Singletrack Bikes

Passporte Du Soleil

2010-06-29T21:31:00.002+01:00

Commencal 2011 Sneak Peak

2010-06-28T20:36:00.010+01:00

We were lucky enough to be invited to Chatel in the Alpes to visit the guys behind the Commencal brand. We had a good look at the 2011 range which sees the popular hardtail mountain bikes return to the UK, and we even test rode some bikes around the Passportes Du Soleil.

I had a test ride on a Meta 6 having only ridden my Meta 5 and was interested to see how different it felt to ride. Before pointing it downhill, first off it felt familiar to my Meta 5 which made me feel like it wouldn't be much different. I was wrong! The Meta 6 is a very capable bike and commands a different riding style to the Meta 5. It took a couple of runs to figure it out, but its suspension travel feels more progressive and it likes to be pushed hard. Letting the brakes go and giving it that extra few mph it all started to make sense.

On the day of the Passporte Du Soleil my aim was to get up early and be first in the que to bag the Meta 6. I was too slow! I was however given one of the brand new Commencal Supreme 8 bikes which might not have been the best bike for the event, but it was good to have something so burly to throw down the black and red DH trails. It wasn't too long before I started giving it some welly and by the end of the day felt as though I'd got to know it quite well. It's a big rig with lots of potential and I didn't have the skills to really show off what it was capable of, but it's a bike that if you spend time on hitting gaps and drops your confidence would quickly build.

Other highlights new to the range are a chromo version of the Ramones, a 24" Supreme for the younger big hitters, and the new 'Premier' range. The premier range starts with a nice burly entry level hardtail trail bike boasting hydraulic brakes and lockout forks for £529.99 - going up to £1199.99 for the full suspension trail bike.

I went a bit click happy with my camera to show you some of the highlights. I'll post again shortly with every bike and a spec list.

Go Pro HD Helmet Hero

2010-05-17T18:49:00.001+01:00

Don’t let the quirky, retro looks deceive you, the Go Pro HD Helmet Hero is top-notch technology: full HD 1080p at 30 frames per second and also 960p and 720p at 30 fps. If you want your action replayed in slo-mo, there’s a 60fps option in 720p and also one in lo-fi WVGA setting.

Shooting at full HD 1080p the camera gives an angle of view of 127°. Although this is less than either the Contour HD or the X170, drop down to 720p and the angle increases to 170°.

Like filming, a lot? Well the downside of HD is that the file sizes get fat quickly. That’s not a problem with the Helmet Hero as it can take up to 32GB SD cards. That’s enough for nearly four and half hours of footage, even at full HD 1080p.

The Helmet Hero comes with a removable polycarbonate and stainless steel housing to protect the body. This housing is not just shockproof, not merely dustproof, it is fully waterproof down to an impressive 60m. That’s deeper than you can go without specialist dive training and kit so don’t go trying to test it out unless you really know what you are doing.

Cold can severely shorten battery life, but there’s a innovating feature on the Helmet Hero that warms the battery chamber so that you won’t run out of juice when filming in sub-zero temperatures.

The Helmet Hero comes with a head-torch style fixing mount for your lid, a strap designed for vented cycle helmets, a selection of adhesive mounting pads and a pivoting side-arm. There are also a number of other mounts that can be bought so the camera can be fixed onto mountain bikes, cars or surfboards.

Ideal for fans of extreme sports of any ilk – and shoots HD in the most challenging of conditions with ease.

Mobi V17 Pressure Washer

2010-05-17T18:41:00.001+01:00

Mobi V17 Pressure Washer

The latest version of Mobi’s pressure washer is £50 more expensive but it's better than ever thanks to a bigger, removable water tank and a built-in battery.

It can be filled easily and is invaluable for shifting mud from your bike, your body or whatever else needs a good clean.

Mobi have upped the storage tank on the V-17 from 15 litres to 17 – easily enough to clean five filthy bikes – and it now detaches so it can be filled from a kitchen tap.

Unlike the first version, which had to be powered from the mains or a car cigarette lighter socket, the V-17 is now fully portable. You simply recharge it via the mains or your car. A single charge gives you a full hour of spraying – although you'll have to refill the tank several times.

The nozzle is adjustable so you can blast or spray at will, and it pumps out 130psi at full tilt. There’s plenty of hose so you can wander away from the main unit.

A carry-strap is included to lug the washer to/from the car, which is a definite help when it’s fully loaded. A side pocket, velcro fastener and integrated cable holder are all small but useful touches.

