We’ll start you off with five points if you got the ‘Top Gun’ reference. We actually know one bike journalist who would begin every single ride with the first ten minutes of Top Gun on the big screen to fire them and their riding crew up before they hit the trails. You can bet that they never stopped for Haribo at the top of the hill. Or at all…
Now, Top Gun is finally getting its sequel after many years and we were wondering what other things of that era needed revisiting. 1986 was still the very, very early days of production mountain bikes, though a few were around – the Stumpjumper, the Muddy Fox, early Oranges (or were they still Tushinghams back then?) and a few handmade bikes like Overbury and Roberts. Mind you, it was the year that Queen played Wembley for the ‘Kind of Magic’ tour, so it wasn’t entirely lost in a sea of stonewash denim.
Sonder Signal ST
- Price: £1599 (NX)
- From: Alpkit.com
You may have seen the news we posted earlier this week and also the mahoosive site takeover ad that’s running right now, but what is better than actual news is an actual bike, and we’ve got one. This is the steel version of Sonder’s Signal Ti. It’s a bit cheaper and made of classic 4130 tubing. Mark has been giving it a test run or four over the last few days and he’s got a first look video in the works. head to our Youtube channel and subscribe – then tick the bell icon to be notified when it’s ready to roll.
Latest Singletrack Merch
Buying and wearing our sustainable merch is another great way to support Singletrack
Specialized XC Tyres
- Price: £40 each
- From: Specialized UK
It’s XC season, even if there aren’t any races on. And here are some Specialized treads for some groomed summer loam, regardless of whether you have a number on. All of these tyres are fast and light, tubeless compatible, £40 each and 2.3in. Simple!
Elite Sterzo Smart
- Price: £74.99
- From: Freewheel
As you might have seen from our story earlier, Zwift now lets your steer your own bike (though not, apparently into other riders – boo!) and that’s been helped by this gadget from Elite, the Sterzo Smart, which takes your steering input and translates it in the game to the smoothest lines or the sneakiest passing moves. It’s powered by AAA batteries that last hundreds of hours and works via Bluetooth or ANT+ with your trainer setup.
Giro Rincon Shoes
- Price: £139.99
- From: Giro.co.uk
In our attempt to seemingly sample every different model of Giro mountain bike shoe this year, this is the Rincon. It’s not as racy as the Sector but probably a bit more businesslike compared to the Ventana. It does feature a BOA dial like the Ventana but does so in a more ‘fast trail’ way that would translate well to the gravel world too. It uses Giro’s clever Synchwire construction with a carbon plate in the sole for pedalling stiffness. Comes in green and also in a light grey too.
Rene Herse Steilacoom TC 700c x38 Tyre
- Price: Around £87
- From: Sven Cycles. https://www.svencycles.com/products/?departmentID=1037
A charming tyre from the rather historical company Rene Herse who go all the way back to the 1930’s.
The idea here is that the knobs are low and wide to reduce squirm and offer a smooth transition when going from upright to cornering. They also claim to clear mud well, and equally happy in a cross race or on an adventure. They are available in three toughness/weight options: Lightweight, standard, and endurance. But what gets Charlie’s somewhat easily pleased attention is that there are two shades of tanwall available soon, tan and dark tan. These are “tan”.
Charlie’s Delightful Merch Shop
Singletrack Slicy Enduro-DH Ultimate Mudguard
Price: £18.99 with discounts for members
“There’s something funny about mud flaps. I know there are a load of puns to be made here, but my mind is blank, so you will have to make up your own gags. Meanwhile you need to know they fit real good, look great, and really help keep dog poo out of your face. No one signed up to this sport for the unmistakable taste of dog poo. Having said that, if you don’t buy one of these, we will have to assume that is the reason you ride. Compatible with all MTB wheel sizes, up to 3in wide.” – Charlie
Singletrack Issue 132
- Price: £7.50 or subscribe
- From: Singletrack
Yep, the new issue is out! We’ve heard tales of it plopping on to doorsteps and Premier Dealer countertops already, so the new issue should be around if you’re after it. The digital issue is already out too. Lots of fun stuff to read in the August issue.
And that’s it for the week. It’s been a short and sweet one as we’ve mostly been focussing on welcoming the next issue of the magazine into the shop and trying to see the world in between lockdowns and rain showers.
But hey, let’s leave you with a short few minutes of Kenny Loggins and Tom Cruise-powered inspiration! Turn and burn!
It’s vintage – like Singletrack. Warmed on the vine and then carefully plucked and gently processed into… WTF? It’s a hat. It looks a bit old because clothes that look knackered when they are new is apparently ok.
4 colours – Free P&P for members
DELIVERY INFORMATION: As these products are ‘print on demand’, please allow 7 days for dispatch.
