Combining Five Ten’s super sticky Stealth Phantom rubber sole, and technology from the Terrex trail running range, the Five Ten Trailcross shoes have been designed for what they call ‘adventure riding’. For the sort of rides where you’ll have your bike on your back carrying…
Review
Vee Tire Attack HPL Review – amazing grip and puncture protection
The Vee Tire Attack HPL tyre might have only been released to the public a few weeks ago, but I’ve been testing this new all-rounder for a few months already. There are a handful of parts that you can change on your bike that can…
Review: 2021 Saracen Ariel 30
Saracen is back in a big way and its major focus for the moment is the brand new Ariel line. Redesigned from the ground up, while still retaining the multi-link suspension that first appeared on the downhill Myst, the Ariel comes in many forms and…
Islabikes Creig 26 Children’s Bike – Long Term Test
Could this be the best kids bike on the market today?
Shimano ME502 Review – An all round trail riding shoe?
Updated for 2021, The Shimano ME502 (or ME5 for short) can be found nestled in Shimano’s Enduro/Trail category along with the ME7 Enduro shoe, and their more insulated winter counterparts. They’re a visibly less beefy shoe than the race focussed ME7, designed as they are…
Review: Fox Flexair Neoshell Water Waterproof Jacket
The Flexair Neoshell Water jacket is a new addition to Fox’s range for this winter. Designed to keep you dry and comfortable in the worst possible conditions, Fox has constructed the jacket from Polartec Neoshell, which on top being rated as 10,000g/m2/24hr for waterproofness, is…
Oxford Aqua Evo Waterproof Backpacks – for wet commutes?
Are the Oxford Aqua Evo backpacks the waterproof luggage solution you’ve been looking for? The Oxford Aqua Evo bags both have a waterproof rating of IPX-6, which means they should be waterproof against all but total submersion. They come in both a 12 litre and…
Staff Bike Test: Hannah’s Stooge MK4
This article was first published in Issue 129 of Singletrack Magazine. Sometime during high school I had an epiphany: the cool kids were always going to think I was a freak – so I may as well give up trying to fit in and just…
Staff Bike Test: Chipps’ Ibis Ripley MK4
This article was first published in Issue 129 of Singletrack Magazine. The first Ibis Ripley, back in 2001 or so, was an alloy softail, a pretty advanced bike for the time. The Ripleys that followed were equally innovative: the MK2 was the company’s first carbon…
Staff Bike Test: Andi’s Commencal Meta AM 29 SRAM Edition
This article was first published in Issue 129 of Singletrack Magazine. The Commencal Meta has been around for quite a while now, but every so often the bike receives an update to keep it in line with what the rest of the industry has on…
Staff Bike Test: Amanda’s Juliana Maverick Carbon CC XO1 Reserve
This article was first published in Issue 129 of Singletrack Magazine. As I pushed back up a certain (pretty large, for me at least) feature on a huge loop in the Peaks, I caught the eye of two young lads riding an adjacent trail. “It’s…
Slicy Products Smooth Tyre Inserts, Sealant and Valves – Reviewed
David extends his tyre insert experience even further, with yet another test. This time, it's banana yellow Smooth Tyre Inserts from Slicy Products. Another foamy contender enters the ring. Hoop? Wheel. Cyclorise do these in two widths, a small one for tyre 2.2in - 2.6in,…
9 Bike Locks, Chains and Anchors to keep your bike safe
If you've got a bike, you need a lock. Whether you are just wanting to deter someone from walking off with your ancient pub bike, or trying to keep all but the most determined thieves from stealing your treasures, it's going to take more than…
Troy Lee D4 Carbon Helmet – The King of Helmets?
George has a long and happy history with Troy Lee helmets - will the D4 Carbon keep a smile on his face? Being 6’ 6” limits your ability to test stuff. Test bikes are generally supplied in a medium or large, clothes the same; I…
The Stif Squatch – More than just a big wheeled Morf?
Since launching the Morf in 2016, Stif have taken four years to develop and launch this Squatch, their first 29er hardtail. I respect that, because upfront it tells me they haven’t rushed this out the door and have probably taken the time to get things…
Maxxis Wetscream review: great when it’s awful
The Maxxis Wetscream was originally designed for one of the muddiest downhill race tracks in the world – Les Gets in France. Back when it was first designed, DH bikes ( and all bikes!) were running on 26” wheels, but with times and wheel sizes…
Giant Reign Advanced Pro 2 – Long Term Review
Giant reckons their Reign 29er could be the ultimate Enduro machine but what does our resident aficionado of all things big mountain make of it after subjecting it to eight months of testing? Giant’s Reign has long been a staple of the brand’s mountain bike…
ENVE AM30 Foundation Wheelset – survives our toughest test!
