Carbon fibre is everywhere, from frames to rims and even fancy seat rails on uber expensive saddles. Carbon is now finding its way into the light market with UK brand Exposure announcing the release of the Joystick MK13 with lightweight carbon body. Exposure says the…
News
The latest stories from the world of mountain biking.
New Rocky Mountain Thunderbolt Alloy Launched. A Whyte T-130 Killer?
Following on from the release of the Instinct Alloy 50 BC Edition earlier in the month, Rocky Mountain has revealed the launch of another all alloy bike in the form of the new Thunderbolt. This 2019 version of the Thunderbolt rolls on 27.5in wheels with…
Hope Pre Peaks – 70km of cake-fuelled cheeriness through the Dales
It wasn’t a surprise to the weather pessimists among us that the one day you need clear, calm weather to go and enjoy 85km around the Yorkshire Dales, you get the tail end of a tropical storm, with all-day mizzle and winds. However, that didn’t…
Mountain Mayhem Announces Lower Pricing For Early Birds: UPDATED
UPDATE SATURDAY AM: Following the rider feedback after the original press release (below) the organisers have returned with a rethink on pricing and have gone for an, ‘ain’t broke don’t fix’ approach by returning to the same pricing structure as the last 2017 event. They’ve…
Wash Your Bike, Save Tweedlove Trees And Trails
Tweedlove organisers have issued a statement urging riders to clean their bikes and kit before and after riding in the Innerleithen area, following the discovery of a disease which kills larch trees and will necessitate the felling of many trees in the area. We’ve heard…
Poll: It’s #CycleToWorkDay – Why Don’t You?
Today is Cycle To Work Day in the UK, and we’re all being encouraged to try riding to work. Yes, you all ride mountain bikes (if you don’t, how did you get here?). But we wonder if you ride to work? And if you don’t, why? [poll…
Curtis Has Made Frames Since 1979, Now It’s Launching Its First Complete Bike
Curtis has been manufacturing steel bicycle frames in the UK since 1979 and has made everything from BMX race frames, and hardtail downhill race bikes, to 160mm travel single pivot Enduro bikes over that time, but it’s only now, in 2018 that the company has…
Downhill’s Most Outspoken Pro: Amanda Batty Announces Retirement
If you follow Amanda Batty on social media, you’ll be well aware that a few weeks ago she crashed and injured her lower leg in ways that are not only leg threatening, but life threatening. Having just undergone another round of major surgery to install…
UK Gravity Enduro Announces Cancellation. BEMBA Steps Up With 2019 National Series.
Coming so soon off the euphoria of the successful running of the ‘Ard Rock Enduro last weekend, the UK enduro scene was greeted this morning with a sad announcement from Steve Parr, the man behind the UK Gravity Enduro Series, where he announced that the…
GT Fury Downhill Bike Returns!
Today, GT Bicycles has announced a new GT Fury downhill bike. Taking design and suspension cues from the complete revamp that the rest of the trail bike range (the Force and the Sensor) has had, this sees GT take on a more conventional-looking (and riding)…
What Did You Do On Your 40th? Alan Horton Started A Bike Brand
If you had wanted to start your own bike brand just a few years back you might have looked into complex moulds, carbon layup or simply outsourcing manufacture to the Far East, all quite expensive prospects. The recent popularity of steel bikes, both hardtail and…
Spied: Sonder’s 29er Full Suspension Bike Edges Closer To Production
At the start of this year, we managed to take a trip out to the Peak District with the chaps from Sonder and ride a few of their current bikes. While we were with them we also had the chance to check out a prototype…
Limited Edition Raleigh Chrome Aero Pro Burner Coming Autumn 2018!
One of the hottest bike launches last year wasn’t some exotic carbon full suspension bike costing a £ bazillion, it wasn’t even a mountain bike, nor was it new. Cast your mind back to July 2017 and you may remember that Raleigh announced plans to…
A hundred grand for a bike rack? That’s what Tailfin has raised in a week
A Bristol-based company has just launched an innovative rear luggage rack on Kickstarter and has seen it raise nearly a hundred grand in a couple of days. The Tailfin rack mounts to a rear skewer (even thru-axles, but more of that in a minute) and…
Top 10 Kids Bikes 2018: Stop Playing Fortnite And Start Shredding Dirt!
There really hasn’t been a better time to get your kids into mountain biking, or cycling in general. More and more bike brands are designing quality bikes for young riders that handle like proper bikes, come with kid-friendly components and don’t weigh the same as…
Kona Finally Announces Carbon Process 29ers For 2019
It was only a matter of time really before Kona released a carbon version of the Process 29, so while it’s exciting news that they have done so it’s hardly surprising news. The Process 153 CR 29 is new to the Kona Process range for…
Affordable Rocky Mountain Instinct Alloy 50 BC Edition Revealed
At the start of the year, we tested Rocky Mountain’s Instinct BC Edition, featuring a carbon frame and lively paintwork. We loved the fact that the longer travel bike managed to remain fun and playful on the trail and we liked that fact that Rocky…
Giant Launches All-New Trance 29: A Mid-Travel Trail Smasher?
