Singletrack's 'other' Lakeland product tester, Piers, gets out after hours in order to bring us this Raveman PR1600 review I confess that I had not heard of Raveman before the PR1600 came through my letter box. So I open box and have a play…
Eurobike’s Been Cancelled For 2020. Here’s Why We’ll Miss It.
Chipps gives us his reasons why he’s very sad to hear that Eurobike has been cancelled. And it’s not just about the shiny new bikes… Traditionally, Eurobike – to me at least – always signified the end of summer. Falling at the end of August/beginning…
Danny Hart To Join Cube?
Where is Danny Hart off to? The rumours abound… Remember when we told you that the UK’s primo DH rider was leaving team Saracen and everyone was wondering where he was going? Well we have some rumours and some industry insider secret confirmations as to…
Fresh Goods Friday 520 – The Take Us To A Quiet Space Edition
Put you left foot in, your right arm out, stick your bum into the air and shake it all about. Never mind tiers, levels, deal or no deal, or clips vs flats. Don’t breathe on anyone, wash your hands, don’t burn peat bogs, be kind,…
Feast Your Eyes On This Tour De France Gallery from Commencal
You might recall a couple of weeks back Commencal revealed its ‘Our Tour de France’ video, with Kilian Bron riding his bike all over France in some of the most spectacular drone footage we’ve seen. It turns out it wasn’t just drones at work during…
2021 Commencal Meta AM 29 Review | Thought you were fast? Wait till you ride this!
The 2021 Commencal Meta AM 29 is a proven speed demon, with sorted geo and kinematics for reduced fatigue and impressive climbing. This is a full-on EWS weapon! Let's cut to the chase, the MY21 Commencal Meta AM is nothing like the outgoing model, sure…
The Norco Shore Returns – and it’s not for racing
It’s about ten years since the Norco Shore was last given an update, and 20 years since it was first released. This new release goes big everywhere except the wheels, and has a coil shock with a high pivot Horst link and idler pulley. The…
Making Up The Numbers | Camille Balanche, David Trummer and Dan Slack – DH World Championship Review
What a weekend in Leogang! Still cleaning mud from their fingernails, ears and suspension linkages, we have three riders fresh from their DH World Championship podiums and straight into the podcast studio with George and Jack. Your new Women’s Elite World Champion, Camille Balanche, Elite…
New Nukeproof Mega V4 Launched – and yes, it has room for a water bottle!
Today sees the launch of an all new Nukeproof Mega V4. Like the bikes before it, there are still 29in and 27.5in wheeled versions and the travel is an enduro-winning 165mm or 160mm (depending on wheel size) out back with both models runnign 170mm forks.…
2021 Nukeproof Mega 275 Factory – First Ride Review
The Nukeproof Mega has been the brand's top flight, big hitting enduro bike since 2011. The original prototype was raced to 3rd place in Masters at the 2009 Megavalanche (the race it was named after) by Michael Cowan, with the first production bike being launched…
First Ride: 2021 Specialized Stumpjumper Review
Chipps reports from a day of ups and downs in the remarkably sunny Tweed Valley aboard the new Stumpjumper. Although it was only a day, there was more than enough riding to give this new 2021 Stumpjumper a first ride review.
Specialized Launches The 2021 Stumpjumper: ‘The Singletrack Flow Finder’ – With Video
At first glance, the new 2021 Stumpjumper appears pretty similar to both the model that came before it, and to the new 2021 Stumpjumper EVO that appeared a week or so ago. However, much has changed, both in where the bike sits in the range…
2021 Hope HB.130 now mullet compatible with standard hub spacing
Hope has updated us with news of the 2021 HB.130 now featuring a standard rear hub spacing and the option to run a 27.5in rear wheel. Hope insists that it isn’t a bike brand, and yet they have released an enduro bike in the past…
Fort William World Cup 2021 – Date moved to May
In a change to the original announcement by the UCI, the Fort William round of the 2021 Downhill World Cup will now take place on 22-23 May. The 22-23 May 2021 is a date change from the original UCI announcement of 12-13 June. The date…
Two New Riders for Madison Saracen – but where’s Danny Hart going?
