Tips On Buying New Mountain Bike Gear
Written by drbob on March 3, 2010 – 8:04 pm -Parts Last Longer Than Frames Once you jump into the frame only market, you are going to start to swap out frames more than you do parts. Even in complete bike purchases, you will transfer your better components over to the new build leaving the lower grade parts as backups or to install on the old bike for resale. As you look at bikes to buy or parts to upgrade, keep in mind that you are going to keep those higher end parts for a longer period of time, so that investment is going to bring you more return on your money. I have a Chris King headset that has moved through 7 different bikes. Several of my wheelsets have been on 3 bikes or more. Swapping out frames on a regular basis is also more common as your riding style changes so your mountain... more
Tags: Mountain Bikes
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2010 Marin Mountain Bike Reviews
Written by drbob on February 21, 2010 – 2:16 pm -By Ron Koch Marin gave us a peek at its new 2010 models at its headquarters in Novato California followed by quick rides on local trails to get a feel for what’s to come. I’ve visited quite a few manufacturers over the years but I didn’t really have a good feel for how big or small Marin Bikes really was. Its facility is impressively large and expanding with a newly constructed building next door. The warehouse is large but the most fascinating part is the portion that for many years was once the Grateful Dead’s rehearsal studio. I can’t say that I’m a fan if the music but the studio lighting and blacked out ceiling above the rows of boxed bikes gave what would otherwise be a boring warehouse a cool vibe. The cross country oriented... more
Tags: marin, marin alchemist, marin attack trail, marin mount vision, Mountain Bikes
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Giant TCR Advanced SL 2 Review
Written by drbob on February 7, 2010 – 5:22 pm -Giant TCR Advanced SL 2 Frame Technology Experience the one-of-a-kind ride quality of Giant’s unique Alliance technology, which blends the best characteristics of both composite and aluminum. You get amazing power transfer for the sprints and a supple ride for long days in the saddle. Features - Complete 10-speed SRAM RIVAL (black) groupset - Lightweight Giant Connect SL handlebar and stem - Fi’zi:k Pave CX saddle - Lighter Mavic CXP22 wheelset Review We have to break out the superlatives for this out-of-the-box racer. It's the lightest and stiffest frame that Giant has ever produced—the same one (albeit without the integrated seat mast) that was ridden to more pro wins last year than any other bike. Granted, the SL 2 is hung with a... more
Tags: giant, road bike, Road Bikes
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How To Align A Bicycle Wheel
Written by drbob on January 22, 2010 – 6:03 pm -Truing a bike wheel is one of those things you may never have to do, or never want to do, in that case take your wheels to you local bike shop and have a trained experienced mechanic true your wheels. Aligning bicycle wheels, step by step Building and truing wheels is a very difficult thing to do, it can take years to learn, but your wheels may only be a little out, or your no where near a bike shop and you need to straighten a wheel, its good to know what to do in those circumstances. How to Start To build and true wheels properly you need a lot of expensive tools, such as: 1. Spoke key 2. Truing jig 3. Dishing tool but if you only need to do a little straightening all you’ll need is the spoke key and you can do the work in the bike frame,... more
Tags: Bike Maintenance
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Scott CR1 SL Review
Written by drbob on January 17, 2010 – 12:57 pm -By James Huang, technical editor, BikeRadar Scott's CR1 has been revamped for 2010, with trick new tube shaping that's designed to take the edge off the bumps without overly diluting the bike's racy feel. This shaping actually works, and quite well – though not entirely the way we expected it to. Ride & handling: Light and stiff enough to race, but with a bit of give over bigger bumps On smoother roads the so-called SDS (Shock Damping System) – basically, the stays have been flattened in key areas so they flex under big impacts – is essentially inactive and the CR1 rides similarly to the company's Addict flagship, leaving us wondering what all the fuss was about. It's notably firm with excellent road feedback and, as is typical for... more
Tags: road bike, Road Bikes, scott, Scott CR1 SL
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Mountain States Cup Announces 2010 Schedule
