Red. Rocks. Hannah takes a mountain biker’s pilgrimage. Words & Photography Hannah
Everything
Giant Reign Advanced Pro 29 0 | First Ride Review
James Vincent has been to Canada to ride the new Giant Reign Advanced Pro 29. Read on to see what he thought… As new bike launches go, this one has been pretty special. Giant pulled out all the stops until there were no more stops…
Giant Reign 29 | The Reign of 27.5 is over! Long live the 29er!
In a somewhat inevitable and not wholly unexpected move, Giant’s long travel enduro race bike, The Giant Reign 29, will be rolling on 29in wheels for 2020. The new Giant Reign is a direct replacement for the previous model and sits above the Trance 29…
First Look | Custom 2020 Kona Process 134
On the day of the 2020 Kona Process 134 launch, we take an exclusive look at a very special custom build. Absent from the range for a couple of years, Kona has now relaunched the shorter travel version of their popular Process bike, the Kona…
2020 Kona Process 134 released after two and a half years in the making!
The shorter travel Kona Process 134 receives a well-deserved update and makeover for 2020 with a new frame 2 wheel sizes and both alloy and carbon versions. While it never left the Kona range of bikes, the Process 134 has been rocking the older frame…
2020 Specialized Epic is THE lightest hardtail on the market
The 2020 Specialized Epic HT – Same Same, But Different Wil reports on the new Specialized no-mercy XC race hardtail. Back in June this year, I was invited out to Lake Tahoe in the US for the Specialized Summer Camp. We were there to test…
Box Prime 9 is a 9-speed cassette for the 12-speed generation
Box Component’s new Prime 9 cassette offers the range of a 12-speed but improved chain line. Box Components often releases drivetrain components that are a little different from what the rest of the industry has been doing. It’s first mountain bike drivetrain featured a unique…
Giro Tyrant – The New Halfshell Helmet For Jumpers And Jibbers
Are you a bit of a jibber? Do you like to bust some phat airs? Then Giro has got a helmet for you – the Giro Tyrant. Today, Giro is launching a helmet that, for a change, isn’t designed to go fast, or be super…
US Custom Builder Sklar Introduces Sweet Spot – for those with deep pockets.
US custom frame builder Adam Sklar introduces an off-the-peg steel do-it-all hardtail. Perhaps better known for custom made titanium and steel mountain bikes and all-road bikes, US builder Sklar Bikes is going a little more mainstream with a stock build, trail-focused mountain bike: the Sklar…
Pathfinding again. Reviewed: Sven updates its stainless do-it-all and we ride it
Two years on from the original, does the Pathfinder still hold its own amongst a new wave of rowdy gravel bikes?
E for Environment – Are E-Bikes Green Technology?
Antony addresses the questions of whether e-bikes are green technology, or an environmental red herring. A few weeks back I found myself writing a response to an article in the Times newspaper. Someone there had caught wind of the fact that you can now buy…
FGF 459 | The Soggy Edition Of Fresh Goods Friday
It’s been one of those ‘it can only get better from here’ weeks. Devastating flash floods in Swaledale resulting in Ard Rock being cancelled for the first time, the silver lining being that the organisers have big hearts and are raffling off a very nice…
Hope HB130 – The New 29in Trail Bike On The Block
Today, Hope is officially launching it’s 29er trail bike – the Hope HB130. Now, it’s fair to say that this bike hasn’t exactly been the best kept secret in the world. But, like many things Hope manufactures, if the engineers there are going to develop…
Indonesia’s Patrol releases 4 New Bikes for 2020
Earlier today I posted a first look at the new Patrol E-Six, but that 150mm travel enduro e-Bike wasn’t all Patrol has launched this year. A few weeks ago I was lucky, really lucky, to visit Bali to soak up the sights and take a…
2020 Patrol E-Six first look at this Indonesian e-MTB
Indonesian mountain bike brand, Patrol, joins the e-MTB space race for 2020 with the new Patrol E-Six. An Enduro e-MTB with some serious power. There are a lot of mountain bike brands around the world but even so, it’s still pretty surprising when a brand…
Ard Rock GoFundMe | Swaledale Floods Fundraising Giveaway – Win A Santa Cruz
Following the devastating flash floods that have hit parts of Yorkshire the annual Ard Rock Enduro festival has been cancelled. The news has hit hard within the mountain biking community with many entrants and non-entrants alike offering support, both financially and personally. Today, the Ard…
Introducing Spanner Bike – the Titanium Tailor for Discerning Gentlefolk
We love getting these emails. Every now and then, someone lets us know they have created a new bike company. Whether the end result is a bike that we’d like to call our own or not (and in this case, we are very tempted), it’s…
Interview | Zack Rundell: ‘Mountain Biking Saved My Life’
Hannah chats to Zack Rundell, the U.S. high school mountain biking success aiming to inspire others to let bikes change their lives. While out in Idaho I attended a ‘Draft Meet Up’ – a community event combining beer and bikes, where locals and visitors get…
Ard Rock Enduro Festival 2019 Cancelled
We’ve just heard that the organisers of the 2019 Ard Rock Enduro have had to take the difficult decision to cancel this weekend’s event due to biblical rainstorms that have led to flash flooding in Swaledale. In scenes that mirror the unfortunate Malverns Classic in…
Endura MT500JR – Danny MacAskill’s Best Selling Helmet, For Kids!