We did have reservations about the plastic hose connectors at first, but they haven’t caused any problems. Operation is virtually silent, and the V-17 makes bike cleaning a swizz.

2010-05-04T21:48:00.001+01:00

10 Items of must have cycle clothing

1. A top must for every cyclist is an Original Buff worn around the head and neck in many different ways. Ideal all year round!

2. In Winter keeping your hands dry and warm isn’t an issue with the Seal Skinz Technical Waterproof MTB Glove.

3. Wearing a cycle helmet when it’s cold and wet can be miserable. If you wear a Seal Skinz Waterproof Skull Cap Beanie your head will stay warm and dry.

4. The job of keeping the crud out of your eyes is done well with the Endura Shark Glasses. It comes with 3 different lenses for different lighting conditions.

5. A good baselayer for your upper body is an important piece of kit. The Endura Frontline Baselayer does a good job of wicking the moisture away from your skin helping to keep you warm, ventilated and dry.

6. Baggy shorts for mountain biking are a must. The Endura Zyme Baggy Shorts come in a variety of colours and even a ¾ length option.

7. All this cycling gear is no good without the backup of this Endura Venturi Waterproof Jacket which is lightweight, breathable and in a handy black or red colour.

8. What about these Kona Chevron cycling gloves packed with features and well padded & stitched in all the right areas.

9. Although this list is in no particular order a helmet should really be your number 1. The Giro Hex cycling helmet is one of the most popular choices on the market for mountain bikers.

10. No list is complete without a proper pair of cycling socks. These Endura Thermolite cycle socks feel great to wear.

2010-05-04T21:44:00.001+01:00

Top 5 Cycling Gadgets

1. A good off-road GPS system for mountain bikers has been long overdue. The Memory Map Adventurer 2800 GPS is now available offering a large screen viewing 1:50000 Land Ranger OS Maps.

2. The GPS system to have for road cyclists is the Garmin Edge 705 Road Performance GPS. It comes with everything including the whole of Europe at street level on SD card, cadence, and bike mount.

3. If you enjoy making movies then you will be needing the GoPro HD Helmet Hero Video Camera. Additional accessories can also be purchased such as a chest mount harness.

4. Probably the smallest and neatest looking cycle computer on the market is the Cateye Strada Wireless Cycle Computer. Also comes in a choice of colours!

5. LED front lights have now taken over the old HID units with superior advantages. Buy a Lupine Tesla 4 Front Light for something bright and reliable with a long burn time. Charge times are fast too and the whole unit is very compact.

New - 0% Finance

2010-04-30T11:07:00.002+01:00

0% Finance is now available at Singletrack Bikes on purchases over £300 subject to credit check. It is now so easy to buy that dream purchase from ourselves.

To take advantage of the interest free credit simply call us to take all your information where you get an answer by the end of the call. Hopefully we will be taking your 10% deposit and sending out your order.

Typical example:
Commencal Meta 5.5 Pro £1899
You pay a deposit of £189
Then 18 monthly payments of £95

Saracen 2010 The Relaunch

2009-08-27T15:08:00.003+01:00

Saracen Amplitude AL1

Saracen Zen 3

Saracen Matra

With the look and spec of these Saracen bikes we are sure the new Saracen range is going to take off big style. This is the first phase of the lauch with kids bikes and hardtails. The second phase is going to be the Saracen Kili XC race bike along with an affordable race ready downhill bike, and some fancy hybrids for commuting to work and cruising about town.

Commencal 2010

2009-08-27T15:04:00.002+01:00

Commencal Meta 5.5 Team 2010

This is one HOT looking bike. Spec aint bad either. Retails at £2399.99 but we usually sell around 10% off or we price match any lower price advertised online.

We can't wait to get the new range of 2010 Commencals into stock.

Check out the complete range of Commencal bikes out here.

2009-03-24T22:39:00.003Z

Well, I'm currently building Graeme Forrest's new DH machine for the downhill season ahead. Commencal DH Supreme. The parts are arriving day by day for this spectacular custom build. The frame is different to the one on the link above as the new frames arriving are featuring the graphics found on the Athertons bikes.

Diamondback Response 2009

2009-03-24T22:35:00.004Z

You have to check out the new Diamondback Response which is simply outstanding in every way. Just £50 shy of 500 of you notes gets you a very good looking bike with an outstanding frame design. It features hydraulic disc brakes with remote lock out suspension forks, and boasts a pretty good spec list. Not only is this bike great value, it's perfect for Glentress and deserves respect on any trail.

