Alpine Toy Testing - Used in 2004 Season |
See the used in 2005 Season Test Information
Over the course of the season we put equipment through a lot of use/abuse, at least a years worth if not two of "normal riding". If you were thinking of buying some new kit we thought you could use our experience to base your new purchase on and see what kit really is worth your hard earned cash.
| YETI
A.S.R The best riding mountain bike that I have ridden, honest it really is. It climbs like a mutha, no bob, no slack sloppy front wheel wandering head angle and bags of traction. The cockpit is well streatched allowing smooth power delivery. Downhill the 3.75in of travel feels like a lot more, drop offs are sucked up and the ultra stiff back end tracks superbly. The key to a great alpine bike is the ability to tackle v tight switchbacks. |
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The Yeti's high degree of manoeuvrability makes all but the most silly of turns do able. The attention to detail is superb and will gain many admiring glances from fellow riders. The finish is also first class and is showing very little in the way of wear. I am impressed, so if you are looking to get yourself a new top end frame, you will be doing yourself a diservice not to check out this big hairy fella from Colorado. |
SHIMANO XT DISCS
Big
forearm pumping descents are the order of the day in Chamonix so a good
set of anchors are always adviseable. The Shimanos are top drawer, hour
long braking, dragging-your-dangley-bits-on-the-back -tyre type steep
descents and still the brakes feel as they did at the top, no pump and
no fade. We had no oil leaks, no breakages, just consistent eyeball popping
power.
SHIMANO
M220 AND SIDI DOMINATOR SHOES
The
Shimanos with their carbon dancing soles transfered the power from our
pins direct to the bike with little fuss and plenty of style. Good fit
and no heel lift provided plenty of blissfull hours in the saddle, the
only fly in the ointment was the buckle breaking and no chance of a replacement,
cue the Sidis. The Sidis were comfy the moment I put them on and have
only increased with comfort over time. The lorica material that's used
has not shrunk, stretched or unduely marked up. If you want a pair of
shoes to stand the test of time look no further.
These are bits and bobs that I have had great success with, and would
not hesitate to recomend to anyone out there looking for spanking good
stuff to use and abuse their bike with.
HOPE
WHEELS
The hubs sat in the middle of a couple of 317s all season with not a peep
heard out of them. The rear was stripped and greased once and the front
was not touched at all. Super dependable and when combined with a good
wheel build create a damn fine set of hoops.
ECLIPSE
TUBELESS SYSTEM
Put the kit on, remove innertubes and fill tyres with latex. Simple and it works really well. Its a tubeless set up for the masses. Thorn type punctures are no more as the latex seals the hole and the ride quality of the wheels improves massively. Because more of the tyre is being used compared to a tube set up, the tyre is way more supple giving you more grip and shock absorbtion, I thought that I had lost pressure in my rear shock such was the difference. Follow the instructions implissitly, fit and forget. I got mine from John at www.justridingalong.com go have a look.
EGG
BEATER PEDALS
Being a long time Time user I was a little reluctant to change pedal systems,
forgetting mine on holiday earlier in the year soon changed my mind as
the beaters were all that was on offer. Brilliant in a word, they may
be mini in appearance but sure are mighty in use. Consistent entry and
release, mud and snow shedding, four sided entry, lovely looks and kind
to my abused knees. The cleats do wear a little quick and the bearings
on the first generation weren't that good (but are super simple to replace),
but they are the only negative points, plus if some gypo wants to nick
your bike he'll have a hard time riding it in his bock classics on the
little pedal platform.
FORGE
DURACE THUMBIES
Taking a Durace barend shifter and putting their own mount on it, Forge
created a new thumbie for nine speed systems. I used a set all season
and they were extremly reliable, I used the same set of cables and they
still have the same consistent positive action five months later. I dinged
the rear mech knocking the indexing right out, not a prob I just switched
to the friction option on the shifter and was still able to get the full
range of gears. Ergonomically I would say that rapidfire are better but
these fellas work in all weathers, are very light and are a great talking
point. We now don't think that they are available anymore!
See the used in 2005 Season Test Information
This image of Bones on his Yeti ASR is available as a PC wallpaper to download free.
