BikeRadar.com Bikes & Gear

CamelBak Baja LR hydration pack review

Guy Kesteven, What Mountain Bike — Thu, 24 May 2012 12:00:00 GMT

The Baja LR isn't one of CamelBak's mountain bike packs. Instead, it was designed for Stand Up Paddling, the kayaking-meets-surﬁng craze taking California by (presumably wobbly) storm. SUP demands a close-ﬁtting, lightweight and weatherproof pack where instant access to essential gear is crucial. Pretty similar to fast, keep-the-ﬂow, technical trail rides then…

The two big chest pockets are useful for items such as gels, bars, Buffs, phones and multi-tools. Big hip pockets store more gear under Velcro-closed ﬂaps. There’s even a splashproof Neoprene stash at the back. The mesh back is great for inner tubes, a stashed jacket or extra bladder, while two tunnel pockets turn out to be perfect for pump storage. You never know when the safety whistle might come in handy and you’ll probably even ﬁnd a bike-related use for the elasticated paddle loop, too. A stash of quick-release pastries, perhaps.

The bafﬂed 2-litre lumbar reservoir keeps water weight low down, while the upwardly-routed drinks pipe is perfect for instant sipping and CamelBak’s lockable bite valve is still the best in the business by far. The sliding-buckle elastic sternum straps keep it body hugging on the steepest descents and drops, when most packs would be ﬂopping around or trying to escape over your lid. The downside is the sweaty Neoprene belt and back panels, but there’s an almost identical Ultra LR pack for runners that’s all breathable fabric.

This article was originally published in What Mountain Bike magazine, available on Apple Newsstand and Zinio.

Hope Hoops Pro 3 SP-XC3 mountain bike wheelset review

Justin Loretz, What Mountain Bike — Thu, 24 May 2012 10:00:00 GMT

This wheelset from Lancashire alloy-turners Hope Technology blends new-age wheel technology with old-fashioned, high-quality tradition. Key to this lightweight 1,423g wheelset are Hope’s own Pro 3 hubs with their unique tri-arm rotor design.

The hubs are among the lightest you’ll ﬁnd, but on the downside it means you’re stuck using Hope’s own, admittedly effective and durable, Pro-3-speciﬁc discs. The hubs use Hope’s four-pawl ratchet, 24-tooth engagement cassette body, which is both fast to pick up and loud.

Hope spec the Pro 3 with 24 Sapim spokes and brass nipples, on Stan’s ZTR Crest tubeless rims. Our test wheels have had a rough life, living outside 24/7 and being asked to deal with harsher riding than maybe they should, but they’ve needed only the most minor spoke adjustment.

This article was originally published in What Mountain Bike magazine, available on Apple Newsstand and Zinio.

Boardman SLR 9.0 review

Cycling Plus — Thu, 24 May 2012 08:00:00 GMT

Boardman's new entry-level SLR model boasts a semi-compact monocoque frame and full-carbon fork with a tapered steerer that comes from the same mould as the pro-level 9.8. The 9.0 only differs in the carbon layup around the bottom bracket, as the higher spec version has increased stiffness.

Highs: The SLR delivers a no-nonsense, performance-orientated frame with a great value component package
Lows: We could hear some cable rattle on rougher roads
Buy if: You like a firm and responsive ride from a bike that craves speed

Chris Boardman believes that the most efficient way of connecting two points on a bike is with a straight line, so there's no superfluous shaping here – and tube profiles focus on performance rather than aesthetics. Internal cables run through carbon inner guides that have stainless steel elbows, to prevent abrasion.

The seatstays are flat and straight, and the box section chainstays about as deep, thick and widely set as they could be, only stepping down in size for the carbon dropouts. Boardman’s own carbon seatpost has quite a lot of setback, and supports a Fizik Arione, still one of our favourite saddles. The Ritchey cockpit is very secure, with a good ergo drop to the bar.

Even with a 53/39-tooth chainset, the SLR climbs tidily in the big ring, such is the power transfer of the frame and wheels. Mavic’s Ksyrium Equipe wheels accelerate fast, and the Vittoria Zaffiro pro tyres give decent feel and consistent grip. The SRAM Force drivetrain performs perfectly and the lower-spec brake callipers don’t lack braking power.

With no concessions to curves, the Boardman has a directness and efficiency that'll please riders wanting to press on. Over rough roads it tracks confidently, but is unapologetically firm. Bigger hits are taken care of and there's no interfering road buzz, just a very communicative frame. The handling and riding position are very balanced, the SLR a bike you can feel a part of and get involved with, building confidence quickly.

Cornering is accurate and the bike holds a line well, but is stable enough for mid corner changes to not cause palpitations. Our large machine’s 16cm head tube gives options for the racer to get a low tuck, or a less aggressive position without too many spacers. The SLR 9.0’s lower stiffness around its bottom bracket won’t concern most of us, as there’s no noticeable flex there, and it didn’t affect our enjoyment.

This article was originally published in Cycling Plus magazine, available on Apple Newsstand and Zinio.

Cervelo P5 – First ride review

Ben Delaney, US editor-in-chief — Wed, 23 May 2012 15:00:00 GMT

The Cervélo P5 time trial bike has enjoyed success at this year's Giro d’Italia and Amgen Tour of California, under Garmin-Barracuda. And with the bike still in limited supply – only a dozen exist and only a few Garmin riders used it at the Giro; the others rode P4s – we were grateful to get a chance to test ride the UCI legal version of it in California.

There are five key elements to the P5: aerodynamics, ride feel, hydraulic brakes, fully integrated Shimano electronic Di2 design and fit adjustability. While we didn't test the bike's aero capabilities, Cervélo engineers know their way around a wind tunnel, so we’ll take them at their word that this is a fast bike. We can comment on the other four elements.

