Strengths: It''s nice and light and packs into a bag three feet long by 6 inches square that makes carrying it in the car a breeze. It''s extremely well engineered and finished. It''s a doddle to open, close and set the with of the clamp with one hand while you hold the bike with the other. The working height is easily adjustable using a standard seatpost style QR. The angle of the clamp can be easily adjusted
Weaknesses: If you don''t set the screw holding the clamp angle to be tight enough, the bike can cause the clamp to spin.
The clamp jaws don''t really open wide enough for most modern aluminium tubes, so you more or less have to clamp onto the seatpost if you don''t have a bike with thin tubes
Overall: It's changed my life in terms of fettling, but I was lucky wnough to receive it as a present. It's probably overkill for use at home, especially given the price, but if you can club in with a few mates then it's worth looking at this as it can be packed down and taken to races and will stand the abuse very well (Andy Kyffin uses the same model when he goes out on the road with Steve Peat)
Strengths: Nice hefty things that take a beating and provide a good platform for when I don't want to clip in fully
Weaknesses: Heavy. Platform's maybe too big - I sometimes ride an SPD without platform and seem to cope just as well. Bearings on one of them are begnning to go after about 9 months of infrequent use - but these have been stripped and rebuilt once already.
Overall: I bought a reconditioned secondhand pair so didn't pay full price, and never would. For the price they were a bargain and I'll use them till they give in, but for the full price? Unless you need the strength and reliability for downhilling, go for one of the lighter models
Overall: For the dedicated DHers this would be beautiful. BEar in mind that I test rode it round a BMX track with a 6 ft slpeop to start - but I could barely get it off the ground! At least that's what it felt like - I am reliably asured I get quite a lot of air, but on the biuke I hardly felt a thing. Since I've not used it loing term, I can only mark 3 for reliability, though!...
Overall: I wanted a long with pad, but without bib (easy access on those long country rides, you see!), found it hard to find something but came across this. I find it warm enough at the moment (have been out in sub zero weather!), but it's incredibly long! I'm not the biggest chap at 5'9" / 11st, but I had to get a large to fit my thighs, which leaves mea a couple if inches of leg to play around with - perhaps the folds I have to put in are what's keeping me warm. If you don't want a bib (the ladies espacially will like this, blokes may find it useful as I do), the these are recommended.
Overall: I'm not really the most experienced person but I do own one of these and can compare to other bikes I've ridden (Rocky Mountain Hammer Race w/ Indy c's regularly, rode onna Santa Cruz Heckler once). The bike is nice and light, no problems at all throwing it around. Surprisingly stiff for an aluminium frame, yet coupled with the Judy fork it's a very comfortable ride, more so than the RM. I do desecrate it by using it to commute to work occasionally (i.e. in summer when it's warm!), and it's stood up fine to road work as well as being good off-road. Get New pedals, new brakes, new stem (in that order) and you're off to a good start, at a price that won't break the bank - especially if you shop around.
