After something like 65,000 words in newsletters, well over 2,300 web articles, hours of video and podcast waffle, and a stack of magazine words, I’m off to pastures new. You may have noticed me banging on about the brilliance of pumptracks (when built properly) and I’m off to put this belief into action while working for Velosolutions. Which is very exciting, but also slightly scary, as sending words off into the world feels a whole lot less tangible than building a bike track. I strongly suspect that someone will notice should a promised pumptrack or trail fail to appear as planned.
I’ve been at Singletrack for nearly 10 years. Long enough for my kids to grow up quite a lot, my hair to go grey, and for the passage of quite a lot more life besides. I really appreciated having you along for the transatlantic Covid rom-com/disaster movie and second wedding (not a disaster movie!). I have always enjoyed that the Forum and the Singletrack community has been about more than just the bikes. Bikes bring us together, but it’s the chat we have along the way that keeps us coming back. Thanks for having me along for the ride, and often making me feel a bit less mad and alone.
Chipps will now be riding tandem with Heather, Heather being in charge of seeing that work gets done, Chipps doing the editorial direction type stuff. I’ll leave them to figure out who gets to sit on the front! Benji remains in charge of tech and testing.
I’ve a few more weeks here yet, but since my work life and personal life are so intertwined I wanted to let you all know before you read it somewhere else. It might seem a bit odd, but everyone who has ever sent an email or posted a comment that’s directed at me or something I’ve written has very much felt part of my personal life, so I’m hugely grateful to all the people who have said nice things along the way. Partly because I’ve sought only ever to publish words I believe in, and partly because I really do want everyone to enjoy riding bikes, being at Singletrack is not something I’ve left in the office at the end of each working day.
I can’t imagine it’s something I’ll leave in the office at the end of my last day either. Luckily for me, you’ll still all be here, in the Forum - and out on the trails. See you out there and in here!
Good luck in your future endeavours, pumptrack-related or otherwise, and thank you for all the words!
I'm obviously gutted that Hannah is leaving us, but shes going on to do a job that I know means a huge deal to her and we all wish her the very best of luck in her new role. Hannah has transformed how we do things here at Singletrack. She was initailly hired to do just that - to herd the disoganised among us into a throbbing workflow of efficiency. It's been a battle I know but everyone appreciates the work she's done to keep the words, images, videos and podcasts flowing.
This place is not going to be the same without you Hannah. Please write all the instructions down in a non-cursive font (bold), in several binders and place on every desk please before you leave - I suspect in your absence we'll be RTFM quite a lot more 🙂
Cheers
Mark
Good luck with the new venture. It's always a pleasure to read your stuff. 🥂
Sorry to see you leave Hannah. I've always really enjoyed the perspective you've provided through your writing. Good luck with everything.
On a purely selfish level, I'm really sad to hear that. I've so enjoyed (almost) everything you've written over the past 10 years, and will miss it very much. But we all have to move on, so I wish you all the very best for the future and hope you still pop into the forum from time to time.
Simon
Good Luck, Hannah! All the best.
Sad news & Good news at the same time. A new challenge definitely sounds exciting.
I have especially admired your reporting of the issues around being a woman in the sport and things like your candid-ness with kit review photos and the recent eye-opening menstrual cup review.
Sorry, I am not very good with words but I hope the work you do/have done & openness along the way helps to encourage more women into the sport.
You have given me a valuable different viewpoint on the hobby/sport/past-time we love.
And definitely, thanks for dragging us along with your transatlantic love life 👍❤️ 😁
Best Wishes.
Sad news but an exciting move for you. All the best and thanks for all the words!
I've enjoyed reading your articles and I'm very happy with the way you've guided Singletrack into areas that may not gave been everybody's first choice, so thank you Hannah.
Enjoy your new life!
Best of luck Hannah, thanks for everything at STW Towers and the various places we've bumped into each other - out on rides, at Bespoked and no doubt a couple of other shows...
You can start with a pump track near mine - the admittedly rather tragic effort that existed was flattened when they moved some playground equipment.
Thanks for all your thoughtful contributions to the mag (and indeed the forum). All the best for your future endeavours!
Sad news for many of us, but fully understand following your dreams 😊
I'll miss our sporadic chats about personal stuff, all the best to you and Big Kev & the children.
Best of luck Hannah, I've really enjoyed reading your articles over the years.
Best of luck in the new job and thanks for some really good stuff on here
Sorry to hear you're leaving, but congratulations and good luck - it's exciting stuff!!
Good luck, like many have said have enjoyed your contribution to the Singletrack institution!
We did meet once whilst climbing up the 'Rooty Climb' from Wye, I often have to bail getting up it but the added pressure of a Singletrack journo talking to me meant I had to complete it, not that I could talk much whilst doing so!
