Strengths: Light, easy to pump tyres to high pressure (110+psi), secure fitting bracket
Weaknesses: Slower than some frame pumps, no cover for valve hole meaning that it can get water inside when mounted on the bike
Overall: An excellent pump, feels sturdy despite its light weight and pumps road tyres up to high pressure with no trouble. I thought that the lack of a lock lever might mean that it leaked pressure while pumping but the design means that that's not the case.
The only issues I can think of are that it takes a bit longer to pump a tyre up (because it's smaller than a full size frame pump) and the lack of a valve hole cover can mean that when it's mounted on the bike, a wet ride can result in some water getting in. Neither are really problems for me so I can highly recommend it.
Strengths: Number of functions, back light, operation from brake levers
Weaknesses: Complex to get to some of the functions, expensive for a bike computer
Overall: Essentially, the ergobrain has just about any function that you're ever likely to need: Speed, distance, ride time (automatic and stopwatch available at the same time), average & max speed, cadence, gear development (ie distance per rev of the cranks), gear indicator, back light for night riding, acoustic training functions (beeps if you go to slow or when you need to stop/start). The only problem really lies in finding them. The operation is ok once you've learnt the basics and so long as you remember which functions are paired (eg max speed is reached by going to average and pressing the mode button for a second). Getting the more complex functions such as acoustic training are more complex and I can't remember them yet.
Fitting the kit is pretty straight forward but can take a while (I took an hour but most others seem to reckon on 2 hours).
Calibration is fairly simple so long as you actually follow the instruction and if the cadence sensor is fitted (including the ingenious magnet that fits in the hex slot in the pedal axle meaning no zip ties) the unit will work out what ratios you have on your cassette.
All in all, well worth it if you want every function and you use it for interval training or speed training.
Strengths: Comfortable, range of sizes, price, stiff for the price
Weaknesses: Not as stiff as carbon soles, slight bump where the cleat plates fit in the shoe.
Overall: I use these shoes for commuting/training in and have found them to be more than capable of the job and considering the price, are plenty stiff enough for most use. They are noticably less stiff than the more expensive Nike shoes that use the full carbon sole (I have Hautacams for racing) but more than comparable with many other brands' shoes that cost considerably more.
The only problem that I can fin is that over the cleat plate, there is a very slight 'bump' in the sole while could cause soreness if used on very long rides. I haven't found this a problem myself (for 1hr-ish rides).
Strengths: -Quality of pics, production -Well written -Review are very good - They pick out the relevant points and provide useful info on actually using the products
Weaknesses: DH/DS only :(
Sometimes the pics are a bit crammed in
Overall: I've never raced or even really ridden DH/DS but I buy/read Dirt pretty regularly just because it's an interesting read. Unlike MBUK which seems to feel that to attract the gravity assisted side of the sport, you have to write to an audience with an IQ under 50, Dirt writes intelligently and to the point without being dry or dull.
'Worthy replacement for MTB Pro/ World/Max. At Last!'
Strengths: Quality of writing, interesting articles, informative in depth bike reviews, photos, general 'style' of the whole mag
Weaknesses: Would like more reviews of parts (eg stems, etc.) than currently included, no captions on photos, quarterly, web site not up yet (23/04/01)
Overall: At LAST! A decent MTB mag, aimed at riders who don't mind playing around on jump bikes, etc. but can also see the fun in all day XC rides too. Trail riders if you will.
The articles are interesting, well written and don't seem to be written by someone trying to show off about how wonderful they are - case in point - the road trip article, including meeting well known people, didn't come across in an big-ego way at all.
The weaknesses that I listed are likely to be sorted in the next issues, other than the 'quarterly' one but I suppose that with such a small group running it, a monthly mag is too much to expect - for now at least.
It's great to have it back.
(Reliability rating based on the editorial team's past form with Pro/World/Max)
Strengths: Quite light (especially for the current price) Stiff
Weaknesses: Snapped! Bottle cage bosses all came loose - needed to use tape to hold cages in.
Overall: I paid £275 for the frame with Carbon forks. Once buily up, the bike was suprisingly light and having moved from a fairly flexy Lemond steel frame, it felt so good under power - going up hills I could use bigger gears without feeling like the frame was just bending. I was expecting a substantially more jarring ride than my Lemond which was particularly comfortable but I found that although it wasn't as comfotable, it was only a slight difference and I've had no problems doing long (over 100 miles) rides on it and then feeling ok the next day.
The frame handles well, with no particular traits that caused concern and it felt solid and confident at speed.
Sadly, the frame has now died - I heard a clanking noise from the BB and on inspection, found a crack all the way around the bottom of the seat tube, immedaiately above the BB weld. The bike was still ridable (I rode it 20 miles home) but obviously trashed. Paul Milnes cycles sorted out a new frame under Warrantee (a Y2K ZR2000 - see my review) and I was back on the road after a week and a half.
Overall: Having tried these a couple of times, I'd definitely not recommend them.
On the first ride, you do notice that the wheel seems easier to accelerate but it's a very slight difference, the type that you can't notice by the end of the ride.
What you do notice is the drastically reduced reduction in pinch puncture resistance which goes from average for a normal tube to non-existant for these.
Basically, if you ride over any big sharp rocks at speed and the tyre pinches against the rim, you can almost guarantee a pinch puncture. Also, with the tubes being thin, they tended to tear too much to be repaired.
If you really want to save weight and don't only ride on tarmac / fireroads, find another way to spend your money...
Weaknesses: Doesn't do the job it's supposed to. Heavier than star fangled nut / standard cap
Overall: A very nice looking addition to any ahead equipped bike but unfortunately, it simply doesn't do it's job of tensioning the aheadset. No amount of greasing or polishing of the moving suraces produced any useful results and I resorted to using the top part with a standard starfangled nut. Still, it does look nice...
Strengths: Cheap, looks different in a nice way (complements chunky frames), stiff.
Weaknesses: Some might not like the industrial look. Old styling, may not please some.
Overall: Since you can get these really cheap now, they're a great deal. They work well in that they are stiff and hold the bars in place without breaking (so far...). The looks are pretty chunky and so are a personal thing but I think that they look good.
Not super-light but not overly heavy either, they have a very shiny silver finish and I think, they compliment chunky frames.
A bargain for those who aren't after the latest thing or a bargain for the hack bike.
