First look at the 2020 Juliana Joplin with an added 10mm of travel, updated VPP suspension platform, slacker geo, adjustable dropouts and plenty of build options. The Joplin is the women’s version of the Santa Cruz Tallboy. Built for long days in the saddle with…
Bikes
Santa Cruz Tallboy 4 Review – What Is Extreme Country?
The Tallboy 4 is Santa Cruz’s full suspension XC bike. It’s a 29r and we’ve had our hands on this CC model for the past week to give it a first ride review. It being an XC bike I naturally took it to an urban…
2020 Calibre Bossnut First Ride Impressions – Super affordable fun!
First ride impressions of the 2020 Calibre Bossnut, a bike that proves that you don’t need to spend a fortune to have fun on 2 wheels. I have to admit to being a Calibre Bossnut virgin. Although, I have ridden and reviewed the Calibre Sentry…
Review | Ti Hard – Sonder Signal Ti
Our very own Bruce Willis lookalike, Andi Sykes, tested out three titanium hardtails from Kingdom, Nordest and Sonder for Issue 122 of Singletrack Magazine. Here is his review of the Sonder Signal Ti. As I’m sure you all know, but Sonder is the bike branch…
Review | Ti Hard – Nordest Bardino Ti
Our very own Bruce Willis lookalike, Andi Sykes, tested out three titanium hardtails from Kingdom, Nordest and Sonder for Issue 122 of Singletrack Magazine. Here is his review of the Nordest Bardino Ti. Easily the rarest of our titanium trio is the Nordest Bardino Ti.…
Review | Ti Hard – Kingdom Vendetta X2
Our very own Bruce Willis lookalike, Andi Sykes, tested out three titanium hardtails from Kingdom, Nordest and Sonder for Issue 122 of Singletrack Magazine. Here is his review of the Kingdom Vendetta X2. Kingdom Bike is based in Copenhagen and like many other brands from…
Ritchey Ultra frameset review: a classic reborn in understated steel
Antony reviews the Ritchey Ultra, a relaunched and reworked classic. When it comes to legends of mountain biking, they don’t get more legendary than Mr Thomas Ritchey, Esq. A pro road racer who built the frames he won on, Ritchey created some of the first…
Review | 2020 Specialized Fuse Comp 29
Wil reviews the brand new 2020 Specialized Fuse Comp hardtail Not everyone wants to ride a full suspension mountain bike, and not everyone wants to be on an angry XC race hardtail. For all of those folks, Specialized has this bike – the Fuse. First…
Review | The 2019 Whyte S-120 C RS is an absolute yahoo-factory
Wil reviews the 2019 Whyte S-120 C RS – a ludicrously fast trail bike with bonkers geometry Brand new for 2019, the S-120 storms into the Whyte lineup as the hotly-anticipated replacement for the popular T-129. Equipped with 29in wheels, 120mm of travel and progressive…
Review | 2019 Norco Fluid FS 1 – A Sub-£2k Full Suspension Bike
Hannah checks out the 2019 Norco Fluid FS 1, a sub £2k full suspension bike. Norco is sold exclusively in the UK by Evans cycles, and at this price point with that high street access, this is likely a bike that will catch the eye…
Review | Pivot Cycles Mach 4 SL Team XTR
Wil reviews the brand new Pivot Mach 4 SL The Mach 4 SL debuts in 2019 as a freshly baked model for Pivot Cycles. With a sleek carbon fibre frame, 29in wheels and 100mm of efficient dw-link suspension, it slots into the Pivot lineup as…
Pace RC529 review: the business in front, party in the back hardtail
Andi reviews Pace Cycles’ low-slung Pace RC529 steel 29er to see what this versatile hardcore hardtail is made of. I remember leafing through mountain bike magazines in the mid-’90s and being drawn to Pace Cycles’ radical products. The Yorkshire based brand was at the cutting…
Review | Stanton Switch9er FS – UK Made Steel Full Suspension Play Machine
Hannah reports back on her time on the Stanton Switch9er FS, a hand made steel and alloy bike from the UK. Stanton Bikes has a well established reputation for building steel hardtails, so it was with some excitement that the move into full suspension frames…
Review | The 2019 Merida One-Twenty 8000 is a zippy, fun-loving trail bike
