This week we chat e-MTB racing – yes really! Plus New kit from MucOff, holidays, stuff that Ross keeps breaking and we hear from our Mega Sack winner who popped by in a really small car to collect his van load of winnings. Andi gets…
Everything
When and where are the 2020 UCI MTB World Cup and World Champ Races?
Here are all the dates, and places of the 2020 UCI MTB World Cup and World Champs races. While writing up this story, I realised that we’re only a few weeks from the start of the UCI MTB World Cup season but where and when…
Fresh Goods Friday 488
“Splish, splash, sploosh… whirr… whirr” – which is either the sound of the endless rain here, combined with the TurboTrainer Of Desperation… OR it’s the sound of espresso being delivered into our new mugs to the sound of the Wega coffee machine’s resilient motor… This…
Dorval AM Team announces 2020 sponsors
Just when you thought DH Team news was coming to an end, Dorval shows up with a host of new sponsors. The Dorval AM Racing DH Team has announced it’s full roster of team sponsors for the 2020 season, reminding us that the world of…
iceBike* 2020 – News from Thule, Park, Pro, Lazer and more
We’ve just been spending the day down in windy Milton Keynes for iceBike* 2020, Madison’s house show where it had many of its brands on display and lots of new bits and pieces on show for the coming year. DT Swiss dropper This was our…
Review | EXT Storia V3 – The Last Shock You’ll Ever Need To Buy?
The EXT Storia LOK V3 is a high end, Italian coil shock. I first spoke with EXT at Eurobike in 2017, but at the time they didn’t have a UK distributor. Enter Chris Porter, with Mojo Rising. Before talking about the hardware or the setup,…
E-MTB Cross-country World Cup announced by UCI
e-MTB fans have a few more dates to add to their calendar with the announcement of the UCI e-MTB Cross-country World Cup! Race fans will be happy to learn that another e-MTB race series sanctioned by the UCI has been revealed. The UCI E-Mountain Bike…
Review | Manitou Mara Pro – Do You Like To Party?
Manitou, and parent Hayes Group have spent a while focussed on enduro-type products, from forks, to brakes, wheels and now this new Mara Pro shock. In Sanskrit, the word mara means “death”, which is pretty much the exact opposite of what I’d hope to get…
Norco Sight VLT 29 – Next Gen All-Mountain E-bike
Norco has just released its latest e-MTB. With an internal battery, 29in wheels, 150mm frame travel and 160mm forks. Press release below: Norco Bicycles is excited to announce their next generation of electric All-Mountain full suspension bike. The 2020 Sight VLT 29 is an exciting…
Nina Hoffmann | The Newest Stif MTB Team Rider
Stif Mountain Bikes is ready to kick start the 2020 race season, announcing that rising DH World Cup star, Nina Hoffmann, will be flying the Stif Mountain Bikes flag across the globe throughout 2020. The press release reads: ‘In 2019 the 23-year old German racer…
HUNT Mountain Announce 2020 Athletes
Despite having only launched the wheel range in May 2018, the HUNT family continues to grow with the addition of three new team members for 2020. Official press release: From National Downhill Champions to Top 20 EWS racers, full time athletes and those splitting time…
Tahnee Seagrave Breaks Her Ankle Putting Her Season In Doubt
Pro DH star Tahnee Seagrave has announced she’s broken her ankle while riding this weekend. Her Instagram account detailed her time in hospital and includes some unpleasant images and video of her ankle being ‘corrected’. Despite the break and the obvious implications for her upcoming…
Review: The Kona Libre AL steers clear of niches
I’ve never been a huge fan of the term “gravel”, as applied to bikes. I can see the need for a term to describe machines that sit somewhere between cyclocross and tourers, but it’s always been infuriatingly imprecise. A gravel bike, as defined by the…
Forestal Begins The Big Tease With New Images
That secretive tech/bike company, Forestal, have begun a series of teasers on social media leading to speculation that a bike launch might be over the horizon. For those of you who haven’t been keeping a close eye on them, Forestal is an Andorran based mountain…
Singletrack Fresh Goods Friday Podcast 487 | ebikes, Cedric Gracia and more ebikes
We are not new to Podcasts. In fact in much the same way that Mark was a first generation skateboarder back in the early 80’s, Singletrack got on the Podcast bandwagon way back in the early days of the ‘noughtes’ when they first became a…
Forget Love, This is Where The Hot Stuff Is | FGF 487
Chipps is back from holiday, Andi is on holiday, and Hannah is about to go on holiday. We are like ships in the night. Or underpaid shift workers sharing a small bedsit in London. Or celestial bodies that occasionally come in to line creating some…
Commencal Meta TR SX | A Bike For Those That Party?
