Thursday 9 January 2014
Why KMC are a life saver!
Hi everyone, it's been ages since I posted so I just felt like posting an update on here, the page has had a few hits and it would be great to get some more readers in!
Over the past few years since I last posted, I have still been using my same trusty bike, the Voodoo Hoodoo 2012. Hammering down technical trails and MTB courses, blasting round the local roads and some quick track riding 12 mile and back.
My girlfriend recently purchased a new old bike. A second hand 2008 Trek 6500 WSD. An absolutely awesome bike that we picked up for an absolute steal! So we have been out riding together. One of our first rides I did something that I never thought would happen, I snapped a chain! This wasn't the most fortunate of events due to replacement cost. However I was one mile away from home, and this was my first worrying thought, I managed to 'scooter' the bike home and began work on the chain.
I knocked the broken pins out and then I had no idea what to do, I looked at the bike for a few minutes before angrily storming off. And then I realised, since 2010 I have had a pair of missing link KMC chain repair links in my bag. However these were for my old bike which had a 7 speed cassette. My new bike having a nine speed cassette, I was worrying would not end up being a fit for this chain. Two seconds later, two clips pushed in and maneuvered into place, and I was on my way.
So for any of you guys going out on the trail anytime soon, get yourself some of these!
http://www.kmcchain.eu/cms/bijlagen/.klein/groot-MissingLink_9silver.jpg
Friday 14 October 2011
Hmmm?
For the past few days I've been wondering what i could post on here. I knew it had to be something mountain bikey and I think I've found just the thing.
Suntour Raidon X1 forks.
Now as i have these on my bike I thought I could give you a very indepth analysis. I probably can't but hey, I can try right?
So here goes. The Raidon X1's are an airsprung fork offering up to 120mm of travel with a remote lockout system.
Dependant on your weight the springyness of the forks can be changed using a simple and easy to use suspension pump. Just find the guide online at SRSuntour and you're away. I tend to run mine at around 80 psi and these offer the perfect balance between comfort and not bouncing ridiculously over every bump. Of course this can be easily changed and run so it does just bounce around.
The remote lockout system is brilliant for road use or going up hills. Simply flick a lever on the handlebars and you're away. It's just like having rigid forks except they offer maybe 5 mm of travel so as not to pop when going over a bump. I have not yet felt any time lag between flicking the lever and them locking out, but as the bike isn't that old I can't comment on the wear and tear of the wire.
The rebound knob at the bottom of the forks is brilliant. Turn it one way, have slow rebound, turn it back and around to the other side and we have a quick rebound. This is perfect for running it around a trail and keeping yourself in control and feeling grounded. I find it better to use the slower rebound as it doesn't pop back up instantly and let you lose momentum, but it does pop back up in time for you to be able to deal with the next bump infront of you.
My overall review would probably be 8/10 i have a couple of little niggles with the decompression sound made by the suspension on the slow rebound setting but that's about it.
Hopefully this has given you an insight into the top end budget fork market :D
T'ra
Suntour Raidon X1 forks.
Now as i have these on my bike I thought I could give you a very indepth analysis. I probably can't but hey, I can try right?
So here goes. The Raidon X1's are an airsprung fork offering up to 120mm of travel with a remote lockout system.
Dependant on your weight the springyness of the forks can be changed using a simple and easy to use suspension pump. Just find the guide online at SRSuntour and you're away. I tend to run mine at around 80 psi and these offer the perfect balance between comfort and not bouncing ridiculously over every bump. Of course this can be easily changed and run so it does just bounce around.
The remote lockout system is brilliant for road use or going up hills. Simply flick a lever on the handlebars and you're away. It's just like having rigid forks except they offer maybe 5 mm of travel so as not to pop when going over a bump. I have not yet felt any time lag between flicking the lever and them locking out, but as the bike isn't that old I can't comment on the wear and tear of the wire.
The rebound knob at the bottom of the forks is brilliant. Turn it one way, have slow rebound, turn it back and around to the other side and we have a quick rebound. This is perfect for running it around a trail and keeping yourself in control and feeling grounded. I find it better to use the slower rebound as it doesn't pop back up instantly and let you lose momentum, but it does pop back up in time for you to be able to deal with the next bump infront of you.
My overall review would probably be 8/10 i have a couple of little niggles with the decompression sound made by the suspension on the slow rebound setting but that's about it.