Wil reviews the 2019 Merida One-Twenty – a zippy, fun-loving trail bike Following a 2.5 year gestation period, the Merida One-Twenty arrives on the scene as a brand spanking new trail bike for 2019. Following in the footsteps of the longer travel One-Forty and One-Sixty,…
Review | The 2019 Radon Cragger 8.0 is a whole lotta hardtail for less than €2K
David gives us his review of the 2019 Radon Cragger 8.0 hardtail Radon isn’t a name that tends to come up much in discussions I have about bikes. One of the lesser known brands in the UK perhaps, and though not unheard of, never reputed…
Review | The 2019 Trance Advanced Pro 29er 1 is a very ‘un-Giant like’ trail bike
Wil delivers us his longterm review of the 2019 Giant Trance 29er My recent experience of Giant bikes includes testing the latest Trance 27.5, the Anthem 27.5, and the Anthem 29. While none of them were exactly fire-starters, they’re all good bikes that suit their…
Liv Intrigue Advanced 1 – Easy Climbing Meets Playful Descending
For 2019, the Liv Intrigue has returned to the women’s specific brand line-up. This is after taking a couple of years off in 2016 to allow for the Pique SX and Hail Enduro bikes to make an entrance. I attended the product launch for the…
Head To Head Trail Bike Review | 2019 GT Sensor Expert Vs 2019 Trek Fuel EX 9.7
When it comes to full suspension trail bikes these days, there are so many options to look at. We’ve got super high-end, luxury carbon options from the likes of Santa Cruz, Yeti, and Pivot, to the other end of the scale with alloy offerings from…
Review | The 2019 Trek Fuel EX 9.7 is a tech-heavy trail bike that rips hard
As part of a head-to-head review feature, Rob’s been testing two 130mm travel 29er trail bikes; the 2019 GT Sensor Expert and the 2019 Trek Fuel EX 9.7. So which one has come out on top? Read on for Rob’s review of the Trek Fuel…
Review | The 2019 GT Sensor Carbon Expert ditches complicated suspension for pure, unadulterated fun
As part of a head-to-head review feature, Rob’s been testing two 130mm travel 29er trail bikes; the 2019 GT Sensor Expert and the 2019 Trek Fuel EX 9.7. So which one has come out on top? Read on for Rob’s review of the GT Sensor…
Review | Propain Hugene Highend 29er – Makes Pedalling Fun
Propain is a direct to consumer bike brand based in Germany. A lot of you will know the Propain name from the World Cup DH circuit, where the likes of Phil Atwill and David Trummer have piloted the Rage downhill bikes at the highest level…
Review | The Calibre Sentry is a wallet-friendly enduro bike
For a brand that didn’t even exist five years ago, Calibre Bikes has shot to stardom pretty darn quickly. In its short history, the company has been breaking new ground in the mountain bike market with its mix of low-cost high-performance bikes, with the popular…
First Ride Review: 2019 Sonder Transmitter First Impressions
Sonder’s popular Transmitter alloy hardtail returns for 2019 with a fresh lick of paint and updated geometry, but how does it ride? We sent Andi to the woods to find out. Just over a week ago we reported that Sonder had refreshed the popular Sonder…
Review | The 2019 Focus SAM 9.9 delivers a few surprises for a 170mm travel enduro bike
Focus launched its new SAM enduro bike in late 2018, so we got one in and put it in the hands of our local Calderdale tester, Rik Legge. Over to Rik for the full review. Focus bikes are a familiar sight to anyone who follows…
Review | We Test The Carbon Specialized Stumpjumper EVO Pro 27.5
In case you hadn’t heard already, Specialized has just announced the Carbon Specialized Stumpjumper EVO Pro 27.5. You can get all the details of the bike right here, though read on for our first ride review from local Calder Valley tester, Nick Cummins. Over to…
2019 Canyon Neuron CF 9.0 SL | A Longterm Review Of Canyon’s Carbon Trail Bike
Wil gives us the verdict on the 2019 Canyon Neuron CF 9.0 SL It’s been quite a few years since we last saw a carbon fibre trail bike from Canyon. In fact, it was 2014 when the Nerve CF was last kicking about – a…
Review: Jason likes titanium but did this Pilot Duro live up to expectations?