Ride & handling: Stiff and efficient

The high stiffness of the rear end and bottom bracket area of the P5 are immediately obvious when you're up and out of the saddle. It’s not a sprinting bike but it is a TT bike. That means efficiency and power transfer is everything, so the stiffness is welcome.

We big-ringed the P5 over rolling vineyard roads and even took it up some climbs that kicked to 28 percent – most certainly not in the big ring! The bike’s pedaling efficiency shone throughout.

It was harder to gauge the stiffness of the front end because there was some flex in the handlebars when we were riding on the cowhorns, pulling up for a sprint acceleration or cornering hard over rough pavement. But in the aero position – where you’re supposed to be on this bike – handling was perfectly confident, even with gusts of wind.

The bike’s substantial side profile makes sidewinds noticeable, but you feel a steady pressure, not sketchy gusts with rapid changes in pressure.

It should be noted that sidewind feel is largely affected by wheel choice. We test rode the bike with Mavic’s CC80 front wheel and Comete disc. The bike comes with 'training' wheels – a Vision Team30 set. That's because Cervélo assumes the typical customer will have their own aero hoops. The Mavic wheels felt great – fast and stable.

Video: Cervelo P5 - first look

Frame & equipment: Innovative braking and fitting can be complemented with Di2

We first test rode the Magura brake calipers at Sea Otter, using the company's mechanical-to-hydraulic converter. This was our first experience with the RT8 TT hydraulic levers. Will they change your life? Nope. But for anyone who's ever ridden a time trial bike with lousy, weak brakes there's a substantial difference. Braking is strong and controlled.

The Magura brakes don’t so much advance the stopping equation as eliminate a previous problem with many TT bikes – now, the brakes stop you securely. Nothing more, nothing less.

The calipers are adjusted at the lever with an Allen key. The levers also double as quick-releases. Flip them forward and the calipers pop open for wheel removal.

We rode the Cervélo P5 with Mavic's Comete disc and CC80 front wheel (the Garmin-Barracuda spec)

Cervélo’s design sets the aesthetic standard for a high-end bike with Shimano Di2 – the battery is invisible. It’s surprising how many $10,000 bikes have bolts (even zip ties) securing the battery like an afterthought. Tucking the Di2 battery into a hidden port in the down tube might not improve performance – though small aerodynamic arguments could be made – but it definitely improves the look substantially.

Speaking of Di2, the P5 comes as either a $4,500 (£3,499.99) frameset or with one of two builds: mechanical Shimano Dura-Ace ($6,000) or electric Shimano Dura-Ace Di2 ($10,000). It feels incongruous to have relatively old school bar-end shifters on a bike this high tech.

Of course, the fastest bike in the world won’t do you a bit of good if it doesn’t fit you. At the saddle, the seatpost doubles the fore/aft adjustability of a standard saddle’s rails, making an extremely forward position possible.

The 3T Aduro aerobar comes in three heights – X-Lo, Lo and High-V. We test rode the High-V. The X-Lo has also had more reach built into it, after feedback from sponsored riders. From there, 5mm spacers can be used to fine-tune the height.

Fore/aft adjustment of the extensions is easy and pad width can also be set in a number of places. Fore/aft of the basebar, however, is what it is.

Triathletes looking at this bike should be aware that there's a triathlon frameset that retails for $6,500 (£4,499.99). It features the same frame but a more aero fork that also serves as a fairing over the front caliper. Cervélo have been working with TorHans and XLab for custom nutrition boxes that bolt on to the P5’s top tube as well.

Castelli San Remo Speed Suit review

Triathlon Plus — Wed, 23 May 2012 12:00:00 GMT

This high-end hybrid speed suit is basically a pair of Castelli Body Paint cycling shorts put together with an aero road racing jersey and offers some of the aero advantages of a time trial or track-style skinsuit with the practical features you need for the road, including a secure rear pockets and a zip down the torso.

The tight performance fit, one-piece design and silicone dots on the front and sides are designed to make it more aerodynamic, and Castelli say it can save 10-15 watts at 25mph. The incredible comfort and solid practicality are a draw, too.

The soft fabric, flat leg grippers and Progetto X2 pad show the quality of this kit and are really comfortable. It’s not as aero as a full-on skinsuit, though, and the thickness of the pad rules it out for triathlon use. It comes at a high price too, though to buy Body Paint shorts and Castelli’s Aero Race jersey as separates would cost more.

This article was originally published in Triathlon Plus magazine, available on Zinio.

Superstar Switch AM mountain bike wheelset review

Guy Kesteven, Mountain Biking UK — Wed, 23 May 2012 10:00:00 GMT

The Alex Supra rims used for Superstar's Switch AM wheels are reliably tough and broad enough to handle fat tyres without being heavy and slow on the bike, and production sets will be laser etched.

They’re hand-built in the UK with top quality Sapim CX Ray spokes and while they’re not the tightest-laced wheels, Superstar offer lifetime retensioning as part of the price. The Switch hubs will handle a full range of axle options and the bearings last okay.

They’re not tubeless as standard, but full spares support and reduced cost crash replacement, plus custom colour and spoke options for an extra £50 make them a bargain. There’s a new faster-reacting freehub, SKF bearing hubset in the pipeline too.

This article was originally published in Mountain Biking UK magazine, available on Apple Newsstand and Zinio.

