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…
Best Bike Over £4500 – Singletrack Reader Awards 2018 Finalists
The Finalists Mondraker Foxy XR 29 Orange Stage 4 Factory Santa Cruz Bronson Carbon C XO1 Reserve Voting instructions are at the end of this article. Read on to learn more about each finalist. Imagine for a second that you have unlimited funds, no mortgage,…
Best Bike Under £4500 – Singletrack Reader Awards 2018 Finalists
The Finalists Bird Aeris AM9 Canyon Spectral CF 8.0 Cotic Solaris MAX XT Cane Creek Helm Voting instructions are at the end of this article. Read on to learn more about each finalist. If you’re shopping for a bike at this price point then you…
Best Bike Under £1500 – Singletrack Reader Awards 2018
Tough competition for the best of our budget bike picks this year. We have two extremely capable full-suspension bikes up against a versatile steel hardtail, all of which are designed here in the UK. The finalists Calibre Bossnut Evo Genesis Longitude 2018 Sonder Evol NX1 Recon…
Sportline 2018 Show: It’s all gone a bit Myst’y…
This week saw the Sportline 2018 show down in Milton Keynes. Sportline are the bike division of huge UK distributor Madison encompassing Saracen, Ridgeback and Genesis. While a lot of the ‘new’ bikes consisted of fancy new paint jobs, there were a few completely new…
Best Software: Singletrack Reader Awards 2018 Finalists
The Finalists BELL Super DH MIPS helmet Julbo Renegade Glasses Specialized 2FO 2.0 Shoe Voting instructions are at the end of this article. Read on to learn more about each finalist BELL Super DH MIPS helmet Price: £249.99 From: ZyroFisher The BELL Super DH MIPS is…
Best Hardware – Singletrack Reader Awards 2018 Finalists
We’re in sync people! The 3 final nominations for the Best Hardware Award, chosen by you, are 3 products that we all love here in the office too! Thank goodness you guys have the final say though, knuckle dusters and old handlebars are being brushed…
Video: Red Bull Hardline 2018 – Course Preview
If you’re still experiencing vertigo after checking out our gallery, then perhaps don’t watch this course preview. Gee Atherton manages to talk his way down this course, which combines downhill with freeride with lunacy. This year’s course combines the iconic road gap jump with some…
It’s Not Friday The 13th But It Is Fresh Goods Friday The 413th – The No Shock Or Gore Edition
After the shock and Gore of last weeks Fresh Goods Friday we decided to tone things down a little for this week with a few nice items, a lovely looking bike and a quality tune to get you ready for the weekend. Thule Chariot Cross…
Gallery: Red Bull Hardline 2018 – The Warm Up
It’s Red Bull Hardline this weekend. As the name suggests, riders will be taking it in turns to swoop down a hillside on a trail punctuated by gaps which many of us would assume were whole sections of trail that had yet to be built.…
Unboxing And First Look: Insta360 One A Pocketable 360 Action Camera
Insta360 is an action camera manufacturer focussing on devices that record and stream 360 video and photos. The brand’s latest device is the Insta360 One, a camera that offers 360 photography, video and Live streaming video all in a handy, pocket-sized package. The Insta360 One…
Review: Simplon Cirex 120 – Slammed and svelte, but not just for suffering
As I’m sure everyone has noticed, there’s been something of a change in mountain bike geometry in the last few years. The longer-lower-slacker trend has become de rigueur, and aside from the fact that some bikes these days resemble a devil’s cross between a farm…
Scottish Moto Extravaganza! – Episode 1
Merge together a love of exploration, motorbikes, mountain bikes and down right good times and this is exactly what comes out of the other side. With nothing but a throbbing 125cc between our legs and the open road stretching out in front of us we…
Review: Don’t like wearing bulky, uncomfortable knee pads? Leatt’s Airflex Pro is made for you
Most famous for pioneering the modern-day neck brace, South African company Leatt also produces a broad range of protective wear for mountain biking that includes helmets, body armour, spine protectors, elbow pads and knee pads. On test here is the Airflex Pro – one of…
First Look: Ulefone Armor 5 A Rugged Smartphone That Doesn’t Look Like A Rubber Brick
For people like us who often spend hours in the rain and mud, and who might not be so careful with our electronic gadgets, a rugged phone should be the ideal replacement for an expensive iPhone. As the name implies, a rugged phone is designed…
Review: Is Kona Still Ahead Of The Curve? We Get To Grips With The Satori DL
The Satori is a bike that’s returned to Kona’s lineup after a lengthy leave of absence. It was originally released back in 2012 when longer travel 29ers were considered a bit outré, and never really found an audience. Returning for 2018, the bike has been…
MTB World Championships 2018 – One To Have Watched
Through the miracles of modern technology, it is now pretty easy to watch the MTB World Championships wherever you are in the world, giving riders and fans an excuse to get together for a bit of a party to cheer on the action – even…
Last Chance To Nominate! Singletrack Magazine Reader Awards 2018 #STRAW18
The Singletrack Reader Awards are awards given to a bunch of deserving individuals and companies by you, the readers. The awards are split into two phases. First comes the nominations round and then all registered site users will get the chance to vote on the…
