[Closed] why i love & hate Singletrack mag

Is the bloke on the cover riding without any pants on?

Don't know but it's truly a brilliant image, as was the last cover with the warm yellow sunshine o9n the riders contrasting with the freezing blue of the background landscape.

The only thing which marred my enjoyment of this month's cover issue was the photographer's write up in which he assured us he was "stoked" to have got it. Gah.

the last 3 mags have been ace actually

This months does seem particularly good. But of late theres been a lot less of the 'this £3,500 frame seems slightly betterer than this other £3500 frame' type article* that is surely totally irrelevant to most of us, and more of the 'proper', real side of mountain biking. The MegaAvaLaugh article really made me laugh.

* Which proves they must be listening to the whiney [s]middle [/s] working class cockbags, constantly moaning on here. Good work chaps 😀

now I'm going to have to save hard to get to Moab.

and now I'm going to have to read the article and will probably end up in the same position. Thanks a bunch 🙂

Between Chris' bike and #MegaAvaLaugh this issue was a rollercoaster of emotion.

I've not had mine yet 🙁

But would agree, the last few have been excellent and looking forward to 93 turning up.

another review of a camera pack i note...

I knew I loved Singletrack when I saw a full page review of a single malt whiskey.

This months does seem particularly good. But of late theres been a lot less of the 'this £3,500 frame seems slightly betterer than this other £3500 frame' type article* that is surely totally irrelevant to most of us, and more of the 'proper', [b]real side of mountain biking[/b]. The MegaAvaLaugh article really made me laugh.

Does this include driving to Brechfa for the weekend riding/walking the red, getting lost on a waymarked route, flouncing about, drinking a box of wine, lining the toilet with vimto coloured carrots and spuds and then sloping off home early Sunday while everyone goes riding. 😀

Yes.

Next question...

It's is a great issue. The 16 extra pages of premium content perhaps make it like a small book.

I perhaps have a few things that I'd like to mention

Firstly and this is really about my age I do find the print very small

If have liked to know where each Moab pick was taken

Finally I was depressed to find that their is now a fork that cost over 1500 pounds.But that's not the magazine's fault. It's probably a good line in the sand. Most car owners know that the budget limits the car. It's true of bikes now for all but a few

But still a great edition of a great magazine

Still no collection I see 😐

It doesn't seem to be available to us digital only subscribers. I guess we will have to wait for one of the website staff to open their copy and scan it in.

My last three are still in their wrappers, guess i should try and read them!

this issue was a great read, really inspiring : )

similarly now thinking of the Transpyr race, Moab and Wales!

coz we are all saving for our £1500 forks!

I'd always lime to know what bikes are being ridden in tbe articles, and what they were lime on that particular route. Just a couple of lines. Rather than have to try and pull key facts out of a two page nine review six months down the line.

Nice to see more affordable bikes being tested though.

Thanks for the feedback - it's always taken on board as always. Even from the whiney cockbags, Binners 🙂

We'll keep the font size in mind. Although, I can recommend reading glasses, given my advanced years.

As for Moab, I can try to fill in some of the gaps - though the trail on the opener was built after I was last there. A lot of it is Porcupine Rim though.

As for the expensive bike/product coverage, we try to ride the line between fantasy and interesting technology. We'll review XTR as it's the ultimate grouptset in Shimano's line, knowing that some of that technology will appear on XT next year, SLX the year after and so on. There's always a hefty price to pay for being an early adopter. Equally, with bikes, we often get sent the top of the shop model to review, because manufacturers want their bikes to look good against the competition. That same frame will often be available on models costing half the price, so many of our comments about the bike's ride are valid. It's like Top Gear magazine - who reads it for the Yaris reviews? You might go and buy a secondhand Yaris, but you'll actually read the magazine for the story about ragging a Ferrari across the Alps, because hey, someone's got to do it and it's not going to be you, so you might as well read about it. 🙂

Keep 'em coming!

I really enjoyed it as well apart from the Moab/Mecca cliche. It reminded me of the very early issues.

Honestly couldn't care less about the reviews. I buy a new bike once every five years when the last one gets stolen or snapped.

The touring articles, the emotion, the memories relived vicariously through good journalism. That's why I love it.

[i]timidwheeler - Member
It doesn't seem to be available to us digital only subscribers. I guess we will have to wait for one of the website staff to open their copy and scan it in.
[/i]
That's because the digital version of the magazine is due out today - and Grace is working hard to make sure that happens. You'll be able to read all about it (and see extra photos that don't even appear in the print magazine) by tonight.

Right then Chipps, I'm eagerly awaiting a new feature entitled "A Star on a Reasonably Priced Bike"

😉

And I'm still trying to figure out the best route from Trowell services for you. Other than northbound towards the Peaks, obviously.