NS Core 3 review

Jake Ireland, Mountain Biking UK — Wed, 23 May 2012 08:00:00 GMT

Polish dirt jump bike pioneers NS have broken into the all-round hard-hitter bracket with their Core series of bikes. With rider feedback and development at the core of the company, we were expecting greatness. But while the basic Core 3 has a good frame, the low-quality, heavy spec and budget fork lets it down.

Ride & handling: Needs a few spec changes to shine

While it's firmly aimed at play riding rather than cross-country duties, we managed to get enough seatpost out of the Core 3 to be able to get pedalling, although any rider much taller than 5ft 6in was pushing the post past its limit on our size medium test bike.

Sam Pilgrim’s signature grips combined with an NS Terra bar wasn’t the most comfortable cockpit we’ve ever experienced. The bar felt as if it had no sweep, and the thick grips with minimal pattern will have limited appeal and got very slippery when wet.

The NS's ride was surprisingly harsh, even on surfaced trails. The Suntour Duro fork had problems reacting to small bumps effectively, even with the preload on both legs wound to a minimum. The spring was ideal for trail riding but the fork’s stickiness rendered it ineffective for any slight impacts.

It was disappointing on dirt jumps too, and tended to blow through its travel with little support, even with the preload wound all the way on. Small bump sensitivity isn’t an issue at the jumps though, because the fork remained pretty smooth after the initial part of the stroke. The fork seems to suffer from a jack-of-all-trades, master-of-none problem.

Throughout the testing, the Kenda Kinetic tyres were a disappointment, too. They were slow-rolling and created a lot of trail noise, as well as giving a lot of feedback and vibration at 30psi. When ragging technical singletrack, the NS came into its own. Its size allowed us to move the bike around easily, though once again the spec hampered performance.

The brake pads had a large amount of free play in the callipers, and even after an hour of fiddling, we still couldn’t get the basic mechanical callipers to feel positive and sharp. This resulted in a really spongy feel when we tried to slow down. It’s disappointing, especially as the frame could shine with a few spec changes – not least a new fork.

Frame & equipment: Bombproof but heavy

NS build their hardtails from steel because they believe it’s the best material for the purpose. It’s strong, and NS reckon it reduces vibration too. Unfortunately, there's a weight penalty with steel, and the Core is comes in at 16.8kg (37lb, without pedals).

The ‘Trimoly’ tubeset is made up of a chromoly down tube, top tube and chainstays, with simple steel tubing elsewhere. The frame of the Core 2, the next bike up in the range, is 100 percent chromoly, which makes it lighter than the Core 3. The frame has a standard 1.125in head tube, normal 135mm rear end and a 25.4mm seatpost size, which could prove a problem as 25.4mm posts aren’t easy to replace.

One of our biggest qualms with the Core is that the mech hanger isn’t replacable. Although it’s not a massive issue with a steel frame, if it’s bent a lot (which is likely, given the type of riding that the bike is designed for), it’s only going to get weaker.

Since the 3 is the entry-level bike in the Core range, the spec is nothing special, but it's all kit that should last well and take a good beating. Suntour’s Duro fork is up front with 130mm (5.1in) of travel and rebound adjustment, with the cockpit completed by an NS Quark stem and Terra bar. Tektro’s Novela mechanical disk brakes are in charge of stopping duty, with 180mm rotors front and rear.

The drivetrain is a SRAM SX-4 eight-speed setup, with dual chainrings up front to assist on the climbs. The Truvativ Ruktion crankset uses the hard-wearing Howitzer bottom bracket system. The wheelset is made up of wide Jalco rims and Joytech hubs, with the front axle being nutted while the rear is a quick-release. Kenda’s Kinetic tyres do their best to keep contact with the ground.

This article was originally published in Mountain Biking UK magazine, available on Apple Newsstand and Zinio.

SR Suntour Epicon 29in X1 LO RC fork review

Guy Kesteven, What Mountain Bike — Tue, 22 May 2012 12:00:00 GMT

This 29er fork is available with the two structural elements that really make a difference to the tracking performance of those inescapably longer legs – a 15mm through-axle and a tapered steerer.

The QR Loc axle is admittedly not perfect, however. The cunning expanding collar engages and disengages really quickly and works well if you’re sliding it through a smooth, constant diameter hub. However, if there are steps inside the hub – common with hubs using switchable end caps for different axle sizes – the cam expands inside and jams, unless you can shove it through with a long Allen key. It deﬁnitely makes a noticeable difference to front wheel tracking though, so it’s worth the faff.

Even with a quick-release axle, the stout magnesium lowers and the broad bridge of the Epicon chassis mean it still steers better than most budget forks. With a cut steerer it’s a good weight for a tight-feeling 29er fork too, with only RockShox’s SID coming in signiﬁcantly lighter – but at much higher cost.

If you’re upgrading from cheaper original forks you’ll notice a big difference in suspension performance. This thing is smooth, and not just on the ﬁrst couple of dry rides. There was some notchiness initially, but our sample became increasingly plush during the ﬁrst 10 hours and has stayed consistently smooth through several wet winter months of testing. Suntour have obviously worked really hard on improving their damping for the 2012 model year, too.

The new RC cartridge is 80g lighter but re-valved to give a much smoother and more measured response to larger hits. It can still hiccup in the mid-stroke if you really hammer it down steps, but it takes a lot more frequent or bigger impacts to give it real indigestion. You get lockout and a usefully subtle low-speed compression damping adjuster too. Suntour also offer a 120mm version if you need a bit more length to really laugh stuff off.

It’s a tribute to the general build quality and ﬁnish that the fork cleaned up to pretty much brand-new when we treated its host Scott to a thorough spring clean. The Fox-style brake hose guide and metal top caps/adjusters keep it looking neat on the bike as well.