Commencal reveals the new Meta TR SX, a bike for those ‘who want to ride harder and stronger and who think that enjoying oneself is most important’. It’s for those that want to play, not race. Take a moment to appreciate it – we have…
New Salsa Rustler in Aluminium, Plus New Range Colours
Salsa has revealed the new line up of colours and builds for the Salsa Horsethief, Spearfish and Rustler, plus a new Rustler frame in Aluminium. UK riders a can stand down however: due to import costs, you’ll only be getting the carbon frameset options here…
YT Jeffsy Primus | A Full Suspension Bike For The Young And Talented
It makes sense that YT should launch a kids’ bike, given they’ve been scouting the world for new Young Talent. So here it is: the Jeffsy Primus. There are two bikes in the range, one with 24 inch wheels, and one with 26 inch wheels…
Atherton Bikes Release First Fifty Bikes For Sale
News just in from Atherton Bikes. The first fifty (so exclusive that they have their own #firstfifty hashtag) bikes have been released for sale today. It’s expected that once these bikes are sold through that a more regular production schedule will start to roll out.…
Grand Canyon:ON | A ‘New Generation’ e-MTB Hardtail
Canyon expands its e-MTB range with a new hardtail, the Grand Canyon:ON. The e-MTB version of the Grand Canyon, the Grand Canyon:ON uses a Shimano E8000 motor with 504wH battery integrated into the down tube to provide e-assist. The battery can be removed for charging…
Nukeproof Cub Scout | Bikes For The Mini-Shredders
Nukeproof reveals a range of bikes for the future Sam Hills in your family: the Nukeproof Cub Scout. Launching the bikes, which will be available on sale from 14th February (just in time for half term, perhaps), Nukeproof says: “In-line with most new products to…
The Hate Guide to Bikepacking
We spotted this research paper, published on Facebook. We thought that like any reputable and reliable research, it should be peer reviewed, so we’re placing it before you for appraisal and statistical analysis. Thanks to Ansgar Baums for allowing this seminal work to be reproduced…
Troy Lee launches the brand new D4 Full Face Helmet
Incredibly, it’s 11 years since the Troy Lee D3 helmet launched, bringing all of Troy Lee’s famous design flair together with a very distinctive full face helmet design. The D3 is probably one of the most iconic and instantly recognisable helmets out there. Until now!…
Bontrager Releases New GR2, wait… what? Gravel Shoes
Ha! Bet you didn’t know that you needed special shoes for riding gravel, did you? Bontrager begs to differ and has just launched the new Bontrager GR2 gravel shoes in two different colours, ready for all of that gravel riding and perhaps even the odd…
Crankbrothers launches affordable Alloy Synthesis Wheelsets for XCT, Enduro and E-Bikes
Crankbrothers has added an alloy version of the Synthesis wheelset to its range offering tuned wheel action for riders not wanting carbon. It was around this time last year that I headed to Innerleithen to join the launch and ride on the new carbon Synthesis…
Matt Simmonds Launches ProLine Coaching
Following on from rumours earlier this year, UK downhiller Matt Simmonds has announced he’s taking a step away from world cup racing this year to focus on the British National scene and his new venture ProLine MTB. Full press release below. Over a decade of…
Been Off The Bike? You Need To Watch This | Innes Graham, Racing Killed The Love
If you’ve been off the bike and struggling to get out, then you need to watch this. Actually you should watch it whatever you’ve been doing, and listen to what Innes Graham has to say. This video shows Innes Graham getting back on a bike…
The Merida EX Enduro Returns for 2020
The Merida EX Enduro returns in 2020 with perfect trails, stunning scenery and possibly the best food and drink ever served at a mountain bike event. The Merida EX Enduro is an all-inclusive, three-day enduro mountain bike event like no other in the UK. It’s…
Santa Cruz Launches New Heckler – And It’s An E-MTB
Some people thought it would never happen… well now it has: Santa Cruz has revealed its e-MTB, the Heckler. Based around a Bronson with re-tuned VPP suspension kinematics, the new Heckler has 150mm rear travel paired with a 160mm fork. 27.5in wheels – a matching…
Danny Hart | Between The Races
Ever wondered what Danny Hart does when he’s not racing? Does he nip down to his local pub for a pint? Does he like a nice G&T in a fancy glass, or a pint of mild in the local Working Men’s Club? Maybe he keeps…
Votes For Women (‘s Cycling Awards)
Well, this is all rather embarrassing and uncomfortable, but I’ve been told I’ve got to tell you that I’ve been nominated for an award, at the inaugural Women’s Cycling Awards, created by the London Bike Show and Cycling UK. Here goes…. I’d find this a…
Singletrack Magazine Issue 129 | Chris Akrigg: Quick. Change.