Orbea Dealership granted

2009-03-24T22:05:00.002Z

We are glad to get our first shipment of Orbea road bikes. We will be having a club open day soon and will get cracking adding the lovely bikes to our website.

Introduction to Buffs

2008-09-15T23:27:00.006+01:00

Buff Original Headwear by Buffera. The original Buff is demonstrated here to show you how versatile and useful this piece of headwear can be. It adapts to your situation and needs by learning a few of the moves....

Kona's Magic Link

2008-09-15T23:23:00.005+01:00

Suspension technology for Kona bikes presented by non other than Andy from the UK Kona importer Paligap.

Mountain Biking 2009

2008-09-15T23:17:00.004+01:00

Commencal 2009 has landed

2008-09-13T16:56:00.002+01:00

The UK has seen the start of the 2009 Commencal range arrive in stores. A brand which has just gone from strength to strength since its lauch, and its no wonder with quality machines such as the Commencal Meta 5.

We have the entire range for you to browse online now.

Animal Instore

2008-09-13T16:48:00.005+01:00

Everybody loves Animal gear so I am chuffed to anounce that we are now official Animal stockists. At the moment we have T-Shirts, Beanies, Watches, Jackets, Hoodies and other cool accessories. So all just casual gear at the moment which is nice because we didn't have anything like this in store before Animal clothing arrived. Animal also do a very nice range of cycle specific clothing so you can look the part on and off the bike. We plan to introduce the cycle range sometime soon but come in and get your casual gear now!

Honey Stinger

2008-08-18T22:14:00.008+01:00

If you like honey then your going to love these! In fact, even if your not too keen on honey there is a good chance you will be able to stomach them better than for example a fruit flavoured energy gel. I mean, I love oranges and fruit but I'm really not keen on fruity energy gels. I'm not that keen on honey on its own, but I absolutely love these! And they come in different flavourings which complement the honey. The are not too sweet and dont leave a chemically aftertaste.

So apart from the taste, how do they stack up when compared to other energy gels? Well here are a few facts:

1) Honey is composed of two main sugars, levulose and dextrose. These sugars do not need to be broken down by the digestive process, so honey is quickly absorbed into the bloodstream, giving a quick energy boost to the body.

2) Honey is nutritious - A much healthier choice than over-processed, factory-made table sugar table sugar and artificial sweeteners which do not have any vitamins or whatsoever nutrients, honey contains many vitamins like B6, thiamin, niacin, riboflavin, pantothenic acid and certain amino acids. and minerals including calcium, copper, iron, magnesium, manganese, phosphorus, potassium, sodium and zinc.

3) It is a healthy food choice - Honey has a healthy Glycemic Index (GI) , meaning that its sugars can be gradually absorbed into the bloodstream to result in better digestion. Eating excessive high-glycemic foods prompts an elevated insulin release in our body as a result of the pancreas being stimulated to metabolize the sudden surge of glucose into the blood.

4) Its natural fruit sugars, fructose and glucose plays an important role in preventing fatigue during exercise and are quickly absorbed into the bloodstream digested by the body.

5) Natural honey is valued for its sweetness, and is chock full of unexpected goodness. Because it’s predigested by insects many people who can’t stomach cane sugar can more easily metabolize honey and enjoy its natural energy - so it’s almost the perfect food.

Sounds great eh? But does it perform better than non honey energy gels? Well I think they really do. I find I get a psychological lift which helps focus my mind on pushing myself that little bit further, and I feel less burn in my muscles as I start to fatigue.

Flavours available are:
Ginsting
Gold
Chocolate
Bannana
Strawberry

You will probably find a favorite and it's best to try them all. Other products from Honey Stinger also include protein bars, energy bars and energy chews. All are based on natural ingredients and add fantastic value to your rides!

Product Reviews

2008-08-17T16:24:00.004+01:00

Here is where we put products to the test and find out just how good they are.

Race Team

2008-08-17T14:47:00.003+01:00

Singletrack Bikes is putting together teams for Cross Country, Downhill, and Road Racing. Our aim is to promote and develop our riders whilst providing the support that is much needed.

MTB Racing in Galashiels

2008-08-17T14:42:00.004+01:00

Very soon we will see the start of a fun cross country winter race series. It is anticipated that there will be 3 events with the first planned for November.

Further details including dates and entry information will be posted here asap.