Dan Jarvis has been involved in promoting women’s mountain biking for many years, first through his university club in Brighton, then as the head of the BN3 DH team, and finally in his commentary and advocacy for all things MTB
The Cotic Soda – Flagship Titanium Hardtail – Returns! Longshot, but Limited
New Cotic Soda They’re like buses, eh? New bikes… You turn your back for a minute and a load have turned up without you noticing – and now you have to work out which one is going to be the one to take you to…
Review: Cotic FlareMAX. Is Longshot Geometry a step too far or a step in the right direction?
The Cotic FlareMAX 29in/27.5+ was first introduced by the Peak-district based purveyors of made out of metal bicycles, in 2016. This bike here is the second iteration of Cotic’s 120mm travel, do-it-all, up-for-most-things, full suspension trail bike. While at first glance it looks familiar to…
2019 Whyte S120 and G170 C Works 29er First Look
More hot new bike news from the Cycle Show and more from the Whyte stand with a first look at the brand spanking new Whyte S150 and Whyte G170 bikes. Both models are 29er bikes, although the G170 will also be offered as a 27.5in…
2019 Whyte T130 – Now with 140mm travel! First Look
Along with the incredible looking Whyte T120 kid’s bike, Whyte also has a few more very exciting full-suspension bikes on display at the 2018 Cycle Show. We’ll have details of the Whyte S120 and G170 published later, but first of all, let’s see what Whyte…
Are these the most expensive glasses we’ve ever had? Fresh Goods Friday 415
FGF this week started off with just 2 products, but the last minute haul at the 2018 Cycle Show has fleshed it out into another bonanza of bike booty (not the ‘B’s again!). Before we get to the squawking, have a giggle at Hannah’s expense:…
Cycle Show 2018: Whyte T120 A Proper Kids Full-Susser First Look
We saw lots of nice new bikes over on the Whyte Bikes stand at the 2018 Cycle Show yesterday including the all-new Whyte S120, updated T130 and updated G170, but what took us by complete surprise is this, the Whyte T120 kids bike. The T120…
Cycle Show 2018 – Stanton Switchback FS First Look
We’ve only just arrived at the NEC for the 2018 Cycle Show but already we’re seeing some very lovely stuff. Case in point, the all-new Stanton Switchback FS. The Stanton Switchback FS shares the same suspension platform as the larger wheeled Switch9er we’ve already seen,…
Feeling Flat? 12 Tubeless Repairs that nearly all work
Back in the not so dim and distant past, when it came to repairing punctures, life was pretty simple. Pull out your half deflated tube, pore over it to find the offending hole (or two if you had experienced a pinch flat), open your Chemco…
WTF: Just what we all need – zip on tyres?
Amazing things have been achieved since the invention of the zipper in 1909 or thereabouts. We can now get dressed without the assistance of a button butler. We can leave it until the very last minute before dashing to the loo. We don’t have to…
Review: Want to run non-Boost wheels in your Boost frame/fork? VeloSolo has you covered
Remember when you could walk into a bike shop and buy a mountain bike wheel, any wheel, and then put it on your bike and it would fit? No, me neither. In fact I can barely remember going into a real bike shop unless it…
Sick Bicycles Ceases Titanium Production
Makers of titanium madness, rad T-shirts, and self proclaimed industry shakers and agitators Sick Bicycles has just announced that it is ceasing production of its titanium frames. A newsletter just issued reads (published here complete with apparent typos and odd formatting): Say goodbye to Ti…
Danny MacAskill and Claudio Caluori Take Fans On An Epic Adventure Around Graubünden
Superstars Danny MacAskill and Claudio Caluori take a group of fans for an epic ride on the trails around Graubünden, while taking in some of the locations used in the video “Home of Trails”. With over 17,000 kilometres / 10,500 miles worth of trails to…
8 Top US Metal Acts From Interbike 2018
Rather than making the long trip to the sunshine of Reno, Nevada, for this year’s Interbike trade show, we stayed home in the comfort of Todmorden rain and let roving reporter and almost-local Fahzure risk the wildfires of the American west to make the trip…
Review: Stan’s Podium SRD Wheelset Weighs Less Than 1300g
I’ve lost count of the number of times I’ve read somewhere or been told by fellow bike riders that the best place to save weight on a bike is on the wheels. Personally I’ve always thought the best place to do that was somewhere in…
Interbike 2018 – Any Better Than Before?
Interbike has fallen off our Singletrack Towers calendar of late, as the lack of new product, declining attendance and cost of being there just didn’t stack up for a UK based publication. However, this year there was a new venue, and the offer of a…
Mountain Biking – the untold British story – Watch in full here
Watch the full length feature documentary Mountain Biking, the untold British story in full right here.
