Way back at the 2018 Scottish Mountain Bike Conference, a day was given over to a first ever “Trail Summit”. It had a day of presentations and discussion, and finished with some actual trail building on a chilly hillside near the Laggan Wolftrax trail centre.…
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The latest stories from the world of mountain biking.
Last Chance To Vote! Singletrack Reader Awards 2021 In Association With Kona
Voting closes on 1st November! Make sure you vote for those you want to win before then! The time has come for you to cast your votes in this year’s Reader Awards. What happens next and who wins is down to you. REMEMBER! You must…
2022 Giant Trance X is a 27.5 trail bike built for fun
27.5in isn’t dead and thanks to the new Giant Trance X it looks like it has an exciting life ahead! Giant has had a mixed relationship with 29in wheels, and although they now make plenty of big-wheeled bikes they haven’t turned their back on 27.5in…
Specialized releases updated Gambit full face and Roost flat pedal shoes
If you like to ride the bike park or downhill parks in flats, then Specialized has 2 new updates tailored just for you. Specialized Roost – £110 The Roost are a new flat-pedal shoe designed for riders wanting that casual skate shoe look, but requiring…
Now there’s a Canyon Spectral for all the family!
27.5, 29, alloy, mullet and even kids bikes are all covered in the new and improved 2022 Canyon Spectral range. One Family, Any Trail In December last year, Canyon filled a sizable hole in their trail bike line up with the Spectral 29. The new…
Mondraker goes down country with the all-new Mondraker Raze
The Mondraker Raze is a 130mm travel trail bike designed for pedalling efficiency and rowdy downhill fun. Full disclosure, I only used the term ‘down country’ so that you would hit the link. If you’re reading this then thanks for not jumping to the comments…
5 Pro Bike Checks from Red Bull Rampage 2021
What tyres for… back flipping off a cliff, hitting the lilypad, then heading straight into a sui? Our man on the ground at the Red Bull Rampage practice days, Fahzure Freeride, talks suspension settings, contact points, and brake set up with five Rampage hopefuls. The…
Do plants have feelings? Forum Thread Of The Week
The Best Forum Threads Now Get Prizes. The Singletrack Forum, both the “Chat” and “Bike” variations, are really remarkable bits of the interweb. Here you will find over 523,000 topics, with 8,670,000 replies covering everything from removing Sudocrem from a cat to “what tyres for not riding…
Last Chance For Better Access To Dartmoor!
Dartmoor National Park is celebrating its 70th birthday this weekend, and with it comes the closure of its consultation on amendments to its byelaws. You should probably take the chance now to respond and help add your voice to calls for better access of bikes.…
TotalMTB Charity Raffle: Win Stuff, Do Good
With almost £10,000 worth of prizes to be won, TotalMTB’s charity raffle might be the best £5 you spend today. Last year’s raffle raised £3,376 for mental health charity No Panic, but this year #TotalMTB is hoping to raise £5,000 to be shared equally between No…
Three Things Thursday? 3 Backpacks with spine protection
This might not be Three Things Thursday – it might be Tech Tuesday, or Whoop There’s New Kit Wednesday. Ideas welcome. But what this is, is a run through the features of some products with something in common. This week, it’s back packs with built…
Generations – An Excuse For A New Bike?
You needed an excuse to buy a dirt jump bike, didn’t you? Well, Kona is doing its best to give you one with this sentimental video: As we get older, our priorities change, time becomes fleeting, and we learn to take less for granted. Ambassador Tim…
Best Brand Initiative – The Finalists
We’re revealing the Finalists in each of the Singletrack Reader Awards 2021 categories. Thanks to all of you for your nominations, and to our awards sponsors, Kona Bicycles. Here’s who made the cut for the Best Brand Initiative. Which brand has championed a cause for…
Best STW Article – The Finalists
We’re revealing the Finalists in each of the Singletrack Reader Awards 2021 categories. Thanks to all of you for your nominations, and to our awards sponsors, Kona Bicycles. Here’s who made the cut for the Best Singletrack World Article. Which article, published in our magazine…
Bespoked 2021 – A Few Highlights – Now Go and Pick Your Own!
