Jason Miles has a run-in with the powers that are supposed to be helping him. A few weeks ago a mountain bike race happened in a park just outside Manchester. I’d organised it. It took a long time to get everything sorted out, mainly because…
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Singletrack Magazine Issue 125 | Chairlifted Orienteering
Chipps takes on a mountain orienteering event in the Italian Dolomites, organised by Germans, where the idea is to hunt for dumplings that don’t actually exist, but which everybody gets at the end. Words & Photography Chipps “Crunch!” And with that, our event was over…
Singletrack Magazine Issue 125 | Electric Boogaloo
Chipps infiltrates the underground world of electric-bike-only riding weekends to discover the secret customs and handshakes of this growing mountain bike world. Words & Photography Chipps When you have a ‘special’ hobby, whether it be radio control cars, jigsaws or a rubber fetish, you’re always…
Singletrack Issue 125 | (Not) Catching Up With Peaty
Pete Scullion catches up with Steve Peat, one of the most successful mountain bikers of all time, and a giant of the sport in many ways. Words & Photography Pete Scullion Rolling down Steve Peat’s driveway seems awfully familiar, although I’ve never set foot in…
Singletrack Magazine Issue 125 | Jez Avery – Tears Of A Clown
Hannah catches up with Jez Avery, the official joker of the British mountain bike scene and finds a darker side that nearly did for him. Words Hannah Photography Mark and as credited “I love waking up in the mornings.” It’s taken stunt rider Jez Avery…
Singletrack Magazine Issue 125 | The Road To Thundergay
Sanny and Dave explore the western slopes of the Scottish isle of Arran, far removed from the tourist-heavy honeypots of Brodick and Goatfell. Words & Photography Sanny “Is that a dude dressed as Princess Leia?” I expleted, more than a little taken aback when a…
Singletrack Magazine Issue 125 | The Last Word
Swapping cars for handlebars By Mark Alker Mark swaps heated car seats and sunroof for a bike saddle and the open air in a move to become a daily bike commuter. In April I handed back the keys to my car to the guy from…
Singletrack Magazine Issue 125 | Making Hay On Wye
Barney takes a trip to Hay, while the sun shines… Words & Photography Barney Marsh This isn’t how it usually works. If you’re a freelancer like wot I is (Barney Marsh, writer of rongs, that’s me), you usually find yourself pitching ideas like a desperate,…
Singletrack Magazine Issue 125 | Digital Downloads
Singletrack members gain access to each issue of the magazine in a multitude of formats and options. Read on for shortcuts to the digital extras included with issue 125 of Singletrack magazine. Issue 125 PDF For those digital members who like to read the magazine…
Singletrack Magazine Issue 124 : Editorial
The wider we travel, the more narrow our focus… Words Chipps It’s been said that travel broadens the mind. If you expose your mind to new experiences, new places and people, you will find that your understanding of the world at large is brought into…
Singletrack Magazine Issue 124 : Dyfi Dynasty
Deep in the woods of west Wales, there lies a network of ancient (and very modern) tracks waiting to be discovered. The hidden trails of the Dyfi Forest could be the best-kept secret in Wales. Words chipps Photography james vincent Dan Atherton, the legendary trail…
Singletrack Magazine Issue 124 : Filth Camp 2019
Chipps tries to teach Californians about winter riding and ends up learning as much about himself. Words & Photography chipps “Come to the UK in February! The trails will be wet and muddy. It might snow. Our goal is to get you miserably cold and…
Singletrack Magazine Issue 124 : I Love Wight
Dean Hersey goes island hopping with this early season leg stretcher over some of the Isle of Wight’s green, rolling hills.
