Singletracks Best MTB Reads: July

Our best reads of the month include grappling with what's worth buying in this tight bike market, checking out trips and trails in the southern US and the southern hemisphere, and learning about Italian trail development.
Photo: Trina Ortega

The Singletracks staff and our contributors spend a lot of time every day, week, and month drafting up gear and bike reviews, and informing readers with breaking news and press releases. All of us try to devote an equal amount of time diving into the culture of mountain biking, digging into news and trends on a deeper level, and connecting with the mountain bike organizations and advocates who make our rides possible.

Summer is here and quickly buzzing along, as time melts with us under the sun and hopefully on the trails. Our best reads of the month include grappling with what’s worth buying in this tight bike market, checking out trips and trails in the southern US and the southern hemisphere, and learning about Italian trail development. For good measure, we’ve also got some laughs as one of Jeff’s early mountain bikes has turned into an internet treasure. Maybe the most exciting thing though, is that Olympic mountain biking happened. Check out some sweet bikes that went to Tokyo and see the links if you haven’t caught up on results.

Coal Basin Ranch: A Tale of Trails and Transformation

A unique public-private partnership at Coal Basin Ranch in Pitkin County, Colorado leads to new trails and environmental restoration.

The Mountain Bikes Heading to the Tokyo Olympics

Here are a few of the mountain bikes we can expect to see at the Olympic starting line on July 26. If you missed the Olympics MTB results check here for men’s and here for women’s.

My Old Hardtail Mountain Bike Was Turned into a Meme, and I LOL’d

Today’s mountain bikes are more capable than ever. At the same time trails have been improved too. What happens when you add the two together?

Cycling Apparel Brands are Trying to Make Clothing More Sustainable Than Ever. What Does That Mean?

The fashion industry as a whole has one of the biggest ecological footprints in the world. Cycling apparel brands have the potential to make a strong impact by using recycled materials for their products.

River Mountain Park in Little Rock Adds More Diversity to Arkansas’ Growing Trail Collection

Little Rock, Arkansas’ newest trails make the destination an easy choice for a mountain bike trip and are family-friendly.

Building Trails and a High Alpine Mountain Bike Destination with Willy Basilico in Canazei, Italy

Willy Basilico is the trail boss credited with organizing many of the builders and maintainers in Val di Fassa, Italy, host of rounds one and two of the 2021 Enduro World Series.

2 Wheel Epix Wants to Take you Mountain Biking on Remote, Exotic Singletrack

2 Wheel Epix organizes mountain bike trips in Ecuador, Peru, and Mexico focused on discovering exotic, remote singletrack in amazing destinations while providing cultural learning and local economy stimulation.

Stop and Smell the Hawthorn: A Mountain Biker’s Guide to Nature

Hawthorn trees are native to the temperate trails in Asia, Europe, North Africa, and North America.

When is a Mountain Bike ‘Too Old’ to Justify Buying?

There’s a good chance that in the past year, someone has asked you what kind of bike they should buy because they want to try mountain biking. What do you tell them?