The Giant Trance 29 is pegged at the type of rider who wants to head out on an epic all day ride, one day, then hit an Enduro stage the next. It’s an all-rounder, and although it’s labelled as a “Trail” bike, Giant is keen…
So that’s where all of the country’s carbon enduro bikes (and T5 campers) went this weekend? The Ard Rock Enduro!
The ‘Ard Rock Enduro once again showed that it has become the event of the year for trail riders to be at. With a greatly expanded event village and a large number of events for racers and riders, there was plenty going on and plenty…
First Look: X-Fusion TRACE 36 HLR Big Travel 29er Enduro Fork
X-Fusion is looking to boost its big wheel Enduro credentials with its latest 36mm fork, the TRACE 36. You may have already seen this fork in Fresh Goods last week, and like many of you, we’re pretty excited to see how it performs so thought…
Bagging points… #MakingUpTheNumbers at the HSBC National Champs 2018 – Glencoe
George Thompson has sent this picture-heavy epic report from the other weekend’s National DH champs up at Glencoe… Sit back and enjoy! “Oh, so you’re still going to Glencoe then?” “Yeah, why wouldn’t I be?” If you’re feeling the pressure, answering a question with a…
Fresh Goods Friday 407: The “There’s only 2 of us in the office” Edition!
With the summer holidays now in full swing we’re down to a skeleton crew here at Singletrack Towers, but that’s good news for Andi and Chipps who get to go through all these cool new arrivals and choose who get’s what and which they’re keeping…
Bike Check: Two Custom UK-Made Steel Hardtails From Islabikes
The 2018 Pivot TwentyFour12 was held over the weekend down at the historic Newnham Park venue in Plymouth, and despite the wild weather that rolled in through Sunday morning (and the resulting early finish for the race!), the event proved to be a roaring success…
First Look: Mondraker Foxy 29
We were a little sad when we had to say goodbye to our bright red Mondraker Foxy RR test bike a few weeks ago, but we can barely remember what that 27.5in bike looked like now that this beauty has arrived. This is the all-new…
First Ride Review: Merida’s New 2019 One-Twenty Trail Bike
Merida has recently launched a brand new One-Twenty trail bike for 2019. Featuring 120mm of rear suspension travel, a 130mm travel fork, and 29in or 27.5in wheels, the One-Twenty is designed to be a fast, agile and sporty short-travel trail bike. Our young James flew…
Entries still available for the Hope Pre Peaks Yorkshire Dales
The Pre Peaks is a grand day out in the Yorkshire Dales courtesy of Hope Technology.
Review: Bell’s brilliant Super DH MIPS convertible helmet really is 2-in-1
Stemming from a long lineage of mountain biking lids from the 64-year old helmet brand, Bell’s flagship Super DH helmet represents the 4th generation of the popular Super model. The first generation Super debuted back in 2013, with its classic moto helmet-inspired looks and generous…
Review: There’s no need for disco slippers when the Giro Chamber II shoes are so good
James Vincent gives up his usual toe-tappers to test out the burly Chamber II shoes from Giro. The original Giro Chamber was launched back in 2014 as a casual, skate-inspired shoe that would look as good off the bike as it would on, while still…
Review: The Nukeproof Horizon Wheelset Costs Less Than £350 And Is Barney-Proof
Barney does his level best to destroy Nukeproof’s Horizon wheelset. And, as in so many other things he tries in life, he fails. Nukeproof is a brand with a long and storied history, the most recent successful iteration of which has to be a certain…
Inspiring Women: Michelle Haigh and the MTB Chix and Trails internet sensation
So far we’ve featured quite a different range of people in our Inspiring Women series. From Rachael Walker in the bike industry at Hope Technology, to the 75 year old downhiller Pat Horscroft, to MTB coach Ally Campbell and finally Amanda Tanfield who is the…
8 Bikes From The 2018 Pivot TwentyFour12
Of the hundreds of competitors that turned up for the 2018 Pivot TwentyFour12, there seemed to be just as many different bikes. Singlespeeds, fat bikes, full suspension enduro bangers, retro rigs, clapped-out 26in bikes with v-brakes, lightweight carbon hardtails and high-end kids bikes all mixed…
Review: Dakine Hot Laps 5L Waist Pack
There are a few things I swore I wouldn’t do when I got at job at Singletrack. Wear a gilet, ride clipped in, and use a hip pack. So of course, I’m working my way through this list to become more open minded, and hopefully…
We Interview 13 Of The Most Outgoing Dogs At The Pivot TwentyFour12
It’s the middle of summer and we’re currently camped out at the Pivot TwentyFour12 event in Newnham Park in Plymouth. This is the 13th edition of the TwentyFour12, which has grown a reputation for not only its flagship 24-hour mountain bike race, but also numerous…
Review: Chicken Line Cargo Shorts and Solid Jersey
I’d first come across the Italian women’s MTB clothing company Chicken Line on the MTB Chix and Trails Facebook group where there was a debate about whether the tongue-in-cheek name amused or angered riders. If the replies were anything to go by, it’s not been…
Go on board for a course preview of the Pivot TwentyFour12!
