Tom Hutton goes deep into the Czech Republic to discover a world of epic trails and amazing scenery. And the odd earworm too. Words & Photography tom hutton Is this the real life? Is this just fantasy? Caught in a landslide, with no escape from…
Singletrack Magazine issue 123 : You Can’t Script Adventure
Scribbles on a map and someone else’s GPX files can never substitute local knowledge. Unfortunately James McKnight didn’t have any of that and, as he discovered, he was soon in way over his head in some of the Pyrenees’ most remote countryside. Words James McKnight…
Singletrack Magazine issue 123 : 25 Years Of Chipps
January 2019 marked 25 years of Chipps being a full-time bike journalist. Here, he pulls up some of the highlights of a quarter of a century that spans cantilever brakes to e-bikes and McRoy to Minnaar. On 4th January 1994, I walked into the Trim…
Singletrack Magazine Issue 123 : Budget Bolognese
Sanny, Dave and Matt tackle the Veneto Trail to see if it is possible to have an overseas adventure without sending the credit card into meltdown. Words & Photography sanny I don’t know about you but every time I read a piece about some adventure…
Singletrack Magazine Issue 123 : It’s Pronounced “roo-ree.”
Words & Photography Pete Scullion As I stand in a frozen Innerleithen car park trying to wrap my arms tighter around my torso in a vain effort to warm myself up, I’m slapped by the irony of having Ruaridh Cunningham battle through Edinburgh rush hour…
Singletrack Magazine Issue 123 : Last Word
adam batty a spotters guide to mountain bike groups. Finding new routes for rad rides is pretty simple nowadays. You have standardised signs and symbols that give empirical evidence to inform your choices. Elevation can be calculated. Distance can be measured. Headcam footage absorbed. Bleep…
Fit For Alien 7? Trust Message linkage fork – First Look
We had wind that something was coming from the minds of Dave Weagle, Hap Seliga, and Jason Schiers. Respectively, these guys are: arguably one of the brains behind modern mountain bike suspension and inarguably the DW-link; co-founder of Competitive Cyclist; and co-founder of EDGE (ENVE) Composites.…
Review: Maxxis Aggressor 2.5in WT DoubleDown Tyre
Maxxis has a growing range of Wide Trail (WT) mountain bike tyres, including several options with the more robust DoubleDown casing. To make sense of the range, we gathered the Aggressor, Minion DHF, Minion DHR II and Shorty in their respective WT DoubleDown outfits, and…
Here’s your chance to become a pro DH racer with the YT Mob World Tour
The YT Mob, in association with their main sponsors (YT of course), have set out a 3-year plan to discover new racing talent to join their World Cup squad in 2019. It could be you.. If you were born in either 2002 or 2003 that…
Review: Scott’s MTB Lace Comp Shoes – lace-up style and adjustability, for £79
Scott is well known for making quality bikes across the MTB spectrum, from Nino Schurter’s multiple World Championship wining Scale to Brendan Fairclough’s Gambler. However, the Swiss brand may not be as well known for producing a wide range of biking accessories and clothing too. Recently…
Review: The PUSH Elevensix Coil Shock – Two shocks for the price of three, but worth it?
Coil suspension is pretty hot right now, and it doesn’t get much hotter than the uber-expensive Elevensix coil shock from PUSH Industries. Our resident Tweed Valley tester Tom has been hammering this exotic coil shock for the past six months. Over to Tom for the…
Saddleback Takes Over UK Distribution Of PUSH Industries
UK distributor Saddleback has just announced that it will be the official home for all things PUSH Industries in the UK. As well as producing aftermarket fork seal kits, shock hardware upgrades, and a range of suspension tools and service kits, PUSH Industries has been…
Review: Scott MTB AR BOA – Clip-In Shoes With Flat Benefits
Scott is well known for making quality bikes across the MTB spectrum, from Nino Schurter’s multiple World Championship wining Scale to Brendan Fairclough’s Gambler. However, the Swiss brand may not be as well known for producing a wide range of biking accessories and clothing too. Recently…
Review: The ShredMate Computer lets you know how rad (or not) you really are…
ShredMate recently introduced a GPS sensor designed for your mountain bike, but as it turns out, this ain’t no ordinary trip computer. As well as recording your riding speed, distance and route, the ShredMate will also tell you how hard you were railing a berm,…
The Future of Mountain Biking Isn’t in the Mountains
I’ve been thinking a bit recently about the future of mountain biking, and what it might look like. There will undoubtedly be more technical innovations that make bikes faster and more fun, as well as more complicated and expensive. And naturally, those pesky e-MTBs will…
If You Don’t Own A Flannel Shirt, Are You Really A Mountain Biker?