Congrats. Velosolutions are a pretty dynamic crew to work with.... will you be enjoying some alpine pumpage out in Flims?
loved your stuff over the years, there's always been a tinge of (dry?) humour to your articles that have elevated them for. me
being involved in pumptracks is definitely q cool.thing to move on to
Sad to hear that you are leaving. But onwards and upwards. Thank for all your contributions.
Good luck and best wishes for the future.
Good luck! You'll be missed!
Thanks for everything, Hannah. Pumptrackworld will be all the richer with your involvement, I'm sure.
Sad for STW
Happy for you 🙂
Good luck! And thanks for all the great articles/newsletters
Ah man, sad to see you are going Hannah but also really pleased to see you continuing to follow a real passion in your life.
I wish you all the best and hopefully you'll keep us updated on how you are even after youve moved on to new challenges and adventures! 😁
Oh jeepers... i'll miss your writing... You've done an exceptional job. Thank you.
Thank you Hannah. I hope the username "hannah" is now yours by default? Good luck with the new venture. It was a pleasure meeting you virtually.
Brilliant news and awful news in equal measures!
Thanks for all the effort and all the best with the next exciting thing.
Any chance you could get a new pump track in Stirling? I've a really good location that would repurpose a blaze BMX track last surfaced 32 years ago and has plenty scope for a brilliant new pump track...please?
Bum. As others have said, I'll be sad to see you go but wish you all the best for the future. I've thoroughly enjoyed your writing; it's always a combination of insightful, thought-provoking and humorous. You're definitely going to be a hard act to follow.
I'm sure you'll make a noticeable and positive contribution to Velosolutions and I hope it's everything you want it to be.
Thank you Hannah for all your contributions, a tough act to follow.
Good luck in your future endeavours.
Basically a +1 to everything above.
May your riding flow as well as your words.
Oh man. Such a shame to see you leaving. I really enjoy your writing.
Best of luck with the new role. 🙏
Good luck and all the best in your new adventures, exciting times ahoy.
A shame for us, but exciting for you! Hope it works out for you, and you'll be missed by us all. Best of luck.
I think I remember seeing the job advert and wishing i had the right skill set for the job... unfortunately not
All the best for the future, your input to the forum has been valued
To STW I do think you need to get another female member on the team to get some good balance 🙂
Oh and Hannah - could you develop some progression areas in North Shropshire to help those trying to improve at Jumps and Drops, there is nothing what so ever 🙂
Sorry you're off but best wishes for your new job.
Good luck with the new job Hannah, have always really enjoyed your writing online and in the magazine.
All the very best for the future!
Been said above many times, but you will be missed! Good luck!
Congratulations on the new job Hannah! I've very much enjoyed your contribution round here over the years, and in particular your writing. Which I will miss. Quite a lot actually. Thanks for all the excellent words and good luck!
Best of luck Hannah, I've always enjoyed your articles and writing style.
Sorry for the mental scars about novelty repairs for brake levers
Thank you for being here, and best wishes for the future.
Hi Hannah. I can only echo what everyone else has said. I’m glad I got to have a quick word with you at Bespoked to say how much I’ve enjoyed your work.
Like others have said ive really enjoyed your words over the (10!) years. You've opened me up to a different perspective with your open writing.
Good luck at velosolutions
All the best in your future endeavours.
👍
All the best for the future 😊
Greatly enjoyed your contributions over the years.
Congratulations and best of luck with the new role.
All the best for the new role and thanks for everything!
Good luck for the future Hannah, always enjoyed your writing, you'll be missed.
Ahhhhhhhh sad but glad! Thanks for everything and have fun in your new role 🙂
All the very best Hannah - you’ll be missed for sure. Good luck!
Good luck with the new role 😀
I've enjoyed reading your stuff 👍
All the best for your next step. Sounds good.
Sorry to see you go, Singletrack has been a friendly voice of authenticity and entertainment with you aboard.
Well done for highlighting the diverse range of issues and perspectives that are less well written about in the cycling press. My eyes have been opened.
So thanks Hannah, and good luck.
Bit mixed here, gutted you're leaving but happy that you're off to do something you want to do. not had a chance to read the whole thread so sorry if this has been asked higher up but will you be doing and guest column's as it were?
Very best of luck in your new venture, may good wishes and good fortune go with you! 🫶🏻😄
Not cool. I'm going to cry all day now. Bonne chance.
Good luck for the future - enjoyed reading your articles and personal anecdotes, part of a team that seemed to give STW a bit more of a human face and personality.
Oh no! I always enjoyed your style/angle/approach/words you brought to the screen and paper.
I like Velosolutions pump tracks - there's one near my parents in Edenfield and I think they might be doing one in Rawtenstall Whitaker Park at some point?
Good luck with your new job there - hope your flow and pump get you round many a track in years to come!