You can disagree with my choices or complain that I’ve missed something important, but I had a fairly briefly dash around Bespoked yesterday and these are the things that caught my eye and heart. Mostly, I wasn’t thinking about writing a story, I was just…
Best Singletrack World Image | Pick Your Winner
We’re revealing the Finalists in each of the Singletrack Reader Awards 2021 categories. Thanks to all of you for your nominations, and to our awards sponsors, Kona Bicycles. Here’s who made the cut for the Best Singletrack World Image. Some things don’t change, and Singletrack…
Kit Essentials: Fancy Pants
Where once the knee sock reigned supreme, now the riding trouser has emerged as a seriously practical option. Here’s what the Singletrack Staff have been using. We’ve had a little sun, we’ve enjoyed a few days of dusty summer trails, but now the temperature is…
Únic Signature Pants Review
This review was part of the Singletrack World Issue 139 Kit Essentials Feature Tested by: Andi Price: €88.62 From: Unicwear.com Únic is a clothing manufacturer based out of Andorra with a factory in Poland. The company only produces clothing to order, and they’ll happily customise…
Showers Pass Refuge Waterproof Trousers
This review was part of the Singletrack World Issue 139 Kit Essentials Feature Tested by: Hannah Price: £185.00 From: Showerspass.co.uk These are not trousers for packing just in case. These are trousers for when the weather forecast says no, but circumstances insist that you ride.…
Giro Havoc Trousers Review
This review was part of the Singletrack World Issue 139 Kit Essentials Feature Tested by: Chipps Price: £119.99 From: Giro.co.uk Giro’s Havoc trousers are part of its surprisingly large clothing range (there’s a Havoc short and also a Havoc waterproof short). The trousers are made…
Fox Women’s Defend Kevlar Review
This review was part of the Singletrack World Issue 139 Kit Essentials Feature Tested by: Amanda Price: £145.00 From: Foxracing.co.uk These trousers are designed for extreme mountain biking, enduro and downhill riding. They feature Kevlar® reinforced knees for extra tear and scuff resistance where you’re…
Endura Women’s MT500 Spray Baggy Review
This review was part of the Singletrack World Issue 139 Kit Essentials Feature Tested by: Amanda (Modelled by Hannah)Price: £114.99 From: Endurasport.com The Endura MT500 trouser is designed to be a do-it-all solution for winter riding. They feature a waterproof and seam-taped seat panel, DWR…
Does New Trek Box Signal A Shift To Consumer Direct?
Eagle-eyed patent analyst Daniel Bacon of Wheelbased spotted this application from Trek for protection of a box design. With many brands looking carefully at packaging, at first glance you might think ‘so what?’. But as Daniel points out, this box transforms into a mini home…
Singletrack Reader Awards 2021 – All The Finalists Revealed!
Thanks to all of you who submitted nominations to this year’s Singletrack Reader Awards, sponsored by Kona Bicycles. It’s been heartwarming to read all the nominations for all the projects and people who have made your mountain bike world a bit better this year, and…
Two days until Bespoked #10 Opens!
Fancy yourself some shiny bike part gawking? Want to go and admire the finest in hand built bikes and accessories? It’s hard to imagine that the answer is ‘no’. All your bike drooling desires can be sated at Bespoked in Harrogate this weekend. Get your…
2022 Specialized Stumpy Evo Alloy boasts adjustable headset, BB height and mullet wheel compatibility!
Specialized announces details and pricing of the 2022 Stumpy Evo Alloy sporting a host of adjustable features. The longer, lower, slacker movement started in Europe and it took U.S brands a very long time before catching up, but once they did they went all in!…
Video Vault: A Downcountry Rampage?
Grab yourself some downtime with this round up of videos from the bike world. Vittoria Syerra What is downcountry? What makes a downcountry tyre? This new video from Vittoria will reveal all… Wild and Loud It’s nearly Rampage, so all the riders’ fancy paint jobs…
The new Trek Top Fuel mixes uphill efficiency with downhill performance
The Trek Top Fuel was once considered the goto XC bike, but times have changed and the Top Fuel now blurs the line between XC and trail. We know that you don’t like the term ‘Downcountry’ but it’s hard to ignore especially when Trek are…
OS Maps and Cycling UK – How to wild camp responsibly
As part of Cycling UK and OS Maps’ joint work encouraging more people to discover and enjoy the outdoors more responsibly, the two organisations have launched an awareness film on how to wild camp responsibly. As has been remarked on many times before on these…
On the Rampage: Behind Freeride’s Biggest Freakshow
Everyone knows about the riders of the Red Bull Rampage; the drops and hucks. but no one ever sees the hundreds of faithful fans who camp in the Utah desert and trek miles to watch and help make it the spectacle it is.
Funded cycle mechanics training for women, trans* and non-binary folk
We all know that the bike industry has been a very male dominated arena, and while that’s changing, progress remains slow. Projects and funding aimed at under-represented groups seek to redress the balance, and we’ve perhaps seen a greater number of projects aimed at getting…
The “Be Excellent” Reminder Device.
It’s more than just a watch. I recently visited Elliot Brown watches down in my old stomping ground of Purbeck, Dorset. They had organised an adventure weekend for their ambassadors, and it all sounded like jolly good times were had by all, in what is…
Sram Flight Attendant is an electronic suspension wizard built into the new RockShox Ultimate family
You’ve likely heard some rumblings about a new electronic product from SRAM, well we can finally tell you all about it. Here’s everything you need to know about SRAM Flight Attendant. It was only a matter of time before SRAM launched a product like Flight…
The Carbon Chameleon is dead long live the aluminium Chameleon
Santa Cruz kills off the carbon Chameleon but replaces it with a new alloy Chameleon starting from just £2399. Wet muddy trails mean it’s about time for some hardtail hooning, and if you’re after something fresh Santa Cruz has the goods. The Santa Cruz Chameleon…
Mullet Commencal Meta SX and Meta Power SX models get SHORTER reach and LONGER chainstays!
