Strengths: Big days out riding, and real riding at that, technical descents earnt by climbing, rewarding, quiet trails that need to be thought about, switchbacks, roots and rocks, open high pasture, alpine meadows and loamy forest singletracks. Great base with great guides and the best food ever!
Weaknesses: If you want to uplift all day and sit your fat ass on your skill compensating machine go play with others.
Overall: Probably the best trails I have ever ridden with the most skilled guides. Their in depth knowledge of the area guarentees superb riding for all levels of ability in a very scenic part of France. Will be going back (again)
Strengths: Single pivot design is very good at what it does, sucking up bumps and smoothing the trail. Maybee not as active as a 4 bar, but less bob climbing and easyer to adjust to coming from a hardtail. Throw it down a rocky, stepped DH and it encourages you to go faster, pedal more and attack everything, sharp but not nervous handling. Lock it out on smooth climbs / road and its as fast as a race hardtail. Bumpy off road climbs mean just sit down and spin and let the fox shock get on with it, lovely.
Weaknesses: Ano frame shows cable scuffs easily, and it needs a propper hose guide for the rear stays, zip ties look cheap on a bike of this class.
Overall: Got one to replace a specialized enduro, which broke, and required lots of maintenance. Attracted by the single pivot design and weight. Was tempted by a Blur, but more pivots, poor mud clearance and a lack of lockout put me off (and the extra £££s). Was worried about its strength, but have since thrashed it at Glentress (lots of big drop offs at speed) ,the peak district (rock gardens at speed) and at races (speed), with no sign of fatigue or damage. Its damn fast everywhere handles super sharp, and with my build up of Hope minis, 2002 Psylo Races @100mm and LX/XT comes in at 26 pounds with a large frame, not bad.
Strengths: Aaaaah Pace Forks. Decided my 1999 pair of pro class were past it, so got these instead. Hope they last as long. Initial impressions are good, they have worn in quickly and are super plush and stiff. Even more so than the set of Air Psylo Race on my other bike, nice. Lockouts cool and needed for road climbs, looks like it'll last too.
Weaknesses: Paying for V brake implants, huh? Top of V arch seems very close to fork brace, but no contact, will see if it traps mud, but I'll be getting discs soon anyhow.
Overall: Too early to tell, but looking good. Winter will see whether they are as good as my old set, thats when RS and others suffer. 3 air chambers provides a lot of scope for badly setting up the fork, but the guidelines are ok, and its easy to experiment a bit, just a bit offputting at first.
Strengths: Light for the size, seem more hard wearing than other tyres from the big S. Front tyre seem to work well for my style of riding, corners well. Cheaper than other similar tyres.
Weaknesses: Doesnt work as a rear tyre, too rounded to give propper traction, likes mud in so much as it trys to collect and hold on to as much as possible! Side walls too flimsy. Torn mine after a small snag on a rock most other treads wouldnt have noticed.
Overall: Came on my Enduro bike, after one ride in the Peak district the rear came off and was replaced with a 2.1 Fire, as it couldnt cope with mud or wet rocks. Over summer I am running the front one as it likes dry trails (spot the american product), and has a good air volume. One has died already though (see above), and I'll probably replace the other with a Conti for winter.
Strengths: 4 bar linkage design beefed up from the standard XC FSRs to give a bit more travel and strength, with the famous ITCH switch - 100-130mm travel on the fly. Good bearings at all points, easy to service. Does look distinctive. rides like a dream, v active plush suspension.
Weaknesses: my main pivot bolt worked loose after a few rides - but a spot of locktite fixed it - a common issue apparently. Also one of the shock bushings got a wobble earlier than expected - but new bushings are easy to get and fit (phone MOJO)
Overall: great value for money, great handling but not a full on DH / north shore bike, more a good trail /aggressive riding machine. Dont buy it if you are looking at Coves (see above), its a tool for a different job! for the price nothing else comes close
Weaknesses: Unusual clamping system is trick to set up in the workshop, even worse out on the trail. Clamp will still move under pressure, even with bolts fully torqed up. This causes the saddle to fall off. This is not a good thing. Oh and I'm 12 stone and dont jump.
Overall: Tricky to set up and than unreliable, (its happened twice now, once at the end of a trailquest, once half way through a race) not good - mine is now in the bin.
Strengths: Great kit, all pads fit in the right places, seems sensibly designed for MTB usage. All the seams seem to be good quality so it wont fall apart too quickly. Not very constrictive and lighter than MX protectors.
Weaknesses: Still gets hot when you wear it with the spine protector, not that easy to wash.
Overall: Makes you feel invincible and look like a stormtrooper, what more do you want?
Strengths: Encompasses all of the DH scene, writen by writers who actually care about their sport. Great interviews, great articles, great photography, not too many adverts, different layout.
Weaknesses: Can end up in the MX section of the newsagents, if they stock it at all. Maybee a little lacking in actual product reviews.
Overall: A great magazine to encourage people to take up the sport, much more readable and grown up than MBUK . Every other month publishing seems to keep the quality high and the adverts low. Essential reading.
Strengths: quality DH forks. Plush ride, stiff when used with 20mm axle. Great anodised finish. 180 degree steering lock so no problems on hairpins. Well set up out of the box (for a 12 stone person anyhow).
Weaknesses: Heavier than some of the competition, not that easily adjustable, initial problems with through axle being too tight in forks, requiring a hammer and drift to remove.
Overall: Had them a year, only problems the tight axle (cured by emery paper to reduce its diameter by a mm) and an oil leak caused by the fork leg bolts loosening. Used in all conditions and still working as well as when I got them. Great VFM, more reliable than a Boxxer or Manitou. Now replaced by 7inch version, possibly even better?
Strengths: Will hold enough water for the average ride, and space for a decent toolkit and spares. Not too bulky.
Weaknesses: Not enough room for epic all day rides, or if you like to carry a lot of food etc. In which case a bum bag is a handy addition.
Overall: Great for club rides and local blasts, the lobo is a good option. For racing you can fit more in it than the basic 'bac, for not too much more weight or money. I've had mine for 2 years, and it still comes out of the washing machine looking like new, and the bladder has survived with the occasional clean out. Great for what it does, but make sure it fits your requirements.