This article was originally published in What Mountain Bike magazine, available on Apple Newsstand and Zinio.

American Classic All Mountain wheelset review

Guy Kesteven, Mountain Biking UK — Tue, 22 May 2012 10:00:00 GMT

These very impressive new versions of American Classic's proven tubeless wheels save weight off your trail bike with no obvious stiffness or strength downsides.

The most obvious aspect of these wheels is a very low weight (1,582g) that’s comparable to carbon ﬁbre wheels at a much lower cost. While freewheel pickup can lag, they light up very quickly once locked in. They ﬂick and lift around effortlessly on the trail.

They’re not as stiff as the most rigid wheels available when you’re really ripping them round corners or rattling through rocky sections, but they still hold a line predictably enough to push the pace. The big, rounded rim has a super-wide 24mm internal diameter that fattens up mid-sized tyres noticeably and gives a secure footing for the biggest rubber, so grip or tyre roll is never an issue.

So far they’ve handled all our local rockeries, steps and drops without denting or losing their tubeless ready integrity either. They’re tubeless taped as standard and valves are included too, although a slacker ﬁt than most means a compressor is useful for inﬂating. It does mean you won’t be breaking tyre levers or thumbs trying to get your tyres on or off like some other sets.

American Classic hubs generally last really well even under enduro/24-hour racers, the steel inserts add freehub longevity, and red marker spokes speed up valve ﬁnding.

This article was originally published in Mountain Biking UK magazine, available on Apple Newsstand and Zinio.

Koga Kimera Road UD Team review

Cycling Plus — Tue, 22 May 2012 08:00:00 GMT

The Road UD Team is derived from Koga's Kimera track bike, and it's a striking-looking machine. There are lighter bikes available at this price but the Koga offers such a great ride that weight isn't an issue and it makes a superb all-rounder. Just add faster wheels to create a flying Dutchman.

Highs: Fine blend of performance, stability and comfort in a great looking package
Lows: Such a good frame deserves some faster wheels to unleash its speed
Buy if: You want a rarely-seen bike with giant-killing potential

The Road UD Team's unidirectional carbon monocoque frame and fork are beautifully detailed with red, white and blue, with a smooth clear coat on top. The spine of the frame is a giant triangular down tube that has to lessen in diameter to make room for the chainset.

The equally enormous rectangular section chainstays leave the bottom bracket and sweep outwards to carbon dropouts. They’re so deep that the driveside stay has an indentation to clear the chainrings. Short seatstays join the seat tube as a wishbone for a tight rear triangle.

A gusset-like carbon tongue extends under the forward portion of the top tube for extra strength and to resist turning forces. The short head tube allows for a low racy position, and acts as a neat cable stop, the gear cables passing through it and exiting parallel with the down tube.

Even with such a huge down tube, Koga have extended the bottom bracket shell as far outboard as possible without fouling the chainset, resulting in an immensely stiff platform – the Kimera lapping up all the power you can muster and then some.

Acceleration is very urgent without a trace of flex, and might be phenomenal with race wheels. The stock 2TT Race 1700 hoops did all they were asked to, but don’t have the zip of a properly quick set. A frame as good as the Kimera demands something a little classier to really unlock the performance.

Cornering is very assured, the Michelin Lithion 2 tyres performing admirably throughout. The Kimera’s ride is refined when spinning, feeling utterly solid but efficient and composed over all surfaces. The roughest roads didn’t affect it one bit, and the Koga just ploughed on through without being deflected from its course.

You can tell this bike is from a country of big strong riders, as the frame is so rigid, but it still sucks up vibration effectively. The steering is light and extremely flickable, while still feeling rock solid at speed. The Koga truly has the mercurial talents of Dennis Bergkamp, with a delicate touch and other-worldly control. We found it hard to believe that a frame seemingly so overbuilt could be so nimble without ruining the ride.

This article was originally published in Cycling Plus magazine, available on Apple Newsstand and Zinio.

Ogio Endurance 9.0 kit bag review

Triathlon Plus — Mon, 21 May 2012 12:00:00 GMT

The Endurance 9.0 is the ideal race-day bag. Its concise package of pockets and slots means there’s a place for all of your essentials.

One full-length side pocket offers slots for nutrition products and sun cream, etc. The mirror pocket on the other side has a tool and spares slots, and a neat hard-sided ‘tech vault’ pocket ideal for your phone. A slot for your changing mat is also fitted on this side. Two further side exterior slot pockets will each take a water bottle.

On the narrow ends there's an integral shoe bag, with space for two pairs. The other end has an integrated hard protection case for your glasses, GPS etc. A full-length wet pocket is perfect for your post-race kit; this expands with a full-vented surround to help it dry as you travel.

The main compartment is big enough for the remainder of your kit and even this features a helmet sleeve. The bag can be carried like a regular holdall or worn as a rucksack – we’ve even used it as carry-on luggage. Only the price stops it getting full marks.

This article was originally published in Triathlon Plus magazine, available on Zinio.

Hope Hoops Pro 2 Evo wheelset (Stan's Flow rims) review

Guy Kesteven, Mountain Biking UK — Mon, 21 May 2012 10:00:00 GMT

Hope’s homemade wheel buffet still beats most pre-built wheelsets on versatility, value and reliability. Stan’s Flow rims are good light-yet-strong and tubeless-ready hoops, and are great value from Hope compared to the price of buying separately. There’s a wide range of Mavic and DT alternatives for the same price, all laced in Lancashire using Sapim spokes.

