Alf Alderson was enticed to South Carmarthenshire by a local tourist board promotion – but did the riding live up to the hype? Words Alf Alderson Photography Alf Alderson vs Discover Carmarthenshire Sometimes the best riding is right on your doorstep and while you may…
Readers’ Rides: Jon’s Smokestone Bow-Ti
Whether you’ve got a special new bike or just a bike that’s special to you, this is where you get to tell us about it! You send us your submissions, and then we cast our judgemental expert lustful eyes over them and bring them to the world to ooh…
Mountain Bike Hip Pack Buyers Guide – Kit Essentials
Benji tests out some modern hip packs that can cater for all but the furthest adventuring of riders. Words Benji Photography Amanda The return of the humble water bottle and the widespread ditching of hydration backpacks has been one of the more unexpected developments in…
Review: Bontrager Rapid Pack Hydro Hip Pack
This Bontrager Rapid Pack Hydro hip pack is reviewed as part of our Kit Essentials grouptest from Issue 143 of Singletrack World Price: £94.99 Capacity: 1.64L Bladder: 1.5L Included From: Trek, trekbikes.com Colours: Black The non-hydro version of this bag has been much loved amongst…
Review: Deuter Pulse 3 Hip Pack
The Deuter Pulse 3 hip pack is reviewed as part of our Kit Essentials grouptest from Issue 143 of Singletrack World Price: £50.00 Capacity: 5L Bladder: 1.5L (not included) From: Deuter GB, deutergb.co.uk Colours: Bay (blue), Cranberry, Black The square shape of the Pulse 3…
Review: Patagonia Ultralight Black Hole Mini Hip Pack
The Patagonia Ultralight Black Hole Mini hip pack is reviewed as part of our Kit Essentials grouptest from Issue 143 of Singletrack World Price: £25.00 Capacity: 1L Bladder: No From: Patagonia, eu.patagonia.com Colours: Borealis Green, Black, Coriander Brown, Forge Grey At first glance this dinky…
Review: PNW Rover Hip Pack
The PNW Rover hip pack is reviewed as part of our Kit Essentials grouptest from Issue 143 of Singletrack World The PNW Rover is a tough, sturdy pack that is clearly designed with a hard life in mind, as opposed to being minimalist, delicate, lightweight…
Review: Polaris Aquanought Waterproof Hip Pack
The Polaris Aquanought Waterproof hip pack is reviewed as part of our Kit Essentials grouptest from Issue 143 of Singletrack World Price: £47.99 Capacity: 3L Bladder: No From: Polaris, polaris-bikewear.co.uk Colours: Black & Green If you’re like me, you’re a middle-aged mountain biker living in…
Review: Rapha Trail Hip Pack
The Rapha Trail hip pack is reviewed as part of our Kit Essentials grouptest from Issue 143 of Singletrack World Price: £60.00 Capacity: 3L Bladder: No From: Rapha, rapha.cc Colours: Old Gold, Black, Green, Navy Unlike a lot of mountain bike journos, I really have…
Review: Thule Rail 4 Hip Pack
This product was selected for our Editors’ Choice Awards 2022, as published in Singletrack Magazine Issue 146 Benji: “This Rail 4L from Thule was the first bumbag that I didn’t begrudge wearing. It remains the one and only bumbag that I reach for when I’m…
This one’s for the climbers – World Cup XC Short Track at Leogang
Grassy climb, quick descent and techy corners. XCC racing is intense as ever! About the track The track for short track racing in Leogang is 1km long with 47m of ascent. The riders start on gravelly ground and, within a few metres of starting, head…
Internet Rummagings – Queen’s English edition
Welcome to the results of this month’s rummaging around the back room of the internet bike shop, where I try and find cool, shiny or interesting parts to show you, and try desperately not to go bankrupt in the process. Farr (ST) Farr is an…
Issue 143 Hans Rey: Lasting Legacies
Hans Rey learns from new hotshots and old legends to work out his place in mountain biking’s legacy. Words & Photography Carmen Freeman-Rey Looking back on life can be a funny thing, thankfully we have a knack for forgetting the bad and our recollections are…
If you go down in the woods today… Bird Flu Warning!
