In our final interview from Bespoked, Manchester, I stopped for a chat with Alex from Atherton Bikes to see if I could find out what’s ahead for the Welsh brand. I think this is the newest model – want to talk us through it? This…
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Bike Check: Sour Bikes ‘Pasta Party’
Jürgen from Sour Bikes talked us through the features of this ‘Pasta Party’ bike from Sour Bikes, a German brand that’s managed to make production in Germany work for them. Unique content like this takes time to create, and would normally be paywalled. But we’d…
Bespoked Interview: Auckland Cycle Works
I first saw these bikes when they were a very early prototype, at Bespoked in October 2022 at the Velodrome in London, where Gary explained to me how he’d used Lego to help him design his own ‘COLARP’ suspension. Since then he’s continued to work…
Interview: Ted James Designs
I always enjoy chatting with Ted about his bikes. For one, it’s a bit like listening to Tom Waits or Iggy Pop – there’s more gravel in his voice than Kansas. But the other thing I love is that Ted makes everything. He’s not joining…
Cduro Epona: Innovative Carbon Fibre Mountain Bike | Bespoked Interview
Humphrey and Martin brought this wound carbon fibre Cduro Bike to Bespoked, Manchester, all the way from the Czech Republic. As the more confident English speaker of the two, Humphrey talked us through what gives this bike its unique look. How do you say this…
Crankworx – What is it and why it should be on your bucket list
The next round of the Crankworx World Tour takes place on the 19th – 28th July in Whistler, Canada. Here’s our short Singletrack guide to Crankworx. Crankworx is no ordinary mountain biking festival; it’s a mecca for MTB enthusiasts from around the globe. This high-energy…
Bikemon Go! Your July Ride Inspiring Download
Back in issue 153 in February, Hannah proposed an alternative approach to measuring rides. As part of that, we gave you a set of ride ‘achievements’ to collect in the month ahead. Here’s your next seasonally appropriate set of ride goals. Enjoy! https://singletrackworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/issue-153-last-word-weights-and-measures
Bike Check: 18 Bikes Full Suspension Prototypes
Peak District based 18 Bikes had two prototypes on display at Bespoked Manchester. Matt talked us through them. These two bikes are the first prototypes on what is already quite a long course to us finally launching a full-susser that will be available at some…
Bespoked ‘Best MTB Award’ Interview: Craft Bikes
Jim from Craft Bikes talks us through the exquisite titanium bikes, made in Kent, UK, that were on display at Bespoked, Manchester. Their hardtail actually received our ‘Best Mountain Bike’ award – though when we had this chat we’d yet to make our choice. Unique…
Bespoked Interview: Paul ‘Burf’ and the BTR Gasser
Paul 'Burf' Burford, from BTR brought his latest creation, the Gasser DH bike, to Bespoked, Manchester. It's been a long road to this point, and at one point it looked like he might have stopped making bikes, so we caught up with him for a…
Spotted: Ted’s Retro Kona Themed Collection
At the York Cycle Rally I spotted this collection of bikes, which were perhaps curated around a theme. I asked their owner, Ted, to tell us a bit more about it. Is it a Kona collection? Is it a Joe Murray collection? What inspires it?…
Readers’ Rides: George Thompson’s ‘Making Up The Numbers’ XXL Geometron G1
George Thompson’s ‘Making Up The Numbers’ XXL Geometron G1in ‘snow leopard’ paint finish is certainly eye catching. It might even have him catching up with the rider in front. We did do a slight double take though – because surely at this size, it should…
Spotted: Fuquay Retrobike Collection
This year’s York Cycle Rally and Festival included a retrobike show, alongside all the stalls, grass track racing, and more. A day out was on the cards, and I clocked a little cluster of Fuquays on display. Given it’s only a couple of weeks since…
Issue 155 Editorial: Going The Extra Mile
Chipps urges you to put in that extra 10% today and you’ll get 30% back tomorrow. It’s like a fitness/friendship pyramid scheme… In some respects, ‘Going the extra mile’ and ‘Giving 110%’ aren’t really related. After all, going another mile sounds easy enough (and it…
International Adventure: Gaze Up To The Breeze Of The Heavens
Pete’s overnight ride idea remains a dream, as the weather gods demand a change of plan. Words & Photography Pete Scullion In stark contrast to the bright white limestone towers of the surrounding giants, Sierra Negra is a slowly crumbling sierra of dark metamorphic rock.…
Behind The Scenes: Getting The Shot
In Association With Calibre Bikes Words: Hannah Photography: Sam Taylor We’re waiting. Harry is up at the top of the hill, just out of sight. I am crouched in the void between the take-off and landing of what is to my eye, a giant step…
Trail Tales: Midges
The midge can bring horror to the most perfect of days, and reduce rational beings to desperate evasive action. If you know, you know. If you think they’re just a bit like mosquitoes but smaller, you really don’t know. Thanks to our Forumites for this…
Bike Check: ICE Trikes Adventure Trike
Accessibility off-road doesn’t need to mean flat or easy, and challenges are not always physical. Vicky goes on a family ride that makes her rethink her understanding of accessible adventures, read the adventure here. Words Vicky Balfour Photography Emmie Collinge Based in Falmouth, Cornwall, UK,…
Bikemon Go! Your June Ride Inspiring Download
Back in issue 153 in February, Hannah proposed an alternative approach to measuring rides. As part of that, we gave you a set of ride ‘achievements’ to collect in the month ahead. Here’s your next seasonally appropriate set of ride goals. Enjoy!