There’s no denying it, flannel shirts are a staple item of a mountain biker’s wardrobe. Some might say they are our uniform, or even a shirt of honour, worn to let others know that we’re outdoorsy. Fashion-proof in the sense that they are (and always…
Atherton Bikes Announces 2019 Team and Sponsors
Atherton Bikes has announced it's complete team lineup and sponsors, or as they like to call them "product development partners".
Video: Craig Evans Shows Us What The Carba-Carba-Carbon Chameleon Can Really Do!
You’ve seen the launch video for the Carbon Chameleon, Oh, you’ve not? Well, you can watch it here then come back. Ok, so now you’ve seen the launch video for Santa Cruz’s new carbon hardtail, now it’s time to see just what the bike can handle.…
Cedric Gracia Leaves Santa Cruz. Could He Be Doing An “Atherton”?
Flamboyant Frenchman, Cedric Gracia announces his move away from Santa Cruz. Santa Cruz has lost another of its larger than life celebrities this week with news that Cedric Gracia will lave the company. Gracia announced in an Instagram post that he will miss riding for…
Tyre Guillotines, An E-Backpack and No Snow References – It’s Fresh Goods Friday 433
And just like that, January is over and Chipps is on holiday again. The past week has seen most of the Singletrack team struck down with some sort of illness (thanks Ross) and there have been some exciting updates to our local trails – Blue…
Interview: Cycling UK’s Julie Rand – celebrating the good stuff
For this month’s Inspiring Women interview we talk to Julie Rand, Cycling UK’s Volunteer Communications and Engagement Officer. Julie’s been mountain biking since before it was a thing, and her enthusiasm for women’s riding and mountain biking has helped steer one of the Britain’s key…
2019 Burgtec Houseshow Highlights, From Burgtec, Fox Clothing and Santa Cruz
While half of the Singletrack crew suffered in the office with sniffles and coughs, Andi and Ross escaped the lurgy filled environment and took shelter at the 2019 Burgtec Houseshow. This was the first time that Burgtec had put on their very own show, and…
Skinny Dipping #001 – ‘Puffer’s done, the rest of the season’s to come
In the modern MTB world of bike parks and 160mm full sussers it’s easy to forget that there are many other ways to ride and race mountain bikes, some of which involve actually pedalling uphill. This year on Singletrack we’re going to balance things out…
We’ve Updated The Homepage So You See Everything
You may have noticed that our homepage is populated with stories from across our content network, specifically from our individual channels...
Editors’ Choice: Chipps’ Cream Of The Crop Gear Of The Year
What a year! After enduring about four winters, we finally had the summer that everyone had been dreaming about for years. Long, dry days, a collection of riding buddies
Video: Shifting Perceptions – A new dawn for women’s MTB?
Crankworx today presents the first episode of a new three part series looking at women in mountain biking. The press release reads: “It’s a time in mountain bike history like no other. For years, women were outnumbered and underrepresented. Their accomplishments, understated. Through it all,…
Editors’ Choice: Andi’s Awards For Excellence
Over the last year, our writers have tested a bucketful of bikes, a barn load of clothing and gear, and attended a bookcase full of cycling events. Which of these, though, have tickled their fancies enough to warrant the bestowing of a coveted Singletrack Editors’…
100% crashes into the armour market with new knee and elbow pads
100% branches out into the armour market with 4 new sets of knee/elbow pads to suit all riders and all budgets. Already well respected in the goggle, helmet and glasses markets, 100% boosts its range of offerings with new knee and elbow armour products for…
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…
Santa Cruz Has A New Carba-Carba-Carba-Carba-Carbon-Chameleon
Here’s some news that we think a lot of you are going to be quite interested in; Santa Cruz Bicycles has a brand new mountain bike. Arriving as the Californian brand’s first official bike release for 2019, this one is made from carbon fibre, which…
When Niches Collide: Norco Launches The Bigfoot VLT – A Big, Fat e-MTB
Canadian brand, Norco Bicycles, has just announced a brand new 2019 mountain bike called the Bigfoot VLT.
