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.
SingletrAction Trail News Update and Membership Drive
It’s that time of year again when SingletrAction do their "membership drive". There’s benefits for you and the trails – a win/win situation. The trails you love to ride cannot be maintained without the funds raised through membership.
It’s 2009 and singlespeeding’s still not dead!
It’s 2009 and singlespeeding’s still not dead! The upcoming 2009 UK Single Speed Championships at Dalby Forest on the 6th and 7th of June has provided scientific proof that pronouncements of singlespeeding’s demise are distinctly premature. Nearly 300 riders have already signed up and places…
The Merida o.Nine Carbon – 930g Frame!
That's quite light that is.
Oh Alright Then, Here’s Another Amazing Vid of Danny MacAskill
No doubt you've seen Danny's latest video - which was "YouTube phenomenon" that even your Mum probably forwarded you details of. Here's some more footage of him blowing people's minds...
Gorrick Gore 100 Challenge
Another astounding turn out meant the trails at Swinley Forest was awash with hundreds of happy riders who had decided to partake in the renowned Gorrick Gore 100 Challenge. Joolze Dymond reports...
Aston Hill Chairman Highly Commended at the CTC Awards
The CTC's Awards and Recruitment Committee gave a Highly Commended Award to Richard Abbott for his contribution to cycling in his region.
Mountain Bike World Cup Live on STW This Weekend
During the upcoming weekend, Houffalize, Belgium will experience a big premiere. In addition to hosting its traditional Olympic cross-country race, the town in the Luxembourg Ardennes will also organize a four-cross World Cup event. This will be the first “double” cross-country and 4X World Cup…
2nd Merida Bikes MTB Marathon Only 2 Weeks Away
Only two weeks to go before the 2nd event of Merida Bikes MTB Marathon Series 2009 will open its doors at the new event location of the Glanusk Estate in Crickhowell. The event will take place on the 16-17th May with the 17th being the…
World Cup Course Unveiled in Dalby Forest
The Forestry Commission is putting the finishing touches to a 6.5 kilometre (4 mile) cross-country route on its estate in the 3,440-hectare (8,600-acre) wood, which will be used to stage the Nissan UCI Cross-Country Mountain Bike World Cup in Yorkshire next year if an ambitious…
Rachel Atherton Out For The Season
World Downhill Champ Rachel Atherton is having surgery on her injured shoulder which will put her out for most of the season. Undeterred, she hopes to be back in time for the World Champs.
40 High-End Bikes Stolen from Paligap.
Paligap has over 40 bikes stolen. Keep your eyes peeled for dodgy looking folk selling Kona, Merlin, Litespeed and Quintana Roo bikes and frames.
Premier Demo Series Hits Glentress This Weekend
This means that in a couple of days time you could be swinging your leg over demo bikes from Intense, Turner, Lapierre, Cove and Rocky Mountain before heading out onto some of the most highly rated trails in the country. Not only that but you…
Wiggle Enduro6 Results
The new ‘weather proofed’ course at Catton Park was unveiled at the weekend after much work by the organisers to try and limit the suffering brought about by a good downpour on the otherwise fast and entertaining course. However, the new sections were not needed…
Camelbak Mule Lightweight
Richard from Camelbak's UK distributors Zyro has just dropped us a line to let us know that they are running a limited edition Camelbak MULE. Zyro are only bringing in just over 200 of each colour.
UK cycling to school doubled in 2008
Good news! Sustrans has good news for pro-ride to school campaigners. The bad news is that it's still under 10% that ride every day, though 26% ride at least once a week.
Chumba Back in the UK
News about Chumba Racing's return to the UK.
Sram 2010 Piccies
Just a few pictures from last week's trip to Afan for a hands-on test of some of the new SRAM stuff, with some close ups of bits and bobs and perhaps the best bike stand ever...
Issue 49’s Trailside Bingo Game – How To Play It
In the forthcoming issue of Singletrack there's a tear-out perforated insert devoted to the totally awesome new craze that is sure to sweep the globe faster than you can say "pork flu" - Trailside Bingo! Here's a description of what the heck it is and…
2009 Kona Mash-Up Rd1
The 1st Kona Mash-Up event of the season is only six weeks away with entries coming in thick and fast. So far the entries are suggesting a fairly even spread between the two categories on offer which will make for interesting racing on the trails…
Saab Salomon Avalanche Trophy – Kielder Results
Spain's David Vazquez topped an otherwise very French podium at last weekend's Saab Salomon Avalanche Trophy round at Kielder Forest.
Singletrack Issue 49 – The Dirtbag Issue
The Dirtbag Issue: you don't need a fat wallet to enjoy mountain biking, as shown in this cut-price, entry-level, making-do, sleeping on floors issue...