UK Adventure: Learning Landscapes
Accessibility off-road doesn’t need to mean flat or easy, and challenges are not always physical. Vicky goes on a family ride that makes her rethink her understanding of accessible adventures. Words Vicky Balfour Photography Emmie Collinge After heading north for six hours, we’re making our…
International Adventure: Atmospheric Andes
Amanda heads to the other hemisphere for some good vegetables and vitamin D* *Dust Words Amanda Photography Etienne Schoeman We haven’t even begun the descent to Santiago Airport when I get the first shock to my system. Mount Aconcagua pierces through the clouds and meets…
The Trails Behind The Nationwide In Swindon
Hannah goes in search of a myth and finds a reality that should be on everyone’s doorstep.
Debate: Is It Even Mountain Biking?
As part of a new head-to-head debate series, Hannah and Chipps agree to disagree on what constitutes ‘mountain biking’ and, by extension, on what should appear in this magazine. We’ve given them a couple of pages to set out their stall.
The Grinder: Aeroe rack, Repente saddle, Madison glasses, Shimano shoes, Sinter pads, Muc-Off tool, Hyperlocal
Tools and tech for your convenience and comfort. Because suffering is overrated.
Bob Seals: Devil, do-gooder or daydreamer?
Spiritual eco-warrior? Half-naked singlespeed pioneer? Genius machinist who brought you the Cool Tool and Klean Kanteen? Or someone who offended a race organiser so badly they forklifted his team truck out of the arena? Robert, Bobby or Bob Seals is obviously all of these things…
The 502 Club: Special Notice of Appreciation
We wouldn’t be here without any of you and you’re all special, but the folks listed here are particularly special. Thank you to everyone who joined the 502 Club and helped us fund our new server.
Last Word: Choose Your Own Adventures
Hannah thinks there is much to be said for planning adventures. A friend of mine has just bought a tent. It is a lightweight single-person tent of the type you could definitely carry with you on an overnight – or multi-day – adventure. What is significant about this is…
What Sort Of Van Lifer Are You?
Ah, the open road. Sea views. Mountain air. Waking up to the sunrise, going to bed by moonlight. Wee scented lay-bys. Supermarket toilets. Van life can be a necessity for the low-budget racer, or a lifestyle choice for the digital nomad. Take our quiz and…
A Mountain Biking Manifesto
With a snap election called in the UK, the key policies are already likely to be decided by the parties – the professional lobbyists who have been influencing their way through the halls of Westminster in the past years and months will have said their…
Crossword: The Bike Tools Edition
We’ve got cryptic-ish clues, and the answers are all tools you might use on your bike. If you’re not from the UK, you’ll likely find this a bit harder since tool names are not universal/international. Try doing DIY with an American if you’re British, or…
Bikemon Go! Your May Ride Inspiring Download
Back in issue 153 in February, Hannah proposed an alternative approach to measuring rides. As part of that, we gave you a set of ride ‘achievements’ to collect in the month ahead. Here’s your next seasonally appropriate set of ride goals. Enjoy!
Bike Check: Ministry Cycles CNC Protoype
This bike at the EXT stand at Sea Otter caught my eye, so I stopped its designer Chris Curry for a bit more insight into what it’s all about. What are you making here? So I have started a company called Ministry Cycles. I began…
Bike Check: Erik’s Rat Race Drop Out Cargo Bike
One of the joys (for me, anyway) of the Sea Otter Classic is the unusual bikes that people turn up with, and the stories behind them. I clocked this heavily stickered and accessorised cargo bike and had to find out a bit more about what…
Retro Bike Check: Foes LTS 16
I felt like there were a few fewer retro bikes rolling around this year’s Sea Otter Classic, but this one caught my eye so I stopped its owner for a quick chat. You can be pretty sure that anyone riding something like this around will…
Smart Tires: Tyres From Space Coming Your Way Soon?