Reading the latest issue I'm now planning a Sarn Helen attempt,

I'd like to do that. Fancy a ride buddy? 🙂

I thought last month's was good also (well, apart from the photo-rich, content light, ladies enduro tour article)

Especially enjoyed the entry level bike grouptest (always good to know this stuff as folk ask me for recommendations), and the 2 articles when things went a bit wrong - Glen Tilt and the French Alps race one by the artist lady (Beate? sorry, can't remember!) - love her watercolours as well. Fabulous.

Keep up the good work.

My last three are still in their wrappers, guess i should try and read them!

What ink/solvent do they use? Whatever it is, I know if ST mag is in the letterbox when I arrive home before opening the letterbox.

Opening the packaging on a freshly printed magazine is the best smell in the world. FACT!

Your first born babies head, and all that other guff, is just what you're meant to say. Like saying Radiohead when asked what your favourite album is

Yep, last few issues have been excellent.

chipps - I work here

As for the expensive bike/product coverage, we try to ride the line between fantasy and interesting technology..........

As possibly the whiniest of cockbags, certainly regarding the bikes tested, I can see your point.

But I think there's more to it than that.

If you only tested the expensive stuff, you'd risk alienating a huuuge part of your readership, many of whom have been with you for years.
You'd be basically telling us that the magazine isn't for us anymore.
And I know it's not just me, I've spoken to many, many people who feel the same.
Comments about two grand being the standard price for a newbie to spend on a new bike, or that 'real' bikers don't buy cheap lights were just arrogant, snobbish and unhelpful.

So good on you for listening.
That's one subscription renewed, at least.

The Yaris principle?
I don't agree.

Yep, I love reading the supercar roadtrip stories in CAR, going back to the Lambo factory trips in the 70's.
But CAR is successful because it also tests the stuff that most people will actually buy and treats it as seriously as the fantasy stuff.

They'll test a Mini, a Panda or a Clio with just as much rigour and analysis as they would a Ferrari - perhaps more, as it's something relevant to everyone.

It's easy to make a decent expensive bike.
It's hard to make a truly exceptional one that most people can afford.
It's almost impossible to genuinely innovate and bring those ideas to market at a price that will encourage everyone to think about spending their money.

That's the stuff that's really interesting to me.
Don't forget - we all need to buy simple, decent bikes for family and for everyday use.
It's disrespectful to stick them in a cheap bike roundup, as many mags do.
They deserve the same treatment as the poster bikes.
Especially if you want to attract more newbies and keep them as long term readers.

I have a certain amount to spend on cycling - I'd rather spend that on several reasonably priced, interesting bikes or a good holiday than one expensive, Taiwanese cookie-cutter trail bike.

Thanks for listening.
Again.
🙂

And I'm still trying to figure out the best route from Trowell services for you. Other than northbound towards the Peaks, obviously.

Whatever you choose, bring mud tyres.... It's a shame the 4 chimneys got knocked down, as they made an interesting feature to ride to/around/through...

Kryton57 - Member
Reading the latest issue I'm now planning a Sarn Helen attempt,
I'd like to do that. Fancy a ride buddy?

Just read the Editorial.

Spot on. I hated team sports at school.

If you only tested the expensive stuff, you'd risk alienating a huuuge part of your readership, many of whom have been with you for years.

Ive dipped in and out of buying the magazine over the years. I gave up though when we were patronisingly told that you can't buy lights for less than £100, and if you do your an idiot, and that bargain wheelsets start at £400!

Ok still do the exotic stuff (that barely anyone buys) but at least be real too. Why not test a £20 light from China against Hope/Exposure? Do the sponsors not like it 😆

Opening the packaging on a freshly printed magazine is the best smell in the world. FACT!

By the time you get it, open the packaging and have a sniff it's probably gone stale as it'll have been printed at least a week beforehand. Hot off the press smells much nicer 😉

p.s. Never seen the mag in any shops here, is it subscription only?

We'll keep the font size in mind. Although, I can recommend reading glasses, given my advanced years

I have the reading glasses (well variwotsits actually) and do find the font a bit hard work at times, good natural light is generally ok but artificial light can be a bit taxing.

I was gonna start a similar thread praising ST for something, but here is probably the place.

what about you ask.

I was speaking to a work colleague as you do, and he had given up TV and reading newspapers etc. "A noble quest" I said, " But WTF do you do instead" I also said.

Turns out he is a pretty good artist and before his current job used to make a living from art work illustrations etc for newspapers and magazines, and he had turned to his pens and watercolours again. However he said that almost no one used these anymore. I showed him the articles in ST were paintings/illustrations are used and he was pretty impressed that they used them.

I really like them as well, they give a different feel to some articles and the magazine in general, so Hats for for using artwork as well as photo's ST.

P.S I would also like the font bigger !!!! you may have to move a little with your demographic.

bullroar+1, particularly as I end up reading it during Holby/Casualty when we're relaxing and the light is dimmed a bit.

