The latest update to the Orbea Occam sees it become two distinct models – the SL and the LT. Both trail bikes. But very different rides.
Bikemon Go! Your May Ride Inspiring Download
Back in issue 153 in February, Hannah proposed an alternative approach to measuring rides. As part of that, we gave you a set of ride ‘achievements’ to collect in the month ahead. Here’s your next seasonally appropriate set of ride goals. Enjoy!
Fresh Goods Friday 704 – The Nadir E Me Edition
Welcome to episode 704 of the Freshies, as nobody calls them. Benji is all waffled out, so you can have an opening rant from Hannah instead.
Sonder signs British Enduro Champion Harvey Rollason
Harvey Rollason will be racing their Evol as part of the brand’s new team for the 2024 season.
502 Club Raffle #2 WIN a Niner Jet 9 3Star RDO
Following our massively successful inaugural raffle to win a Cannondale Habit we have our second raffle. This time you have the chance to win a Niner Jet 9 RDO bike in your choice of size and colour. THE UPDATED JET 9 RDO: FIT TO TAKE…
Book Review: Potholes and Pavements
Some years ago I met Laura Laker and she seemed to me to be an essentially nice and positive person. One of those people it would be hard to be miserable around, possibly because she’d have whisked you off on a bike ride in search…
Stolen! Frameworks Racing’s Van Full of Gear and Bikes
Neko Mulally has taken to Instagram in an appeal to recover his team’s stolen bikes and gear. The van, containing a number of bikes and spares, was stolen from outside a hotel in Milton Keynes as they travelled from the Fort William World Series DH…
girouk.com is a scam website
Confirmed by the UK distributor of Giro products, Zyro Fisher. This very convincing website offers up some extremely attractive deals on Giro gear but don’t be fooled. The genuine website for UK customers is giro.co.uk The scam website was first registered in 2023 by a…
Anyone for Semis? Fort William World Cup DH results & talking points
The first World Cup Downhill round of the year took place in not-rainy Scotland. Here's the results, reports, highlights vids and some chat.
Bike Check: Ministry Cycles CNC Protoype
This bike at the EXT stand at Sea Otter caught my eye, so I stopped its designer Chris Curry for a bit more insight into what it’s all about. What are you making here? So I have started a company called Ministry Cycles. I began…
Orbea Laufey H-LTD review
It's just as well the Orbea Laufey H-LTD handles so well because if we turn our attention to the build kit, it's something of a harder sell.
Bike Check: Erik’s Rat Race Drop Out Cargo Bike
One of the joys (for me, anyway) of the Sea Otter Classic is the unusual bikes that people turn up with, and the stories behind them. I clocked this heavily stickered and accessorised cargo bike and had to find out a bit more about what…
Tech Spots and Pit Chat: Fort William Special Podcast from Making Up The Numbers
George has been up to Fort William to chat to folks in the pits before the racing kicks off. He’s also sent us a very interesting collection of photos. NB: There’s no video version for this episode. Enjoy, sports fans! Pit Chat from the 2024…
Fresh Goods Friday 703 – The May Day Yay Edition
Happy Bank Holiday to all of y'all. Well, all of y'all who have a Bank Holiday and don't have to show up at work.
Socks Of The Sea Otter Classic
I was going to call this ‘Socks of Sea Otter’, but then I thought ‘shiny boots of leather’ and thought that socks made of Sea Otter would be distressing. Probably waterproof, but all kinds of wrong. Anyway. Yes, my sock drawer needed a refresh. But…
British Team for 2024 UEC MTB European Championships Announced
The road to the Olympics hots up with the European Champions in just over a week in Romania. British Cycling has just announced who will be racing for Britain at this event, and is fielding a particularly strong female team across all age groups. Here’s…
2024 DH Season Preview with Wyn Masters and Making Up The Numbers
In this episode George, Jack and Emilie are joined by the Privateer Project’s Wyn Masters to preview the 2024 World Cup Season… Watch the Podcast Listen to the Podcast The Making Up The Numbers podcast is sponsored by: Previously on Making Up The Numbers Podcast…
Retro Bike Check: Foes LTS 16
I felt like there were a few fewer retro bikes rolling around this year’s Sea Otter Classic, but this one caught my eye so I stopped its owner for a quick chat. You can be pretty sure that anyone riding something like this around will…
Smart Tires: Tyres From Space Coming Your Way Soon?