Wheels quiver when they hear the name ‘Ross’. Will these ENVE AM30 Foundation wheels survive the double onslaught of a Northern winter and our Ross? There’s no doubt that ENVE is a premium brand, with hand built precision and price tags to match. Earlier this…
Julbo Rush Photochromic Glasses Reviewed and Recommended
The Julbo Rush is designed to offer top end performance for cycling sports that combine endurance with speed. The Rush feature a full frame design and are available in a range of colours with various lenses. Our test set feature Julbo’s Reactiv photochromic lenses making…
Women’s Endura MT500 Spray Baggy Trouser II
Designed for tough conditions with a performance fit and seat panel waterproofing, the Endura MT500 Trouser seem like the ideal solution for UK winter riding. This is my second year trying out the MT500 range for wet weather riding, so first let’s take a look…
Review: Brand New Santa Cruz Nomad V5
The Nomad has been Santa Cruz’s flagship all mountain, long travel enduro bike for a good few years now, around 15 to be precise, and today sees the launch of the latest iteration - the Nomad V5. The brand new Nomad V5 Still rolling on…
The New Crankbrothers Shoe Range Reviewed
Eagle eyed followers of certain pro riders may have spotted some curious footwear. What brand could they be? Instagram queries to the likes of Fabio Wibmer about what shoes were in pictures directed readers to @QuestionmarkMTB which turns out to have been a ruse by…
Restrap Handlebar Bags: Two Convenient Carriers
Earlier this year I began looking for handlebar bag solutions for carrying a compact camera on rides that I could gain quick, easy access to. In the hunt for the perfect handlebar bag, I discovered just how useful they can be. Restrap Canister Bag The…
Canyon Stoic 4 (2021) – 140mm of hardtail fun, reviewed
Canyon’s new alloy hardtail, the Stoic, comes in three models: the 2, 3 and 4. With the Canyon Stoic 2 starting at £849, and the bikes starting at a teeny size 2XS, I’d have quite liked to get my hands on that entry level model…
Oakley DRT5 Helmet – Eyewear compatible brain protection
Designed with input from Greg Minnaar, will the Oakley DRT5 helmet deliver more than just a designer branded head protector? What do you want from a helmet? Protection – definitely. And comfort. It would be good if it looked cool. But beyond that – what…
First Ride: 2021 Canyon Spectral CF 29 9.0
If there was one bike missing from the Canyon range then it was a 29er trail bike, that gap has now been plugged with the all-new 2021 Canyon Spectral 29. If you Google “Canyon Spectral 29” then you won’t be too surprised to see that…
DMR V11 pedals scrutinised, ridden and then opened up
There’s a general assumption that if a pedal isn’t made of metal then it must be made of plastic. Sometimes even carbon gets insulted by being referred to as plastic. These new DMR V11 pedals are not aluminium and they are not plastic. They are…
Review: Öhlins RXF36 M.2 And TTX2Air From The Swedish Suspension Masters
Before we look at this review of the RXF36 and TTXAir shock, a little history lesson: Öhlins’ performance pedigree dates all the way back to 1976 when the company was founded by Kenth Ohlin. Originally set up in his father’s engineering workshop, Kenth started building…
Ravemen PR1600 Review: One Light For All Occasions?
Singletrack's 'other' Lakeland product tester, Piers, gets out after hours in order to bring us this Raveman PR1600 review I confess that I had not heard of Raveman before the PR1600 came through my letter box. So I open box and have a play…
2021 Commencal Meta AM 29 Review | Thought you were fast? Wait till you ride this!
The 2021 Commencal Meta AM 29 is a proven speed demon, with sorted geo and kinematics for reduced fatigue and impressive climbing. This is a full-on EWS weapon! Let's cut to the chase, the MY21 Commencal Meta AM is nothing like the outgoing model, sure…
2021 Nukeproof Mega 275 Factory – First Ride Review
The Nukeproof Mega has been the brand's top flight, big hitting enduro bike since 2011. The original prototype was raced to 3rd place in Masters at the 2009 Megavalanche (the race it was named after) by Michael Cowan, with the first production bike being launched…
First Ride: 2021 Specialized Stumpjumper Review
Chipps reports from a day of ups and downs in the remarkably sunny Tweed Valley aboard the new Stumpjumper. Although it was only a day, there was more than enough riding to give this new 2021 Stumpjumper a first ride review.