There’s now a junior version of Danny MacAskill’s best-selling helmet, the MT500JR. Endura present some amazing riding snippets of their Little Nippers nailing jumps and showing off their skills, kitted out in the latest helmet release for younger MTB riders, the Endura MT500 JR Youth…
New MET Terranova – The More Affordable Enduro Helmet
MET has made a new addition to their range for trail and all-mountain riders on a lower budget. Following the success of the Roam, the Terranova offers the same coverage at a lower price for riders just starting out on enduro riding that maybe don’t…
Cedric Gracia will make your own custom Únic riding kit
The flying Frenchman, Cedric Gracia, has today announced another company that he is involved with. Únic is aimed at bringing riders custom mountain clothing at affordable prices. If you’ve been looking through you mountain bike clothing wardrobe recently and thought about adding an injection of…
First Look | The New Identiti Mettle
Back in 2017, after three years of development by Pat Campbell Jenner and Michael Bonney, Identiti launched its first ever enduro bike – the Mettle. Previously more well known for dirt jump bikes, the Mettle was the brands first full suspension bike and today Identiti…
The New Yeti SB140 Is Yeti’s 27.5in Trail Slayer
It was the big unfilled hole in the line, so it was no great surprise to see the Yeti SB140 launching today a couple of weeks after the SB165 but it’s arguably a much more important bike for UK riders (or any trail riders without…
New Bike Packing Event | Dunoon Dirt Dash
Details of a new bikepacking event: the Dunoon Dirt Dash, organised by a couple of familiar names. You probably know who Charlie the Bikemonger is. Now, he’s Charlie the Ex Bikemonger, and he’s turning his attention to event organising. Not that that’s a new thing…
#MakingUpTheNumbers | National DH Champs – Revolution Bike Park
It was the National Downhill Championships at the weekend – how did our team of podium hopefuls (hope springs eternal…) get on? “Have you seen any older bikes?” Binnsy asks Kris Lord, of his 2014 Saracen Myst. Kris looks down at his pride and joy…
Exclusive! Sneak Peek | Prototype FS Enduro Bike From Privateer Bikes
Your first chance to check out the new prototype Privateer 161 FS Enduro Bike From Privateer Bikes. You might have heard of The Rider Firm.CC, the parent company behind Hunt Wheels, Cairn Bikes and Dissent 133 clothing. There’s another spawn…er…spawning in the form of Privateer…
FGF 458 | Not Very Fresh, Quite Humid and Slightly Flaccid Goods Friday
We have been wondering what might be the worst job to have in a heatwave. We’re torn between the reprographics room in an office, or grill chef in a kitchen. It’s certainly not us. While we have definitely been melting in the office as we…
First Ride Review: Is The Sonder Cortex The 120mm Travel Trail Bike You Should Be Riding?
