Chances are if you’re reading this article, you’re one of us. You’re dedicated to the sport of mountain biking, you seek out the best trails you can ride, you want to continue progressing your skills, and you look for the gear that offers the best value. Not only that, you’re a regular Singletracks reader and maybe you’re even a Pro supporter; for that, we sincerely thank you.
In order to carry out our mission — to share the mountain bike knowledge that inspires epic adventures — Singletracks relies on advertisements from our partners, and by viewing ads you’re helping fund the content we create, even if it’s just a few pennies at a time. If you’re running an ad blocker and you appreciate our work, we kindly ask that you whitelist ads on Singletracks. Our team works to ensure the ads you do see are relevant and allow you to focus on the content we work hard to produce, but sometimes overly distracting, or worse, inappropriate ads, sneak through. In that case, please share a screenshot so we can remove the ad immediately.
For those who would prefer an entirely ad-free experience, Singletracks Pro supporters can turn off ads for just $3 a month or $25 a year. Supporters also get automated transcripts for new podcast episodes, faster page loads, discounts on merch (shout out for our merch!), and a badge for your member profile.
And we have just one more ask: We’d love to hear from you, whether it’s in a comment on an article, a review of a trail, or a post in the forums. Singletracks is a community of riders, first and foremost, and we’re all here to help one another learn about and celebrate the sport of mountain biking. You’re a big part of that, whether it’s asking questions that we can pass on to the experts or helping others find the best trails to ride. If you enjoy an article or a topic, let us know; if it sucks, we need to hear that too. Progression isn’t just about becoming a better rider!
A lot has changed at Singletracks and in mountain biking since we launched more than 20 years ago back in 1999, but our mission, dedication, and leadership have not. Best of all you, Singletracks readers, remain the most helpful and respectful community of riders online, and we are beyond grateful.
Happy trails!
Barber scared Gerow away! ;P
It has been mentioned already however, ads that pop up, scroll incessantly are needing removed at all cost… Annoying the readers and members is not going to get your target met. Sensibly done ads that aren’t pissing people off would be doable. Think about it, the form is a ghost town… So too will be the remainder of the site with adverts that trigger migraines! Just sayin’. We get the need for funding however, keep it respectable and people will continue to enjoy the site.
There is a lot of good information and content and your team is doing a great job. Keep it up! It is appreciated…
Thanks for all the work you guys put in!
Hi Jeff,
I’ve read Singltracks articles for years and listen to some of the podcast, and appreciate what you and Leah have built. I may become a contributor and pay the $25/year to continue having having access to your content, but the adds are just too dominate (see attached). Even when the banner went up asking to disable adblocker, it’s way less annoying to close it for every article than deal with all the adds popping up. John
Oof, yeah a lot of ads on that page. The sad thing is even with that # of ads we’re still struggling to make enough money to support the content behind it. 🙁
It’s not the number of ads. It’s their placement. They pop up over the articles, and, as I and others have said, scroll with the content blocking the ability to read. I appreciate that you need to make money, but as was said previously. It’s just easier to close the banner asking to disable the adblocker. I know other sites that completely ban users with adblocker and I don’t use them. I appreciate that you are still allowing that.
If I decide to look at or buy something from what I’ve read, I click the link from the article/write-up. I do hope that helps.
I love the articles here, the content is great, but the ad layout is just too annoying.
Becoming a Pro Supporter is worth the money, not because the ads are removed, but because supporting your interests requires an investment. I appreciate and respect what this forum does for the community and it’s a norm to place a monetary value on one’s efforts. I certainly couldn’t work for free.
We’ve all gotten used to free internet, apps, information, entertainment, etc. I don’t think any of us expect people to work for free including ourselves, but the lines between ‘perceivably’ free content sites and sites that need a subscription to exist is many times invisible. We switch between free and paid content constantly without consideration, and it’s not until we’re forced to chose that we have to consider it’s worth/value to us.
Yeah, all good points. I didn’t feel forced into supporting this site. It was a bit of a decision whereas I did have to consider other subscriptions I already purchased. Life is full of decisions though! 🙂
Great job and appreciate what you do
I appreciate all the work and I understand the need for your ads. That said, I had whitelisted you several times but the ads constantly pop up over the text I’m reading or scroll with the text and covering it. So, the ad-blocker is back on. I have been active in writing comments, submitting ride logs, and I used to do gear reviews but that got overly complex. I love the site, but lately I can’t find a compromise to the ads vs. content and since I read the same material elsewhere I expect that eventually I will just give up.
I hate to do that because I really like this site and the work you do, I just can’t pay for another site and the two I do pay for offer more of what I need (ride logs, stats, and articles).
Again, I appreciate what you do and understand your need, I just wish there was a better way to achieve it.
Appreciate y’all! I love how Singletracks keeps the focus on the singletrack itself through your massive database of trails with useful descriptions and reviews from other riders – I haven’t found anywhere else that is as good for giving me a sense of what to expect at an unfamiliar trail. The regular Thursday feature about new trails is another example. And all the podcast episodes with local trail managers. Love it!
I’ve been visiting your site since I started riding 8 years ago. I travel a lot and enjoyed researching trails before riding them, especially at first when I rode alone 99% of the time. I appreciate your efforts and hope you find a revenue source(s) to keep things up and running. I do miss the trail riding contests and Photo of the Day.