Amanda goes to the Isle of Man for the enduro and stays for the ice cream. Words & Photography Amanda I find myself in a confused state of disorientation, having to wind the script back in my head to what brought me here, in order…
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Issue 145: Ben Cruachan and the Cailleach
Pete Scullion’s look into ancient myths and legends takes him to Ben Cruachan – and a search for the Queen of Winter. Words & Photography Pete Scullion Sandwiched between the banks of Loch Awe and the Tyndrum-Oban railway line is a rough roadside car park…
Singletrack World Issue 145: The Science Of Waterproofing
Fresh from a wet weather ride where he appeared to be wetter on the inside than the outside, Sanny sets off to find out what ‘waterproof clothing’ actually means and why it might not work quite the way we expect it to. Words Sanny Photography…
Issue 145 – Singletrack Kitchen: Gloriumptious Dahl
Singletrack’s resident Nigel Slater brings you more tasty things to make and eat trailside, or as a post-ride reward. Words Charlie, Photography Amanda The world is changing. Veganism is a new normal, and the cost of food is getting higher than Keith Moon in platform shoes on a jump bike. So,…
Issue 145 Kit Essentials – Coil Shocks
Mortal Coils! Benji and the crew look at coil shocks and explain why they’re for trail riders and not just for downhillers.
Singletrack World Issue 145: To Infinity and Beyond
A ride trip releases the parenting pressure and brings new perspective to daily life for Anders Engberg. Words & Illustrations: Anders Engberg In a mass of debris, a post-apocalyptic landscape appears. I move between islands of discarded clothes only pausing to investigate the origin of…
Singletrack World Issue 145: Last Word – Take a load off
Adam Batty ponders the importance of the humble bench. From a bench. Words & Photo: Adam Batty A Classic Bench I started to move faster as I approached the bench. Then pretended that was my normal pace, and I was not trying to beat someone…
Issue 144 Bike Test: WTF is a Trail Bike?
Benji and the team set out to stick to the trail, without veering off into the enduro or cross-country.
Issue 144 Editorial : No More Crashing?
On floors, that is… but why not? I’ve been a serial chancer/cheapskate/ ‘economic lifestyle enthusiast’ for years, especially when travelling. I’ve been that guy who phones up someone I met ten years ago, saying ‘Hi! Remember me? No? Well, we met in a hotel bar in…
Issue 144 : Excess baggage
Nils takes an unusual packing list to the mountains for an overnight adventure. Words & photography Nils Amelinckx I fumbled around in the last of the light, the cold breeze having stripped my hands of any dexterity, keeping a watchful eye over the waste bag…
Issue 144: Cannock Chasing Time
Two mountain bike races, same venue, 30 years apart. Words & Photography Geoff Waugh Time, he’s waiting in the wings Take a look at the above photos. I took them both at the same venue – Cannock Chase, the vast expanse of woodland in the…
Issue 144 UK Adventure: Where the Duegars Dwell
What’s short, hairy and lures us to the moors of Northumberland – Pete, or a Duegar? Words & Photography Pete Scullion North of Hadrian’s Wall and south of the Scottish border lies Northumberland, a land that blends the culture of its neighbours with its own,…
Issue 144: Lord of the Granny Rings
Inspired by the works of Tolkien, Sanny leads his merry crew on an adventure through lands that could easily double for Middle Earth. Words & Photography Sanny With book sales well in excess of 150 million and the box office-smashing success of Peter Jackson’s trilogy,…
Issue 144: Zippity Doo-Dah
Zippity Doo-Dah Chipps would like to lead you in praise of the humble cable tie. Words Chipps Photography as credited Every mountain bike guide seems to have two different tool rolls and two different first aid kits. The first kit, marked clearly with ‘Tools’ will…
Issue 144: Searching For A Solution
Dean Hersey chats to the ball of energy that is Claudio Caluori. Words Dean Hersey Photography Red Bull Content Pool, Dan Griffiths, Tyrone Bradley, Dan Milner, Meri Hyoki You don’t have to dig too far into the colossal internet mountain of videos to have come…
Classic Ride 144 – Ludlow and the Clee Hills
Shropshire isn’t all about the Long Mynd. Steve links up some hidden gems. Words & Photography Steve ChapmanIllustration Beate Kubitz If you’ve heard anything about the riding in Shropshire it’s probably been about the Long Mynd. It’s an iconic venue and regularly features in lists…
Issue 144: Singletrack Kitchen Taking The Rough With The Smoothie
I love smoothies. They tick the ‘healthy’ box with minimal effort, skills or fuss. Just lob it all in and whiz it up, and you can say you’ve had your five a day. Literally smoothing over the cracks in my diet.