Ooh, that's a lot of love. Thanks! I'm especially pleased that some of the words that felt most important to me, but perhaps a bit off piste for an MTB publication, have actually gone down well. All the comments about my writing generally are rather wonderful - I have discovered that I do love writing, but it was never something I came here to do or thought I had any particular skill at. That definitely feels like a big addition to my skill set and confidence.
I've no plans for any guest appearances, although I imagine it might be quite hard not to write words about this from time to time, so never say never. Plus, I will still be riding bikes, so I may as well still review things from time to time.
Amusingly, I am completely crap at getting round a pump track without pedalling, so it'll be a great chance to work on that! A common response to hearing about my new job does seem to be 'Can you build one near me?', and so I'm hoping to find ways to turn that into something people who hold the purse strings also recognise. It's been great to meet and chat with you all - even if sometimes that's been an online DM. I really do hope to see you all out there and keep putting Forum handles to faces, so don't be shy to say hello if you spot me floundering around a track or trail!
have discovered that I do love writing, but it was never something I came here to do or thought I had any particular skill at.
Definitely one for boasting about on your CV 😀
I'm another who's enjoyed your writing style and general additions to Singletrack. Good luck with your new role!
You will be missed by all for sure. Thank you for quietly championing the female perspective in this sport. It is greatly appreciated. Will you be working with Claudio? That'll be awesome.
Good luck for your new venture 😀
Good luck!
There has been a local request for a velosolutions pumptrack...but the council are sitting on what to do with the land at present. It used to be the skatepark, but that was very old and needed replacing. A pumptrack would be ideal. A nearby village has had a recent pumptrack build by a different pumptrack co, but it's entirely raised off the ground....and predictably, little kids are launching off the sides unintentionally.
best of luck Hannah. Sure you will hit the ground running (or jumping) at the new job
Good luck on your new adventure!
Congratulations Hannah, and best wishes for the next adventure. Been fortunate to ride a couple of pump tracks built by Velosolutions in Utah and Colorado and both have been ace, and they're lucky to have you on the team.
Not sure of the exact phrase, something like 'don't be sad it's over be happy it happened....'
I will miss your writing Hannah but I'm grateful to have read what you did....Best of luck.
I have discovered that I do love writing, but it was never something I came here to do or thought I had any particular skill at. That definitely feels like a big addition to my skill set and confidence
Your writing has been a joy and a great addition to STW. Thank you
I've refrained from posting until now because I didn't really know what to say so I'll keep it brief rather than say nothing at all.
You always struck me as a thoroughly decent human being, and Singletrack will be a lesser place without you. Best of luck with your new venture. May you always stay rubber-side down.
10 years. How can it be that long.
You’ve pushed great stuff through the magazine. It’s changed. I don’t agree with every change. But things move forward and you’ve done loads of great stuff. All very much done with sincerity.
I’ve enjoyed some of your quirky bike tastes and i now own a Stooge. Apparently your words about the Stooge mk4 helped keep the company going
All the best with the pump tracks. The one at the top of Sutton back is the only one I’ve been able to pump round so start there
This magazine has lost its glory
It's time for Hannah to start a brand new story
Now with my glove
You think that I don't even mean a single word I say
It's only words
And words are all I have to take your bike away
Talk in everlasting words
Da da da da da da da
Da da da da da da da da
Da da da da da
Da da da da da da da da da da
It's only words and words are all I have so please mark make her stay
Hannah, I have been reading Singletrack for close to 20 years, and all have been great, but your tenure especially. I have thoroughly enjoyed your email newsletters, your talks on the podcast and your articles in the magazine.
Unlike you, I’m not a good writer, so I struggle to put this into words.
Your writing, especially the newsletters, has (almost) always struck a nerve. Somehow making me smile or having a tear appear. I will really miss your musings. It always resonated, especially the stuff about one’s kids.
All the best in the next stage of your life!
Know a couple at velo as i used to supply them!
Enjoy the new role!
All the best Hannah. You’ll be missed, but the new job sounds ace! Onwards and upwards! 😃
Best of luck in your new role Hannah.
As others have said, your contributions to Singletrack via the mag, newsletters and FGF etc will be missed.
Velosolutions created a pump track near me, which opened around 2 months ago. Some locals had been campaigning for one for a few years, and now we have one! It's gone down well with the local kids, and is usually busy when I pass by.
I hope you're able to help make more pump tracks available to communities so other kids (and adults) can benefit from them too.
Thank you for everything, Hannah - I've thoroughly enjoyed your writing, and my wife is your biggest fan ever since you reviewed (and introduced her to) Modibodi pants. You have truly made a difference in our lives.
Thank you Hannah for all the writing and encouragement to us wimmin.
Good luck for the future. What a fantastic opportunity. Enjoy and don't forget us. x
To happy pastures, Hannah 😊😊😊
has anyone built a pump track on a cruise liner?
All the best in the new job. Sounds like a fun job for sure. Always enjoyed reading your articles, so I'll miss that. Good luck!
Babye now!
