Strengths: A 170mm travel fork that can get round tight switchbacks! Stiffer than the Marzocchi Super-T's I used to run. Tuning that works, a lockdown to 150mm for climbing that works. A 20mm thru. axle system that isn't "that" hard to use. Super smooth action and lovely feeling to the damping. Only ever bottomed them on very silly drops (Morzine/Les Gets). Light enough to be peddled back up a hill (Scotland), and make my big Nicolai suitable for all my mountainbiking needs.
Weaknesses: Availability if 1point5 frames - not really the forks fault. Manufacturers should embrace this engineering solution to a weakness in mountainbike design (extreme use mountainbikes - not racing whippetry). Having to get a frame made to take the forks, or compromise on the frame you want. Price? Still cheaper than most triple clamps though.
Overall: 1point5 has made for an advancement in the design of mountainbikes. It's a shame more manufacturers haven't woken up to this new standard. I used to run tripple clamps but I hated the effect of the lock when nogotiating technical terrain, and the scars on my knees from the top clamps. But with 1point5 and these Manitou Breakout Plus forks I am a happy camper. Manitou deserve to do well with this awesome fork which feels far better than boxxers etc straight out of the box - it's just a shame more manufacturers haven't woken up to it.
'A betootifull single chainring that has 33 teeth.'
Strengths: The 33 tooth is cool as it means I don't really need a tensioner on my singlespeed project Kona Explosif (33:18). Looks totaly awesome in that wonderfull-different-expensive-custom-groovy kind of way. A use for those olde LX/XT/XTR cranks that have been kicking around because all the rings are worn and it's cheaper to buy a new chainset. Perfect chain alignment on my bike. Shiney thing from a little manufacturer - gotta love'm!
Weaknesses: You need an old chainset with the splined connection to butcher. Special tool needed to remove the spider from the cranks. Only available from the goode-old-U-S-of-A. May need a spacer for some cranks - same spacer as between the sprockets on a cassette luckily enough. It cost money - but what doesn't.
Overall: Excellent answer to a question or problem you didn't need to ask or have solved.
But a great product which does what it set out to do - and makes me smile when I look down at it - suffering on the climbs!
Strengths: They have 5 hole's on the spider bit to hold a chainring, have threaded hole's in the ends for pedals and the square taper bit in the middle fits onto a bottom bracket. Works well in the Kitchen/Garage/Shed etc.
Weaknesses: I was using it for my fully rigid singlespeed cross cuntree bike (No 6 or 7ft drops here boys - just good old fashioned XC riding). 2 rides and the square taper is no longer square. I tightened them after the first ride but this still happenned. Can't say they felt more or less flexy than the XT cranks I took off.
Overall: As long as I get my £25 back I'll be happy. Other than that these really are pretty weak cranks - but what did I expect for £25.
Strengths: Excellent shifting performance. Strong enough for most riding. Square fit taper fits any bottom bracket. Can be found quite cheap if you hunt around. Not flexy - or not as you'd notice anyway. Look alright, not posey though. Don't scratch up to bad. Strong for the price (other cold forged cranks are twice the price).
Weaknesses: Rings don't last that well - but none do. Inner rings are alloy and hence wear really badly. It's shimano so it looks boring.
Overall: A very good crank for the money. Probably the best crank for the money, but not the "coolest".
Strengths: Last for years. Unafected by all the mud and stuff. Cheap - in the long run. Front mech cables - 3 years on one bike, 2 on an another (both still going) Rear Mech cables - 2 years and counting on one bike, and I get about 18 months on my full susser.
Weaknesses: Awkward to set up. Not so good on full suss bikes or where the cables see a lot of motion (but still as good if not better than normal cables - except XTR) Expensive - but economic.
Overall: Brilliant. I get about a month from cheap cables. 6 months to a year from XTR but these puppies last for years.
(not the superlite versions - just the normal ones)
Strengths: This bike keeps on going. It's a 1995 Columbus Max Explosif Frame. I dented the top tube within two weeks of buying it. I spent the next 4 years trying to bend other bits of it. Rides like a wet dream with rigid forks.
Weaknesses: No disk mount - where disks about 7 years ago? Became a "ditch magnet" with suspension forks. I can't seem to break it.
Overall: I tried so hard to break this but it still lives. First I raced it XC. Then I toured and did full mountain day rides. Raced it downhill a few times. Spent a year in a shed. Currently built as a singlespeed.
I'd love to replace it with something fancier but it keeps on trucking.
Strengths: Awesome grip on the climbs and descents. Lasts pretty well and is gripy to the end. Good in the wet and dry. Puncture resistance is good unless you ride through a very thorny bush in Spain.
Weaknesses: The thorny thing - but never in the UK Weight - it's a whole Kilo!!! (Each!!!) You need wide rims or the tyres "roll". Oh yeah - £35 each is hubhubhubhub a bit steep.
Overall: I realy like these tyres - so much that I bought another set. The puncture thing was realy bad but the thorns were huge etc etc yawn.
I use these for Cross Country but they were designed for Doonhall. They are heavy but I will live with that for the grip and the pinch flat protection. Big forks, big travel, big tyres - I love Mountain Biking.
Strengths: Very comfy for the long haul. I still get a bit numb on the really huge rides. But for a run of up to 4 hrs or so this is fine. Lots of kevlar bits and the leather seems of better quality than normaln flite's.
Weaknesses: If it suits you. I love flites. The rails eventualy bend up to the shell which flexes out into your thighs. The saddle becomes uncomfortable but this happens after about 3 years but by then the whole thing is pretty shabby anyway.