The Giant Trance 29 is pegged at the type of rider who wants to head out on an epic all day ride, one day, then hit an Enduro stage the next. It’s an all-rounder, and although it’s labelled as a “Trail” bike, Giant is keen…
So that’s where all of the country’s carbon enduro bikes (and T5 campers) went this weekend? The Ard Rock Enduro!
The ‘Ard Rock Enduro once again showed that it has become the event of the year for trail riders to be at. With a greatly expanded event village and a large number of events for racers and riders, there was plenty going on and plenty…
Bagging points… #MakingUpTheNumbers at the HSBC National Champs 2018 – Glencoe
George Thompson has sent this picture-heavy epic report from the other weekend’s National DH champs up at Glencoe… Sit back and enjoy! “Oh, so you’re still going to Glencoe then?” “Yeah, why wouldn’t I be?” If you’re feeling the pressure, answering a question with a…
Entries still available for the Hope Pre Peaks Yorkshire Dales
The Pre Peaks is a grand day out in the Yorkshire Dales courtesy of Hope Technology.
8 Bikes From The 2018 Pivot TwentyFour12
Of the hundreds of competitors that turned up for the 2018 Pivot TwentyFour12, there seemed to be just as many different bikes. Singlespeeds, fat bikes, full suspension enduro bangers, retro rigs, clapped-out 26in bikes with v-brakes, lightweight carbon hardtails and high-end kids bikes all mixed…
Review: Dakine Hot Laps 5L Waist Pack
There are a few things I swore I wouldn’t do when I got at job at Singletrack. Wear a gilet, ride clipped in, and use a hip pack. So of course, I’m working my way through this list to become more open minded, and hopefully…
We Interview 13 Of The Most Outgoing Dogs At The Pivot TwentyFour12
It’s the middle of summer and we’re currently camped out at the Pivot TwentyFour12 event in Newnham Park in Plymouth. This is the 13th edition of the TwentyFour12, which has grown a reputation for not only its flagship 24-hour mountain bike race, but also numerous…
Go on board for a course preview of the Pivot TwentyFour12!
This weekend, Newnham Park in Plymouth will play host to the 2018 Pivot TwentyFour12. This is the 13th edition of the event, which encompasses a whole host of races and events centred around the main 24-hour mountain bike race. There are kids races (both time…
Fresh Goods Friday 406
da-dum, da-dum, Da Dum, DA DUM, DA DUM! DAAA DUMMM! That’s the sound of the weekend approaching. Hurtling down the trail like a stampede of surprisingly small deer. And boy is it welcome! Ignoring that everyone’s hot and bothered, or that things are on fire,…
Finland. It’s not all about snow (okay mostly…)
This article was originally published in Issue 115 of Singletrack Magazine. Words & Photography by Hannah. Hannah takes a wintery fat bike trip to the Arctic Circle to discover dangerous downhills, Russian border stations, saunas and moose stew. Before it came to mean an afternoon’s bike…
Pump Tracks For Good
A Scottish pump track, opened late last year is already having some great benefits for the local community, reckons its builders, Velosolutions. Here’s what they said about Brendog visiting the site recently. Professional Mountain Bike Rider and Velosolutions athlete, Brendan Fairclough stopped in at the…
Last Chance To Subscribe! Singletrack Issue 120
We’ve got a sweat on – and not just because it’s hotter than a furnace at Singletrack Towers today. No, it’s deadline day, and Issue 120 of Singletrack Magazine is off to the printer. Just in case you’ve not already subscribed and aren’t lounging in…
Video: See the Cotic SolarisMAX in action!
For the past two months, I’ve been testing out the brand new SolarisMAX from Cotic Bikes. The SolarisMAX is the Peak-district based brand’s steel 29in hardtail, and it’s designed to cover a wide range of riding from cross-country exploring through to full-throttle trail walloping. In…
Aston Hill Mountain Bike Park Needs Your Help!
It’s easy to ride and take your trails for granted – especially if you’re paying to play. But it’s not the same as heading to the supermarket and swapping cash for a pint of milk and some bread, and behind the trails there’s often a…
Mountain Rescue And Ordnance Survey Say: Stay Safe And Stay Cool
Yes, we’re all loving the prolonged sunshine and sweet, dry trails – although we could definitely go with a few less wildfires. But as things are due to hot up again this week, Ordnance Survey and Mountain Rescue are warning people to stay safe in…
Ambassadors Wanted: Could You Be a Motion Hero?