Review | Orange Crush MX Pro LTD hardcore hardtail
Do the mixed wheels of the Orange Crush MX make this THE hardcore hardtail to own in 2021? Andi climbs on board to tell all. The continued evolution of the Orange Crush means that this alloy hardtail is now available in every flavour from 29er…
Fizik Terra Artica X2 – Cosy Boots For Warm Dry Feet
Beate braves the elements to put these Fizik Terra Artica winter boots to the test. The perfect winter boot does not exist. Which means that I am engaged in an eternal search for warm, dry, feet through the cold, wet months of the year (which…
Ortlieb Bikepacking Range 2021 – Pack Everything and Ride Everywhere
Will the 2021 Ortlieb Bikepacking range make sleeping in a bush or bivvy just that little bit more luxurious? With this much carry space, there's room to pack for comfort. Being a bikepacker in the grim north east of England, keeping gear dry is an…
Canyon Strive CF 7.0 – One bike eager to rule them all
Our US correspondent takes the Canyon Strive CF 7.0 for a tour of the UK. Would this shapeshifter bike serve all his bike needs in one? The Canyon Strive CF 7.0 takes the moniker quiver-killer to heart and offers up a 125mm trail bike for…
Sonder Signal ST NX First Look & Ride
Launched in August the Sonder Signal ST is essentially a steel version of their existing Signal Ti model - that's Ti = titanium of course. You can check out Andi's Signal Ti review here. In that review Andi's large test bike had a reach of…
Shimano GR5 Flat Pedal Shoe Review
The Shimano GR5 flat pedal shoe is an affordable mountain bike shoe perfect for dry Summer conditions. Shimano has a shoe for almost every foot with cycling-specific footwear for all types of 2 wheeled fun. For riders who ride on flat pedals, Shimano has 3…
Privateer 141 | First Ride Review Of Privateer’s Brand New All-Rounder
Ross receives the new Privateer 141 for an early test. See what he makes of this aggressive UK trail bike in this review. Privateer Bikes first came onto our radar in Summer last year when they gave us a sneak peek at a brand new…
Smith Mainline | Lightweight Full Face Helmet – Reviewed
Smith enters the full face helmet market with the Smith Mainline - how does it compare to the competition? The Smith Mainline is the company’s entry into a DH certified lightweight full face, a pedalable DH helmet, if you will. At 810 grams (measured on…
Cube Blackline Waterproof Shorts – Packable Waterproofing For Your Bum
Vicky puts the Cube Blackline Waterproof Shorts through their paces in the gritty and wet Calder Valley. These Cube Blackline Waterproof Shorts are a lightweight, packable waterproof short, made out of Primetronic material with fully taped seams and a reinforced saddle. The subtly branded black…
Canyon Exceed CFR LTD – First Ride Review
When an email dropped into my inbox asking if I’d like to test the new Canyon Exceed CFR, I’ll admit I hesitated before accepting the challenge. The last time I rode a hardtail race machine was exactly a year ago at the 10@Kirroughtree race, and…
New ‘99% Accurate’ Wahoo KICKR Trainer Launches
Yes, it must be time to start thinking about those dark nights spent spinning away in front of the screen in the hope of spring fitness. And the new 5th edition of the Wahoo Kickr is aimed at helping you achieve all of those goals.…
Tested: Fasst Flexx Suspension Handlebars
David breaks out the digital calipers to test the effectiveness of the Fasst Flexx suspension handlebar. There's something undeniably nineties-sounding about suspension handlebars, especially given that these work with elastomers. Manufacturer Fasst have tested the concept with ATVs and motocross bikes since at least 2011…
SR Suntour TriAir 3CR Rear Shock Review
The Suntour TriAir 3CR is an affordable rear shock that promises performance and easy maintenance. So, does it live up to the promise? Perhaps one of the most overlooked parts on many bikes, at least when it comes to upgrades, is the rear shock. We're…
Review: Suntour Durolux R2C2 PCS EQ top-performance on a budget!
The Suntour Durolux R2C2 PCS EQ is awarded a Singletrack Recommended Award for providing quality suspension and performance at a budget price. Suntour’s continued development of its rowdy 36mm enduro fork has paid off with Andi thoroughly recommencing this budget bouncer. When I started to…
Long-Term Review: VeeTire Snap WCE Top 40, all the grip none of the slip
Downhill tyres made from motorbike rubber? Andi puts the VeeTire Snap WCE Top 40 to the test in his long term review. I’ve been running a VeeTire Snap WCE on my enduro and eMTB since well before winter and I feel I’ve put in enough…
Merida Matts J24+ | For the Mini-Shredder with Big Dreams
Eliza Marsh swings a leg over the Merida Matts J24+ little-hitter from Merida It’d be easy to sweep an abstracted eye over photos of the Merida Matts J24+ and assume it’s a much larger machine, as might befit (for example) an over-tall portly writer in…
RockShox Zeb Ultimate review: new big hitter on the block
Ross reviews the 38mm RockShox Zeb Ultimate, a big and burly enduro fork made to bridge the gap between the Lyrik and Boxxer. 2021 Editors’ Choice This fork features in our Singletrackworld Editors’ Choice 2021 round-up. Ross: “I’ve said it plenty of times before, and…
Exclusive First Ride Review: The Brand New Transition Spur
We’ve been lucky enough to have the all new Transition Spur in for an exclusive first ride test ahead of its launch. The brand new Transition Spur sees Transition entering a new sector of the market and the Spur is designed as a 29” wheeled,…