Written by drbob on January 17, 2010 – 12:42 pm -The Mountain States Cup Series has announced its 2010 Race Schedule. From all accounts, this is one of the best run series in the US. If you’re within driving distance of one or more races, I suggest you put one of these beautiful locations in your plans to ride next year. April 24-25 - Rabbit Valley Rally - Fruita, CO -TT and XC May 15-16 - Chalk Creek Stampede -Nathrop, CO - XC, STXC, 4X, DS June 5-6 - Chile Challenge - Angel Fire, NM - XC, DH, 4X, SD June 26-27 - Wildflower Rush - Crested Butte, CO - XC, DH, 4X, SD July 10-11- Blast the Mass - Snowmass Village, CO- XC, STXC, DH, DH, SD August 7-8 - Keystone Revival - Keystone, CO - XC, STXC, DH, SD August 22-23 - Full Tilt in Telluride - Telluride, CO - XC, HC, DH, 4X September 4-6 - Winter... more
Tags: cycling events, Cycling News, mountain states cup
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Cannondale Scalpel Team Pro Review
Written by drbob on January 12, 2010 – 9:38 am -by charles Cannondale’s top of the heap XC Scalpel Team edition gets dirty. Doubt everything about the bike from the funky fork to a rear end missing at least two joints, but like everything else, a ride tells the story. Cannondale is “that other American brand”. Frankly they’ve always done a better job designing and building bikes than they have at marketing them. That’s a bold statement coming from a goober like me, especially when you consider that, along with prototype testing or R&D, a company’s marketing guys usually run the media show… But please understand that I don’t mean it as a swipe at Cannondale. Frankly, if a few companies engineers (the ones that actually have engineers that is…) spent more time in original... more
Tags: cannondale, cannondale scalpel team pro, Mountain Bikes
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Cannondale System Six Carbon Superlight Road Bike Review
Written by drbob on January 3, 2010 – 7:36 pm -By BikeRadar "With its short head tube, direct steering response and exceptional willingness to respond to all-out efforts on steep gradients, the new SystemSix is sharper and more refined for speed than Cannondale's previous models, and closer to its competitors in terms of performance. " The heady days of the Saeco team's supremacy in the sprint may be over for Cannondale - certainly since Mario Cipollini bowed out - but the company is still very much at the cutting edge of bike technology. With benchmark setters like the R900 and the sublimely smooth Six-13 Team - used by the up-and-coming Barloworld squad - innovation and success is still a massive priority for the Cannondale crew. Not content with resting on their laurels, the people from... more
Tags: cannondale, cannondale system six, road bike, Road Bikes
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Specialized Tarmac Expert: Best High-end road-racing bike
Written by drbob on December 14, 2009 – 4:04 pm -Best High-end road-racing bike Specialized Tarmac Expert *Est. $3,700 ConsumerSearch.com synthesized multiple reviews of road bike and concluded the Specialized Tarmac Expert is the top of the line for serious road racers. A great bike for experienced cyclists who want to move to the upper echelons of racing. Below is what they concluded. For serious racers, reviews indicate that it's hard to beat the Specialized Tarmac Expert in this price range. It sports a lightweight carbon frame that is based on the top-end S-Works Tarmac SL2 (MSRP: $8,500) --although not as light -- and it offers crisp shifting thanks to Shimano Ultegra SL components. The steering gets rave reviews, with multiple experts calling it "stable" and "precise." Overall, reviewers... more
Tags: best road bike, specialized, specialized tarmac expert
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Raleigh Supercourse: Best Mid-priced racing bike
Written by drbob on December 14, 2009 – 3:59 pm -Best Mid-priced racing bike Raleigh Supercourse MSRP: $1,740 ConsumerSearch.com synthesized multiple reviews of road bike and concluded the Raleigh Supercourse is the best mid-priced road bike. A great bike for cyclists with some experience who want to move to the next level. Below is what they concluded. For cyclists who have some miles under their belt and want to move into racing, reviewers say the Raleigh Supercourse offers great performance without a jaw-dropping price tag. The Raleigh Supercourse has a full-carbon frame, which is tough to find in this price range, and experts agree on one thing -- this bike is fast. Testers for multiple publications are impressed with the quick acceleration and speedy performance, but they think the... more
Tags: raleigh, Raleigh Supercourse, Road Bikes
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