At an unassuming looking booth at Sea Otter there was some mega science going down. You’ll have to take my word for it, but the hollow rod of this Nitinol could be bent – and it would instantly get warm on the bend – and…
Fresh Goods Friday 702 – The Quality Street Edition
Hello to you all and welcome to this week’s edition of stuff-that-has-arrived at STW HQ! Otherwise known as Fresh Goods Friday. What dowe have for you this week? Why, simple take a gander below. All human life is there. Well, the section that rides mountain…
Bike Check: Jordy Scott’s Dual Slalom Hyper
Jordy Scott is one of those up and coming riders that might not have come onto your radar unless you follow the Crankworx scene. She was just about to go and compete in Dual Slalom but took a moment to have a chat. Expect to…
DEADLINE Midnight Tonight! Government Consults On Legalising Higher Powered Ebikes
The consultation for this closes at midnight tonight. It seems pretty unanimous among the bike world that the proposals would be a big mistake. The Bicycle Association has created a draft response, so at the touch of a couple of buttons you can submit an…
Bikes Bikes Bikes! The Show Bikes of Sea Otter
Whether it’s a tricked out bike for a show stand, a special lucky race build, or just the garage geek project, there are some unusual bikes to be spotted at Sea Otter. Here’s a massive gallery for you, with a few mini interviews thrown in.…
Even More Sea Otter New Things
Phew, by the power of airport internet, jet lag, and many battery pack charges, here’s the second and final instalment of new things spotted at Sea Otter. Look out for more interviews and bike checks to come! Maxxis The Aspen ST for short track racing,…
A Closer Look At The We Are One Modular Prototype DH Bike
We Are One makes their bikes and components in Kamloops, Canada. The Hope of Kamloops, perhaps? Their onsite manufacturing lets them prototype things quickly, which led to the slightly unexpected position of them having a UCI DH team this year, with local lad Jon Mozell…
New Saracen Myst starts from £3,599
The new Saracen Myst uses a combination single pivot, shock link and brake linkage, all made viable by the move to a shock tunnel.
Martha Gill: The New Sea Otter Dual Slalom Champion
Martha Gill was out at Sea Otter racing Dual Slalom and Downhill. She took the gold in Dual Slalom, finally breaking Jill Kintner’s 11-year run on the top spot. I caught up with her at the Marin booth just as Martha had finished fourth in…
XC World Cup Araxá: results & reports
The second World Cup of the year took place in Brazil. Here are the results, race reports and a highlights video from Araxá.
Bike Check: Ryan Pinkerton’s Sea Otter Mondraker Raze Carbon
Ryan Pinkerton is out at the Sea Otter Classic with his eye on the Downhill race. We had a little look at his bike and asked him how it was going in practice. Just the downhill this weekend? Just downhill, no slalom for me. How’s…
Giant Stance 29 1 review
The Giant Stance 29 1 is a refreshingly affordable mountain bike. Yer classic entry level full-sus trail bike. Alloy, 29in, 125/140mm travel.
Braydon Bringhurst’s Dual Slalom Sea Otter Special Spectral
Braydon Bringhurst – a man who loves to climb as much as descend, as is big on figuring out the technical side of riding just so – is at the Sea Otter Classic racing Dual Slalom. To help with the motivation and mental focus, he’s…
Privateer’s Fergus Ryan on Racing 3-on-1 at Sea Otter
Fergus Ryan is out at the Sea Otter Classic in California racing the new Privateer 161 Gen 2. He’s using the one bike to race all three events of enduro, dual slalom and downhill. We stopped him for a chat to see how it’s going.…
Bounce, Bags and Bling – Spotted at Sea Otter
Another lap of the stands at the Sea Otter Classic in California, another round of new things. Some are new and available now, some are still to come, and some are still prototypes under development. We’re not done yet, and there’ll be more bike checks,…
Kona Bicycles Winds Down: Brand For Sale: UK Distributor Continues To Import Stock
Having bought the Kona brand from the founders just two years ago, owners Kent Outdoors have announced they are abandoning the bike market altogether and have put the Kona brand on the market. Kent Outdoors owns a large portfolio of 15 outdoor brands with a…
Crossword: The Outdoor Clothing Edition
This one is designed to be gentle, just enough to get the brain cells going over a morning coffee, or while you’re dropping the kids off at the pool. Straying from strictly bikes, it’s outdoor clothing brands. Or Gorpcore, as apparently the cool kids are…
Fresh Goods Friday 701 – The Hydrate and/or Die Edition
Hey there gang! We trust you're are acceptably radical and primed for another supremely stoke-filled weekend. That's stoke. Not Stoke.