Singletrack Magazine Issue 124 : Grayson Perry, Bloke On A Bike
The artist and TV personality Grayson Perry is famously a keen mountain biker. Hannah travelled to his north London studio to discover that the legend might be overshadowing the reality. Words & Photography hannah I’d seen a few articles about Grayson Perry in which his…
Singletrack Issue 124 : Getting’ High In Colorado
Rich Rothwell is a successful and experienced British endurance racer, but the 500-mile Colorado Trail Race nearly broke him. Fortunately, it merely changed him for life. Words & Photography Rich Rothwell The head of the Fooses Creek Trail hung a tantalising 50 metres above my…
Singletrack Issue 124 : Metal Machine Music
Barney visits this machinists’ paradise in Preston to find out what makes Bounce Cycles, er, bounce. Words & Photography Barney Marsh Preston, a city nestled atop the north bank of the River Ribble, has many things going for it. It’s a city, for a start,…
Singletrack Issue 124 : The Real World Of Vanlife
Anna Cipullo lifts the lid on the realities of spending a dream holiday in a camper van across Canada with an adventure buddy… and a whole load of damp clothing. Words & Photography Anna Cipullo Stunt Driver Tom Johnstone As I scroll through the endless…
Singletrack Issue 124 | Fresh Fruit & New Hazzards
Pete Scullion’s regular series of rides with pro riders continues with one of the enduro circuit’s most enigmatic characters: Joe Barnes. Words & Photography Pete Scullion Overnight snow has turned Fort William into a winter wonderland as we shovel breakfast down our necks in Joe’s…
Singletrack Magazine issue 124 : Last Word
hannah blind. Will following half-heard directions in the woods lead to peril? Or pleasure? I’m following directions that are little more than a rumour: ‘Through the horse gate, turn right at the fallen tree, push up past the puddle, to the top, where two trails…
Singletrack Magazine Issue 122: Vancouver’s Treasure Islands
Two jet-setting friends discover they’ve overlooked gold on their doorstep. Words Ryan Stuart Photography Ryan Creary A morning beer is always harsh and rarely a good idea. It burns the throat. Bubbles up the nose. And usually comes back to haunt in some foul tasting…
Singletrack Issue 122 | Ti Hard
Three titanium hardtails fit for an action hero. Words Andi Photography James Vincent Titanium. Four syllables that in the bike world may well hint at a significant birthday, or a recent (or impending) divorce. But just as Die Hard is not just a Christmas movie,…
Singletrack Magazine Issue 122 : Editorial
finding your place Words hannah Chipps is away. He’s off on sabbatical to what he calls ‘his favourite place in the world’: Moab, Utah. Now, I’m not going to argue with him – Moab is probably wonderful, and there are some ancient petroglyphs there that…
Singletrack Magazine Issue 123 : Editorial
Greasing Out Words Chipps Daz was our ride leader for the evening, so he got to deliver the pep talk at the top of the final descent – a rocky start with a rollercoaster grassy singletrack lower down that got faster. It was one of…
Singletrack Magazine Issue 123 : Kyrgyztan
Before the Silk Road Mountain Race, Rickie Cotter journeyed alone in Kyrgyzstan to find some peace – and some fear – for herself. She ended up finding far more. Words Rickie Cotter Photography Ellen Mosman “Can you find me a bra? A dog has eaten…
Singletrack Issue 123 : Grate Expectations
James Vincent travels to Cheddar, in the West Country for this issue’s Classic Ride, hoping to find fun trails and the one true cheese. Words & Photography james vincent They say knowledge is power. I say knowledge plays its part, but it helps to get…
Singletrack Magazine issue 123 : In Praise Of The Trail Less Travelled
Sanny heads off the beaten path to Glasgow’s Campsie Fells and discovers that the best rides don’t always need the best trails. Words & Photography sanny What makes the perfect trail? If you were to put crayon to paper, what features would you consider an…
Singletrack Magazine Issue 123 : Jason Miles
Jason Miles Just when you think you know it all Jason unwittingly becomes the local expert in a cycling sport he knows nothing about. I may have mentioned that I live in a small town in an almost forgotten, rugged corner of Scotland. It’s quite…
Singletrack Magazine issue 123 : You Can’t Script Adventure
Scribbles on a map and someone else’s GPX files can never substitute local knowledge. Unfortunately James McKnight didn’t have any of that and, as he discovered, he was soon in way over his head in some of the Pyrenees’ most remote countryside. Words James McKnight…
Singletrack Magazine issue 123 : 25 Years Of Chipps
January 2019 marked 25 years of Chipps being a full-time bike journalist. Here, he pulls up some of the highlights of a quarter of a century that spans cantilever brakes to e-bikes and McRoy to Minnaar. On 4th January 1994, I walked into the Trim…
Singletrack Magazine Issue 123 : Budget Bolognese
Sanny, Dave and Matt tackle the Veneto Trail to see if it is possible to have an overseas adventure without sending the credit card into meltdown. Words & Photography sanny I don’t know about you but every time I read a piece about some adventure…
Singletrack Magazine Issue 123 : It’s Pronounced “roo-ree.”