2019 Mondraker Chrono Carbon Announced With 1,150g frame
If you’re a privateer XC racer looking for an ultra-lightweight race-bred ride for next season then cast your eyes over this. Now, we’ll be honest when we say that not everyone at Singletrack Towers is a fan of cross-country race bikes, but everyone in the…
2019 Pace RC627 Pushes The Geometry Envelope With Huge Updates!
Details of 2019 bikes are pouring in thick and fast with most brands upping reach numbers while dropping standover height, and Pace is no exception. Well, actually we suppose they are because the geometry changes that the UK brand is making to its classic RC627…
NEW! Reusable Singletrack coffee cups here to save the planet – and made of bamboo!
Coffee lovers We love coffee at Singletrack – always have done. The first tangible asset the company ever really owned was a Wega coffee machine that Chipps bought for £300 from a bloke in a service station car park – true story. We are as…
Video Madness: A Strongman, A Chainsaw, And A Freerider
It’s easy to get bored of all the latest shredits, but sometimes something is just so bonkers you find yourself watching it all the way to the end. This piece of advertising from De Walt is one of those. There’s a chainsaw, and some other…
Fresh Goods 414 – Bamboo, BMX, Brakes, Algae, Smart Watches And Acid Brass!
I sit here listening to DJ Boring, sipping my brew from a bamboo cup and await the onslaught of Bronagh. There are a lot of ‘B’s in this weeks edition of Fresh Goods Friday! Beware, brace yourself, but above all do not become bemused! And…
Recall: Öhlins RXF Air Fork
Öhlins has issued a recall of its RXF Air Fork, and advised riders to cease using them immediately. The forks came as standard on a number of Specialized 2017 and 2018 bikes, so we expect that this is recall is going to have quite a…
Orange 2019 Bikes Ridden At The Forest Of Dean
Last week saw Orange Bikes launch its 2019 range at the Forest of Dean. As opposed to some of the more exotic and far-flung launches that we’re seeing these days, the Orange launch was more of an open event with Orange inviting their dealers from…
GoPro Hero 7 Range Official Announced With Lower Pricing And New Features
After weeks of leaks and speculation, GoPro has finally released official details for the new GoPro Hero 7. You’ll notice that we’ve not referred to this action camera as an “all-new” GoPro, because it isn’t, but it does offer some major changes. After the leaks,…
Review: Met Roam Helmet – Keep cool and look cool
Described as ‘an all-mountain enduro helmet’, the MET Roam is designed to combine streamlined enduro styling and goggle compatibility with hours-in-the-saddle trail-riding wearability. Straight out of the box, and it’s a thumbs up for the colour combo (one of several available) which will appeal to…
Syntace C33i Carbon Wheelset Review. Are These Lightweight German Wheels Worth Buying?
Syntace is a German-based manufacturer of high-end alloy and carbon fibre components. It’s the same company as Liteville; a brand well known for full suspension alloy frames with a suspension linkage lovingly referred to as the “sausage chopper” around the office. Over the years, Syntace…
Mountain Bike Personality of The Year: The Finalists’ Reactions
Compared to 2017, the finalists for this year’s Singletrack Reader Award ‘Mountain Bike Personality of The Year’ have a lot in common: they’re all current or ex professional racers, they have all been successful in more than one MTB discipline, and they are all women.…
GoPro Hero 7 To Launch Tomorrow? Here’s What We Know
In a note to investors on its website, GoPro has confirmed that it will be holding a product launch via webcast on September 20th, which is tomorrow. Investors will get to see the launch 2 hours ahead of the new product/s going live on the…
Check It Out! Sam Hill’s Custom “Día de Muertos” Nukeproof Mega 275c
Sam Hill has continued to smash the EWS this year, not bad for a rider on flat pedals who still runs those tiny 27.5in wheels. As a bit of a Thank You for Sam’s hard work and determination over the past season, his team decided…
Steve Peat’s “Bikes And Beers” Tour Coming To A Venue Near You!
Mountain biking superstar, Steve Peat, has announced tour dates across the UK for his stage tour “Bikes And Beers”. The tour put on in association with Troy Lee Designs, Santa Cruz and Peaty’s Products will be held at 21 venues from 16th October – 23rd…
Singletrack Magazine Issue 120 | Last Word: The same sort of different.
Three short stories from Hannah’s recent trip to the USA that demonstrate the reach of the bike and the unspoken bond shared by those who ride them.
Tyke Packing – A bike packing adventure with kids: from Singletrack Issue 120
Barney has taken the – if not impossible – then wildly ill-advised step of actually taking his young kids bikepacking. Read on for some abject lessons in what not to do...
Leeds Urban Bike Park – For all riders great and small
Whether you’re looking for a fun family day out on the bikes, a solo adventure, somewhere for skills practice, or a place to meet your mates for a ride, Leeds Urban Bike Park seems to cater for all. This £1.2 million development built on the…
Video: Watch Graham Agassiz Ride On E, Kona Remote CTRL e-Bike That Is!
