Kit Reviews

[Keith]

One thing we don't seem to have on this Forum is any kit reviews. I usually try & find reviews of stuff before I buy. Perhaps it's worth us having a section on this Forum? Anyway, here's an example:

Innovations Second Wind Mini Carbon Road Pump

I've been carrying one of these around in my pocket (and you thought I was just pleased to see you ) since February, but had never got around to using it.
[img]http://i56.tinypic.com/110hxmt.jpg[/img]

Well, I got a flat last week,and was very impressed with the pump.

The hand pump was good for finding the hole in the old tube, inflating the new inner to aid re-assembly, and putting a bit of air in the tube to check the tyre was seated correctly.
The gas can then made 80psi a doddle.

When I got home I tried the gas again and there's enough for another 80psi fill, so it's good for 2 flats (or 1 flat and one half-baked repair ).

The hand pump is light enough that I've taken to carrying it during some races. Take the Alfold circuit, for example. It's 12mile around. I wouldn't fancy a 6mile walk back to HQ after a last lap puncture.

I paid £11.15 for it from Wiggle.

[Antloony]

Great idea Keith.

I've just taken the plunge and finally succumbed to the fact I need to do more training so I went and ordered myself a nice new shiny turbo trainer.

Ladies and gentlemen my choice of torture machine was....drum roll please...this:-

[img]http://i52.tinypic.com/24yr7vb.jpg[/img]

THE CYCLOPS FLUID PRO TURBO TRAINER

After searching around the interweb for a couple of days sussing out the options this came out as a highly recommended trainer in many tests and reviews and seemed a favorite amongst users.

Very simple to set up and use, 2 mins after getting it out of the box I was up and running. The beauty of this trainer is its simplicity, the harder you want the resistance, the harder you peddle, it really is that simple, no messing about with settings or levers, just get down the lower end of your cassette and start to suffer.

Riding on it is very smooth and feels very natural, being a fluid trainer as opposed to the magnetic types it doesn't suffer from any dead spots or jerkiness. I tried a couple of cheaper trainers in the shops and compared to this they felt rough and unatural. It feels very sturdy when in use and once you've finished with it it you simply fold up the legs and hide it before you get the urge to chop it up with a hacksaw for causing you so much pain and suffering.

I got mine from Ribble, luckily during their 20% off week. Their normal price is £263.95. I paid £211.16. Great value for money in my book.

[Paul H]

[quote]Very simple to set up and use, 2 mins after getting it out of the box I was up and running

[quote="Paul H"][quote]Very simple to set up and use, 2 mins after getting it out of the box I was up and running

[Toks]

Silly me I was expecting to see reviews of the latest ACC club kit Hey go Anthony, are we gonna see you pinning numbers on to the back of an ACC jersey come 2011?

[Antloony]

[quote="Toks"]Silly me I was expecting to see reviews of the latest ACC club kit Hey go Anthony, are we gonna see you pinning numbers on to the back of an ACC jersey come 2011?

[Paul H]

I think we can pin our own jerseys thanks

[Snoop Doug]

Assos F1 bib shorts. Blimmin marvellous. I hope they last forever as I can't afford another pair but I'm very impressed - best (most comfortable) bit of cycling clothing I've ever bought

[Marek]

Assos F1 Uno Bib Shorts

I brought 2 pairs of the said shorts after much deliberation before my Italian and Pyrenees trip earlier this year. Now, I was doing on average around 80 to 100 miles per day so it was important to have very good shorts. I would say that these shorts are ok, but they have limitations. Firstly, the pad is quite thick and heavy, if you sweat a lot, which in hot weather and bounding up mountains you tend to do, I found that the pad became a bit sodden and due to being a bit large did seem to rub a bit and get uncomfortable. These are the ones with the bluey turqoise pad.

Also, the other thing I noticed quite early on was that the material to the sides under the butt started to rub down quite badly. In fact so badly that one pair now has a bliming great big hole on the lycra on one side. Not ideal considering only had them for about 5 or 6 months.

I have had other pairs of Assos shorts that have been better, the old F1 Mille were very good, the ones with the orange pad, I have had those for a long time and they are still very good.

I think I would try a different brand next time as they are expensive and have not lasted well at all.

Cheers

Marek.....

[Sylv]

Are those the ones with the pad that looks like bubblewrap? Does look a bit thick to me (have you seen the Santinis with the inflatable pad btw )

Got some F1.13 in a bargain bin in Switzerland for about 1/3rd the price and they are great.

I'm disappointed though Marek, was expecting a review of your DIY shoes - how are your calves btw?