Words & Photography Pete Scullion As I stand in a frozen Innerleithen car park trying to wrap my arms tighter around my torso in a vain effort to warm myself up, I’m slapped by the irony of having Ruaridh Cunningham battle through Edinburgh rush hour…
Singletrack Magazine Issue 123 : Last Word
adam batty a spotters guide to mountain bike groups. Finding new routes for rad rides is pretty simple nowadays. You have standardised signs and symbols that give empirical evidence to inform your choices. Elevation can be calculated. Distance can be measured. Headcam footage absorbed. Bleep…
Singletrack Magazine Issue 122: Jason Miles
Jason Miles Mind Your Manners Jason thinks we might be letting ourselves go when we get on a bike. I wrote in my last column that I believe we have too many rules and that cycling should have fewer of them. Or no rules at…
Singletrack Magazine Issue 122: Snowdon All Ways
Tom Fenton makes a horrible plan, some questionable choices, and wins. Words Tom Fenton Photography Andy Heading “Hang on a minute lads, I’ve got a great idea…” Hoping it would be more Michael Caine than Baldrick, I continued, “let’s ride all the bridleways on Snowdon…
Singletrack Magazine Issue 122: The Borders Of The Borderlands
Olly thinks we’re overlooking a great trail network, and the perfect remote brew spot. Words & Photography Olly Townsend “I ground the beans fresh this morning,” said Kevin, opening a small ziplock bag and pouring a carefully measured dose into his portable cafetière and setting…
Singletrack Magazine Issue 122: Risking It For Polish Champagne
Sprinkled with snow, the crumbling landmarks of Poland’s past provide the backdrop for an unlikely first bikepacking trip. Words Dorota Juranek Photography Adam Klimek It’s 7am on Saturday. The town is lazily waking up from last night’s bash. The streets are empty and all I…
Singletrack Issue 122: Charlie And The Abus Lock
I have got to tell you about my first encounter with this lock. Well, not actually the lock, but a man in a full-on foam outfit walking around the Eurobike trade show in bitching heat dressed as one of these locks
Singletrack Magazine Issue 122: Tracey Moseley – Mother Hucker
Tracy Moseley has had the world as her playground, Pete Scullion finds out whether it’s all swings and roundabouts ahead now that she’s a mum and a rider. Words & Photography Pete Scullion There are few better places to talk shop with a multiple World…
Singletrack Magazine Issue 122: In My Shoes
Products aren’t just for testing – they can find their way into our lives, our stories and our hearts. In the first of a new series, called Still Going, Hannah tells us about life in her shoes.
Singletrack Issue 122: Climbing Up in Trentino, Stepping Back in Time
Pete and trials rider Ali Clarkson take the ‘easy’ option round the historic fortresses of Italy. Words & Photography PETE SCULLION With the early morning mist lifting slowly off the Dolomites, high in the Trentino valley, we try to shrug off the hectic last few…
Singletrack Magazine Issue 122 : Last Word
The Highland Heist Charlie the Bikemonger reveals his criminal past. Does ‘I was very tired’ count as a defence? You know what? Bikepacking can really change you. Around ten years ago I cycled with my two great friends Crashy Simon and Beardy Martin from the…
Singletrack Issue 122: Charlie The Bikemonger – The Highland Heist
You know what? Bikepacking can really change you. Around ten years ago I cycled with my two great friends Crashy Simon and Beardy Martin from the south coast of England to Aviemore in the Scottish Highlands, so we could race the Single Speed World Champs.…
Singletrack Magazine Issue 121: There Be Dragons Here! Probably …
In search of trail treasure, Sanny and chums tackle what is reputed to be ‘the worst trail in the Lakes’. Do they find a hidden gem or should they have heeded the warnings? Words & Photography Sanny (unless credited) Let me be honest with you,…
Singletrack Magazine Issue 121: Simon Gallup – There Is No Cure
Simon Gallup: There is no cure. He plays in a world-famous band and has toured the globe for the last 40 years. And yet, all he really wants to do is ride bikes. And if he can’t, then he likes nothing better than to talk…
Singletrack Magazine Issue 121: Clwydian Hills
Tom Hutton dodges the sheep but feels the heat at one of the lesser-known mountain bike hotspots in North Wales. Words & Photography tom hutton Every year, there’s a day when winter relents and spring takes over. By midsummer, you could be forgiven for thinking…
Singletrack Issue 121: Jason Miles
Jason Miles Your big ride. Is it pure? Jason rails against the self-appointed, solo bike ride Council of Elders. I remember a couple of years ago, I threw my hypothetical hat into the imaginary ring and tried to put my name on the start list…
Singletrack Magazine Issue 121: Just When It Was Going So Well
Jason Miles headed to Valencia for a multi-day stage race armed with his race shoes, a positive attitude and, well, that was about it, actually. Words jason miles Photography T Pascual (unless credited)
Singletrack 121: Build it and they will come
Are ‘pirate trails’ breathing new life into our trail networks, or threatening their very existence?
Singletrack Magazine Issue 121 : Editorial
Longer shortcuts. Words Chipps Out in the car, running errands on a Saturday lunchtime… the Council tip, the shops, the cheese stall on the market… The usual. Wondering why it takes half an hour to go eight miles – and that’s even before the temporary…
Interview: Tom Ritchey – The man behind the ‘tache.
This article was originally published in Issue 110 of Singletrack Magazine. We chat to (and ride with) this iconic framebuilder, product designer, owner and boss of Ritchey Components during his whirlwind visit to the UK. I’m at the Bicycle Academy in Frome, Somerset, and someone…
Singletrack Issue 121: MIPS: You’re Twisting My Melon Man
MIPS invited us to Sweden to explain its in-helmet safety system in words that non-neuroscientists can understand. Luckily we have our own actual PhD neuroscientist, so we sent Barney to translate.