The Pro 2 Evo hubs are superbly sealed, have fully interchangeable axles and are easily serviceable too. Hope’s factory direct after-sales service is legendary too. The straight-pull design can get baggy over time and you need to tighten the cassette hard to avoid scarring and sticking. The noisy freewheel is slow to engage and even with Stan’s rims, they’re not light.

This article was originally published in Mountain Biking UK magazine, available on Apple Newsstand and Zinio.

YT Industries Romp review

Jake Ireland, Mountain Biking UK — Mon, 21 May 2012 08:00:00 GMT

YT Industries are a German brand who pack a serious punch in mainland Europe. Only selling direct to the customer makes their prices super-low, so although the Romp dirt jump/four-cross bike looks expensive, it isn't. It punches well above its price, with a stiff, light and well made frame, and decent finishing kit.

Ride & handling: BMX track demon that's light enough to use for the odd trail jaunt too

There’s no disputing that the designers of this bike never intended for it to be used for ambling round cross-country trails, but take it somewhere with descents that you can really attack and climbs you can stand up and stomp your way up, and the Romp does the job very well.

That’s mainly thanks to its relatively light weight (less than 2.5kg for the frame), because the gearing, with a close-ratio 11-26 cassette and 36-tooth chainring, really isn’t suited to uphill duty. The 10-speed setup worked perfectly once tweaked – it needed a bit of a fiddle when the bike arrived.

It was the BMX track that really brought out the best in the Romp, and no wonder – it’s the same frame that YT's four-cross team roll out on. Boy is the frame stiff. There’s no sign of flex whatsoever, which did lead to the occasional harsh cased landing, but when it came to putting the power down the Romp just… romped! Even down to details like the freehub’s engagement being positive and fast, the YT just wants to get going – fast.

As well as the 135x12mm bolt-through rear end, the Marzocchi DJ fork has a 20mm axle and tapered steerer to match the head tube, which further increases the stiffness of the frame. The fork’s air preload valve came in useful when different riders hopped on – we never felt the need to do any more than just grab a shock pump.

The fork remained composed, no matter what we threw at it – including some pretty heavy landings over some big jumps at Birmingham’s European-standard BMX track – and remained plush and predictable whatever was going on underneath the wheels.

With the chainstay length set about halfway along its adjustable dropout, some of our shorter test riders had issues with pushing the back wheel of the bike down into a manual over sharp transitions, but with a quick adjustment to the shortest setting, the bike was back to comfortably sitting with the front wheel aloft.

The low weight of the bike and the lightweight wheelset combine to make the YT more air-friendly than EasyJet, with the only emissions being the ones you’re hollering after jumping higher than before.

It’s almost too light at times, and we did have to tone it down at the local jump spot after going in at the usual speed but overjumping everything. Once we were used to it, it could really be pushed high and was confidence inspiring even when we were confusing our own ability level with that of the bike.

Frame & equipment: Pro four-cross developed chassis; excellent kit for the price

The YT oozes quality. The graphics on the frame might not be to everyone’s tastes but the finish is top notch. The Romp is constructed from 7005 T-6 aluminium, and its smooth frame profile is largely thanks to the hydroformed down tube and low-slung top tube, which also keeps standover height to a minimum. The wheelbase adjusters add versatility and are easy to use.

The spec for the money on the Romp could almost be described as bonkers. SRAM’s 10-speed X9 shifter and mech aren’t usually seen until bikes get considerably more expensive. The 20mm axle Marzocchi DJ fork has a useful air preload as well as rebound adjustment and isn’t as heavy as you’d expect. Truvativ Descendant cranks provide a stiff power transfer to match the frame, and the bar and stem come from Truvativ’s Holzfeller range.

The wheels are built with reputable Alex FR30 rims and Division (YT’s own brand) hubs, which are all sealed-bearing units. They keep grip with the ever-popular Kenda Small Block Eight tyres. Avid’s Elixir 3 brakes are proven reliable, powerful stoppers too. The value of the YT is highlighted by the fact that it even comes with some really nice quality, sealed-bearing, magnesium bodied pedals.

This article was originally published in Mountain Biking UK magazine, available on Apple Newsstand and Zinio.

Rapha Country jersey review

Russell Burton, What Mountain Bike — Sun, 20 May 2012 12:00:00 GMT

We know the price will make a lot of you ﬂinch, but if you’re a devotee of merino wool you’ll already know that it doesn’t come cheap. Plus, the Rapha Country is actually a more complicated version known as Sportwool.

It’s a mix of merino and polyester, with merino inside and a smooth polyester outside. The idea is you get all the natural comfort beneﬁts of merino wool against your skin, but once sweat is wicked through to the manmade surface it disperses and dries more quickly than it would in an all-wool jersey.

We like the way merino gets warm to a point and then suddenly your temperature seems to regulate, and we weren’t disappointed by this version of it. It’s especially good when a ride starts in the morning chill then warms up.

The cut, we cannot lie, is slim to roadie-skinny. It’s also very short. We’d like to say go up a size if you prefer the relaxed look, but suspect the immaculate styling wouldn’t work, so you’re just going to have to suck it in...

The ﬁnish is exceptionally high quality. Details such as a hem gripper and hidden drawcord add value, and we love the practicality of the inner pump sleeve and oversized zip pull on the valuables pocket.

This article was originally published in What Mountain Bike magazine, available on Apple Newsstand and Zinio.

BH Prisma review

Cycling Plus — Sun, 20 May 2012 08:00:00 GMT

Spain's BH have been making bikes since 1909, won the first Tour of Spain and were the first company to build a monocoque carbon frame under 800g. So the Prisma has some history to live up to.