Loving the extra pages, all the photo shoots & was also always picked last for footie (and then put in goal.. the trials of playing rugby but going to a footie school).
Also had the same experience, in my 30's, of coming back from an all day ride with my (also picked last for footie) mates, feeling lean and healthy, to pass the picked-first-for-footie kids coming out of the pub, unhealthy over-weight and looking old 😈

Given up on non 26'er bike reviews - I have a shed of 26'ers and am persisting in being an old dog refusing to learn new wheelsizes.

Overall I went through a crisis with STW last year, around subscribing, but the past few issues have made me glad I stayed [s]supporting you lucky fellas live the dream[/s]

I am now planning a return to CyB, it seems to have changed a bit since my first bit of trail riding on the Marin Trail 😀

Subscriber here, I'm a few issues behind so maybe I'm out of date but I don't find a lot of the grouptests very interesting, backpacks, lights are a good subject for this kind of article, handlebars and chainsets less so...

I'll echo the comment that it is good to cover some lower range stuff and test it seriously, plenty of people (me included) are buying at that level. I don't remember the £100 light set comment, my current light is a £20 set off Ebay in its second year and still does a good enough job.

Overall - still a country mile ahead of any other mag out there.

The new front cover looks amazing.

Yet another one who's struggling with the font size, especially in artificial light, despite wearing reading glasses. Sometimes resort to the magnifying glass. 😳

On the positive side, there's plenty to read and, oh my, do those trip reports inspire me to get my sorry ass out the door. 😀 Plenty left to read though so I'd better get a move on!

Not just font size, also wrong colour font/background issues sometimes as well.

Given the apparent advancing age of tbe readership, never mind launching Grit, you need a tie in with Arrivee, the Audax UK magazine....

[img] [/img]

I see it more like...
[img] [/img]

🙂

binners it's not funny... I started gettting emails for "Dating over 50's"
a. I'm married
b. I'm not Wayne Rooney
c. I'm mid 40's

here is an article i'd be interested in:

reasonable rider rides the same course on a £800 hardtail, £2k hardtail, £2K FS and £4K FS all from the same manufactory . Compare times and see how much of a difference there is.

In fact, do up hill and down hill segments.

compare 29er and 26er.

there you go. there's next years content!

reasonable rider rides the same course on a £800 hardtail, £2k hardtail, £2K FS and £4K FS all from the same manufactory . Compare times and see how much of a difference there is.

I'd have no interest in comparing times, I'd just want to know how much fun each one was.

Deffo got better the last three or so issues started reading the last one got so engrossed that I forgot the time and was late putting the little one to bed(got earache off the missus for that) keep up the good work BUT please increase the font size even with glasses find it tough going sometimes plus sometime background colour doesn't help either

Now there's an article worth reading in SAGA magazine. 'Internet dating, 4 'couples' take the plunge. 😯

Thank you Grace.
Sorted.

I've been reading this months (issue 93) and I too currently find the articles relevant, inspiring and a good read.

I'm planning to ride the Dorset downs route in the next few weeks, the sarn Helen route is intriguing and a possibility for a weekends riding and Moab/transpyr is at the moments just pipe dreams.

Keep up the good work!

I'll second the minor whinge about the font colours, I really can't read white on black text. I've seen articles that it's difficult for men to read text this way round and I just can't read the articles that are presented this way!

Moab shots are a mix of Moab Brand XC loops, Amasa back, Porcupine Rim, Captain Ahab's and Portal.

here is an article i'd be interested in:

reasonable rider rides the same course on a £800 hardtail, £2k hardtail, £2K FS and £4K FS all from the same manufactory . Compare times and see how much of a difference there is.

In fact, do up hill and down hill segments.

compare 29er and 26er.

there you go. there's next years content!

Sounds good

Or maybe merge routes and bike some times

Set off on classic rides with a collection of bikes and discuss the route sand the pros and cons of each bike on different sections

LBS verses online. Get some newbies to buy their first bike in different ways and shart their progress. Does the support of a local shop give greater benefit over the lower cost or higher spec of the direct sellers

The where were the MOAB shots isn't like a deal breaker but i think it helps to link the pictures and the text

plus I have been and its nice to think "I road that"

Given up on non 26'er bike reviews - I have a shed of 26'ers and am persisting in being an old dog refusing to learn new wheelsizes.

We'll review every 26in bike we can get hold of these days. They're in very, very short supply, as we've mentioned.

I'll have a word about the font size/legibility. And if we can increase it by 10%, then I'll have to write 10% fewer words to fill the same space. 🙂

re; the affordability question. We have done blind tests in the past between steel and titanium hardtails, we've done our 'One Ton Challenge' where we (well, I) have done 50 mile rides on £75 bikes. We'll try to keep affordable bikes in mind when planning our bike tests. Manufacturers do try to send more expensive bikes than we ask for though, as they don't want to be the ones that come out worst on a test, so they'll often try to send us £1000 bikes for the £800 bike tests.