Hopefully this has given you an insight into the top end budget fork market :D
T'ra
Tuesday 11 October 2011
The Maxgear Gooj
Quick post this evening about one of the best tools I have ever bought.
The Gooj ( get out of jail ) is an awesome tool. With (2 / 2.5 / 3 / 4 / 5 / 6 / 8mm) Hex tools, a small but solid chaintool, two tyre levers, a T25 tool,a phillips screwdriver and a spoke wrench, it has many if not most of the things you'll need on the trailside.
Weighing in at 210 grams it isn't the lightest of tools but i definately does the job. The tools are made of a chrome and steel alloy the hex keys have so far resisted rounding off and the rest of the tools have held strong.
The body is easy to grip and allows you to really torque up those pesky bolts and leave your bike in a safe rideable condition.
The biggest problem is the bolts that are holding the tool together, just make sure to give them a quick tighten evry now and again and you'll have no problems.
For the £17.50 I paid I'd say this tool is extremely worth the money, and I would recommend it in a heartbeat.
In the next couple of days I will be doing a few reviews on the other tools in my bike aid box and enlightning you on the tools that have rescued me from some sketchy situations.
Hope I've helped out, for now T'ra
The Gooj ( get out of jail ) is an awesome tool. With (2 / 2.5 / 3 / 4 / 5 / 6 / 8mm) Hex tools, a small but solid chaintool, two tyre levers, a T25 tool,a phillips screwdriver and a spoke wrench, it has many if not most of the things you'll need on the trailside.
Weighing in at 210 grams it isn't the lightest of tools but i definately does the job. The tools are made of a chrome and steel alloy the hex keys have so far resisted rounding off and the rest of the tools have held strong.
The body is easy to grip and allows you to really torque up those pesky bolts and leave your bike in a safe rideable condition.
The biggest problem is the bolts that are holding the tool together, just make sure to give them a quick tighten evry now and again and you'll have no problems.
For the £17.50 I paid I'd say this tool is extremely worth the money, and I would recommend it in a heartbeat.
In the next couple of days I will be doing a few reviews on the other tools in my bike aid box and enlightning you on the tools that have rescued me from some sketchy situations.
Hope I've helped out, for now T'ra
If Only I Had The Cash
So today i'm going to be posting about my semi-dream bike. The Specialized Camber.
Now of course i like the bike for it's awesome budget components but that paint scheme is something else. The Stereotypical red and white colouring looks well, awesome, I'm not gonna lie that's the main reason i want the bike.
The Shimano transmission looks great and is really responsive, as always with shimano you get what you pay for, it may not be top of the range but it's up there with the best.
However i don't agree with mixing the Alivio shifters, as good as they may be, I believe the transmission should all match up. Maybe it doesn't matter but that's just me.
Next on my list is the Sram manufactured Rockshox Recon Silver Tk forks. I've seen these forks in action a fair few times, and I have good things to say about them, I would definitely buy these as an upgrade for my bike.
The ario Rl rear shock is a base range product, but what you're paying for the bike you're getting your moneys worth.
The Tektro Draco Hydraulic discs are very good budget brakes. I have the model below these and they are very responsive, great stopping power, but they still give a fair bit of modulation for braking. So I can only imagine the increase in quality from mine to these.
Anyway as this is the 2011 model it's currently decreasing in price, it's already dropped from £1300 to £999. So get down to your nearest stockist for a quality buy. Hope I've been of some help.
Please leave a request if there are any components or bikes you'd like a review of. Till next time, T'ra
Now of course i like the bike for it's awesome budget components but that paint scheme is something else. The Stereotypical red and white colouring looks well, awesome, I'm not gonna lie that's the main reason i want the bike.
The Shimano transmission looks great and is really responsive, as always with shimano you get what you pay for, it may not be top of the range but it's up there with the best.
However i don't agree with mixing the Alivio shifters, as good as they may be, I believe the transmission should all match up. Maybe it doesn't matter but that's just me.
Next on my list is the Sram manufactured Rockshox Recon Silver Tk forks. I've seen these forks in action a fair few times, and I have good things to say about them, I would definitely buy these as an upgrade for my bike.
The ario Rl rear shock is a base range product, but what you're paying for the bike you're getting your moneys worth.
The Tektro Draco Hydraulic discs are very good budget brakes. I have the model below these and they are very responsive, great stopping power, but they still give a fair bit of modulation for braking. So I can only imagine the increase in quality from mine to these.