Chipps quizzes Chris Akrigg just before he announces his new bike sponsor, GT, after 12 years on Mongoose. Words & Photography Chipps I’m watching Chris Akrigg ride a bike through his local Yorkshire woods, and there’s something different about him. It’s nothing to do with…
Review | Kinesis Rise E-Trail Hardtail
The Kinesis Rise E-trail is an e-Bike like nothing else I’ve ridden before, so what did I think of its lightweight approach? UK brand Kinesis has taken the idea of a hardcore hardtail and combined it with a lightweight motor package to create an e-Hardtail…
MTB Video Vault | Put Your Feet Up and Get Inspired
If you’re going to spend time in front of a screen it may as well inspire you to get out and ride, or put you in a state of awe. Much better than mindless staring at the pseudo-drama lives of some fictitious residents of a…
Exclusive: Kilian Bron’s travel diary to the Eolian Island Volcanoes
Kilian Bron recently shot an epic video on active volcanoes with Commencal. Read his adventure diary from that trip here. We often tend to travel to the other side of the world to deliver media projects, but this time, we opted to go somewhere closer…
Have a fiver on us.
Yes, we want to give you £5.00. It really is almost that straight forward. This Sunday evening everyone on our newsletter list will be sent a £5.00 discount voucher code for our curious and ever changing Singletrack Merch Shop. Then simply pop over to the…
Sun Ringle Düroc SD37 Pro Wheels | For Rim Dingers
We sent David ‘Dinger’ Hayward out to beat up these Sun Ringle Düroc SD37 Pro wheels, available as both a rim only or complete wheelset option. Will his reputation as a wheel bruiser be dented, or will it be the wheels that take the damage?…
Commencal / Muc-Off Team Plans to clean up in 2020!
Commencal and Muc-Off have teamed up for the 2020 WC Downhill season. Will they clean up? Commencal has parted ways with Vallnord to form a new partnership with Muc-Off, makers of the pink soapy stuff many of us use to keep our bikes clean, lubed…
The 'We're Clinging On' Edition | FGF 486
Mark has been ill, Hannah has been broken, Chipps is on a road bike, Amanda had a nap in the office, Ross hasn’t broken anything, Andi has been going for walks, Tom has been making something exciting, Andy has been listening to Roy Orbison, Charlie…
Singletrack Magazine Issue 129 : One Last Run
Tim Oates looks at why you should never give in to that one extra run after you’ve stopped for the day. Words Tim Oates If I get out early in the morning, ride straight out of the car park and have a huge crash-and-burn, it’s…
Singletrack Magazine Issue 129 | Guiding light
Tom Hill looks at why hiring a local guide, despite GPS and the internet – even in our over-explored island – is still money well spent. Words Tom Hill Photography Duncan Philpott Our group paused at the high point of the ride. Huge wind turbines…
Singletrack Magazine Issue 129 | You should never go back…
Sanny reflects upon whether trail nirvana lightning can strike twice. Words & Photography Sanny They say that you should never go back. If you have experienced what you consider to be trail perfection, do you risk tarnishing the memory? If the tumblers and stars aligned…
Singletrack Magazine Issue 129 | Ode to climbs
Self-confessed climb-lover Rich Rothwell reckons that you’re missing out on half the fun if you don’t learn to love the ups as much as the downs. Words Rich Rothwell
9 New Bikes In 7 Days! Catch Up With The Bikes Of The Week
It’s been a mad mad week here at Singletrack Towers. It’s not even a trade show, or a big festival, so why are all these new 2020 bikes appearing just as Andi ‘Content Machine’ Sykes and Chipps ‘Contact List’ Chippendale are on their holidays? Anyway,…
Singletrack Magazine Issue 129 : Interview : Cedric Gracia
Andi gets Cedric Gracia to slow down for long enough to spend five minutes answering the questions we ask everyone. Words Andi Photography Forestal Tell us who you are, what do you do and why we should go for a ride with you. Well, I’m…
Singletrack Magazine Issue 129 : International Adventure : What’s Zermatt’er With You?
Emma and Carly head off to a different part of the mountains in their home-made camper. This time, it’s Zermatt and the Matterhorn that are getting all the attention. Only now, Carly does the storytelling… Words Carly Frame Photography Emma Whitaker It’s been one whole…
Take Control Of Your Singletrack Membership!
Thank you for joining our Singletrack community – we appreciate you supporting our work. We’re an independent UK publisher, and everything you see in Singletrack Magazine or on Singletrackworld.com is pulled together by our small team of dedicated staff. By joining our community you help…
Cody Kelley Joins Specialized
We speculated previously that Cody Kelley might be heading to Yeti along with Jared Graves. However, with Graves leaving Specialized, that’s created a space – which Kelley will be filling. The American rider, who rode for Alchemy last year and ranked 14th overall at the…
Tweedlove Seeks To Break Down The Barriers For Females In Enduro
Tweedlove organisers are keen to encourage women to take part in the sport, and they’ve issued this press release covering what they think the issues are, and what they’re doing about it: There is no denying that cycling is a male dominated sport. It is…
Unior Devinci Factory Racing Signs Greg Callaghan and Patrick Laffey
More Team Rumours turn to Team Facts, as Unior Devinci Factory Racing signs Greg Callaghan and Patrick Laffey. Press release follows: Greg has been racing the Enduro World Series from the very beginning and has been able to grow with the sport. Ireland’s best mountain…