Highs: The Prisma offers a lively but predictable ride from an advanced lightweight frame
Lows: Some vibration through the bar and stem; ‘washing line’ cable below the top tube
Buy if: You prefer a performance edge to outright comfort

With lengthened chainstays, a taller head tube and increased fork offset, the Prisma has a longer wheelbase and more stable handling than its top G5 race machine sibling, and is intended to be a pro-level ‘performance endurance’ bike.

Early signs are promising. The sub-1kg compact frame’s large down tube swells at each end to meet the head tube, and envelops the chunky press-fit BB30 bottom bracket. Deep boxy chainstays lead to carbon dropouts borrowed from the G5, and adjoin triangular seatstays in a subtle hourglass shape which flow into a short wishbone top section, keeping the back end as tight as possible.

The top tube curves towards the stout head tube, leaving the rear brake cable suspended like a clothesline beneath it. The straight fork, with its tapered alloy steerer, gives great front-end solidity with sharp handling. While the bonded and riveted front mech hanger works well, the riveted down tube cable stops are quite close to the front tyre, making us nervous when trying to adjust them on the move.

Shimano Ultegra shifts and stops you well, and the rock solid bottom bracket helps the BH climb and accelerate tidily. The Prisma is a lively ride, the compact frame stiff and responsive but still comfortable over rougher stuff.

Keeping things taut are the Shimano RS10 wheels, which perform better than their mass would tend to suggest. With 16 straight-pull aero spokes up front and 20 rear, they spin up well and are fairly efficient. The Rubena Racing Pro Syrinx tyres grip and roll well too, their 127tpi casing and medium silica compound giving very predictable cornering.

Despite a lengthy 34.9mm diameter alloy seatpost, very little road vibration reaches the comfortable San Marco Spid saddle, although the same can’t be said of the bar and stem, which can get tiring after hours in the saddle. In all though, a strong contender from the Spanish contingent.

This article was originally published in Cycling Plus magazine, available on Apple Newsstand and Zinio.

Sportful Total Comfort bib shorts review

Cycling Plus — Sat, 19 May 2012 12:00:00 GMT

Sportful’s ultra-thin Total Comfort bibs need a little care to put on, and are less elastic than most, but once in place they evenly spread the load across the body. Wide and slim leg grippers are gently elasticated with minimal silicone patches, but are very comfortable.

The pad is made up of five variable foam densities, putting extra cushioning where it’s needed. A tough, abrasion-resistant textured centre section limits saddle slip, and lighter Lycra ceramic fabric sides keep muscles cool.

With an innovative bib, a wonderfully upholstered pad and feather-edged leg grippers, these race worthy lightweight shorts offer everything you could ask for and will satisfy the most demanding wearer. They really couldn't have been given a better name. The only thing we're not sure about are the orange and white bib straps.

This article was originally published in Cycling Plus magazine, available on Apple Newsstand and Zinio.

Cube AMS 100 Super HPC Pro review

Mike Davis, Mountain Biking UK — Sat, 19 May 2012 08:00:00 GMT

Cube’s extravagantly-named AMS 100 Super HPC Pro sits towards the cheaper end of the German company's short-travel line-up, with only the aluminium AMS 100 below it. £2,199 is an impressive price for a full-carbon fibre frame with decent equipment.

Ride & handling: Aggressive riding position lets you put the power down

The Cube is very much in the European head-down cross-country tradition, with steep angles and forward weight distribution. With geometry generally getting ever-slacker, it’s easy to forget that bikes like this work very well in singletrack – you can stay in the middle of the bike, pedal and flick it through corners.

The downside is a nervousness on faster, rougher trails, although the AMS’s stiff frame and decent fork keep things going in the right direction. The rear suspension is best run stiff to avoid blowing through the travel, which keeps the bike feeling taut and lively at the expense of small-bump sensitivity. It's a convincing off-the-peg race with upgrade potential.

Frame: Full-carbon chassis at a great price

Traditionalists will love the look of the AMS 100. Of all the available full-suspension layouts, a four-bar back end with the shock under the top tube looks most like how you expect a bike to look. There’s another advantage for racers, with room for two sets of bottle bosses inside the main triangle. Despite the almost old-school appearance though, the Cube packs in plenty of construction tech.

A key advantage of carbon fibre is that it’s of sufficiently low density as to allow designers to use lots of it without much of a weight penalty. Cube have taken full advantage of the press-fit bottom bracket shell to push the triangular-section down tube out to the maximum possible width. The gear cables are routed inside the down tube, while the rear brake hose is routed down the outside to save having to detach one end to fit or remove the brake. A stainless steel plate protects the carbon chainstay from any potential chainsuck damage.

Equipment: Decent spec but there's scope to go lighter with future upgrades

Cube have gone to town with colour co-ordination on the AMS 100, with the yellow and blue frame graphics mirrored on the DT Swiss wheelset and Selle Italia saddle. It’s an eye-catching combination. Look past the colours and you’ll find a well-rounded parts spec based around a 3x10 Shimano SLX/Deore XT transmission mix – XT for the bits you’ll notice (cranks and rear mech), SLX for the rest. You can’t really go wrong with SLX and XT.

A RockShox Reba RL fork graces the front end, complete with remote lockout lever. DT Swiss wheels are shod with voluminous 2.25in Schwalbe Rocket Ron tyres. They’re the high-spec Evo tubeless-ready versions too, which is good to see. Formula RX brakes do the stopping while the finishing kit features a Syntace cockpit (plus rather bulky foam lock-on grips) and Cube’s own RFR seatpost.

This article was originally published in Mountain Biking UK magazine, available on Apple Newsstand and Zinio.