If you’re heading to a trail centre – or anywhere really – you’d do well to heed this warning. It might be tempting to try and rescue a sick bird, but currently it would be an ill-advised move: Forestry and Land Scotland is advising all…
Dotwatchers Assemble! Bikes of Blaenau 600
The Blaenau 600 is a new bikepacking event, 600km long with over 11,000m of climbing. Blaenau translates roughly as ‘remote uplands’, though it starts in a fairly accessible place and as a loop you return back to base – perhaps making it less of an all-in…
Fresh Goods Friday 604: The Great Power & Responsibility Edition
We trust you’ve had a most splendid week. If you haven’t, we’re sorry about that. There’s always next week. This too shall pass. Anyway. Here’s this week’s Fresh Goods for everyone to enjoy… Cane Creek Helm MKII Price: £1,099 From: Extra UK We’ve got this…
Talking About: How Far Can Your Ebike Go?
Mark and Hannah sit down to chat about the reasons why ‘How far can your ebike go?’ has no simple answer. Video not displaying? Try our Youtube Channel Having discussed all that, we then got to wondering in the office – as batteries get smaller…
Issue 143: Things that are important on a bike, in order.
Benji is here to persuade you not to spend lots of money, except where you should. Words: Benji This feature is intended to be a helpful guide – or reminder – to invest in some things more than others. This often involves spending money on…
It’s Hannah’s Birthday! Grab a deal…
Another year, another bit older, and at the point where I have to ask my kids how old I am this year. ’43!’ they reply with glee. Then they remember its my birthday and they’re supposed to be nice to me, so say things like…
Strava adds mountain biking as an activity: hurray or uh-oh?
A recent update to Strava has given users the option of selecting mountain biking as an activity.
What’s Inside Singletrack World Issue 143? Out Today!
If you receive a printed copy of the magazine each issue, it’s now in the post – we can’t be sure exactly when it will land with you, especially with all the Bank Holidays, but if you’re in the UK and you’ve still not got…
Issue 143: Lost In Time
A few rolls of lost camera film bring back memories of older times. Words & Photography Chipps The fading art of the analogue photograph was always a wonder to me. I can remember watching, amazed, as my first black and white print appeared before my eyes in the college darkroom.…
Issue 143 Last Word: Clothing Optional
Should Hannah be allowed to make equipment choices, or is the outcome inevitable? Words Hannah I have been here before. That time it resulted in a flight through the air long enough to contemplate my poor equipment choices (bikini, sandals and baseball cap) before landing…
When & how & who to watch at Leogang DH World Cup on Saturday
All photos – credit Red Bull Content Pool In the latest episode of the Making Up The Numbers podcast Jack Reading states that Leogang is the hardest track to race on the World Cup circuit. Once bemoaned as being ‘too bike parky’ that all changed…
How to pick the best mountain bike for you
While there may not be such a thing as The Best Mountain Bike, there are certainly bikes that will suit you more than others.
Have An Adventurous Night Out in Nottingham!
Make Wednesday 15th June more than a hump day – make it a full on mountain day, with Kendal Mountain Tour’s evening of adventure films. Meet the intrepid woman who ran 5000 miles around the coast of Britain, with 200 strangers putting her up for…
Making Up The Numbers Podcast With Danny Hart and Dakotah Norton
On this episode of the podcast, George, Jack and Emilie chat all things Fort William and Leogang. They’re joined by 2011 and 2016 World Champion Danny Hart, and 2021 US National Champion Dakotah Norton. Dakotah Norton Gallery Credit: Nathan Hughes Danny Hart Gallery Credit: Red…
Santa Cruz Chameleon R MX review: venerable yet versatile
For the past 25 years the Santa Cruz Chameleon been a tough hardtail that can still be comfortable and light enough for longer rides.
Rockrider ST 700 Rain Jacket review: £70 brilliance
At around 500g, the Rockrider ST 700 Rain Jacket is not lightweight but when the conditions are harsh, comfort and morale are everything.
Back From The Dead – A Full Suspension Handcycle
Dieter is the kind of bike nerd mechanic that every good bike shop should want. He is endlessly enthusiastic about getting people of all kinds onto bikes of all sorts. He can fix your bike even when the outlook looks bleak. Go for a ride…
The Calder Divide Trail Challenge – new bikepacking route
Perhaps you’ve missed out on the Jenn Ride, or are inspired by the HT550? Or maybe you just want to do every route that’s out there, or raise some money for a good cause. Calderdale resident Adrian Wright has devised this route in memory of…
Fresh Goods Friday 603 – The Cat’s Whiskers Edition
Whether you’re dodging your neighbours at a street party, or just trying to drown out the fact they’ve decided to spend the entire bank holiday jet washing their patio, you’ve come to the right place. Put your best foot forward, your stiff upper lip this…
Review: Modibodi Maxi-24hour Pants
No, these are not pants for making you go fast at 24-hour races. They’re pants that will absorb your period for up to 24 hours. About once every 23 days (I know, it sucks, right?), I think ‘oh my god, these are so great, I…
Bike Check: Benji’s Cotic RocketMAX Mullet
4th generation RocketMAX from Cotic is here to serve as our testbed for the harder hitting equipment we need to thrash.