Sram 2009 (or is it 2010? it’s hard to keep up)
Matt and Jonny headed down to Afan Argoed t'other day to be shown some new stuff by Elmar from Sram. Rock Shox Revelation forks, Avid Elixir CR brakes, centre-lock disc rotors, Truvativ seat posts, next generation bubble wrap and more...
Car Scrappage Scheme Should Apply To Bicycles
The new government grant that offers £2,000 off a new car when a 10-year-old vehicle is scrapped should be replaced by a scheme for cyclists, according to a leading bicycle insurer.
Sea Otter Eight
Colours from Lezyne, Santa Cruz, crazy military types from Genuine Innovations, the Ibis Tranny in orange, funky vicar bars from FSA, a singlespeed Specialized carbon and carbon fibre dog bowls.
Marzocchi 2010 – Sea Otter Sneak Preview
Chipps got a sneak preview of a good looking and 'back to basics' Marzocchi. They're focussing on their previous strengths with a return to open bath cartridges and coil springs.
Fresh Goods
Cheese, Giro, Bell, Giant, Titus, Specialized, Alpkit, MobiWasher, DMR, Diadora, Cannondale, Bontrager, Mavic and Kona...
Hope Race Series Round 1, Lee Quarry
Sunday dawned bright and early in the Pennines for the 100+ racers descending upon the exciting new venue of Lee Quarry nr. Bacup, Rossendale. Report by Jenn Hopkins.
Singletrack Classic Weekender – Yoofs Over 14 Can Now Enter
It's official: the kids are alright.
Spooky Horror Taxi
Russ from Wight Mountain has just sent us some pics of a new Spooky Horror Taxi. Can you spot what's different about it...?
The Outsider Festival
Music festivals or mountain biking? When it comes to planning summer weekends it's usually one or the other. The Outsider Festival on Saturday 27 and Sunday 28 June 2009 is set different. Already a festival with more than just music including film screenings, stand up…
Specialized Issue Handlebar Safety Recall
Specialized has issued a Handlebar safety recall on the following 2009 model year bikes...
Offenburg World Cup This Sunday – Watch It Live on STW!
The Nissan UCI Mountain Bike World Cup is the biggest mountain bike event in Germany, attracting more than 20.000 spectators. In 2009 the world’s best riders will once again in Offenburg for a first-class showdown on the spectacular course: Beijing Olympic Champions Julien Absalon (France)…
Benji’s Bandito – Minty Fresh
(£449 RRP from Raleigh) This year’s mantra for me is to learn how to jump properly on proper jumps. It’s a funny old game. You pretty much have to unlearn a lot of the way you normally ride a mountain bike. It’s been very hard…
Gore Bike Wear 100 Challenge
Fancy a grand day out in the woods, where you can ride masses of grin inducing trails with loads of like-minded souls? Well why not head over to Swinley Forest on May 3rd and take part in the Gore Bike Wear 100 Challenge?
Ride The Chairlift For Bike Trails Opening Soon at Lecht Ski Centre
The mountain bike trails will soon be opening for the first time at the ski centre, with the key attraction of providing access to the top of the hill by a three man chairlift.
1st Merida Bikes MTB Marathon – Report and Pics
After a rather weather spoiled season opener in 2008 the 1st event of the Merida Bikes MTB Marathon Series 2009 that celebrates its 10th year anniversary this years was rather sun spoiled.
Brechfa Team Enduro
Teams of two or more riders - as this is a relaxed enduro you can ride with as many of your friends as you like. Teams will be required to ride together to help each other around the course by draughting on the climbs and…
Alpkit’s Big Shake Out
If you like kayaking, climbing, bouldering, mountain biking or walking then join Alpkit in Yorkshire for a social weekend and celebrate being outdoors.
Fat Albert is Ten Years Old
The old Schwalbe Fat Albert was a bit of a quiet favourite among the Singletrack Rubber Geeks. Here's details of the new version.
17km of New Stuff in Kielder Forest
The Kielder Partnership is to unveil a 17 kilometre ‘red route’ that has been built as part of a £900,000 investment in off-roading facilities in the Northumberland beauty-spot this year.
The Best Five Minute Mountain Bike Film Ever – Danny MaCaskill
That says it all really. Danny MacAskill's new video on Youtube has old and new-school riders' jaws dropping all over the world...
Sea Otter Report Six – Team Bikes and Precious Things
Chipps delves deep into the pits, peeks behind some curtains and finds out some of the hot-tuning mods that the pros are running. A time trial shifter on a dirt jump bike, the Atherton's prototype Saint wheels and a Mini Specialized... Oh, and are those…