Salomon XA Pro 3D Ultra 2 shoes review

Justin Loretz, What Mountain Bike — Fri, 18 May 2012 12:00:00 GMT

If you’ve never tried riding with ﬂat pedals off-road, we suggest you give it a go. The connected-but-not feeling takes a bit of getting used to but will sharpen your skills immediately. Having a good shoe helps, and Salomon are pushing their new (snappily titled) XA PRO 3D Ultra 2 (yeah!) as bike-ready.

They're not wrong, either, with those Schwalbe Rocket Ron look-a-like treads being soft enough to engage with pedal pins as well as any Vans we’ve ridden in. They’re also way better equipped to hike up loose tracks than smooth soled shoes.

They’re not quite Five Ten’s Stealth rubber sticky, but they’re effective nonetheless. Also, not everyone wants the Sam Hill ‘frankenboot’ look. We love the cool, airy feel of this shoe with all that mesh for hot summer riding, and a chunky plati-rubber toe cap gives your no-doubt precious tootsies more protection than your average skate shoe.

Build quality and durability is superb, which is just as well; as they look like trainers you’ll probably ﬁnd, like we have, that you start leaving them on before, during and after the ride. Loads of colours, from plain old black to hmmmm-grey to full colour-blocking madness will make the trendies smile too.

This article was originally published in What Mountain Bike magazine, available on Apple Newsstand and Zinio.

Fulcrum Red Power XL mountain bike wheelset review

Guy Kesteven, Mountain Biking UK — Fri, 18 May 2012 10:00:00 GMT

While most cost-conscious wheels betray their budget on the scales, the externally butted rims of the Red Power XLs are bang on the grams for their category. Quick pickup from the silent freehub and taut asymmetric spoking give them a responsive feel on the trail and they track well and corner confidently too.

They’re not shy of clattering through rocks or fair sized drops either. The steel freehub resists cassette scarring and Fulcrum bearings have a reputation for suberb long-term smoothness. They’re not tubeless as standard and won’t handle the biggest rubber but will take mid-sized tyres fine. They come in quick-release or through-axle rear wheel versions too.

This article was originally published in Mountain Biking UK magazine, available on Apple Newsstand and Zinio.

Bianchi Sempre review

Cycling Plus — Fri, 18 May 2012 08:00:00 GMT

The finish of the Bianchi Sempre is quite beautiful, drawing admiring comments from friends who aren’t usually interested in bikes. The mostly celeste (turquoise) painted frame is interspersed with white and a clear coated carbon, and continues the theme to the Bianchi carbon seatpost, saddle and brake hoods.

Highs: The Sempre’s looks hide a sweet handling, well-balanced frame, perfectly matched by the Campagnolo Veloce groupset
Lows: The Reparto Corse wheels are sluggish and overall weight is relatively high
Buy if: You’re a strong rider who wants a frameset with great potential

Unlike Bianchi’s curvy C2C range, the Sempre’s B4P (Born For Performance) design has a straight-tubed monocoque frame and straight fork. At its heart is a BB30 bottom bracket, solidly braced by the down tube, which is triangular at the head tube, morphing into a flared oval shape to meet the BB shell. The heavily built head tube on our 57cm bike was 16cm long, allowing scope for a low position or something more relaxed without too many spacers.

Bianchi fit a shallow-drop semi-ergo handlebar with long hook sections that offer plenty of comfortable hand positions. Still a superbly ergonomic shape, the celeste-covered Campagnolo Veloce levers reward you with light and slick gear changes, and positive lever feel. The bar, stem and 24-spoke wheels all come from Bianchi’s in-house Reparto Corse range.

The wheels use large flange hubs laced with Sapim spokes in groups of four to Maddux RX5.1 Lite rims, but unfortunately they’re quite sluggish, and introduce too much weight and flex to really push on. When stationary the FSA brake callipers flex noticeably but on the bike they aren’t short of power, their softer feel aiding modulation. FSA also provide their excellent BB30 compatible compact Gossamer chainset.

Steering initially feels quite lazy, but it’s stable and confidence-inducing when descending, letting you carry greater downhill speed. The sure-footed Sempre frame is a gem, but it’s deadened in this incarnation by spongy wheels which don’t enjoy carving through turns as much as the frame.

The ride is firm, and would suit a strong rider who's willing to add some more robust wheels – less attacking than Francesco Totti, more a safe pair of hands like Gianluigi Buffon. Even on a ride when we got lost, the Sempre was a fine place to be, but under pressure, the Italian showed some weaknesses.

This article was originally published in Cycling Plus magazine, available on Apple Newsstand and Zinio.

Rapha Grand Tour road shoes review

Cycling Plus — Thu, 17 May 2012 12:00:00 GMT

Rapha have worked with footwear experts Ecco to produce these shoes made from yak skin leather. This is soft, hard-wearing and has good water resistance, even with the shoes’ highly perforated surface (the supplied shoe cream should keep them that way). Yak leather’s light too, so they weigh just 328g each (size 45).

Two Velcro straps offer ample adjustability, though the generous toe box meant we had to cinch these in a fair amount, taking care not to fold the tongue. The light aluminium buckle is paired with a soft leather-lined strap.

The Grand Tours’ internal detailing puts most other shoes to shame. The leather-lined, padded heel is one of the most comfortable we’ve tried, aided by a padded tongue and a perforated front section that allows your feet to breathe. The cork footbed shapes to your feet as you wear them, and there are three different height arch supports to allow you to fine-tune the fit.

The carbon sole is a development of the EC90 used on Giro's SLX and Factor shoes. It’s just 6.5mm thick – for a very low stack height – and exceptionally stiff with well-defined cleat position markers. There’s a single mesh vent in the toe area with non-replaceable bumpers on the toe and heel.

