ve ended up mountain biking. Our very own contributor…
Interview: Dan Stanton – redefining how we build and buy bikes?
Rather than just waiting for her Stanton Switch9er FS test bike to turn up by courier, she went off for a day in the Peak District to see the bike being made, and even ‘helped’ with a couple of bits. While she was there she…
Singletrack Team’s Top 5 Kit Cupboard Essentials For Mountain Bikers
Perhaps you've been lucky and got a bunch of vouchers for Christmas, or maybe you've been less lucky and have a too-small pair of white bib shorts that you're going to be exchanging. Or maybe you've been really lucky, and you're the proud owner of…
Singletrack Team’s Top 5 Upgrades For Your New Bike
Maybe you've just got yourself a new bike, maybe you've been given some vouchers to spend. Let our team help you make your new ride - or your old ride - that bit better, with our top tips for upgrading your bike.
Our Singletrack Staff Pick Of The Pics From 2018
With a smart phone in our pocket pretty much everywhere we go, there's rarely a moment that Singletrack staffers don't have the option to record for posterity.
Say “Aye” Tae A Ride: How Developing Mountain Biking in Scotland are helping to take the sport to the next level
There is, the astute amongst you might observe, something of a buzz around mountain biking in Scotland right now. With a world-class trail network, ridiculously talented athletes, photographers and filmmakers, not to mention highly progressive access laws that let mountain bikers into the heart of…
At Home With Canyon Bikes | Part 2
In association with Canyon Bikes UK In part 1, Sanny got up close and personal with Canyon Bikes Koblenz HQ. This time round, he gets to find out about the new cross country racer, the LUX and sample the local trails, German style. After a…
Is This A Bone Spur, Or Did I Step On A Marble In The Middle Of The Night?
As we get older, mysterious aches and pains start to plague even the most committed biker. We’ve persuaded Midlife Exerciser Magazine’s resident doctor* to round up the commonest complaints and apply the latest, cutting-edge science to getting you up and riding again.
10 Neat Mountain Bike Products That Are Straight Outta Scotland
Antony attended the Scottish Mountain Biking Conference, where there was much to be learnt and debated, plus plenty to be seen. Here, he rounds up a bunch of product that is coming out of the land of access – and, no there’s not a haggis…
13 Top Tips For A Mountain Biking Road Trip
The plan was relatively simple. It went something like this; Step 1: Finish jobs in early August Step 2: Trade in car and buy sweet camper van Step 3: Book Chunnel ticket Step 4: Spend two months travelling Europe while eating lots of food, drinking lots…
At home with Canyon Bicycles: Part 1
In my hand is a torque wrench. Nothing unusual in that. They aren’t exactly rare in the bike industry. This one, however, is more than a little bit special. The small digital gauge on the shaft is the only real giveaway. Well that and my…
Interview: The Adventure Syndicate – overnight on a school night
No self-respecting Inspiring Women interview series could be complete without featuring the motivational force that is The Adventure Syndicate. In fact, given the founding principle of the Syndicate is to ‘inspire, encourage and enable’, there’s a good argument for the whole series to be about…
These are the 5 UK hardtails we want to ride this winter!
Is it just us or do all mountain bikers pine for the love of a good hardtail come the winter months? Being able to thrash it out on a sloppy hillside, or careen down a boulder-filled trail without a care in the world, safe in…
Over The Hill – What can a group of OAPs teach us about mountain biking and life?
Words Adele Mitchell Photography Paul Mitchell ‘Who are all those men?’ It’s a Friday morning in the Surrey Hills – a time of the week when we usually have the trails pretty much to ourselves – and I’m with my ride buddy Rachel (no, not…
Bike Check: Scott Belshaw’s Kona Process 153 CR/DL 29
Scott Belshaw is the UK sales manager for iconic Canadian brand Kona Bikes. Based in the North West, not too far from Singletrack HQ, Scott swung by last week to collect a test bike and we spotted his personal bike of choice lurking in the…
Bike Check: Sam Jones from Cycling UK’s Surly ECR
Sam Jones is Cycling UK’s Senior Campaigns and Communications Officer. Hannah caught up with him at a recce of the planned new North Downs Way National Trail, where he was riding his Surly ECR. Here’s a closer look at his bike. What was on your…
9 Creature Comforts To Make Winter Riding Better
I hate to be the one to say it, but winter is approaching. And in the time it took me to type that, it’s probably arrived. But let’s not see this as a negative – it’s cold, so layer up and get excited for a…
North Downs Way: Riding In The Shadow Of The Rat Race
This might be what it feels like to be a rabbit, or a fox, perhaps. Scurrying along the edge of hedgerows, through labyrinths of close grown bushes, darting out into sunlight and across a field, then back into the shade of a holloway. It’s not…
Interview: Lynne Armstrong – “Watch what happens, it could be awesome”
Everyone we feature in our Inspiring Women interview series has been nominated by you, the readers. The person we have the most nominations for by far is the queen of Scottish freeride, The Clan and Air Maiden, Lynne Armstrong. And why? Over to Heather McCann…
Could we all benefit from pro-level concussion protocols?
Is the UCI doing enough to protect athletes from their own enthusiasm after a head injury?
Reinventing Suspension: We Ride The New Trust Performance Message Fork
Launched today is the Trust Performance Message, a pivoting fork that will change the look of front suspension, and improve your ride. We’re one of just three publications to get an early look at and ride on this brand new fork from three of the bike…
Bike Check: George Thompson’s Geometron G18 29er
George Thompson, ‘award winning’ writer of #MakingUpTheNumbers, joined us at the Singletrack Trade Day for a bit of a ride out in the Calderdale sun. He brought with him what might be the biggest bike we’ve ever seen – but then he might be the…
Tested: 5 Cheap Upgrades For Your Mountain Bike You Didn’t Know You Needed
Here are five little upgrades that I've been using on my test bikes over the past year, all of which cost less than 20 quid.
Bike Check: Paul Byrom’s Kingdom Vendetta XFS 29
Before the Singletrack Reader Awards kicked off last week, we had a Trade Day ride out, where loads of our friends from the bike industry join us for an actual ride. It might come as a surprise (and something of a disappointment) to you that…
Interview: Veronique Sandler – Not In It To Win It
Sitting in the yurt at the Bike Park Wales Women’s Weekend, a group of women are gathered for a Q&A session with three pro riders: Tahnee Seagrave, Katy Curd, and Veronique Sandler. It seems that many in the audience are keen racers, and many questions…
Highland Trail 550 vs French Divide – Battle of the Epic Rides
Whilst sitting back enjoying some much-needed rest and recuperation on a small Greek Island Stu Taylor took time to reflect on what has been a pretty crazy few months. First was the Highland Trail 550 in May, which I completed in four days and seven…
Battle of the Kit: Bike packing sprint versus bike packing marathon
Whilst sitting back enjoying some much-needed rest and recuperation on a small Greek Island Stu Taylor took time to reflect on what has been a pretty crazy few months, during which he’s completed both the Highland Trail 550 and the French Divide. Read on for…