Andi gets an exclusive first ride review of the latest 120mm travel full-suspension bike from Sonder. Meet the 2020 Sonder Cortex. Sonder, the bike brand of Alpkit, has been making waves in the British mountain bike world for a couple of seasons now, and with…
New SRAM AXS Force/Eagle combo available for 3T Exploro
3T joins a handful of manufacturers offering mix-and-match SRAM AXS
Combine e-MTB Guided Riding and Michelin Starred Dining in the Cotswolds
This Article is sponsored by Cotswolds Finest Hotels Cotswold based bike hire and guiding specialists Wild Carrot Cycling have joined forces with one of the most luxurious hotels in the area to combine the riding with the very best in culinary experiences. If you are…
Grinduro Japan Launches This Saturday. Race Is October 12th
Grinduro, the seminal gravel experience where having a good time at the party is just as important as going fast in the race, has announced the location of its inaugural Japanese event, with tickets going on sale 12:00 noon (Japan Standard Time) 27 July 2019,…
Bike Check | Andy’s Stooge MK4
We pause on a ride to fondle the new Stooge MK4, a rigid framed steel bike. In case you’re not already aware, Singletrack Towers is based in what is probably the greatest valley in England: the Calder Valley. Steep climbs and descents, rolling moorland and…
Stay Cool! 5 Top Heatwave Tips For Mountain Bikers
We bring you our top tips for beating the heat and keeping cool while pedalling. Yes, there’s a heatwave. And yes, this article was born from a heat induced stream of consciousness while we sat around in the office eating emergency ice cream and Gin…
Making Up The Numbers Podcast Episode 3 | Will Longden
Our very own racer of mediocrity, George Thompson, sits down with Will Longden to continue his Making Up The Numbers Podcast for the 2019 season in association with Hope Technology, Revolution Bike Park and us, Singletrack. Hello and welcome to a very special Making Up The Numbers…
Kona launches aluminium version of its Libre gravel bike
Aluminium frame lowers the price point of one of our favourite gravel bikes
Making Up The Numbers Podcast Episode 2 | Jack Reading
Our very own racer of mediocrity, George Thompson, has started a brand new Downhill World Cup, Making Up The Numbers Podcast for the 2019 season in association with Hope Technology, Revolution Bike Park and us, Singletrack. Welcome to the second episode of the Making Up The…
Vote In Our Poll | What Do You Look For In A Trail Helmet?
What do you look for in a trail helmet? Much has been made of new helmet technology of late, with companies trying to out compete each other on their safety claims, a plethora of detachable chin bars, and all kinds of attachment points. But do…
7mesh introduces modular jersey pocket approach – the Anything System
Before we go on, I’ll admit, it took me a couple of reads of this press release to get what was going on. We think it is probably one of those things that is easier shown in the flesh than it is described. Anyway, posh…
No UK Rounds For Enduro World Series 2020
We’ve just heard from the EWS that it has settled on its 2020 dates. And once again we’re disappointed to see that the UK doesn’t feature at all again in the Enduro World Series 2020 dates. And even hugely popular Ireland misses out next year.…
British MTB National Championships | New Champions And Old Faces
The British National Mountain Bike Championships took place this weekend, with the Downhill event at Revolution Bike Park in Wales, and the XC National Championships taking place at Cannock Chase. After a spell of dry weather, rains came in on Friday and Saturday, changing the…
Singletrack Reader Awards 2019 – Nominations Open!
Nominations will close at 9am on Monday 5th August! Don’t miss out on your chance to show your appreciation for your favourite bikes, kit, trails and people… The Singletrack Reader Awards are awards given to a bunch of deserving individuals and companies by you the…
Rider Inspiration | Clothing and Protection Designed by Dakine
Dakine takes what it has learned from designing technical mountain bike clothing over the years and combines it with some rider input, including a special edition “Aggy” print. The 2019 range of Dakine clothing manages to balance technically impressive features with freeride ready style and…
Bike Check | Sixth Element Bespoke Ti Kingdom With Olympic Wheels
This bike came to us because of the wheels – they’re Sixth Element’s latest XC race wheel, the Pro XC, launched today. But we got a bit distracted by the bike. So here’s a full run down of the bike, and if it’s the fancy…
3 New Carbon Wheels From Sixth Element
Sixth Element has added three new wheels to its range. We bring you an exclusive run down of your carbon latest wheel options. UK wheel builder Sixth Element has quickly gained a reputation for good value carbon wheels with a strong customer service focus –…
FGF 457 | Yo Ho Ho and A Bottle Of Rum!
It’s raining outside, after a week of lovely weather. Which must mean: the English school summer holidays start today! Yes, today children across the bottom half of the UK quit pretending that they’ve done any work since they sat their SATs, teachers start growing beards,…
No Women’s BMX at X Games | Athletes demand competition, not demos
Female BMX riders have criticised X Games for failing to provide a women’s competition for BMX, despite previous successful demo events. Story updated 22 July with quote from multi-time X Games medallist, Ryan Nyquist. X Games, which offers competition in a range of ‘Street’ sports,…
Review | Ti Hard – Sonder Signal Ti
Our very own Bruce Willis lookalike, Andi Sykes, tested out three titanium hardtails from Kingdom, Nordest and Sonder for Issue 122 of Singletrack Magazine. Here is his review of the Sonder Signal Ti. As I’m sure you all know, but Sonder is the bike branch…
Review | Ti Hard – Nordest Bardino Ti
Our very own Bruce Willis lookalike, Andi Sykes, tested out three titanium hardtails from Kingdom, Nordest and Sonder for Issue 122 of Singletrack Magazine. Here is his review of the Nordest Bardino Ti. Easily the rarest of our titanium trio is the Nordest Bardino Ti.…
