Singletrack World Magazine Forum - Recent Topics

Cwm yr Rhayader update.

Ambrose — Sat, 04 Apr 2026 21:26:15 +0000

Cwm yr Rhaeadr is one of my favourite trails but it was devastated by the storms two or three years ago. It wasn't just trees across the trail, it was the hanging death of hung-up trunks high above just waiting to drop. I was told that there's over a decade of work to sort Caio forest nearby so I had no hopes that Cwm yr Rhaeadr would've sorted anytime soon.

Anyway I took a spin up today. The lower section is still open and just as much fun as always although it is a bit slippy due to lack of traffic.

As I pedalled up to the very top it was good to see new signage.

There's a lot of forestry work going on at the top. Tillhill have a bunch of machines clear-felling so the tapes across the trail are there for very good reasons. If you do manage to get past the storage box the final single track climb is wholly clear all the way to the top of the descent. Logging is ongoing here, there's no sign of the trail under the carnage but at least work has started.

So... TLDR

Things are looking up.

Chest heart rate monitor - recommendation?

Caher — Sat, 04 Apr 2026 20:40:14 +0000

My current heart rate monitor went kaput tonight after 10 years of use. Maybe due to my fine performances. Anyway I think I need new one. I use it mainly for Zwift indoors and my wahoo when outside.

Most grateful for a recommendation. I'd prefer one I recharge but battery is ok. Bluetooth.

Thanks.

Logging in - Link verification from StripeLink

CountZero — Sat, 04 Apr 2026 19:59:25 +0000

As the title says, I’ve just found myself having to log back in, with a request to update my account, and at the same time I’ve had a message on my phone with a Link verification code from some entity called StripeLink. Anyone know what this is? I’ve not had this happen before, I don’t know if the two are connected, or what StripeLink is supposed to do?

Conspiracy Corner

billabong987 — Sat, 04 Apr 2026 18:03:45 +0000

I enjoy a good conspiracy theory, flat earth, hollow earth, aliens, Jews control the world, 9/11 was an inside job, Covid was made in a lab, Trump arranged his own near assassination. Let’s hear them here as a bit of fun.
I think something is going on with UFO/UAP, I’m not saying it’s aliens but it’s something. Gone are the days where it was Cletus from Hicksville saying they’ve seen something, now we have air force personnel, scientists and US senators coming out with weird stories. Maybe it’s aliens, inter dimensional beings, time travel, demons, highly advanced tech or a psyop. I have no idea what the truth is but I’m convinced it’s something and it’s fun to speculate.
Let’s hear what you’ve got.

Carbon fork bung/expander - long/grippy

garage-dweller — Sat, 04 Apr 2026 17:04:45 +0000

Eldest has enthusiastically tightened his loose headset on the road bike and pulled the steerer bung a bit.

I've reset it BUT I don't think it's gripping especially well. I suspect it's just "polished" the inside of the steerer when it slipped.

I'd like to put in a longer / especially grippy one that might get below the existing one (about 40-50mm).

Has anyone found any especially reliable ones?

Deda Elementi is available at 70mm but even a touch longer would be good. 1 1/8 steerer.

Thanks

Vittoria tyres

TomZesty — Sat, 04 Apr 2026 16:51:41 +0000

Seen a few deals on Vittoria tyres on bike tart. Has anyone got any experience of the brand for trail bike tyres? Most of the times I see them is on more xc style bikes on bike packing.com.
Would be looking at the Mazza I guess for the front and not sure for the back - Mezcal or Barzo maybe? Want toughish but not enduro heavy. Currently running a Spesh Butcher up front and a Purgatory on the back.

Can tubeless tyres just wear too thin?

PJay — Sat, 04 Apr 2026 16:35:54 +0000

I have slow pressure loss from my rear tyre. Pumped up it's fine for a ride but next morning it's lost most (but not all) of its pressure. No sign of a foreign body, no seepage of sealant and no obvious cause, I've even replaced the presta core just in case.

The tyre's done a fair few miles and given me sterling service (virtually all on tarmac); it's a semi-slick (Continental Hardpack) and the light tread has pretty much worn away. The thing is, the previous tyre exhibited exactly the same symptoms at pretty much the same stage of wear.

Since the Hardpacks can be picked up for £20 each at the moment I think I'll just replace it and save myself the angst of trying to track down what the problem is, but I was wondering whether it's possible to wear a tubeless tyre thin enough that it struggles to hold air (although the wear doesn't seem extreme and I've worn tubed tyres well beyond this).

The sealant was refreshed a few weeks back so small leaks & punctures should be sealing.

Kitchen fitter and opinionated amateurs. Hand placement content.

joshvegas — Sat, 04 Apr 2026 14:55:00 +0000

Didn't think this one through and failed to notice the narrow top frame...

I am confident whichever solution the top one is in the other look best as they are. But i need opinion on options one and two or three (push to pop out doohicky) or possibly even 4 (make a super wide one that fits the fron and ends up as a handy towel rail (which gets in the way of the drawers below)

https://i.postimg.cc/LqHxKLq6/IMG-20260404-154550843-HDR-AE.jpg

https://i.postimg.cc/SXygFCXy/IMG-20260404-154602507-HDR-AE.jpg

https://i.postimg.cc/xk06DMkf/IMG-20260404-154615060-HDR-AE.jpg

Bonus lola content to illustrate how the kitchen would typically be viewed... Partially obscured by greedy bastard

Help a mechanical dunce - car drop link(?) content

timmys — Sat, 04 Apr 2026 12:01:30 +0000

Quick question. Car is a Peugeot e208.

Before I make an idiot of myself in when talking to a mechanic...

Am I right in thinking this is a 'drop link'? (Thing it is bolted to is the front shock absorber)

Is a split rubber gaiter on one of these an MOT failure? (to judge how urgently I need it sorted!)

Do you think this is the likely cause of a knocking sound I've had from the front? I'm going to assume yes, but the thing feels solid as a rock when I try and move it, I can't detect any play at all.

Mahle i35 and Iwoc - will not turn on

matt_outandabout — Sat, 04 Apr 2026 11:24:04 +0000

Bike was put away fully charged and turned off. Stored indoors.

Two weeks later = will not turn on at all.

When plugged in to the charger in get a solid white light, not flashing 'charging' light. When plugged in I can get it to flash green three times, but it refuses to turn on or connect to app.

Any ideas or suggestions?