“Many, many years you will be enjoying the magical riding qualities of your handcrafted, high grade titanium frame”, it says on the Pilot website. My own personal experience of titanium frames is that I’m yet to ride one that’s ‘magical’ but I can say with…
First Ride Review: Santa Cruz Chameleon C SE 29 Reserve
There can’t be many models of mountain bike out there which can claim to have the longevity of the Santa Cruz Chameleon. It’s been around since 1996, when it burst onto the scene as one of a small handful of hard-hitting hardtails, boasting the capability…
First Ride Review: Islabike Jimi – A Mountain Bike For Those Who Refuse To Grow Old
Islabikes is best known for making good quality children’s bikes. Owner, Isla Rowntree, developed the children’s bike range when she found her friends’ children needed bikes, but that there wasn’t anything out there that met their needs. A similar desire to meet an unmet need…
3 Consumer-Direct Mountain Bikes Tested & Reviewed
With more and more brands selling complete mountain bikes direct to consumer, we decided to check out three of the latest options from Intense, Bird, and Sonder, to put each brand’s service – and bikes – to the test. Over to James Vincent for the…
Review: The UK-designed Sonder Evol aims to deliver maximum grins-per-mile
With more and more brands selling complete mountain bikes direct to consumer, we decided to check out three of the latest options from Intense, Bird, and Sonder, to put each brand’s service – and bikes – to the test. Over to James Vincent for the…
Review: The Intense Primer Expert comes with extra enthusiasm as standard
With more and more brands selling complete mountain bikes direct to consumer, we decided to check out three of the latest options from Intense, Bird, and Sonder, to put each brand’s service – and bikes – to the test. Over to James Vincent for the…
Review: The Bird Aeris 145 GX Eagle is uber-long and uber-fast
With more and more brands selling complete mountain bikes direct to consumer, we decided to check out three of the latest options from Intense, Bird, and Sonder, to put each brand’s service – and bikes – to the test. Over to James Vincent for the…
Review |Canyon Lux CF SL 8.0 Pro Race – Mile-Muncher For Mortals
The Lux isn’t just Canyon’s latest XC ripper – it’s also the lightest and most advanced full suspension race bike that the German brand has ever produced. We put one into the hands of our tame XC/marathon masochist, Daz, to see if this German lightweight…
2019 Canyon Strive First Ride Impressions with Shapeshifter 2.0
To say I was surprised when I laid eyes on the 2019 Strive is an understatement. Of course, we’d had an inkling that we would be meeting the updated Strive in Malaga, but this is not at all what we were expecting. Since the release…
YT Jeffsy CF 29 Pro Race 2019 – First Ride Review
It’s the first few minutes of a bike launch and I’m having to try quite hard not to weep. The scepticism brought about by predictably dramatic music, followed by an unexpected big name actor are gone. Instead I’m lost in wonder at how the copywriter…
Review: With a 120mm fork, the Santa Cruz Blur is a pocket rocket trail bike
As far as contemporary XC bikes go, the latest generation Blur from Santa Cruz Bicycles ticks a lot of boxes. Plugging an important gap that the Tallboy left behind as it steadily morphed into a trail bike, the new Blur (also known as the ‘Blur…
Review: 2018 Cube Reaction TM – a ready to roll package
Cube has a reputation for well priced bikes – you get a decent amount of bike for your money. It’s a brand you’ll find in many a local bike shop, and as a result you’ll probably see a decent number of them out on the…
Review: The All City Electric Queen Puts The ‘Oh!’ In Retro
An exercise in style over substance, or a capable trail bike
Unsprung Heroes – 3 Fully Rigid Bikes Tested & Reviewed