Madison Saracen has revealed who will be on the team next year – but the surprise omission is Danny Hart. Jordan Williams joins the Factory team to ride in the junior category after two successful years as a development rider. If you’ve been following our…
Review | Orange Crush MX Pro LTD hardcore hardtail
Do the mixed wheels of the Orange Crush MX make this THE hardcore hardtail to own in 2021? Andi climbs on board to tell all. The continued evolution of the Orange Crush means that this alloy hardtail is now available in every flavour from 29er…
Dropping In | Short Stuff You Should Know
We bring you a round up of snack sized information from the big wide bike world that we think you might want to know. Road accident guidelines for reporting People who ride bikes on the road have long been frustrated by the incredible number of…
New Reynolds 309/289 XC Series Wheels – with heritage turquoise option
Reynolds today introduces a new range of XC wheels, the 309/289XC. These carbon wheels are aimed at the demands of modern XC racing, and come in four build levels to suit a range of pockets, from $1299.99 to $2099.99. The top priced limited-edition version comes…
2020 Crowns 2 New World Champs in Leogang!
After yesterday’s race, I don’t think we’re going to hear too many complaints that Leogang is a bike park track. After rain and snow, the trails looked more like a swamp than a World Championship circuit with around 90% of the field had trouble staying…
VIDEO | Reece Wilson, Cushcore Total Confidence
Trek factory Racing's Reece Wilson ditches the DH bike for a trail bike and absolutely smashes some Scottish trails
Fizik Terra Artica X2 – Cosy Boots For Warm Dry Feet
Beate braves the elements to put these Fizik Terra Artica winter boots to the test. The perfect winter boot does not exist. Which means that I am engaged in an eternal search for warm, dry, feet through the cold, wet months of the year (which…
Join us at the GT Malverns Classic.
Let’s All Mess About On Bikes Again. We want being a Singletrack full member to be bigger and better than it’s ever been. Now there is not only the awesome magazine and website, but also a load of exclusive perks. In the members’ area you…
Fresh Goods Friday 519 – The ‘Not Van Halen too?’ Edition
Hey! How’s it going? Sorry for the late appearance of Fresh Goods this week, we’ve had a busy old week and there’s a lot of stuff to get through. Grab a brew! (Or a beer if you’ve finished work already…) – oh, and we’ve checked…
Singletrack Magazine Issue 133 Is Here! Get it and member discounts, now.
October’s issue of Singletrack Magazine, Issue 133. has landed! Here’s what’s inside, plus some cunning ways to get the most for your money. There’s no denying it: the leaves are turning, the air has that whiff of over ripeness turning to decay, and the sting…
Classic Ride 133 – Nan Bield
Nan Bield Pass Lake District local James Vincent shows us just why this is epic day out is considered a true classic ride. Words & Photography James Vincent “Switchback” Noun: A path, road, or railway that forms very sharp bends from one direction to almost…
New SRAM Eagle AXS Lever Shape For Riders Less Keen On The Future
SRAM’s AXS Eagle wireless shifting system has gone down very well since its launch just over 18 months ago. For those riders who got the 1×12 wireless shifter and mech on their new bikes, or those who upgraded to it, the functionality of the shifters…
E*13 Helix 556% range cassette is compatible with Shimano and SRAM
The E*13 Helix promises more range, better compatibility, less weight and a lower price! We’re all accustomed to seeing dinner plate size cassettes on our rear wheels, but we’ve not seen something with so much range that looked so good before. The Helix is a…
Aerothan. After 5 Years Of Development, Schwalbe Launches – An Inner Tube?
If you thought the inner tube as daily bit of kit died a half dozen years ago – when tubeless systems really got their act together – then Schwalbe has news for you. The inner tube is alive and well. So well, in fact, that…
Heading to the Mill, YT Mill that is
A couple of weekends ago, Andi jumped into his van and headed South for a tour of the newly opened YT Mill in the Surrey Hills. During the lockdown, German bike brand YT opened another of its showroom style stores to the public. This time…
Don’t Be A Discount Dick
We have been beavering away at Singletrack HQ, working on a Singletrack Members Area, and it is coming on very nicely. Here you will find a bunch of great perks that make being a Singletrack subscriber even more wonderful, such as killer discounts on cool…
The Brigade builds Ronnie Mac inspired World Champs bike for Alex Marin
Spanish rider, Alex Marin shows off his Ronnie Mac inspired World Championship V10 put together by The Brigade Team. It has been a funny season with races cancelled, but as long as nothing untoward happens in the next few days we’ve got some excellent racing…
Vancouver to Whistler in 30 minutes via high speed train? There’s a plan for that
Ok, at the moment it’s a ‘proposal’ for a post covid-19 recovery plan for the south BC area and the plan is designed to allow for the affordable expansion in to the suburbs around Vancouver for the expected 1 million extra inhabitants by 2050. But…
MY21 Canyon Sender and Torque big rigs revealed
Need a big travel rig for bike park and downhill duty well you’re in luck with the release of the 2021 Canyon Sender and Torque ranges. Canyon has announced updates to the two longest travel bikes in its range with newly configured Canyon Sender alloy,…
2021 Nukeproof Reactor with updated specs and builds to suit all tastes
2021 Nukeproof Reactor comes in a host of different builds, a choice of 2 wheel sizes and options for carbon or alloy framesets! There was once a famous fast-food chain that had an advert which read out a list of ingredients followed by “you got…
Never mind Airfix, Build Your Own Cardboard Pumptrack!
