If you’re new to the world of mountain bikes, you might find it an unfathomable world of tech jargon, incompatible standards, and marketing babble. To cut through it all, you might go in search of advice, from other humans that ride bikes. Maybe you find your way to the Singletrack World Forum. Here, surely, you will be able to ask a sensible question like ‘Hello, I’m new here, maybe you can help me. I’ve got £1500 to spend on a bike, what should I get for riding around blue trails, maybe some reds when I get better?’. Yes, you will probably get some answers. But you will likely also get cryptic responses. What follows isn’t so much a glossary, as a bingo card. Welcome to the Singletrack World Forum, in all its wonderful weirdness.

Advice. Often sought, sometimes received, always conflicting.
B is for Bees. To be carried ceremonially on a Laura Ashley cushion. And Big Hitters.

Think you know bikes? Do you even XCO? Have yourself a short travel quiz and see which bikes you can identify.

Twist your melon and cast your mind back for the answers to this mostly cryptic crossword. The answers are there, don’t let all the anodising dazzle you! And beware of googling the answers – it may lead to accidental nostalgia purchases. Mark is unimpressed. How will you do?

As a Singletrack subscriber, you have access to Singletrack Rewards – a wide range of bike related discounts that can save you money! This survey is to gather feedback on these rewards and how we may be able to improve. As a thank you, one lucky person will win a…

But perhaps there’s a possible option that might see bikes put to good use, and actually generate demand in years to come? Take a look at the USA and I think you’ll see a potential answer: High School mountain biking.

This piece was originally published as the editorial in our Weekly Word newsletter. It’s free and available to anyone who signs up. There’s also the Members’ newsletter – only available to paid up subscribers. Sign up to both or either here. When we put on our rose tinted spectacles and…

Before marketing bods sat around in ball pools having thought bombs, these are some of the logos and head badges that were being used. How many do you remember?

Off the back of a couple of stories we’ve published, and a suggestion from someone in the Forum, we thought we’d give you a bit of a guide to spotting a scam bicycle sales website. Even if they pass all these tests, if something smells off… well, be careful. How…