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
Their Yari Up is an upgraded compression damper assembly that simply drops into a Yari fork, replacing the standard damper to improve suspension performance without replacing the whole fork.
For the price, I'd highly recommend the Guide RE as a budget gravity brake, and if it's specced on a bike you're considering buying, buy with confidence.
Though the new Smith Forefront 2 mountain bike helmet shares its name and aesthetics with the previous iteration of this lid, it is, in fact, a complete re-design from the ground up.
The Dakine Hot Laps 2L hip pack is compact yet offers most of the features mountain bikers expect from larger packs. It's well constructed, and retails for just $45.
The Syncline 12L is a solid choice for short- to mid-length mountain bike rides, with quality storage, well thought out features, and usable storage space.
Sydney, Australia may be known for its more famous sights, but there are fun mountain bike trails to explore, if you know where to look.
Sam rides his mountain bike on rad trails in Sydney, Australia; Christchurch, New Zealand; and Squamish, BC in the span of just one week.
For a mid-priced trail/enduro helmet, the Singletrack II performs incredibly well and makes an excellent summer helmet.
Mount Stromlo has hosted a World Cup DH race, and is located near Canberra, Australia. With shuttles and on-mountain services available, it's a great place for all types of mountain bikers to explore, from beginner to expert.
The Fox Float DPX2 shock replaces the Float X and combines some of the best features of the X2 DH shock and the DPS XC shock.
Everything you need to know to ride Thredbo Resort, home to Australia's highest and only lift-served mountain bike park.
Nelson, New Zealand is home to some of the best mountain biking in the country, including the incredible Wairoa Gorge, Codgers Bike Park, and Peaking Ridge.
Cardrona is an under-the-radar bike park in New Zealand with quality terrain for trail and enduro mountain bikers.
Craigieburn is slated to have some of the best backcountry trail riding on offer in New Zealand. We check it out to see how the mountain biking stacks up.
Winter is on it's way, but don't fear: mountain biking in winter can be a lot of fun. Follow these tips to make the most of the off-season.
Designed for the e-mtb market, the Shimano MT520 is a new entry-level 4-piston brake from Shimano that does more than it says on the tin.
The ShockWiz is a device that helps mountain bikers get the most out of their suspension by suggesting optimal fork and shock settings.
Shimano updated the ME7 trail/enduro mountain bike shoe for 2019, with new uppers and a roomier fit.
Christchurch Adventure Park in New Zealand is a full-service mountain bike park that's easily accessible from the city, with more than a dozen trails to choose from.
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