Have we finally reached peak reach? Perhaps Commencal believes so with new shorter reach numbers on both the Meta SX and Meta Power SX! Commencal has offered a mullet version of the Supreme for most of this season, and now the Meta follows suit with…
Nukeproof Blackline Trousers
This review was part of the Singletrack World Issue 139 Kit Essentials Feature Tested by: Ross Price: £80.00 From: Nukeproof.com Riding pants just make sense. They offer added protection and warmth, keep nettle stings at bay and best of all, I can whip them off…
New Blue Doon Trail – Full Run POV
The Nevis Blue Doon, the longest Blue grade uplift mountain bike trail in the UK, has been opened at Nevis Range Mountain Experience near Fort William. Joe Barnes and Pete Scullion shot us this POV of the full run. The Nevis Blue Doon, is a Blue graded downhill cross country mountain bike trail at Fort…
Could Northamptonshire Be Your Next MTB Destination?
It hardly has a reputation for being a mountain bike destination, but the flatlands of Northamptonshire might just be about to deliver a dose of trail excitement. Proposals currently at planning permission stage seek to turn a former golf course into a mountain bike park…
Singletrack Elliot Brown Watch Available Now. But not for long.
Less than a week to go ’til the order book for the Singletrack Elliot Brown Watch closes. Thanks to all the Singletrackers who committed to support the one off Singletrack Elliot Brown Watch collaboration, it is now a real thing. Myself and the Singletrack team…
Fresh Goods Friday 568 – Vive La Revolution!
Welcome to the corner of smug. Hasn’t it been a great week? All that sailing past queues of cars, all that totally not worrying about fuel because you don’t need any and you’re not actually that sure if your car still works. Some of you…
Trails for Truth and Reconciliation
September 30th marked Canada’s first National Day of Truth and Reconciliation, a newly created statutory holiday to commemorate victims and survivors of Indigenous residential schools. These were state run Christian boarding schools that children were forced to attend in an effort to assimilate them into…
Remember the Alpinestars Ti Mega? Well, it’s back with modern geometry… sort of
The car world has resto-mods and even born again classics, and now so too does the mountain bike world. There are many many mountain bikes from the past that I still lust after. Now and then I’ll even scroll the classifieds to see if I…
Video: It Has Become Beauty Again
There are many reasons to ride, here’s a video that illustrates some of the more meaningful ones. Jon Yazzie struggled to connect to his cultural identity for some time, leading him to make the wrong life choices and lack a sense of belonging. It wasn’t…
Weight weenies rejoice! Canyon releases updated Lux and Exceed for 2022
Canyon releases details of the 2022 Canyon Exceed and Canyon Lux, no new frames but new lightweight builds! If your idea of a good ride is one where you power up the biggest hills you have locally then power back down them again with your…
EXT Superlight V2 springs weigh less than Zebedee on Keto
EXT’s first Superlight series springs were launched in 2015, now 6 years on they get a lighter V2 update. We don’t tend to think ‘lightweight’ and ‘coil shock’ together, but while a super plush coil might not be a low-weight as an air shock, there…
What A Year Of XC racing! A look back at 2021
Vedangi takes us on a romp through the fast and furious world level 2021 XC racing, and takes a peek into the future. (Featured image credit: Alex Whitehead/SWpix.com) The 2021 XC season has been a nail-biter. With the Olympics sandwiched into the season and all…
Schwalbe British 4X Series after a Dislocated Elbow with Scott Beaumont
Just a week after he dislocated his elbow in Val di Sole, Scott Beaumont raced in Afan to ensure he took home the overall title. Round 5 and 6 of the Schwalbe British 4X Series was held in Afan, South Wales earlier this month. Not…
Last Chance To Nominate! The Singletrack Reader Awards
Nominations close on Monday 27th September! Make sure you’ve told us who you think should get our attention this year, in a range of new awards. This year has been a bit different, again. Rather than grumble about the shortage of this and that, this…
Watch Crankworx BC events Live on Red Bull TV
Want to check out the action from Crankworx BC? You can catch all the broadcasts live on Red Bull TV from 23 September to 2 October. The event will be taking in a few destinations in BC including Sun Peaks Resort, Golden/Kicking Horse Mountain Resort,…
Snowshoe DH World Cup 2021 – Final Highlights
As far as finales go, Snowshoe DH World cup was up there as one of the most exciting. It’s a little sad that the season is over but we get to look forward to next year. Eliot Jackson takes us through the final event. This…
This is what a bike edit should look like! Mattéo Iniguez rides Leysin Bike Park!
A video edit that actually inspires us to get out and ride! Mattéo Iniguez and Commencal team up to ride Leysin Bike Park. We get sent video edits on an almost daily basis, but very few actually make it onto the homepage of Singletrack. The…
