Only slight apologies for the press release cut 'n' paste, but we thought you'd like to see the new 'genre redefining' Covert bike from Transition Bikes...
Straitline Stem
There’s something to be perversely admired about a company that kicks convention in the teeth and smiles doing it, and Canadian company Straitline have a lot of shattered enamel on their 5.10s.
North Shore Riding – on a unicycle…
Chipps' favourite video of the week - Mike Parenteau riding Nelson BC on two wheels - and then on just the one...
West Highland Way in a Day
Riding the West Highland Way is nothing new, but doing it in under 24 hours for charity is going to take some doing...
Top Bike Brands Line Up To Offer Bike Testing At Fort William World Cup
New ‘Bike Test’ gives fans the chance to test latest models at Nissan UCI Mountain Bike World Cup, presented by Shimano.
Islabikes Rothan
When you find that nearly everyone you meet is doing a double-take at your new purchase you know it’s either because you’ve bought something quite stupid, or you’ve chosen one of those products that attracts attention for all the right reasons.
Sram XX – the low down.
Dave A reports back from the SRAM XX launch in Italy having taken the test bikes around a blistering hot Tuscan landscape. There are US prices in here too - prepare to wince a little when you see them.
Sram XX shifter close up
Last post before I pop off for dinner, here’s the XX shifter. Designed from the ground up just like the rest of the groupset but influenced by what Sram have learnt from previous projects such as the road groupsets and XO
Sram XX forks
Here’s a taster of the new XX forks, more tech information later.. Here’s the XX Sid world cups with reworked lowers, steerer and crown. All forks feature the new X loc lockout lever.
That Sram XX cassette in close up
Dave gives us some super-closeups of the new SRAM XX rear cassette. It's a madness of intricate machining - which it should be for over $300...
2010 Commencal AbsolutSX
Albert from Madison says: "Rumour has it it’s the ‘bestest’ in t’world ever, ever!" See what you think…
Comment on the comments
Is it me or are the people posting comments on our stories getting increasingly more negative and cynical? SRAM launch their 10 speed groupset and within minutes of Dave posting his report from the launch itself the comments are ‘what’s the point?’, ‘it’s all just…
Freak Bike: Santa Cruz Easy Rider
This bike ticks all the boxes to qualify for a place in Singletrack’s "Bike Pron" feature: Would it draw a crowd if it were leant up against the food tent at Mountain Mayhem? Is it a bike that we’d all like to ride, even if…
Shhh – Sram XX Updated
Dave Anderson reports from the SRAM XX launch in Italy... Ten speed, two chainrings and Centrelock? Whatever next?
Identiti Alloy QR Seat Clamp
Are you a saddle dropper? If not, why not? The usual reply is “I can’t ride with my saddle down”. This confuses me greatly. What advantage to bike handling can there possibly be in having a saddle wedged up your crotch?
Cane Creek Double Barrel Shock
This shock comes out of a collaboration between Cane Creek and Ohlins Racing, the Swedish suspension gurus who have cut their teeth on the likes of Supercross and GP bikes to produce a handmade (every single one is made by just one man, called Paul,…
Hope 1.5in Stepdown Headset
Those of us with fat head tubes have traditionally only had two choices when it came to 1.5-into-1 1/8th headsets: cheap and nasty ball-bearing ones that weigh a ton and go rusty after about three rides, or very expensive ones that are okay.
Successful shoulder surgery for Rachel Atherton
Rachel's back home and better already...
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Singular Swift
Yes, it’s another 29in wheel bike. But for a change, it wasn’t sent from a manufacturer eager to get themselves into this subset of a niche before the boat left, but a bike we wanted to look at because it actually looked ‘right’.
Crickhowell Merida MTB Marathon Series 2009 – The Aftermath
The weather turned the already challenging trails into an extra tough ride but that didn’t stop almost 900 riders entering the event.
Atherton Attacks Aston!
World Champ Gee Atherton meets some proper journos and gets them dirty at Aston Hill whilst we play with alliteration.
Shed Shackle
The Shed Shackle is a security device that you fit to your shed, providing a fixed er, shackle to lock your bike to. It’s not going to stop anyone breaking into your shed but it might stop them making off with your bike, which has…
Editorial Juice
Is it that time again? Again?
Hope Race Series Round 3, Lee Quarry – Race Report
With June and the start of the British summer proper winching ever closer, it was touch and go whether the charm of the previous rounds would hold for the racers at Lee Quarry. Race report and pics by Jenn Hopkins.
Where You Can Buy The Mag – Singletrack Magazine Stockist Listing
For those of you who have yet to work out where your nearest stockist of Singletrack Mountain Bike Magazine is, we've created a handy online listing of them all.