This weekend, Newnham Park in Plymouth will play host to the 2018 Pivot TwentyFour12. This is the 13th edition of the event, which encompasses a whole host of races and events centred around the main 24-hour mountain bike race. There are kids races (both time…
Fresh Goods Friday 406
da-dum, da-dum, Da Dum, DA DUM, DA DUM! DAAA DUMMM! That’s the sound of the weekend approaching. Hurtling down the trail like a stampede of surprisingly small deer. And boy is it welcome! Ignoring that everyone’s hot and bothered, or that things are on fire,…
Finland. It’s not all about snow (okay mostly…)
This article was originally published in Issue 115 of Singletrack Magazine. Words & Photography by Hannah. Hannah takes a wintery fat bike trip to the Arctic Circle to discover dangerous downhills, Russian border stations, saunas and moose stew. Before it came to mean an afternoon’s bike…
Pump Tracks For Good
A Scottish pump track, opened late last year is already having some great benefits for the local community, reckons its builders, Velosolutions. Here’s what they said about Brendog visiting the site recently. Professional Mountain Bike Rider and Velosolutions athlete, Brendan Fairclough stopped in at the…
Last Chance To Subscribe! Singletrack Issue 120
We’ve got a sweat on – and not just because it’s hotter than a furnace at Singletrack Towers today. No, it’s deadline day, and Issue 120 of Singletrack Magazine is off to the printer. Just in case you’ve not already subscribed and aren’t lounging in…
Video: See the Cotic SolarisMAX in action!
For the past two months, I’ve been testing out the brand new SolarisMAX from Cotic Bikes. The SolarisMAX is the Peak-district based brand’s steel 29in hardtail, and it’s designed to cover a wide range of riding from cross-country exploring through to full-throttle trail walloping. In…
Review: The huge Shimano Deore XT PD-M8040 flat pedals come with vicious pins, but not all of them made it
First announced over a year ago at the Fort William World Cup alongside the new Saint flat and Saint SPD pedals, the PD-M8040 is the first ever flat pedal from Shimano to wear the Deore XT name. Joining the Deore XT SPD pedals, the XT…
Aston Hill Mountain Bike Park Needs Your Help!
It’s easy to ride and take your trails for granted – especially if you’re paying to play. But it’s not the same as heading to the supermarket and swapping cash for a pint of milk and some bread, and behind the trails there’s often a…
It’s coming home! – #MakingUpTheNumbers at Masters Worlds 2018 – Vallnord, Andorra
“It’s an honour to ride this track in these conditions!” It’s 11am on Monday morning and Mark Weightman is eulogising. Mark’s one of a kind, like a Graeme Obree of DH; not building bikes out of washing machines but just thinking about things differently. The…
Review: Smith Optics Attack Max ChromaPop Sunglasses
Adding to its growing line of performance eyewear targeted at cyclists, last year Smith Optics debuted the all-new Attack and Attack Max sunglasses. Joining the PivLock Overdrive and PivLock Arena – glasses that we’ve got on very well with in the past, the Attack range…
Review: The latest Cotic SolarisMAX is one of the fastest hardtails we’ve tested
In case you hadn’t noticed, Cotic has been on absolute fire lately. The small Peak District-based company launched a new BFe hardcore hardtail just on a year ago, which then gave way to the 15th anniversary Soul, the latest FlareMAX, and more recently, a new…
Review: Specialized Motodiva Women’s Mountain Bike Shoes
Sold as an all-round trail riding shoe, I’ve been using these for the more pedestrian end of trail riding – mostly because when things get gnarlier I’ll switch to flats. However, these are so comfortable I have found myself wearing them for more and more…
Review: The Acros Enduro is a carbon wheelset to survive the apocalypse
Tough, good value, are there any downsides to the Acros Enduro Race Carbon wheelset?
Mountain Rescue And Ordnance Survey Say: Stay Safe And Stay Cool
Yes, we’re all loving the prolonged sunshine and sweet, dry trails – although we could definitely go with a few less wildfires. But as things are due to hot up again this week, Ordnance Survey and Mountain Rescue are warning people to stay safe in…
Ambassadors Wanted: Could You Be a Motion Hero?
