Chipps reviews Specialized Recon 3.0 clip-in shoes. Can they be stiff AND comfortable at the same time?
Chipps
With 23 years as Editor of Singletrack World Magazine, Chipps is the longest-running mountain bike magazine editor in the world. He started in the bike trade in 1990 and became a full time mountain bike journalist at the start of 1994. Over the last 30 years as a bike writer and photographer, he has seen mountain bike culture flourish, strengthen and diversify and bike technology go from rigid steel frames to fully suspended carbon fibre (and sometimes back to rigid steel as well.)
Staff Bike Check: Chipps’ Genesis Croix de Fer 931
A look at the gravel bike Chipps uses for his, er, style of gravel riding when he's not mountain biking.
Fresh Goods Friday 764: The Bat Releasing Edition
Mark has got bats in his belfry. Partly literally. Just substitute 'belfry' for 'walls'.
Issue 161: Don’t Wait For The Next Disaster
Chipps urges us not to wait for the bad times to remind us what’s important.
DT Swiss GRC 1400 DiCut 50 x 24mm Carbon Clincher wheelset review
As a set of wheels for a long/flat/fast gravel bike, these are well worth looking at if you have deep…
Shimano goes fully wireless with new gravel groupset GRX RX827
With the launch of wireless XTR Di2 (and XT and Deore) the path is clear for Shimano to launch Shimano…
Fresh Goods Friday 748: The M.C. Escher Trail Centre Edition
Don't you just love the pointlessness of mountain biking?
Shimano EX7 (EX700) Gore-Tex Shoes review
The Shimano EX7 (EX700) Gore-Tex shoes can be hard to find; searching for Shimano EX700 often results in the the…
Issue 159: Fitting In
Chipps encourages us to get (just a bit) fitter. Do you know any rowers? They’re a special breed, aren’t they?…
Issue 159: Digital Detox
Could you leave all of your electronic gadgets behind on a ride? No GPS, no Strava, no phone. How about…
Fresh Goods Friday 739: The In Peach Meant Edition
Well, you’ve done it. You’ve made it through the first proper working week of 2025. It was hellish wasn’t it?…
Predictions for the mountain bike world in 2025
It’s that time of year when we look into the mists of time, peer into the future, and see what…
Editors’ Choice 2024: Hammerhead Karoo 3 GPS Unit
Could the new Hammerhead Karoo 3 rival the latest from Garmin and Wahoo? Chipps certainly thinks so. Chipps: “I had…
Issue 157: MTB Culture – Rain Stops Play
Chipps looks at the increasing influence the changing climate and other pressures are having on off-road events. As the climate…
Issue 157 Last Word – Catastrophe!157
After a dozen years of incident-free mountain biking, luck ran out for my wife in October and she found her…
Danny MacAskill and Chris Ball among 2024 Hall of Fame nominations
Today, the International Mountain Bike Hall of Fame, located in the Marin Museum of Bicycling in Marin County, California, announced…
Welsh Cycling Industry Unites Against Welsh Trail Centre Closures
Over 90 separate Welsh cycling organisations have today co-signed a letter to Welsh Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for…
Issue 156 Editorial – A curated taste
Chipps gets to put together a menu of rides. Does he start bold? Or subtle and build to a crescendo? I had some riders…
Issue 156 – Beyond Benidorm
WORDS & PHOTOGRAPHY CHIPPS One blazing sun, two very different worlds on Spain’s Costa Blanca. As I look around at…
Is NRW About To Close Coed Y Brenin?
According to several reports we have seen, it’s looking very likely that in the short term, several trail centres, including…
Eurobike 2024 – Chipps went so you didn’t have to
Chipps gives the Singletrackworld members his personal takeaways from the massive 2024 Eurobike Show, held recently in Frankfurt. I reckon…
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…
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,…
Rob Fisk. Stand down, Merlinman
Long, long, longtime friend of Singletrackworld, Rob 'Merlinman' Fisk passed away earlier today. We're so glad we got to share…
Obituary: Greg Fuquay by Chipps
Another massive influence on my life has left us. I’ve just found out that Greg Fuquay passed away this weekend.…
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…
Are Welsh Trails Up For Sale By NRW?