Ensuring that no one forgets that they have an e-Bike too, Kona has just released this short video of the Kona Remote CTRL e-Bike ridden by free-riding legend Graham Agassiz. The Remote CTRL is actually the second bike in the Remote range but differs somewhat…
First Ride Review: The new generation Specialized Turbo Levo
The new Turbo Levo has been extensively redesigned, with manufacturers Specialized saying it has more in common with the Stumpjumper than its e-bike namesake. Tom Johnstone took to the trails of Croatia to find out whether the ride would live up to this billing. I’ve…
Launched: The All New Specialized Turbo Levo
Three years on from the first Levo, Specialized is back with an all new, designed from the ground up addition to the world of e-bikes. The new Turbo Levo shares more with its un-assisted cousin the Stumpjumper than it does its predecessor and that is…
Last Chance To Subscribe – Singletrack Issue 121
The trails have finally returned to their usual state. Mudguards are essential once more, waterproofs no longer a ‘just in case’ item. If we’re lucky enough to finish work early we might get out to catch the last of the evening light before hoping we’ve…
Focus Launches The New Sam. Introducing, the Focus Sam.
2019 Focus SAM Today, Focus launches its new 170mm enduro bike. It’s called the SAM (just like the old one) and features 170mm travel front and rear. And if it looks a little familiar, it’s because the same looking design is used on the existing…
Review: Bontrager Flatline Flat Pedal Shoes
Ask any mountain biker what flat pedal shoes they’d recommend, and there’s one brand that inevitably comes up in conversation: Five Ten. With its gooey Stealth rubber-soled shoes, Five Ten has long been without peers when it comes to producing a reliably grippy connection with…
Sportline Show 2018: Longer, Slacker Lower Saracen Hardtails.
It wasn’t all huge travel big bikes at the Sportline show last week Saracen also launched a brand spanking new hardtail – the Mantra LSL. Available in two sizes the Mantra LSL boasts a totally new frame from the existing Mantra and comes in two…
Mountain Bike Personality Of The Year – Singletrack Reader Awards 2018 Finalists
This is a hard one. What is a personality? Is it someone you’d like to have dinner with, because you know it would be entertaining? Is it someone you admire? Is it someone who has loads of Instagram followers? Or someone who’s put something into…
Best Online Service – Singletrack Reader Awards 2018 Finalists
No matter how committed you are to using your local bike shop, the chances are you’ve used an online service of some sort this year. Interestingly, this year’s nominations look beyond the ‘buying stuff’ to other sort of ‘online services’. Here’s who has made it…
Best Trail Centre – Singletrack Reader Awards 2018 Finalists
There have to be trails, obviously. But a really good trail centre needs more – maybe it’s somewhere to wash your bike, maybe it’s a family option as well as a white knuckle death gnar trail. Maybe it’s a really good pie at the end…
Best Bike Shop – Singletrack Reader Awards 2018 Finalists
The finalists Cycle Factory, Todmorden, West Yorkshire Pedal and Spoke, Peaslake, Surrey Riders Cycle Centre, Skipton, North Yorkshire Read on to find out more about each finalist. Voting instructions at the end of the article. Cycle Factory, Todmorden Just reading the testimonials left by satisfied…
The 28 Riders of Red Bull Hardline 2018
Judging by these photographs, Wales is proving to be wet. So, as well as all the other obstacles, everything is going to be super slippery and slithery too. Frankly terrifying. It is due to be dry tomorrow when all the action will be taking place.…
Best UK Event, Show or Series – Singletrack Reader Awards 2018 Finalists
Normally we have three nominees, but this year, there were so many passionate votes for different events that we had to cave in and go with four nominees for the category of ‘Best event or series’. The Finalists Ard Rock Enduro Malverns Classic MTB Meetup…
Best Author – Singletrack Reader Awards 2018 Finalists
Whether it’s an epic tale of derring-do, a bit of thoughtful reflection, a humorous take on life on wheels, or even a technical review, we love a well written article. In a slight change to previous years, this year we looked for nominations for best…
Internal Struggle – making your dreams come true isn’t always easy
This article was first published in Issue 118, and Tom has been nominated for Best Author for the Singletrack Reader Awards 2018. Tom Johnstone rides across Iceland’s interior and learns that making your dreams come true isn’t always easy. Words & Photography Tom Johnstone This…
Best Published Image – Singletrack Reader Awards 2018 Finalists
Singletrack Magazine has always prided itself in the quality of its photographs and the skills of its contributors. In this day and age when everyone is now a photographer and your phone is always to hand to snap whatever catches your eye, it’s easier than…
Best e-MTB – Singletrack Reader Awards 2018 Finalists
Finalists Focus Jam2 Orange Alpine E Factory Specialized Turbo Levo FSR Carbon Voting instructions are at the end of this article. Read on to learn more about each finalist. Specialized Turbo Levo FSR Carbon Not content with merely adding a battery and motor to…