The Return Of Ragley – Old favourites, favourable pricing
Riders around Singletrack Towers are familiar with the likes of Mmmbop and Blue Pig as local trail names. However, thanks to their origins with local designer Brant Richards, these are also bikes in the Ragley (Woods, to us locals) line up. Old favourites that have…
Singletrack Editors’ Choice Awards – Accolades from Amanda
Over the last year, our writers have tested a bucketful of bikes, a barn load of clothing and gear, and attended a bookcase full of cycling events. Which of these, though, have tickled their fancies enough to warrant the bestowing of a coveted Singletrack Editors’…
First Look: Brand New Hope HB.130 29er
Back in 2017, Hope Technology launched its first ever bike, the HB160. With an eye on racing top level EWS events the HB160 was a big travel pure enduro bike. Fast forward to 2019 and lurking in plain sight on the Hope stand at Core…
Review: The Magura HC 1 – Finger Brake Levers Change The Way Your Brakes Feel
A lever blade may seem like an odd thing to review, but as one of the contact points for your bike, it’s important. Magura started offering these single finger HC levers as an upgrade a few years ago, over the (at the time) stock two-finger…
UK’s First Indoor Bike Park Set To Open In Manchester This February
We’ve just received some very exciting news from a crew called Dirt Factory, who are set to open the UK’s very first indoor bike park – right in the heart of Manchester city centre! The Dirt Factory Indoor Bike Park will be built inside a disused…
Renthal Goes Stealth With Black On Black Fatbars
The Renthal Fatbar (and Fatbar 35) is an iconic bit of kit, used by downhillers, trail riders and enduro elites alike
Singletrack Editors’ Choice Awards – Hannah’s Top 4 Picks Of 2018
Over the last year, our writers have tested a bucketful of bikes, a barn load of clothing and gear, and attended a bookcase full of cycling events. Which of these, though, have tickled their fancies enough to warrant the bestowing of a coveted Singletrack Editors’…
Singletrack Editors’ Choice Awards – Wil’s Top 4 Products Of 2018
Over the last year, our writers have tested a bucketful of bikes, a barn load of clothing and gear, and attended a bookcase full of cycling events. Which of these, though, have tickled their fancies enough to warrant the bestowing of a coveted Singletrack Editors’…
Atherton Bikes Exclusive Interview: We Speak With, Rachel, Gee and Dan at Atherton HQ
We visited Atherton HQ where Andi had an exclusive interview with Rachel, Gee and Dan about Atherton Bikes. So it wasn’t Marin, Norco, YT or Merida. No, today’s news is much more exciting than that. If you missed the official Atherton Bikes Press Release take…
Breaking News: Atherton Bikes, The New Home Of Atherton Racing And The UK’s Latest Bike Brand
News just in that the Athertons have launched their own high-tech mountain bike company. Atherton Bikes will produce titanium lugged, carbon tubed downhill bikes to race on and to sell. In what is possibly going to be the biggest story of the year, Rachel, Gee…
Fresh Goods Friday 432 – The ‘Was That Winter?’ Edition
Arriving a little later in the day than usual, it’s Fresh Goods Friday. But fear not, the goods are still fresh. And our fingers are burning, after such frantic typing efforts. Or maybe it’s chilblains. Yes, we’ve had winter. Or some of it. Was that…
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…
Islabikes Launches ‘Icons’ Range Of Bikes For Over 65s
That headline isn’t a typo. The brand best known for changing the face of the children’s bike market has launched a range of bikes specifically for the older rider. Owner, Isla Rowntree, first designed her range of children’s bikes having discovered that the market lacked…
Review | Panzer Rim Protection takes on the big guns of the tubeless tyre insert world
Tubeless tyre inserts claim to offer additional protection for your mountain bike rim, so you can run lower tyre pressures for improved traction. The Panzer insert is one of the latest to arrive on the market, so we got our local rim-dinger, David Hayward, to…
Marzocchi Returns To Rear Shocks. Affordable Shocks From This Legendary Company.
Marzocchi is back in the rear coil shock game, with the newly announced Bomber CR shock. In keeping with the re-launch of the Bomber fork, Marzocchi (which is now owned by Fox) is aiming the Bomber at the more affordable end of the rear shock…
10 Online Deals That Will Save You A Bundle – NX Eagle, Five Ten, RockShox
Don’t worry if you missed Black Friday and the New Year Holidays, there are still some amazing online deals to be had and here are 10 of the best. SRAM NX 1×12 Eagle Just £199.99 SRAM’s NX Eagle drivetrain launched last year and offers the…
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…
Updated: Aaron Gwin, Neko Mullally and Jack Moir Make Up The Official 2019 Intense Factory Racing Team
now the news is 100% official! Aaron Gwin, Neko Mullally and Jack Moir will ride for Intense Factory Racing in 2019!
2019 Orange 329 29er Downhill Race/Park Bike Released
2019 Orange 329 gets a big wheel upgrade but promises to handle like its smaller wheeled stablemate. Orange Mountain Bikes has announced its latest, made in the UK, single pivot full suspension bike, and this time it’s a big wheeled downhill monster. The 2019 Orange…