Pinarello Dogma XC Now Available To Buy If You Are A Hardcore XC Racer
You may recall that last year we reported on Tom Pidcock’s new XC race bike from Pinarello. Today that bike is now officially on sale to the general public along with it’s hardtail version. Here to refresh your memory is that story. But essentially it’s…
Singletrack World Issue 154 Editorial: Let’s Get Lendy
“Neither a borrower nor a lender be, For loan oft loses both itself and friend, And borrowing dulls the edge of husbandry.” And so goes the oft-quoted advice in Hamlet, where a father gives his just-off-to-France son a concise set of rules by which to…
Nipple shufflers and new rubbers: products and prototypes spotted at Sea Otter
Sea Otter, the massive bike event in California that combines expo, racing, camping and a lot of bike love, gets underway on Thursday. We popped in to collect our media passes and did a quick walk around while folks were still setting up their stands.…
Concern for Kona as staff take down stand at Sea Otter
The annual Sea Otter Classic race and expo is the traditional new season starter event. Based in California it attracts racers and some of the world’s biggest bike brands every April where they get the chance to show off their new bikes and bits in…
Issue 154 International Adventure: The Last Yak Attack
The high altitude race that brought so much to Nepal and to its racers in turn has run its last. Words by Laura Martin The Yak Attack race in Nepal is the highest mountain bike race in the world. Racers climb to the staggering height…
Issue 154 UK Adventure: Chariots of Rust
Subsequent to the sudden death of a childhood friend, and my girlfriend leaving me over the phone during my graduate school finals in Boston, I fell into a major depression. I became as a pebble falling through a body of water. The only question: how…
Festive 500? Nah, this is the Forestry 450
The Forestry 450 involves covering 450 miles exclusively on Forestry England’s cycle trails. You have between now and the end of October.
NBD: RockShox Psylo, Sonder Evol, Digit Ring, Öhlins coil conversion…
New Bikestuff Day is back! Here's the most interesting stuff in our inbox this week (plus a quick debrief of last week's stuff!)
Issue 154 MTB Culture: Having The Wrong Thing
Necessity is the mother of invention, and stupidity its cousin. We bring you a selection of instances where ‘Having the wrong thing’ (or forgetting the right thing) brought the family together. Don’t chuckle too hard – next time, it might be you. Thanks to our…
XC World Cup Mairipora: results, reports & highlights video
The first World Cup of the year took place in Brazil. Here are the results, race reports and a highlights video from Mairipora.
Issue 154 Interview: Gladiators… Ready!
It’s perhaps no surprise that one of the new competitors on TV’s Gladiators is a pro mountain biker. Hannah catches up with Privateer Bikes rider Kerry Wilson to find out what makes her tick. Look up Kerry Wilson on Instagram and you might need a…
Formula Selva C Fork review
This is a 170mm travel Formula Selva C (coil) fork. I went with the 170mm version because Formula forks have shorter axle-to-crown lengths.
Lezyne Helmet Lite Drive 1200+ LED review
Lezyne Helmet Lite Drive 1200+ LED has eight LEDs, delivering a broad 1,200 lumenbeam, 60-hour runtime and USB-C port recharging.
Troy Lee Designs Mathis Jacket review
Troy Lee Designs Mathis Jacket is a cooler weather lightweight and packable jacket, offering some weather protection along with insulation.
Wolf Tooth Resolve Dropper Post review
The Wolf Tooth Resolve dropper does away with the usual IFP arrangement, that can leak air into oil, and promises to never get squishy.