[Andrew G]

Well it's well and truly autumn now so not shorts weather, 3/4s for me.

dhb roubaix bib 3/4s are excellent. Well made, good value, good comfortable pad, good zip to ease "comfort stop" access, they also have a double layer knee which is a good thought of theirs. you have no muscle or fat on your knee and need to keep them warm. I've a number of bits of dhb kit and it's all good but these are one of my favourite bits of kit and get very heavily used in spring and autumn with me rarely commuting in any others.

Winter / commuting wheels - If you don't have some 36 spoke handbuilts with a dynamo then Campagnolo Ventos are superb. They are cheap and bombproof and make a great training wheel. The G3 spoking is very strong and the advantage of them in winter is that it makes the wheels very easy to clean and keep in good condition to get the longest life from them. I'm on my second pair (as spare wheels / rougher roads use) having worn the rims out on the first pair without having a single issue with them, never went a mm out of true despite a hard life on some rough surfaces.

Craft waterproof - as a pocket waterproof these are good. Cost about £40 from GBs and has performed well. Very light and all pushes in to it's own pouch/pocket at the back. Good features are a soft lined neck and beard guard on the zip and venting under the arms so you don't overheat or get clammy in it.

Race kit bag - Max Gear holdall. I used to use a normal sports bag but then found this and it's superb and makes race day much easier to stay organised. Bottom section stores my shoes, saddlebag with spare tub and co2 pump for longer TTs, and a bottle of recovery drink. Middle section holds clothes (race and post race). Large top section big enough for a pointy hat, a towel, cans of sealant, gels, energy bars, and that all important bog roll so you don't get caught out at race HQs. The side pocket has a zipped internal pocket, a seperate pouch and pen loops so you can store allen keys etc in an easy way to get at quickly. I stick my startsheet, chain lube, warm up oil, and (optimistically) suntan lotion here as well as some spare tools for emergencies. All in it is a superb design. Currently on offer at a stupidly cheap price.
[img]http://www.maxgear.co.uk/templates/imagedirectory/holdallMainImage_500_2.gif[/img]
[url]http://www.maxgear.co.uk/Luggage/MAXWorldCupBikeKitHoldall.html[/url]
Max Gear are a small company but sell some good stuff and I've had excellent service from them, I have one of their World Cup helmets and the owner was very helpful by email answering questions about sizing and such like pre-order.

[Dombo]

Easton EA90 SLX factory wheelset

I got these 3 years ago in GB's sale, approx £400. Very light at just 1490g the pair and made a noticeable difference form the stock Bonty Race hoops my bike came with. Spoke count is quite low at 18 front and 24 rear but for a skinny sub-11 stoner like me they're fine. Although factory wheels they are in fact built by hand, by people who just happen to be sitting in a factory. Since getting them in Jan08 they have done about 4000 miles and never gone out of true, even after some bangs that left me thinking the forks would have snapped. All told a nice, strong and light set of wheels at a reasonable price.

Easton EC90 SLX Handlebars

These were a bit of an unnecessary birthday treat - I used the safety argument on Mrs Dombo and the environmental argument on the little Dombos (if all that carbon is wrapped up in tape and stuck on my bike then it's not warming up the world and suffocating baby pandas, is it?). At a 50% discount at £90 they are good value, maybe not so at rrp. However they almost entirely eliminated road buzz and made longer rides much more comfortable. Strangely they also seemed to make the bike handle better but that might just be my bottle improving. Larger, more powerful riders may find them a bit flexy, but less robust gentlemen such as myself and girls probably won't. Only other downside is you get a bit twitchy tightening them towards cracking point so you need that gritty carbon paste to stop them slipping, and they do appreciate being clamped to a nice Easton carbon stem, the EC70.

Specialized Avatar BG Saddle

The one with the hole. Eliminates male-pattern numbness. Need one say more?

[Iliya]

Specialized BG Toupe

Also eliminates male-pattern numbness but, despite the reviews, not good for the rest of the seating area. Either that or I got the wrong size(it comes in three sizes 130mm, 143mm and 155mm).

[img]http://www.jejamescycles.co.uk/product-images-large/specialized-bg-toupe-road-saddle-black-55216.jpg[/img]

[Marcus]

[quote="Iliya"]Specialized BG Toupe

Also eliminates male-pattern numbness but, despite the reviews, not good for the rest of the seating area. Either that or I got the wrong size(it comes in three sizes 130mm, 143mm and 155mm).

[Brian Nolan]

great idea Keith - nice one

well done for your product reviews Andrew - Just ordered a Max Gear bag & I will check out those dhb 3/4 bibs for Winter...

re the Spesh BG Avatar 143 saddles - I had one of these on my Spesh Roubaix, could not get on with it - feels much too hard..

I still have it and it is FREE to a good home if anyone wants one ?