If you’ve been thinking of building a pump track in your back garden, maybe this is the assistance you need. Like tracks you may have seen at shows and events, it’s a modular system, but this one from Italian company Easy Pumptracks still needs the…
Must Watch: The Stumpjumper EVO Video is bonkers
Blah blah, shred shred, roost, slo mo. You think you’ve seen it all. And then this lands. Perhaps taking a leaf out of the book of YT, arguably makers of ‘films’ not promo videos, Specialized has gone for it with their video to promote the…
New 2021 Specialized Stumpjumper EVO Goes Big
The Stumpjumper EVO has changed… The new, 29in wheel, 160/150mm 2021 Specialized Stumpjumper EVO is quite a bike. When it originally appeared a couple or three years ago, it appeared as an alloy-only, two size-only ‘hooligan’ version of the, then brand new, Stumpjumper model. Its…
5 ways to fix riding problems using zip ties, glue and video at double speed… wtf?
Having problems riding and turning your head to see what’s behind you? Just use a coat-hanger and a big badge to fashion a rear view mirror and attach it to your head so you can only see ahead with one eye. Think we are being…
Rachel Atherton won’t race 2020 World Champs
Rachel Atherton has announced that she will not be racing in the 2020 World Championships in Leogang. DH fans will have noticed that Rachel Atherton was missing from the line-up at Crankworx, and will now be disappointed to hear that the 6 time World Champ,…
Bike Magazine Closes Both Print and Digital Output
We were very sad to hear over the weekend that the iconic and influential American magazine, Bike, had closed its doors, magazine and website, along with its stablemates (and equally influential magazines) Powder and Surfer. Bike Magazine launched in 1994 and last year celebrated a…
Nominations Are Open – 2020 Singletrack Reader Awards
Nominations for the Singletrack Reader Awards will close at Midnight Sunday 18th October. Don’t miss out on your chance to show your appreciation for your favourite bikes, kit, trails and people… You don’t need us to tell you that this has been an exceptional year…
Ortlieb Bikepacking Range 2021 – Pack Everything and Ride Everywhere
Will the 2021 Ortlieb Bikepacking range make sleeping in a bush or bivvy just that little bit more luxurious? With this much carry space, there's room to pack for comfort. Being a bikepacker in the grim north east of England, keeping gear dry is an…
10 Rigid Mountain Bikes For Low Faff Riding
Since Andi put together a list of hardtails for winter riding – on the basis that they’ve less to maintain – I thought I’d make a list of rigid mountain bikes. Less to faff about with in the car park, less to fix and maintain,…
Making Up The Numbers Podcast – DH World Championships Preview Special
Finally some Downhill Racing for the gang to get excited about! Joining George & Jack for a special Downhill World Champs preview show are 2 x GB Elite Men’s National Champion Greg Williamson, 2 x Junior Women’s World Champion & 2 x Junior Women’s World…
Fresh Goods Friday 518 | The Great British Doorstep Disco Edition
Hurrah! It’s Friday! Go wild, do your hair, get your glad rags on and… erm… sit on the sofa with a takeaway? Humph. What this world needs right now is dancing. How about a nationwide silent disco street party? Saturday night, headphones on so as…
TweedLove Writes Off 2020, But Looks Forward to 2021
We’ve been sent a message by Neil Dalgleish, organiser behind the wide-ranging and successful Tweedlove series of events. Except, this year, there have been no events at all and his statement – part matter-of-fact statement and part understandable rant – shows the fragility and frustration…
Midweek Movies To Make You Feel Good
We’re not looking out the window because the sun has stopped shining and we’re pretending that there isn’t rain running down it. Aimlessly perusing the internet is dangerous, because it’s full of news, which is mostly bad. So come on in to our screen time…
6 Action Cameras To Record Your Ride
All too often a cycle commute or ride on the road is disturbed by a close pass, an aggressive gesture, or a even collision. A camera won’t stop any of those things happening, but perhaps footage of an incident will help prove your case in…
26 still isn’t dead and neither are 20mm axles with the new Marzocchi DJ
The Marzocchi DJ launches today in a dedicated 26in wheel package, with burly chassis and old-school 20mm dropouts. Designed for dirt jumping, pump tracks, and urban riding, the Marzocchi DJ fork is a simple 100mm travel fork aimed at riders wanting to go big, style…
A Short Story: Don’t Forget To Pedal
In the grand scheme of things, my problems are minor. My financial worries are of the ‘balancing what I want to do vs what I need to do’ variety, rather than the ‘food or shelter?’ sort. My personal life is complicated, but I have a…
Finally, Live Mountain Bike Racing On TV!
In a year when there’s been very little racing to watch, you may be glad to hear that there is live coverage of the UCI World Cup in Nové Mesto. Even better, it’s not hidden away on any pay-to-view channel, and doesn’t need you to…