Motion forks are shaking up MTB suspension. Their radically different design is specially developed not to dive during braking. This noticeably improves handling, grip and comfort, compared to standard telescopic forks on the market. What’s more, a Motion fork needs no maintenance and no ongoing…
Finally! A helmet you can eat your banana through
Cébé introduces its first full face enduro helmet, the Rockgarden, read on for the official press release (and unofficial captions). Since its creation in 1892, Cébé has demonstrated its know-how and passion for extreme sports. Committed to offering only the best gear that ensures optimal…
Talking Trickstuff: Factory Tour
Back in Premier Edition issue 116, Team Singletrack caught up with German precision engineering company Trickstuff, in its hidden factory deep in a German housing estate. Photography: James Vincent We’re not the first to follow the ‘Trickstuff’ signs off the main thoroughfare into the residential…
Wide tyres, huge towels and a small bike with big wheels – Fresh Goods Friday 405
Not only are our fellow Union compatriots, the Scots, laughing at us because they can ride all the trails, they’re also a fair chunk into their school summer holidays and they’ve had all the weather. Fingers crossed as us sassenachs head for the motorway queues…
Review: RDR Ares – 11 Grand For A Race Bike? It Had Better Be Good…
RDR is a relatively small frame builder based in the mountains of Northern Italy. According to the website, RDR consists of the father (Vincenzo), his son (Nicolas) and one employee (Cristina). The entire frame manufacturing process is done in the RDR factory in Italy. Carbon…
Merida Has A Brand New One-Twenty Trail Bike For 2019
Merida has a brand new One-Twenty trail bike for 2019, and with a raft of frame and suspension updates, this one promises to be even more the versatile and capable all-rounder. Like the previous version, this one sticks with 120mm of rear suspension travel (the…
Fresh Kit For Your Kids: New shoes, packs, helmets & the tiniest back protector
There’s pleasure to be had in pulling on nice riding kit – and practicality too. Protective elements, fabric that won’t rip or chafe, and ventilation in all the right places can all make a ride much more comfortable. So while it’s easy to think that…
Heads, Torsos, Knees & Elbows – Eurobike Protection Round Up
Falling off hurts just a little bit less when you’re kitted up with pads and helmets – unless of course you gouge your leg in the inevitable gap between two bits of protection. We didn’t find any gap eliminating onesie padded suits – in fact…
Review: The Hoy Bonaly 24 is a great first mountain bike
The Hoy Bonaly range is Hoy Bikes’ answer to a mountain bike. It’s a step up from the usual children’s hybrid bikes – or hybrids with slightly knobbly tyres – but doesn’t go the whole hog and include any form of suspension. However, I’m still…
This Is Not A Joke! Ibis Launches Adjustable Handlebars!
Each year at April Fools we see stories of adjustable handlebars, but the joke is now officially over with the launch of the new Ibis handlebar system. The Ibis adjustable handlebar is basically a 750mm carbon that can be used as is, or ‘extended’ with…
Bamboo Bicycle Club: Go behind-the-scenes to see what it takes to build your own frame
For those of you who missed it, last year Wil was challenged to build a bike out of bamboo. A home build kit, complete with an extensive manual and support from the suppliers throughout the process. Should be easy, right? Well, I started working at…
Top Eurobike Tech Randoms: Lasers, Cheap 12 Speed, Proto Pedals, 998g Forks And More!
As usual, Eurobike has delivered ALL OF THE GOODS. Below we’ve listed some of the best random bits and bobs from the show. Some are quite obviously pieces of Eurobike Gold and whereas others are, well, a little odd. Read through our finds and let…
Bags Of Eurobike: This year it’s all about protection, hip packs and battery carrying
There were lots of new colours and suchlike at this year’s Eurobike trade show, but here’s a run down of the new models of bags that we’ve spotted. We’ve noticed that there’s an increasing emphasis on back protectors, the popularity of hip packs continues, and…
NS Bikes: The Best Looking Brand At Eurobike?
The NS Bikes stand – and its Rondo road and gravel bike sibling – surely offered up the most concentrated collection of want-inducing bikes at Eurobike. The stand itself was just a basic stepped display, unlike, say, Kona’s, which was effectively a free standing wooden…
Syncros’ stupid-light carbon wheels, new handlebars and a convertible pump
Filling a substantial portion of the Scott Sports booth, Syncros debuted a smattering of new products at Eurobike 2018, including some new handlebars, a yet-to-be-released convertible floor pump, and some new tools and saddles. As well as those and more, Syncros had several sets of…
19 Hot Products From Eurobike 2018
After three days of non-stop action, the Singletrack Eurobike Dream Team has finally returned to the motherland! It’s been an absolutely mental few days of running around the 12 huge halls of Messe Friedrichshafen, plus trying to cover all of the stalls and booths in…
Magura Celebrates 125 Years With LTD Edition MT1893 Disc Brake, Plus More From Eurobike
Magura really pushed the boat out for Eurobike 2018, unveiling not one or two new brakes, but seven new or updated disc brake solutions of all price points, oh and Danny Macaskill was hanging around from time to time also. The big news for Magura…
You Won’t Know Wolfpack Tires Or Wolfgang Arenz Yet, But You’ve Probably Already Ridden His Inventions
We’re fairly certain you won’t have heard of Wolfpack Tires, or Wolfgang Arenz the man behind the brand, but you will most certainly know some of the products he helped develop. Wolfgang is a compounder, basically, someone who works on mixing different rubber compounds to…
The new Funn UpDown dropper post is ‘self-healing’ and it even fixes itself on the trail
Funn has had its Updown dropper post available for a couple of years now, but it has very recently introduced a brand new version that features internal cable routing and up to 150mm of travel. Really though, and aside from the name, this new version…
