Sam has been a regular Singletracks contributor since 2018 and has written bike reviews, trip reports, and repair articles. He's a professional bike mechanic, self-professed tech geek, trail and enduro rider who has worked in bike shops in New Zealand and British Columbia. Most of all, Sam loves going for riding and camping trips, and pedaling until his legs fall off.
Author snapshot
- Instagram: @Samandhisvan
- Web: samjames.bike
- Location: North Vancouver, BC, Canada
- Previous locations: North Wales UK, Sydney Australia, Wanaka and Christchurch NZ
MTB experience
- Mountain biking since 2006
- Current bike stable: Santa Cruz Tallboy and Salsa Warbird
- Favorite place to ride: Craigieburn NZ, Cumberland BC, and pretty much anywhere else in the province for that matter
Writing experience and education
- Media & marketing coordinator for Steed Cycles
- Contributor, Trail Builder Magazine
- Master's Degree by Research: Sub-Millmetre Manufacturing for Microwave Medical Devices, Bangor University
- Bachelors Degree: Music Technology with Electronic Engineering, Bangor University
The 2024 Rocky Mountain Element cross-country mountain bike cuts a similar silhouette to the old one, but does it ride any differently? We put it to the test.
We test the new OneUp Clip Pedals, the first clipless mountain bike pedal from the brand known for quality MTB components.
The 'Godfather' of freeride, Wade Simmons, started a Canada-based chain lube company.
Leatt HydraDri 7.0 Clip shoes promise a lot and look good, but how do they stack up to winter biking in the real world?
A group of volunteer trail builders in North Vancouver has built three aesthetic skinny lines deep in the forest on Mount Fromme.
The Rocky Mountain Altitude enduro bike has a totally new suspension layout, and we put it to the test with a full season of riding.
The new Knolly Fugitive blends mid-travel and a solid build spec for all-around trail bike fun, but how does it perform?
The new Fox Transfer dropper post seeks to corner the high-end market with super slippery coatings, longer travel, and more adjustability. How does it stack up? Read our review.
The new Fox Live Valve Neo electronic suspension system is fully wireless, and doesn't include a fork, but it does claim to be super fast with major performance gains.
The new Industry Nine Solix hubs are the foundation of several new lightweight XC and trail wheelsets, including the M Trail 285 24h, meant for XC to aggressive trail riding. We test them out to see how they hold up.
The new Specialized Search helmet is the brand's mid-tier offering aimed at gravel riders. It's packed with features, and has a five-star Virginia Tech safety rating.
The Santa Cruz Bronson gets its biggest makeover in years, with an updated aesthetic and reduced anti-squat.
2024 marks a big year for women's freeride competition, including the first-ever women's Red Bull Joyride event.
The new Specialized Recon 3.0 mountain bike slash gravel shoe is a high performance shoe that offers a good value for the price.
New for 2024, Cascade Components branches out into derailleur cages and brake lever parts
With a comfortable and stable design, the EVOC Hip Pack Pro 3 was my go-to for carrying hydration and emergency items during the BC Bike Race.
I modified my Santa Cruz Tallboy to make it the ultimate bike for BC Bike Race. And for the most part, everything worked out.
I broke my leg in February 2024 and still made it to BC Bike Race in July - here's how
The Cycplus AS2 Pro Max is a mini electric pump that's the same size as a wallet, but does it pack enough punch for mountain bike tires?
Archibald Cycles is a small batch bike company producing high-pivot, stainless steel mountain bikes in Delta, BC.
The Giro Chamber II is a race-focused clipless mountain bike shoe that's designed for downhill and enduro riding.
Legacy trail Cambodia on Vancouver's North Shore finally becomes a sanctioned trail this spring. This is the decade-long story of how that came to be.
The new Crankbrothers SOS tools represent a competitively priced and well thought out, on-bike tool kit to rival the best.
One rider argues that modern electronic drivetrain and suspension controls threaten the very soul of mountain biking.
Lal Bikes Supre Drive drivetrain has been commercially available for around a year now. We caught up with inventor Cedric at his HQ in Sechelt, BC to find out what's going on, and to test ride the Supre Drive.
A faulty mountain bike freehub can literally leave you stranded, so it pays to keep it serviced and well maintained. Thankfully an overhaul isn't as hard as it might sound. Check out our guide to keeping your freehub in tip-top shape.
Learn how to service and replace your threaded mountain bike bottom bracket - it's not as hard as you think!
The new Race Face Turbine alloy wheels are built for enduro racing and big sends and have a lifetime warranty. But do they stand up to the test?
The Fi'zi:k Terra Ergolace GTX clipless mountain bike shoe incorporates GORE-TEX into a low top trail shoe for all-around performance.
This DIY camping trailer includes a kitchen and a place to sleep, and cost less than half to DIY than to buy new.
Mountain bike bottom bracket standards and sizes can be bewildering and needlessly complicated. We break down what a BB does and how to figure out which BB you need for your bike.
The Nobl TR37 wheels are designed on Vancouver Island to take a beating on the trail. They're both affordable and heavily customizable, but will they hold up? We put a set to the test in BC.
The latest GT Sensor Comp promises a fun, short travel trail bike at an enticing price, but does the ride deliver?
The latest version of popular Trek Slash enduro bike gains more travel and moves to a high pivot suspension layout.
The TranzX EDP01 dropper post promises wireless connectivity for an easy install at a $500 price point.
The Canyon K.I.S. steering stabilizer is controversial, but is it any good? We test ride it to find out.
The updated Pivot Shuttle AM claims to be the "ultimate all-mountain machine," but does the e-bike live up to the hype? We put it to the test.
Follow Sam around Whistler village for a special tour of Crankworx, taking in the sights of the first few days of the mountain bike festivities.
Do mountain bike brakes have the toughest job of any component? There's a compelling argument to be mad.e
The Rocky Mountain Element manages to fuse elements of XC, trail and enduro genetics into one incredibly fun and capable mountain bike package.
The Knolly Cache is a fully rigid drop bar gravel bike made for big stupid adventures and having fun while you're doing it.
The new Race Face Era carbon cranks are expensive, but they come with a lifetime warranty, creating a serious contender in the high-end crank game.
Headset cable routing is the hottest MTB tech to hate right now, but is there merit to the design? We reached out to some bike brands to find out.
Mountain bike tires seem to be massively better than they were in the past. But what has actually changed?
Hunt Proven Carbon Race Enduro wheels promise strength and compliance for a low price, but how do they stack up in real life?
The Chromag Pilot is the brand's first clipless pedal, in a market dominated by one name. They look good but how did they fare?
Nobody likes puncturing a brand new tubeless bike tire, but it does happen. Read this guide to find out how you can repair your bike tire and get more life out it just using what you have at home.
E-bikes are slightly more complex than traditional bikes but thankfully there are things you can do at home to solve some problems that can and will arise.
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