Motion forks are shaking up MTB suspension. Their radically different design is specially developed not to dive during braking. This noticeably improves handling, grip and comfort, compared to standard telescopic forks on the market. What’s more, a Motion fork needs no maintenance and no ongoing…
Finally! A helmet you can eat your banana through
Cébé introduces its first full face enduro helmet, the Rockgarden, read on for the official press release (and unofficial captions). Since its creation in 1892, Cébé has demonstrated its know-how and passion for extreme sports. Committed to offering only the best gear that ensures optimal…
Talking Trickstuff: Factory Tour
Back in Premier Edition issue 116, Team Singletrack caught up with German precision engineering company Trickstuff, in its hidden factory deep in a German housing estate. Photography: James Vincent We’re not the first to follow the ‘Trickstuff’ signs off the main thoroughfare into the residential…
Review: Mondraker Foxy RR: The Long, Low, Slack Do-It-All Bike
Look at any press release for a new bike and chances are that the bike company will shout from the rooftops are that they’ve gone longer, lower and slacker, but it was Mondraker that did it first. Over the past five months, I’ve been riding…
Wide tyres, huge towels and a small bike with big wheels – Fresh Goods Friday 405
Not only are our fellow Union compatriots, the Scots, laughing at us because they can ride all the trails, they’re also a fair chunk into their school summer holidays and they’ve had all the weather. Fingers crossed as us sassenachs head for the motorway queues…
Review: RDR Ares – 11 Grand For A Race Bike? It Had Better Be Good…
RDR is a relatively small frame builder based in the mountains of Northern Italy. According to the website, RDR consists of the father (Vincenzo), his son (Nicolas) and one employee (Cristina). The entire frame manufacturing process is done in the RDR factory in Italy. Carbon…
Long Term Review: Did Wil ruin the Scott Genius 900 Tuned test bike with these 3 changes?
It’s now been six months since we first received the Scott Genius 900 Tuned longterm test bike. In that time, I’ve had plenty of opportunities to put it through its paces on a variety of different trails, while also exploring this bike’s in-built wheelsize adaptability.…
Are We Blinded By Bling?
This year marked my first trip to Eurobike, the enormous trade show at which all parts of the bike industry converge on the small German town of Friedrichshafen. In three days I took notes on products from 32 different brands, plus spoke to many more.…
Merida Has A Brand New One-Twenty Trail Bike For 2019
Merida has a brand new One-Twenty trail bike for 2019, and with a raft of frame and suspension updates, this one promises to be even more the versatile and capable all-rounder. Like the previous version, this one sticks with 120mm of rear suspension travel (the…
Fresh Kit For Your Kids: New shoes, packs, helmets & the tiniest back protector
There’s pleasure to be had in pulling on nice riding kit – and practicality too. Protective elements, fabric that won’t rip or chafe, and ventilation in all the right places can all make a ride much more comfortable. So while it’s easy to think that…
Heads, Torsos, Knees & Elbows – Eurobike Protection Round Up
Falling off hurts just a little bit less when you’re kitted up with pads and helmets – unless of course you gouge your leg in the inevitable gap between two bits of protection. We didn’t find any gap eliminating onesie padded suits – in fact…
Review: The Hoy Bonaly 24 is a great first mountain bike
The Hoy Bonaly range is Hoy Bikes’ answer to a mountain bike. It’s a step up from the usual children’s hybrid bikes – or hybrids with slightly knobbly tyres – but doesn’t go the whole hog and include any form of suspension. However, I’m still…
Review: The Giro Riddance flat pedal shoe uses a Vibram Megagrip sole for #flatpedalthunder
Brand new from Giro for 2018 is the Riddance – a flat pedal specific shoe that comes into the range one step above Giro’s current Jacket shoe. Designed for aggressive riders, the Riddance was developed in collaboration with top-class trail and freeride legends Kurt Sorge,…
Review: Merida’s playful One-Forty 800 trail bike
6 weeks on Merida's black beauty One-Forty has been a blast, but now Rob wraps up his review of this do-it-all trail bike
This Is Not A Joke! Ibis Launches Adjustable Handlebars!
Each year at April Fools we see stories of adjustable handlebars, but the joke is now officially over with the launch of the new Ibis handlebar system. The Ibis adjustable handlebar is basically a 750mm carbon that can be used as is, or ‘extended’ with…
Bamboo Bicycle Club: Go behind-the-scenes to see what it takes to build your own frame
For those of you who missed it, last year Wil was challenged to build a bike out of bamboo. A home build kit, complete with an extensive manual and support from the suppliers throughout the process. Should be easy, right? Well, I started working at…
Eurobike: The Predictions That Came True
Before we even scanned our press passes through the gates of Eurobike, we’d looked into our crystal balls and brought you some predictions of what we thought the future held. It turns out that some of us should probably consider a career in picking lottery…
19 Brands In 2 Days: CrankTank Impact Sun Valley Round Up
A couple of weeks ago Hannah went out to Ketchum, Idaho, to a new media event ‘Impact Sun Valley’. It was a chance for brands to get a bunch of bike journos together in one place to show off their wares and talk about their…
Review: Thule’s lightweight & flexible Vital 8 hydration backpack is ideal for all-day rides
Last year the Swedish storage specialists at Thule announced their first ever range of mountain bike hydration backpacks. Three packs were launched in the Vital series, including a compact 3L model, a mid-size 6L model, and this one: the Vital 8L. As the largest pack…
We Asked Rachel, Gee And Dan Atherton 21 Questions They Weren’t Expecting
A few weeks ago, we had a young lad, Aran Francis in on work experience. Along with the regular work experience jobs of going to find some tartan paint, a long stand (ta!) and a left handed screwdriver, and after he’d made us all a…