Local mountain bikers and councillors around Coed y Brenin are concerned that Natural Resource Wales (NRW) is planning on selling…
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…
Issue 154 Last Word: Schrödinger’s Stans Monsters
Chipps gets existential in his tyre swapping. Perhaps those new tyres you had on backorder have finally come in, or…
Issue 153 Editorial: Always Meet Your Heroes
Chipps encourages you to seek out and praise your heroes. However, they might not be the people you first think…
Patrick Adams – The Big Man Has Left Us
We’re truly sorry to have to tell you that Patrick Adams, that legend of the mountain bike scene, passed away…
Issue 153 Tech Head: When It’s All Your Own Fault
A custom-built bike is a dream for many, but how hard is it to choose (and then live with) your…
9Point8 Slack-R Headset Review
What if you want a slacker head angle, but your bike won't accept slackset-style headset cups? Enter the 9Point8 Slack-R!
Issue 152 Editorial: I went into Publishing and all I got was this awesome magazine
Words: Chipps Thirty years ago, at the start of January 1994, I walked into the Future Publishing offices in Bath…
Singletrack Issue 151 Editorial: Especially average? Or averagely special?
Words: Chipps Does anyone ever aspire to be average? Surely, statistically, most of us must be average at most things?…
Singletrack Issue 151: Ydyn ni bron yna?
Chipps wonders what happened to the Welsh Government’s promises for a more accessible outdoors for all. Words Chipps Photography Amanda…
Fresh Goods Friday 666 – The Number of the Wee Beastie
Welcome to Fresh Goods Friday, number six hundred and sixty six! There’s obviously only one tune that can start off…
Singletrack World Issue 150 Editorial
It gives me great pleasure to welcome you to issue 150 of Singletrack World Magazine. Whether you’re a new reader…
Issue 150: Chipps’ Summer Ridewear
Chipps gives his top kit tips for those summer weeks (or foreign trips) where the temperatures hit ‘scorchio’ and beyond. I’ve had a long-running…
Fresh Goods Friday 665 – The foreign food edition
Iiiiiit’s FRIDAY! And no matter how often it rolls around and how predictable it is, you’re never quite sure that…
Fresh Goods Friday 661 – The Hard Lining Edition
It's Red Bull Hardline weekend! And it's looking like it might be a terrifyingly wet one. Good luck to all…
Chipps with Everything: 2023 Eurobike Highlights
Chipps brings you a curated tour of the eye-catching highlights of this pivotal European trade show.
Editorial: Work up to the widdly bits
Chipps reminds us not to try to skip to the end... When I was about 16 I borrowed an electric…
Interview | Rob Warner: ‘Look At The Time!’
Chipps quizzes Rob Warner, on lucky breaks, World Cup racing and how commentating saved him from himself. Words & Photography…
Fresh Goods Friday 651 – The C-Word Edition
Regardless of where you stand on the whole divine right to rule over a nation of subjects whilst wearing a…
A close look at Classified Powershift. Two-by is back!
The Classified Powershift system revolves around a two-speed hub, made in Belgium, that is electronically shifted by a remote shifter.
Issue 148 Editorial: Every ride is like an individual snowflake
What is it that sets our sport apart from most of the other sports/hobbies/lifestyles out there? After all, some people…
Fresh Goods Friday 648 – Sort It Out Edition
Enough with the chocolate, it's time for everyone's favourite end-of-the-week shiny bits showcase: Fresh Goods Friday!
Fresh Goods Friday 647: Bank Holiday Bonanza!
Spring arrived earlier this week, and what a treat it has been. How have you chosen to use all that…