Chipps rides three fully rigid bikes from Kona, Pinnacle and Surly. Words Chipps Photography James Vincent I always like to wear a watch. I’m lost without one and don’t like to rely on my phone for the time as I like that to be out of…
Review: Surly you can’t have fun without suspension? We test the fully rigid ECR
Surly has always been individual and self-confident in its outlook. From pioneering the first production singlespeed (the 1×1, which pre-dated even Kona’s Unit and the On One Inbred) to popularising one of the first 29ers (2001’s Karate Monkey), Surly has always been focused on…
Review: After a playful bargain? The Pinnacle Ramin 3 Plus might be the bike for you
Pinnacle is the house-brand of retail giant, Evans Cycles, but the range is way more than a selection of rebadged catalogue bikes. The brand’s bike designer James Olsen has a long pedigree in the UK bike industry and is one of those designers who likes…
Review: Kona’s Unit X is like a singlespeed, but with 10 more gears?
The Kona Unit has a long history, from a Canadian company with an equally deep heritage. While Kona celebrates its 30th birthday in 2018, the Unit name dates back at least half that. The Unit was (and still is) Kona’s cross-country singlespeed bike. Affordable and…
First Ride: We Test The Brand New 2019 Canyon Neuron CF
For those who were taking notice, you’ll remember that a short while ago we reported that German direct sales giant, Canyon, had quietly released an updated 2019 version of the Neuron AL with a minimum of fuss or fanfare. It was with some interest then that…
Review: The Specialized Stumpjumper Expert Carbon 29 rides well beyond its spec sheet
Earlier this year Wil had the pleasure of heading out to Spain for the launch of the new Specialized Stumpjumpers. We’ve now had the Stumpjumper ST Comp Carbon 29 (130/120mm) and Stumpjumper Expert Carbon 29 (150/140mm) back on test to see how they perform on…
Review: The Specialized Stumpjumper ST Comp Carbon 29 may be shorter on travel, but it ain’t short on fun
Earlier this year Wil had the pleasure of heading out to Spain for the launch of the new Specialized Stumpjumpers. We’ve now had the Stumpjumper ST Comp Carbon 29 (130/120mm) and Stumpjumper Expert Carbon 29 (150/140mm) back on test to see how they perform on…
Review: Is the Liteville 301 MK14 the most German mountain bike on the market?
German brand Liteville sent us the 14th iteration of its 301 full suspension trail bike, which is quite possibly the most over-engineered mountain bike we’ve ever laid our hands on. Naturally, we put it in the hands of our local lover of all things German…
Longterm Review: 2019 Scott Ransom 900 Tuned
It’s been three months since we first got our hands on the brand new Scott Ransom. Fully redesigned for 2019 and beyond, the Ransom glides into the Scott lineup as the bigger and brawnier brother to the Genius. Equipped with no less than 170mm of…
Review: Canyon Spectral WMN AL 6.0
Canyon released the new women’s specific Spectral trail bike earlier this year, and it features a unique frame, suspension design and geometry. But how different is the women’s Spectral to the unisex version? We got one in for our speedy tester Rachel Sokal to find…
Mondraker Foxy R 29 Review – Don’t read this review if you don’t like riding fast.
I spent the first part of this year onboard the fantastic Mondraker Foxy, so when the 29er version of the same bike arrived at Singletrack Towers I was quick to claim it as my own. Would the Foxy 29er offer the same agility and stability…
Review: Brother Cycles Big Bro – For long and short adventures
There’s something very exciting about getting a new adventure bike out of the box for the first time. With a trail bike, you kind of know what you’re going to get, with most models following a well tried and tested formula of frame, wheels of…