Anyway as this is the 2011 model it's currently decreasing in price, it's already dropped from £1300 to £999. So get down to your nearest stockist for a quality buy. Hope I've been of some help.
Please leave a request if there are any components or bikes you'd like a review of. Till next time, T'ra
Monday 10 October 2011
Carrera Kraken
Hello there, Well today I'm gonna be giving you my opinion on the carrera Kraken 2010 version. Not the newest model, but i wanted to give you something from my firsthand experience.
So here we go;
The frame of the Carrea Kraken is a thing of beauty, even at the low low price it was sold at in the shops, it has top quality fishscale welding and a cracking paint job. When I first saw the bike inside the dull, dark, badly presented stands in Halfords, I wasn't keen, however in the sunlight the paint comes alive. All I can say is, Awesome.
Moving on, the Sram X5 drivetrain is a thing of beauty. It may not be the best looking set but it is very effective. The only time I've experience slipped rings and clicking is in extremely thick mud and horrendous storms. A sure fire reason to take a look at the bike. I must say that I am very impressed with the mid-range products from Sram, easily worth the cash.
My biggest qualm with the bike is the Suntour fork. The spring is far too light and bounces away like there's no tomorrow. A bit of a shame really, I'd have reaaly like to see this bike with an air fork, I feel it would have really helped with the overall performance.
Well that's it really. I've seen this bike absolutely smashing cannock chase, and it performed really well.
So if you're looking for a cheap and trusty steed and don't mind a slightly older bike, get yourself on ebay and have a look. Or upgrade to the newer model which i believe has had a decrease in braking technology but an upgrade in the fork department.
Thanks for reading, hope I have been of some help, till next time T'ra
So here we go;
The frame of the Carrea Kraken is a thing of beauty, even at the low low price it was sold at in the shops, it has top quality fishscale welding and a cracking paint job. When I first saw the bike inside the dull, dark, badly presented stands in Halfords, I wasn't keen, however in the sunlight the paint comes alive. All I can say is, Awesome.
Moving on, the Sram X5 drivetrain is a thing of beauty. It may not be the best looking set but it is very effective. The only time I've experience slipped rings and clicking is in extremely thick mud and horrendous storms. A sure fire reason to take a look at the bike. I must say that I am very impressed with the mid-range products from Sram, easily worth the cash.
My biggest qualm with the bike is the Suntour fork. The spring is far too light and bounces away like there's no tomorrow. A bit of a shame really, I'd have reaaly like to see this bike with an air fork, I feel it would have really helped with the overall performance.
Well that's it really. I've seen this bike absolutely smashing cannock chase, and it performed really well.
So if you're looking for a cheap and trusty steed and don't mind a slightly older bike, get yourself on ebay and have a look. Or upgrade to the newer model which i believe has had a decrease in braking technology but an upgrade in the fork department.
Thanks for reading, hope I have been of some help, till next time T'ra
Sunday 9 October 2011
First post
Hello, hello, hello, and welcome to my new blog :D
You may remember me from other such blogs as http://qwerty-crocodile.blogspot.com/, and ...well that's it actually but You know ;)
So for my first post I'ma talk to you about a bike very close to my heart, My voodoo hoodoo.
Now this bike is , in my eyes, a complete beast,
Awesome base range air sprung suntour forks, with an awesome drivetrain.
The shimano Alivio set really helps you to get the power down where necesary and can really take a beating.
I've used my baby for the past 4 months now, and I love every single ride i go on.
From peaceful singletrack to taking a battering around cannock chase ( the local trails centre) it always performs.
They are selling for £500 at the moment in Halfords, and i seriously suggest you take a look if you want a new mountain bike.
Anyway that's all froom me for now, the qwerty crocodile :D
You may remember me from other such blogs as http://qwerty-crocodile.blogspot.com/, and ...well that's it actually but You know ;)
So for my first post I'ma talk to you about a bike very close to my heart, My voodoo hoodoo.
Awesome base range air sprung suntour forks, with an awesome drivetrain.
The shimano Alivio set really helps you to get the power down where necesary and can really take a beating.
I've used my baby for the past 4 months now, and I love every single ride i go on.
From peaceful singletrack to taking a battering around cannock chase ( the local trails centre) it always performs.
They are selling for £500 at the moment in Halfords, and i seriously suggest you take a look if you want a new mountain bike.
Anyway that's all froom me for now, the qwerty crocodile :D
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