Strengths: Smooth and well sealed, looks nice and appears to need no adjustment after the first week, sealling appears suitable for usual UK weather
Weaknesses: None - I even get on well with the HedDoctor
Overall: It was slightly difficult to fit together due to the tight sealing and initially didn't appear too smooth. however, one ride and a quick adjustment I could not bleive how much better than any of my other headsets this was. It is way smooth and provides a fit and forget solution at half the cost of a Chris King.
Strengths: Excellent rolling abilities for a wide tyre, grips well in everyday winter mud conditions good size side knobs allow confident cornering.
Works well on a narrow 717 rim and needs some effort to make them misbehave - spin out happened only when trying to make it happen.
The wide spaced tread allowed mud to shed and most of the time there was no mud cling - not used in caly mud though.
Weaknesses: It might be too big for narrow frame clearances, as a wider tyre - it tends to be a bit floaty in deeper mud - but I guess that is not what it is designed for. Ok on roots - but there again - nothing really grips that well.
Overall: I think I would be happy to use as a rear most of the time - the handling characteristics were good and it was predictable and fast rolling for its size. I suppose I just really forgot it was there - a bit like using a Vapour in the summer.
Not mud grippy like a trailraker or mud spike - you know when you need these sorts of tyre. For mixed winter mud and muck it's fine - even rolled well on the tarmac on the way to the trail - great value at £12.95 - not difficult to get on a 717 and looks quite mean too.
Recommended for your mixed winter ridding - but will be out performed in real deep mud by the mud specific tyres - went well in Swinley Forest mud - you'll need to gauge your local conditions.
'EXPENSIVE BLING - YET FUNCTIONS BETTER THAN EXPECTED'
Strengths: It looks a million dollars which is just as well given the price
Has stiffened up the BB area a bit and I not longer have to worry about loosening cranks which plagued my Shimano's.
Changing improved - no doubt related to stiffness - finsh in silver looks likely to last. The BB seems smoother by the ride
Expecting good wear out of the rings compared to Shimano
Weaknesses: They are way cheaper in the States/Canada - but to get good service here I suppose you have to pay for it.
Overall: A great chainset - only let down by perhaps being £40 to much.
Make your bike look a bling and a bit of bike candy can never be over estimated. It will probably be bought by not particualrly talented middle aged blokes just after getting their bonus (me!)rather than for any real performacne improvements, but I expect the VFM will improve as I don't have to replace Shimano rings made of cheese.
I would have a look at the cheaper version of the X system in future - less dosh not much more weight - but the concept of external BB is sold as far as I'm concerned - especailly after I saw what had happened to the XT one I took out
Strengths: In normal Swinley Forest gloop I was able to keep upright when all around me were eating the crud. Seemed to be as fine as anything on roots. Stable in the corners with an early predicatable slide if they are going to let go
Weaknesses: Did I memtion the grip - cause it comes at a cost - least for us larger riders. These were the 2.1" so expected a little more drag but I had to ride in "diesel" mode - I just couldn't keep up in mixed conditions - a roll down test ( only an estimate and perhaps inaccurate) suggested that drag was up around 15%. On sandy areas I felt like my bike suddenly weighed 40lb (it doesn't!) Cost - you pay for quality bu these had better last while else they'll be my last mud tyre
Overall: If hasn't been wet enough this winter to show them at their best - not an allrounder but probably great for those in the wetter parts of the UK. In my area it might be better to learn to ride more smoothly!!
Strengths: The trail appears to disappear at times and every pedal stroke gets to the wheel. It makes my freeride bike pedal way better than my Fox RL equiped SC Superlight. It looks over damped, but this works just fine on the trail - no more bob and not more rear bounce over middle sized bumps
Weaknesses: The supplied bushings are a little like liquorish - metal ones from Tim F are £4 an end - get them now - my shock ended up over one of the spacers after coming off the nylon bush - beware!! Reliability "3" is totally down to the bushing problem - the shock itself feels totally solid
Overall: Whilst an expensive upgrade - I can see why this is spec'ed as OEM for so many bikes. Sorts out many frame design compromises and keeps you on the straight (and bendy) and narrow. All I want in one for my other bike - might have to sell the dog!
Strengths: Easy to clip in and out a small pedal which avoids some rock,stump contact. They look so similar to the 959s I just bust - the cost (£30 from Merlin) was a real bonus. Almost miantenance free - apart from the bearings - tho I bust the 959s before needing to service
Open design sheds all but clay soils - easy to clean
Weaknesses: Bit shiney - may scuff up - very little to go wrong
Overall: Decent pedal at a decent price - why pay more for 959s - Shimano have done themselves out of sales (of 959s)
Strengths: Good shifting and lack of any maintainance reqirements a plus - hey appear to be less clunky than the Deore ones I've tried - tho no more accurate. Nice colour too - prob worth the little extra from the web discounters than Deore - I would buy again
Weaknesses: Non really - they change when I press
Overall: Suffered three years of abuse - still work fine on hack bike even covered in mud
Strengths: The tyres are easy to fit and roll well, the rear sides around v predictably and the front tracks well in most conditions, especially good in "Thetford" style flatter twisty singletrack.
Weaknesses: Front oversteers on bermed corners - had too many "moments" at Cwm Carn in the first twisty bermed section - did not inspire confidence - climbing rockier singletrack caused problems as "twitchy" nature could take you off the trail on trickier parts.
Riding a steeper berm (earth, gravel) in Swinley Forest - suffered over steer on two turns requiring emergency stop to avoid crash. These are berms I have ridden loads on my previous Specialised Front XC Pro rear - no problems
Overall: The front is going to be replaced as it appears to cause oversteer on my bike (SC - SL)on bermed sections especially. The rear tyre has been predictable and will stay on at present to see if it works in a combi with Spec front.
Strengths: The pedal is easy to find and clip in to - feel strong and doesn't appear to be affected by mud, dust, alck of maintenance
I can balance the spring tension to allow emergency exit with reasonable ease - whilst neve having pulled out accidently
They seem strog - I've hit numerous stumps with no problems
Weaknesses: The finish does come off - good vlaue only if you get a web discount
Overall: Really appreciated the positive disengagement - have had v few comedy falls - espcially compared to Time - which feel as good when pedalling - but are a bit frightening to exit in an emergency