On a tangent, but similar, we did do timed runs (and fun-o-meter tests too!) on skinny hardtails vs enduro bikes on and up and down loop a few years ago. That might need re-doing...

For lights tests, ironically, it's easier for us to get hold of a £400 set of lights from the manufacturer than a £20 set, but we'll try to get one in for our next roundup. (Although, given a few recent experiences on here, I'm not going to leave them charging unattented...)

Keep 'em coming!

I was half tempted to get the latest copy if it was so good but then I read:

I knew I loved Singletrack when I saw a full page review of a single malt whiskey.

And thought sod that.

For lights tests, ironically, it's easier for us to get hold of a £400 set of lights from the manufacturer than a £20 set, but we'll try to get one in for our next roundup. (Although, given a few recent experiences on here, I'm not going to leave them charging unattented...)

Buy 5 sets. Get them wet, drop them, unplug and reconnect the battery 100 times, check the stability of the mounts and so on.

Give them a month of abuse then get them checked out by somebody who knows about electrickery.

We cheap bastards are more concerned about whether they will break/melt/explode than what the beam pattern is like.

Score them like Top Trumps.

Light
Mount
Battery
Reliability in the wet

Points off if they pack up

More points off if the impartial electrician condemns them as dangerous

Cheap as... errr... chips and relevant to quite a lot of people on here I suspect.

binners it's not funny... I started gettting emails for "Dating over 50's"
a. I'm married
b. I'm not Wayne Rooney
c. I'm mid 40's

When you pass 50 S(ex)a(nd)g(ames for the)a(ged) come after you with a vengeance and the over 50 plan insurance companies and the funeral plans...

(Mrs S signed me up for £75 of M&S vouchers, I'm working out where the patio extension should go).

A bit late now but I have a suggestion. When reviewing "packable jackets" and discussing how having more features makes for a bigger packed size, take photos of the jackets packed so the reader has some idea of whether they meet his/her definition of packable. A pack I accept in my camelback might be too big for a jersey pocket.

That was the idea, Mr Nice. Unfortunately, the photoshoot didn't go as planned and our receptacle (a litre cafetiere) was never stuffed for the photos as I'd hoped. That was the idea from the start.

Bit late to the party, but I’ve only just finished the Moab story. Fantastic pictures, [i]buuuut[/i] I’m still none the wiser as to whether I’d want to spend the time and money travelling over to ride there. From the intro I was expecting more on whether the area lived up to the nostalgia/ ‘classic’ status, e.g. Was riding on a sandpaper surface all the time great, or do you start longing for slidey wet grass or an occasional wooded section?
Loved the story on Chile in the previous issue, which also had some extraordinary photos.

Off topic, but does anyone know if there is a way to access the magazine archive on Android please?

Roger, I'm pretty sure I'd never do a transatlantic trip just to ride bikes, but a Southern Utah national parks road trip is an amazing trip. With a few days biking and rafting in Moab, it's even better.

I'd agree that the last few mags have been especially awesome.

You have also set me Transpyr 2016 as a training goal, I hope you're satisfied....

The expensive gear reviews are fine, but balance is needed in all things. I'm still on a collection of 26'ers and have no plans to replace any 'just because' - there are people who accept that £3500 is the baseline for a mountain bike but I suspect this is not reality for most of your readers.

Font size? Meh.. It's fine, leave it alone, please. Singletrack has enough of a "dad's mtb club" reputation in some quarters without printing body text in 16pt bold...

Cheers Ned, yeah it would have to be combined with something to justify the cost!

[i]Off topic, but does anyone know if there is a way to access the magazine archive on Android please?[/i]

If you have a pdf reader on your Android, you can access the magazine pdfs in the archives I think.

There are some more affordable bike tests planned in the next year (and some not so, too, just for balance of course...)

Wanting the font size bigger because one usually reads it when the lights are dimmed while watching Casualty is somewhere north of reasonable. 😉

Given up on non 26'er bike reviews - I have a shed of 26'ers and am persisting in being an old dog refusing to learn new wheelsizes.

We'll review every 26in bike we can get hold of these days. They're in very, very short supply, as we've mentioned.

Got no issues here with reviewing bikes you can actually buy, the lack of 26" bikes available means I've not much interest in knowing how they ride as the chances of buying one are slim to none.

If your going to do a 26" review then maybe a classifieds/ebay top gear style challenge where for a set budget build a bike.
DH for the alps
Budget XC racer for a long event
Something bouncy for an enduro

Considering some of the threads on here something like how to size yourself up for a bike properly, geometry and suspension for dummies, what all the words mean.

Also got a great idea for a foreign race report, multi day stage racing in the sun...