It’s a cap. One size fits all. Apart from really tiny or moonlike heads.
It’s cotton with a molded peak. It’s not a flat peak truckers cap with a silly label on that the kids don’t remove. You aren’t a kid. You are a grown up now and this is your hat. Deal with it.
DELIVERY INFORMATION: As these products are ‘print on demand’, please allow 7 days for dispatch.
It’s got our classic Singletrack masthead logo on it just like we put on our magazine. Only this one goes on your head.
Lots of colours.
Organic cotton.
Thermal insulation for your noggin.
DELIVERY INFORMATION: As these products are ‘print on demand’, please allow 7 days for dispatch.
Buying this is definitely not a bad decision. It’s the opposite of bad. Or ‘bad’ in a that way that means good – you know what we mean.
Please note that these shirts offer a very relaxed fit – check the size guide in the description and be prepared to order 1-2 sizes smaller than your usual size.
For an oversized down-with-the-kids fit, buy your usual size.
DELIVERY INFORMATION: As these products are ‘print on demand’, please allow 7 days for dispatch.
Buying this is definitely not a bad decision. It’s the opposite of bad. Or ‘bad’ in a that way that means good – you know what we mean.
Please note that these shirts offer a very relaxed fit – check the size guide in the description and be prepared to order 1-2 sizes smaller than your usual size.
For an oversized down-with-the-kids fit, buy your usual size.
DELIVERY INFORMATION: As these products are ‘print on demand’, please allow 7 days for dispatch.
Organic Cotton classic beanie with embroidered logo. 4 colours to choose from.
Keep your head snuggly.
DELIVERY INFORMATION: As these products are ‘print on demand’, please allow 7 days for dispatch.
Our ultimate, winter weight, 100% organic hoodie with embroidered logo to the front and small printed logo to the back.
Big range of colours (10) and sizes.
Check sizing in the full description before ordering.
DELIVERY INFORMATION: As these products are ‘print on demand’, please allow 7 days for dispatch.
Super soft organic hoodie with kangaroo pockets and embroidered classic logo on the left chest.
4 colours to choose from. Sizes XS – 2XL
Check the size chart in the full description before ordering.
DELIVERY INFORMATION: As these products are ‘print on demand’, please allow 7 days for dispatch.
Organic, soft and lightweight. This we call our summer weight t-shirt.
Various lighter colours for the black logo print
Check the size guide in the description before ordering.
DELIVERY INFORMATION: As these products are ‘print on demand’, please allow 7 days for dispatch.
Organic, soft and lightweight. This we call our summer weight t-shirt.
Various darker colours for the white logo print
Check the size guide in the description before ordering.
DELIVERY INFORMATION: As these products are ‘print on demand’, please allow 7 days for dispatch.
Thick, chunky, warm and organic – just how we like our t-shirts in the winter.
White logo on a dark shirt (Various shades)
Please note that these shirts offer a very relaxed fit – check the size guide in the description and be prepared to order 1-2 sizes smaller than your usual size.
For an oversized down-with-the-kids fit, buy your usual size.
DELIVERY INFORMATION: As these products are ‘print on demand’, please allow 7 days for dispatch.
Simple, thick, warm and chunky, just like… er.. nope. Let’s not play that card.
This is our Organic winter weight t-shirt.
It will last for years. Black logo on a light shirt in multiple shades.
Please note that these shirts offer a very relaxed fit – check the size guide in the description and be prepared to order 1-2 sizes smaller than your usual size.
For an oversized down-with-the-kids fit, buy your usual size.
DELIVERY INFORMATION: As these products are ‘print on demand’, please allow 7 days for dispatch.
Simple, Organic, Natural, Ethical
Dye free, completely natural cotton colour. Textured with specks of the original plant, including seed particles.
DELIVERY INFORMATION: As these products are ‘print on demand’, please allow 7 days for dispatch.
In stock now.
Please see sizing notes in the description.
Why is there always a lag between the printed and “digital” issues being launched and when the PDF version is made available?
Got my copy of the latest issue this morning. I’ve only had chance to flick through, but there’s some great pics in there. Mind you, the one with all the dolls is a bit disturbing; it looks like a warning you’d want to heed.
Jokes about steering into other riders, very tasteful
@Jim
i think its because they have to scan it in 🙂
Hey, remember when Specialized made one of the best XC tyres ever, the Captain, and then suddenly didn’t so they could concentrate on making crap ones?
Ah yeah, the Captain. Had those on my Camber, they were brilliant!
2.2 sc Dart.
I’ve still got Captains on my Camber!
Permission to buzz the tower
Always good to read a Barney Marsh article, and in this edition there’s two!
Enjoyed the Cass Gilbert interview too.