Issue 41

Singletrack Mountain Bike Magazine April 2008

In this Issue:
Ian Warby Interview
The HimaChal
The Gower Route Guide
North American Handbuilt Bicycle Show
The Eiger Sanction

Cover photo: Springtime stream. By Dan Milner.
Contents Picture: Snowy cornering fun in the Yorkshire Dales. By Richard Starkie.
Spineline: The world’s best selling trackstand.

Editorial

Chipps jumps to his doom, with only a parachute to save him – and still finds mountain bike parallels.

HimaChal

Alex Baker went to India to ride the Himalayan Challenge race. Lots of ups, lots of downs and lots of tired smiles.

Blame the Dog

Mike Ferrentino’s regular take on the twisted world of the bicycle.

Secret Spots

Huw Cooke Huw Cooke takes a trip to the dark side of the woods to find his own kind of peace.

Head to head

Two bikes pitted against each other. In this issue a Cotic BFe and a Kona Five-O hardtail go head to head.

Interview – Ian Warby of the CTC

Ian Warby is the Mountain Bike Officer of the Cyclists’ Touring Club and all round good guy. Ben catches up with him.

Bike Test – Titanium Full Sussers

Is there a call for titanium full suspension? Chipps tests three bouncy bikes from Global, Merlin and Titus to find out.

Global Softail

Merlin Works 4.0

Titus Motolite Titanium

Column – Philly D

Have you seen Philip Diprose’s mojo? He’s lost it and now he wants it back.

Grinder

Lots of products sanded down and tested to the max in the wintery weather, including Giant’s new Trance-X and Specialized’s women-only Myka.

DT XR Carbon Shock<

Endura Thermolite Bib-Knickers

Maxxis Minion Tyres

Lezyne Mini Pump

Specialized Myka FSR Comp

Specialized Propero Helmet

Halo Excite D Carbon Matrix Wheels

Revolution Tune Up Stand

Quick Release Bell

Fuji Outland Pro

Giant Trance X1

The Eiger Sanction

Cris Bloomfield rides a new route through the Swiss Alps, finishing at the foot of the famous, and deadly, Eiger.

Grouptest: Hydration Packs

A dozen hydration packs around the £70 mark trail-rated.

Berghaus Mach 12+4

Camelbak Mayhem

Camelbak LUXE

Dakine Nomad

Deuter Hydro Exp 12

Ergon BD2-M

Hydrapak Laguna

Lezyne Smartpack 3L

Ortleib Cor13

Scott Impulse 6

Source Spinner 3 Pro

The North Face Ion 20

Wingnut Hyper 3.0

Column – Faye Stewart

Our ‘Trail Swap’ author returns with a regular view on mountain biking.

Fitness – Spring Training

Matt Hart has let you cruise over winter long enough. Here he gives you the chance to get fit in time for the summer. But it won’t be easy.

Unsung Heroes

Dave Garoutte from DKG Engineering developed monocoque trials bikes and unicrown forks long before you even started riding bikes.

Grouptest: High End Disc Brakes

A test of the best disc brakes you can buy today.

Avid Juicy Ultimate

Formula Oro Puro

Hayes Stroker Carbon

Hope Mini Pro

Magura Marta SL

Quad Dime XC

Shimano XTR

Column – Roly Lambert

Roly’s just been into the garage. He found – that he’d not actually thrown anything away. Ever…

Long Term Test Bikes

A look at the respective sheds of some of the staffers here. In this issue, Ben’s Cannondale Prophet, Sim’s Giant Anthem and Dave’s Kona one speed.

Cannondale Prophet MX

Giant Anthem Advanced

Kona One Speed

Competition

Win! A Gary Fisher Hi Fi worth £1400!

Gallery

Is it time for summer yet? Dusty trails? No? Then look at pictures of some with photos from Sheldon Attwood, Rockrider Bikes and James Lyon.

NAHBS

David Agnew ponders the worth of expensive bikes while trolling the aisles of the North American Handmade Bike Show.

Route Guide: The Gower

Benji and faithful ride-buddy Jon take on the wilds of Wales’ Gower Peninsula all to bring you a route guide worthy of riding.

Easy: 10km (6.2 miles), 4 Hours

Medium: 24km (14.9 miles), 3 Hours

Hard: 32km (19.9 miles), 2 Hours

Outro

A scary look behind the scenes (behind the bar actually) of the Singletrack Awards Dinner.