At an unassuming looking booth at Sea Otter there was some mega science going down. You’ll have to take my word for it, but the hollow rod of this Nitinol could be bent – and it would instantly get warm on the bend – and…
Bike Check: Jordy Scott’s Dual Slalom Hyper
Jordy Scott is one of those up and coming riders that might not have come onto your radar unless you follow the Crankworx scene. She was just about to go and compete in Dual Slalom but took a moment to have a chat. Expect to…
Bikes Bikes Bikes! The Show Bikes of Sea Otter
Whether it’s a tricked out bike for a show stand, a special lucky race build, or just the garage geek project, there are some unusual bikes to be spotted at Sea Otter. Here’s a massive gallery for you, with a few mini interviews thrown in.…
A Closer Look At The We Are One Modular Prototype DH Bike
We Are One makes their bikes and components in Kamloops, Canada. The Hope of Kamloops, perhaps? Their onsite manufacturing lets them prototype things quickly, which led to the slightly unexpected position of them having a UCI DH team this year, with local lad Jon Mozell…
Martha Gill: The New Sea Otter Dual Slalom Champion
Martha Gill was out at Sea Otter racing Dual Slalom and Downhill. She took the gold in Dual Slalom, finally breaking Jill Kintner’s 11-year run on the top spot. I caught up with her at the Marin booth just as Martha had finished fourth in…
Bike Check: Ryan Pinkerton’s Sea Otter Mondraker Raze Carbon
Ryan Pinkerton is out at the Sea Otter Classic with his eye on the Downhill race. We had a little look at his bike and asked him how it was going in practice. Just the downhill this weekend? Just downhill, no slalom for me. How’s…
Braydon Bringhurst’s Dual Slalom Sea Otter Special Spectral
Braydon Bringhurst – a man who loves to climb as much as descend, as is big on figuring out the technical side of riding just so – is at the Sea Otter Classic racing Dual Slalom. To help with the motivation and mental focus, he’s…
Privateer’s Fergus Ryan on Racing 3-on-1 at Sea Otter
Fergus Ryan is out at the Sea Otter Classic in California racing the new Privateer 161 Gen 2. He’s using the one bike to race all three events of enduro, dual slalom and downhill. We stopped him for a chat to see how it’s going.…
Crossword: The Outdoor Clothing Edition
This one is designed to be gentle, just enough to get the brain cells going over a morning coffee, or while you’re dropping the kids off at the pool. Straying from strictly bikes, it’s outdoor clothing brands. Or Gorpcore, as apparently the cool kids are…
Singletrack World Issue 154 Editorial: Let’s Get Lendy
“Neither a borrower nor a lender be, For loan oft loses both itself and friend, And borrowing dulls the edge of husbandry.” And so goes the oft-quoted advice in Hamlet, where a father gives his just-off-to-France son a concise set of rules by which to…
Issue 154 International Adventure: The Last Yak Attack
The high altitude race that brought so much to Nepal and to its racers in turn has run its last. Words by Laura Martin The Yak Attack race in Nepal is the highest mountain bike race in the world. Racers climb to the staggering height…
Issue 154 UK Adventure: Chariots of Rust
Subsequent to the sudden death of a childhood friend, and my girlfriend leaving me over the phone during my graduate school finals in Boston, I fell into a major depression. I became as a pebble falling through a body of water. The only question: how…
Issue 154 MTB Culture: Having The Wrong Thing
Necessity is the mother of invention, and stupidity its cousin. We bring you a selection of instances where ‘Having the wrong thing’ (or forgetting the right thing) brought the family together. Don’t chuckle too hard – next time, it might be you. Thanks to our…
Issue 154 Interview: Gladiators… Ready!
It’s perhaps no surprise that one of the new competitors on TV’s Gladiators is a pro mountain biker. Hannah catches up with Privateer Bikes rider Kerry Wilson to find out what makes her tick. Look up Kerry Wilson on Instagram and you might need a…
The Grinder: Zefal Bike Taxi Tow Rope, Continental Argotal, Fox Dropframe helmet, Zipp 1ZERO HiTop Wheels
Is that creak me or the bike? Real-world product reviews from real-world riders.
Bikemon Go! Your April Ride Inspiring Download
Back in issue 153 in February, Hannah proposed an alternative approach to measuring rides. As part of that, we gave you a set of ride ‘achievements’ to collect in the month ahead. Here’s your next seasonally appropriate set of ride goals. Enjoy!
Issue 154: Tech That Should Have Stuck Around
Benji dons possibly rose-tinted spectacles and brings us the technology that he thinks has fallen undeservedly out of fashion. Inverted forks Kicking things off with a real doozy. What are upside-down forks? Basically, the stanchion is at the bottom and the sliders are at the…