Video: Rob Spedding unboxes the Rapha Grand Tour shoes

This article was originally published in Cycling Plus magazine, available on Apple Newsstand and Zinio.

Stan's ZTR Alpine 3.30 mountain bike wheelset review

Guy Kesteven, Mountain Biking UK — Thu, 17 May 2012 10:00:00 GMT

Stan’s low-profile, lightweight rims have confirmed their strength in the years we’ve been using them and the Alpine cross-country rims are no exception. They'll flex and eventually fail if you hammer them, but don’t go mental and you’ll be fine.

The 21mm internal width gives enough support for larger tyres to add protection. They’re not the stiffest under power, but their low weight means they boost acceleration and agility.

We’ve not spent long enough on these particular wheels to really rate the bearings yet, but reports from elsewhere are good. They come with tubeless tape and valves installed, and there are end caps and conversion kits for all axle types.

This article was originally published in Mountain Biking UK magazine, available on Apple Newsstand and Zinio.

Kinesis FF29 frame – First ride review

Steve Worland, What Mountain Bike — Thu, 17 May 2012 08:00:00 GMT

Kinesis have taken quite a while to produce their first big-wheeled mountain bike but the FF29 impressed instantly. It combines the low weight and direct ride response advantages of a quality aluminium frame with bang-up-to-date 29er geometry. The result is a lively trail character that'll seduce the big-wheeler cynics as well as impressing those looking for more hard riding thrills than has until recently been the case with 29ers.

Ride & handling: Like a very fast 26er, but smoother

The FF29 frame is stiff when under pressure, which is great for out-of-the-bends acceleration and on climbs, but the big wheels, fat treads and careful saddle choice prevent it from feeling too harsh, muting the hard edges left after the softer roll of the big wheels has worked its magic. It's a bit more chattery over rough ground than some of its steel-framed rivals but it makes up for that in terms of absolute speed.

The long, low, lively geometry combines with the short head tube and stiff but light overall design to produce one of the most enticing high-speed big-wheelers we've tested at this price. But a lot of thought has gone into the fine detail, and the result is a bike that, while often feeling more like a race bike, is also one of the best hard-hitting trail hardtails available.

Put simply it's a very fast, very stable, still reasonably comfy and very lively bike that would be equally at home on race circuits or all day rides. It'll happily accept a 100mm-travel fork, but a 120mm fork like the Marzocchi Micro Ti 44 supplied with our test frame opens up the ride potential to riders looking for more hard hitting control than a pure cross-country race bike can offer. The purists who like to to stay more closely in touch with mother earth can opt for a Kinesis Slide 29RL fixed-blade carbon fork for another £200.

Frame: Well thought out chassis with light and lively feel

The FF29 (Kinesis tell us FF stands for F****** Fast) is a classy looking beast that comes in Met Grey or Diamond Black if you don't like Sick Green. Kinesis use 'Super Plastic Formed' shaping technology for the top and down tubes. This is essentially hydroforming but using higher temperatures than normal to build more complex shapes into very thin walled tubes.

The 'Kinesium' tubes are made from 6000 series aluminium, which is claimed to be 25 percent stronger than the more common 6061 but without a price hike. ‘Supertapered’ seat- and chainstays probably help to muffle the harder edges of vibration over rough terrain, and there's still plenty room for big tyres without the back end feeling unduly long. A short tapered head tube and curvy down tube combine to achieve a low front end with plenty room for big fork tops to turn without hitting the frame.

With its SRAM X0 drivetrain and a smattering of classy finishing components including costly Reynolds carbon wheels, the bike Kinesis sent us was one of the lightest and liveliest big-wheelers we've tested. The wheels push the full bike price up to around £3,000 but with less exotic mid-range hoops it would be easy to score a sub-25lb build for under £2,000. Our test model tipped the scales at 23.8lb (10.8kg). Claimed frame weight is almost exactly 4lb.

WTB Volt Team saddle review

Joe Rafferty, Mountain Biking UK — Wed, 16 May 2012 12:00:00 GMT

Weighing 229g, WTB’S titanium-railed Volt Team saddle is designed primarily for road and cross-country racing. It has a dipped centre and slightly raised tail, and offers great support and comfort when tilting your hips forwards to put power down.

The Volt Team’s forward-forcing profile makes it easy to get into a chest-down climbing position, and also means it a great saddle for slack seat-angled trail bikes too. The titanium rails, leather cover and Kevlar corners mean it’s very durable, and we found the shape very supportive. For the added weight penalty of a packet of crisps though, you can nigh-on halve the price by choosing the alloy-railed Pro version.

This article was originally published in Mountain Biking UK magazine, available on Apple Newsstand and Zinio.

DT Swiss Tricon M1700 mountain bike wheelset review

Guy Kesteven, Mountain Biking UK — Wed, 16 May 2012 10:00:00 GMT

Outstanding stiffness and top quality hubs make the DT Swiss Tricon M1700s a super-responsive trail or cross-country upgrade but their axle options are limited and they’re seriously pricey.

Tricon wheels use a unique direct-pull spoke and rim anchoring system for exceptionally high tension that’s immediately obvious in the super-taut, pinpoint accurate ride feel. They’re too narrow for fat tyres but they’re designed more for cross-country than mountain hammering and they’re tubeless-compatible as standard.

The Star Ratchet clutch system gives super-fast engagement to flatter the responsiveness of the low overall weight even further. This makes them singletrack rippers with an obvious upgrade effect.

This article was originally published in Mountain Biking UK magazine, available on Apple Newsstand and Zinio.