Singletrack Mind Celebrates Ten Years
The south-Wales club that hand-made many of the early trails at Afan is having a party to celebrate ten years since it started. And you're all invited...
661 Veggie Wrap Shin Pads
For SPD users the journey into flat pedal riding can be a perilous one. Sure, you’re going to improve your technique and learn to bunnyhop properly, but you’re also liable to landing a set of pins into your leg. The problem is that a lot…
The Singletrack Classic Weekender – Update
Camping, car parking, insurance, security, toilets, fire, water, uplifts, demo bikes, timetable, catering... Now with videos of the downhills course and the 'Classic' trials competition. It's going to be the chilled-out event of the summer, oh yes.
MSC/Descent-Gear NPS Rd 2 at Llangollen, May 30th-31st
Round two is going to be off the Richter Scale and will go down in the history books as the hardest track in the U.K to race on. Steve Parr and his trail fairies claim to have "set the benchmark" and completed a "masterpiece"...
Singletrack Trail Guide – The Gower
Benji and trusty lieutenant JonWIII travel to the southerest, westerest bits of Wales in search of fresh trails. And they find them, nestled among the gales.
Alpkit Fat Airic
My body is definitely getting old. If it’s not, then I’m getting a lot weaker. There was a time when I’d sleep straight on the ground or with a thin Karrimat. There was a time where dossing in a phone box would do as well…
Did You Enjoy Summer?
Well, I’m glad I made an effort to do a lot of riding during the decent weather we had through April. But… CAN WE PLEASE HAVE A SUMMER THIS YEAR FOR GOD’S SAKE??? That is all.
Is This The New Orange Patriot?
Jonny "The" Woodhouse has sent us some spy shots over from Switzerland...
Cannock NPS Race
It is official - Cannock Chase attracts some of the toughest and most determined mountain bikers anywhere in the world.
Shimano M300 shoes
These are Shimano’s top of the range, none-higher, all-singing and quite a bit of dancing, race shoes.
Watch Steve Peat Make History at The Vallnord DH
Watch Steve Peat make DH history. WOOP!
Lee Quarry Hope Series Race 3 Preview
After surviving the weather in race 2 here’s race 3! Entry levels are good and they are still accepting entries on the day. Registration opens at 08:30.
Chipps Draws First Blood – Updated
A quick afternoon distraction for you. Chipps has finally (nearly) finished his Orange Blood. Here's a preview of the next issue's Long Termer before it gets dirty...
2nd Merida Bikes MTB Marathon Series Just Around The Corner
With the trails drying out quickly and the vegetation doing overtime the conditions out there getting better by the minute. Only a couple of days now before the 2nd round of the Merida Bikes MTB Marathon round will kick off at the new location in…
European Handbuilt Bike Show
Thanks to our German Reporter, Thomas Paatz, we have a great report, with scores of pictures from the European Handbuilt Bikes Show that took place last weekend in Germany.
MSC Bikes/Descent-Gear.com NPS Downhill Rd 2
The race is already fully booked with 300 of the top UK riders who have all had to qualify regionally so these really are the cream of the crop. Advertised as "harder than the legendery Champery" this will not be one to be missed so…
Hope Race Series Round 2, Lee Quarry
Race organisers Brownbacks were playing a risky game staging round 2 of the Hope Race Series on a Bank Holiday Monday but the Bacup micro-climate played into their favour this time around. Words and pics by Jenn Hopkins.
Killer Driver Escapes Prison Because Cyclist Wasn’t Wearing A Helmet
CTC – the UK’s national cyclists’ organisation has condemned a judge’s decision to reduce the sentence handed down to a driver because the cyclist he killed wasn’t wearing a helmet.
Dales Bike Centre Picks Up Environment Award
Newly opened Dales Bike Centre in the Yorkshire Dales National Park last week picked up the Yorkshire Post’s 2009 Environment Award for building projects under £1million. The centre based in Fremington, Swaledale is a dedicated cyclist facility comprising of accommodation, cafe, bike hire, bike retail…
Kielder Gets A Purple Mountain
The Kielder Partnership has revealed that Purple Mountain has been awarded the contract to run the £250,000 Kielder Water & Forest Park Bike Centre.
Steve Peat Wins French World Cup!
Peaty takes World Cup win at La Bresse in France this weekend. Tracy Moseley continues to lead the Women's World Cup after a second place.
Welsh Downhill Champs, August 29-30th
Brief details of the Welsh DH Champs. It's an open championship, everyone of all nationalities welcome, however, the fastest Welsh man or woman, will be the category champion.
Fresh Goods
It’s about time we showed you some of the fab stuff that’s been arriving in the office while we were busy finishing the previous issue of Singletrack magazine.
The Marin Roughride 2009 – Sunday, June 14th
Just a reminder that this year’s Marin Roughride is on Sunday June 14th, one week later than 2008.