Issue 144 Kit Essentials – 4-Pot Brakes
Benji and the team test out the best 4-pot disc brakes to stop you in your tracks. Formula, Hayes, Hope, Magura, Shimano, SRAM and TRP in the mix. Words Benji & the team photography Amanda Brakes are the most important thing on your mountain bike.…
Issue 144 Building for the Builders
Who makes all of those pieces that make a bike more than a pile of tubes? We meet the people who make the bits for the people who make the bikes. Words by Hannah and Fahzure Freeride, Pictures by Hannah Many of us never give…
Pace RC295 AXS Ultimate review
The Pace RC295 then. Full carbon. 135mm rear travel dual linkage. 140-150mm fork. Full 29in or mullet thang with an offset shock bushing.
Specialized Stumpjumper Evo Alloy Comp review
The Specialized Stumpjumper Evo Alloy gets all the cool things that the carbon Stumpjumper has had for a few seasons now.
Issue 144 Last Word – Eudaimonic
Could there be a way to extend the benefits of a ride? Words Hannah PHOTOGRAPHY Amanda
Issue 143 Editorial: Local Secrets
Chipps wants to show you all of his favourite trails. Well, nearly all. We all know that there are no secrets any more. Every mountain has been discovered, every field, stream and hillside catalogued, and every vaguely wiggly forest track named and KOMed. It seems…
Issue 143: A New Year’s Assault on Ventoux
When your traditional New Year’s ski-tour to a mountain hut won’t work because of the weather, then doing it on mountain bikes is arguably a better choice. Words & Photography Richard Bord I’ve lived in Annecy, France, for many winters now and I like spending…
Issue 143 Bonus Content! Classic Ride Fuel – Flapjack Recipe
Since Barney made such a fuss over Rick’s flapjack (OOOAAAH), we asked Rick to share the recipe, so you can have your own chorus of angels on your next ride (OOOAAAH). If you haven’t read the Classic Ride from issue 143 yet, make that ‘step…
Classic Ride 143 – Scar House Loop, Nidderdale
A truly Classic day out with big views, plenty of miles, and legendary Scotch eggs. Words & Photography Barney Marsh The Yorkshire Dales have been, of course, extensively covered in the Singletrack Worlds of yore, but Nidderdale has largely been left off the list. Sure,…
Issue 143 UK Adventure: Ghost Riders
Has Taunton’s bloody history left a chill in the air, or is it just the sweat cooling on Pete’s neck? Words & Photography Pete Scullion “If ghosts do exist, why are they all centuries old? Why are there no ghosts from 2013 moaning about the…
Issue 143 International Adventure: Where The Wind Blows
An eager Hannah heads to one of her dream destinations, only to discover it’s not like she imagined at all. Words Hannah Photography Hannah and Snorri Thor Tryggvason Iceland Air’s safety announcement features very little of the usual plane stuff. Instead, there is an improbably…
Issue 143 Interview: Guy Kesteven
If he can tell how a bike will ride just by pushing it, why does he keep riding and testing? Words & Photography Chipps Whether you know Guy Kesteven through the thousands of bike and product tests he’s written over the last 25 years, his over-exaggerated ‘bike journo’ riding style, or…
Issue 143 Kitchen: Charlie’s New Wave Hipster Starters
Just as mountain bikes keep evolving, so does food. There was a time when a prawn cocktail would impress people with its juicy shellfish piled high on lettuce with a nice tangy Marie Rosé sauce, and now it seems … well… somewhat ‘canti’.
Singletrack Issue 143 Bike Test: Party At The Back
Have we swallowed the marketing hook, line and sinker, or is there something to the mullet trend?
Review: Geometron G1
GeoMetron is essentially Chris Porter. If you don’t know who Chris Porter is, do a Google. Just make sure you have a brew ready before you dive in.
Review: Santa Cruz Bronson
Maybe the Santa Cruz Bronson does need an introduction. The latest Bronson is a massively different beast to the Bronson Mk1.
Review: Starling Twist Trail
Starling Cycles is Joe McEwan. Joe used to work as an aerospace engineer and build bike frames in his shed as a sideline.
Issue 143: Shiny Happy People
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
Flat Pedal Shoes Buyer’s Guide: MTB Kit Essentials
What makes a great pair of flat pedal shoes? And, more importantly, who is delivering? Here are the best flattie pumps around.
Issue 142 Editorial: Gambling With Choices
Chipps ponders those moments where the path you choose makes all the difference. We all like to think that we’re, to a greater extent, in charge of our own destinies. Those decisions we make every day propel ourselves towards some ultimate goal. Occasionally, though, life…
Issue 142 UK Adventure: The Shugborough Inscription
Pete mixes fact, fantasy and pure speculation on a tour of Cannock Chase. If any legend has allowed humans to waste more of their time in fruitless pursuit of the truth, then surely the legends behind the Holy Grail have to be chief amongst them.…
Issue 142 FNY Hunt: A Seismic Event
Hannah Collingridge looks at the events scene and asks what bike races, bike gatherings and their organisers need to make them fun (again). Words Hannah Collingridge Photography Joolze Dymond Having recently been roped into helping with some bike events, I’ve been musing about what makes…