Strengths: Covers a broad range of bikes and related topics, fairly thoroughly and with (usually) mature good humour. Loads of useful bike/kit reviews, not just top end stuff or
Weaknesses: Oh....that buyers guide - make it a bi-annual supplement, for heavens sake! Pictures not as inspirational as MBR or Singletrack.
Overall: After much agonising I have renewed my subscription. The alternatives are MBUK (for the under 18s), MBR (a bit too much in love with itself), or Singletrack, which only has seven issues a year and can be a little cliquey. WMB seems to represent the best value for money, but is the best of an imperfect bunch
Strengths: Cheap. No frills - who uses all those pockets anyway when riding? Lightweight and quick drying.
Weaknesses: The thin pad starts to make itself known after about 2 1/2 hours. Other than that - nowt!
Overall: I was looking for basic no frills baggies - tried the Endura Voyagers but the pad was non-existent. Tried these at less than half the price - OK, pad is still a little small and thin, but you need to ride 2-3 hours before you notice it. Ideal for those quick evening rides at this time of year - can't go wrong for the money.
Strengths: Ridiculously light weight - my wife rang me at work to say the postman had delivered me an empty box.... They do perform the job superbly - trail buzz has gone, my hands don't get numb anymore, long rides are now comfortable rather than bearable. They help you steer and control the bike - a huge bonus with a set of bars. They are comfortable in the hand, and seem to help you float the wheel over obstacles rather than haul it over. They draw lots of envious glances from bike porn junkies
Weaknesses: They draw lots of jealous glances from bike porn junkies if, like me, it is clear that your bike spec exceeds your riding ability by quite some distance. Price - maybe. Yes they are expensive compared to many bars, but there are lots that cost more. For the strength, weight and all round ability to do the job, I wouldn't consider them over-priced.
Overall: A couple of points that are neither good nor bad - they are really wide, which is a surprise if you are not used to it. When I pluck up the courage, I will take an inch of them one day. They also flex, especially in the hands of a big, heavy, clumsy rider who often has to muscle his bike through thick mud. With 14 stone behind them they flex a lot, but they don't break. Which is a good thing.
Overall, worth the money if you want to enjoy long days trail riding. I got mine for £75 from Merlin, and they are worth it.
Strengths: Lightish for 2.1 Grip well in most conditions Corner really well Fast enough on tarmac
Weaknesses: Not as grippy on muddy climbs as Trailrakers, but you wouldn't expect them to be. RRp is a bit steep, shopping around finds deals though (mine were £30 a pair)
Overall: Took the plunge and replaced the winter rubber (1.9 Trailrakers) with these today.
Really impressed, extra size helps cushion the ride, they are quite zippy on tarmac, and handled everything really well.
They'll do well filling the gap between the winter Trailrakers and (hopefully) summer semi slicks
Strengths: Windproof and breathable Very very warm in cold DRY weather
Weaknesses: They let in the damp quite easily, leaving your fingers cold and uncomfortable.
And the liner - my God what a performance! When you take your hand out of the glove, the inner liner layer wants to come with it - which is fine, except that it is an absolute bitch to get the fingers of the liner to fit back in the glove, even if it is dry - if they are damp/wet/sweaty, you have no hope!
Overall: The first Specialized product I have been disappointed with - it has got noticeably worse this year, their secnd winter, especially the damp problem. Sorry guys - they were expensive to start with and and just don't work well enough
Strengths: Stop you very quickly. Light weight for disc brakes. Price is pretty reasonable for the top quality you get with them - mine came as part of a brake/wheel package from Hindes and worked out pretty cost effective that way.
Weaknesses: Only problem I've had so far is that they were fitted by an inexperienced disc brake fitter at the nearest bike shop. The first ride was Ok, but after they had begun to bed in they began to rub. And then rub some more. And a 25 mile loop with your mates with the brakes half on starts to really hurt after about 13 miles!!! But I had them refitted by the local Leisure Lakes guys for less than the cost of a tyre, and they are now running fine.
Also you need to be careful not to get MucOff on them apparently or it ceases the pistons or something - a bit of a downer on a UK mountain bike in the winter......
Overall: If you mainly ride trails and don't need downhill scale stopping power, these seem to be about the best you can get in terms of function/cost and weight. That said, making the switch from Vs to discs has left me coming to a dead stop when I thought I was just feathering the brakes.
Assuming you can set them up right - or know people who can - I'd highly recommend them.
Strengths: Grip well on wet rocks and roots, and in thin wet mud - feel really secure cornering.
Weaknesses: Feel slow and heavy on tarmac, and clog up in really thick gloopy mud. Price - considering the above.
Overall: I know this doesn't agree with the other reviews, but hey, I can only write as I find. Really not sure about these - bought them as they were supposed to be the ultimate winter/mud/UK tyre. Wet rocks and roots they handle really well, and they inspire confidence in thin wet mud, but get into the really thick claggy mud with 6 inch deep hoof prints all over the trail and they don't seem to shed it at all, just clog up and stick like, well, pretty much any other tyre I've used. So I'm afraid I'm not convinced they are worth the money as they don't live up to the hype.
Strengths: Reduces vibration and harshness, really helping ride comfort. Light, if that is your thing. Adds a certain "bling" factor Excellent marking on the post help you adjust it to the right height every time
Weaknesses: Your mates will have a go about the bling factor They are not the cheapest or lightest, but there are more expensive around.
Overall: I bought one to stick on my Cotic Soul when I had to face up to the fect that I couldn't afford a hardtail and a full sus. The carbon post works a treat with the steel frame to take all the aluminium harshness out the ride that I used to suffer, without making you feel divorced from the terrain.
I bought it for the comfort, the weight is just a bonus.
There are cheaper carbon posts around, but Easton have a solid reputation which helps offset the price.
Weaknesses: Pretty much everything else, which is a right bummer at £25 a pair!
Overall: OK, they are waterproof and breathable. BUT they are supposed to be thermal, ie keep your feet warm, and this they fail do.
Maybe it is the wet shoe issue that another reviewer mentions, yet I have had the same problem on dry road rides. Besides, at £25 I don't think I need to be buying liner socks to put it right.
Plus the fit and feel is awful - like wearing a plastic bag in between two thin socks.
Very disappointed - I have better results in keeping my toes warm and dry by wearing my ordinary coolmax socks and putting neoprene overshoes on - I don't mind looking a prat if my toes are warm.