Waiting For The Mag?
Waiting for your mag? Let us help you with that. We know you love your Singletrack World Magazine, and once it gets to the start of the month you start wondering where it is. Every morning is like Christmas, and you scamper down the stairs…
The Boy of Ten Who Conquered the Ben!
It’s just after 3pm on a cold and blustery April day as I ponder my current situation; I am just over 500m away from the summit of Ben Nevis in thicker than anticipated snow. On my back is a 18kg full suspension mountain bike in…
Renpho R3 Mini Massage Gun Review
Renpho makes a number of ‘healthy living’ products, including a few different massage items designed to massage various parts of the body (no giggling at the back). There are implements for massaging your back, your feet, your legs, and even your eyes (I didn’t even…
British Cycling National XC Series Rd 4: Cannock Chase
A welcome return to Cannock Chase for Round Four aka the round much nearer to most people than some of the previous ones. Before anyone starts, to have a race you need an organiser and a landowner, and this season, somewhere where all the trees…
The MTB Tyre Tread Quiz – how well do you know your rubber?
How many times have you ridden along a trail and looked down to see tyre tracks that you could identify? Have you impressed your riding mates with call outs of "See that tyre track down there? That's a Magic Mary that is". Now you can…
Things you’re no longer allowed to like in mountain biking
This is a rundown of all of the things that the Mountain Biking Illuminati has recently outlawed. Cancel culture MTB, if you will.
POC Omne Eternal Helmet Review: Self-Charging Rear Light
POC Omne Eternal features new Powerfoyle technology to charge an in-built rear light, that knows when it's needed.
Readers’ Rides: Tom’s Rå .410
Whether you’ve got a special new bike or just a bike that’s special to you, this is where you get to tell us about it! You send us your submissions, and then we cast our judgemental expert lustful eyes over them and bring them to the world to ooh…
Podcast with Bespoked’s new co-owner Petor Georgallou
Perhaps you’re in the boat of thinking ‘one day, for a special birthday, maybe I’ll get a hand made bike’? Petor hopes that for the sake of the many small bike builders out there, you’ll decide to go for something sooner than that, or at…
A Grand Day Out – and a call to action
Roy has set himself a challenge, all in the name of fun, eternal youth, and some good causes. Now I am officially an old Yorkshire duffer (66yrs young) and in danger of being put out to pasture, I thought what better than to plan some…
Watch Films to Support Ukraine!
The folks behind the Kendal Mountain Festival have pulled together a great selection of Ukraine based adventure films that you can watch on their Kendal Mountain Player. The films all centre on the mountains in Ukraine, with subjects spanning biking, hiking, climbing, environment and even…
FGF 602: We Mean It Maan Edition
Please try and keep those forelocks untugged for a few more days as we delve into the People's Republic of Fresh Goods.
All new RockShox… everything, pretty much
For 2023, RockShox has rejigged the Pike, the Lyrik, the Zeb, the Deluxe, the Deluxe Coil, the Super Deluxe and the Super Deluxe Coil.
2023 RockShox Zeb Ultimate & Super Deluxe Ultimate Review
We’ve had a new Zeb Ultimate and Super Deluxe Ultimate bolted on to a RAAW Madonna so read on to see what we think.
3 Things Thursday: Riding Glasses
Hannah and Benji sit outside in the relative sunshine to discuss the whys and wherefores of riding eyewear.
New Long Distance Cycling Route: The Cantii Way
Nothing to do with brakes, Cycling UK is launching the Cantii Way: a new long-distance cycling route in Kent taking people cycling through the diverse scenery and history of the ‘Garden of England’. If you’re down south and keen to find some new quiet and…
HOW TO WHEELIE with Danny MacAskill
Danny MacAskill’s Do A Wheelie video went down an absolute treat, so now he’s back to help us all join in with a How To video. Over to Danny! Press Release Continues below: In celebration of Five Ten day, Danny MacAskill launched his latest video…