Elan SL Race WC

Advantages: Such a simple idea - nothing to remember or buy batteries for
Disadvantages: Setting clearances of magnets is fiddly

...fitted to racing and mountain bikes, with their wide 'cone' of several cogs mean that the rear light's bracket needs to be curved inwards to get it anywhere near the magnet on the spokes, whereas bikes with hub (or no) gears need a flatter bracket. On top of this option you then consider whether you want the pricier version (SL 120) with an up-to-two-minute*** power reserve or not (SL100), hence the four permutations. This slightly more expensive option was my choice. I stop at lots of traffic lights in the dark, so having a constant tail light matters to me quite a lot. However, I got mine for a pleasing £29.99 including P&P from www.timani-ltd.co.uk which is cheaper than the list price of the cheapest version. ***(On test, I could only make mine last about 30 seconds, but subsequent rides have seen it last longer.) CONCLUSIONS... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful

Advantages: Top quality kit
Disadvantages: Nothing at all

...quality hard tail bike. I personally don't listen to the folks that go on and on about whether a bike is fit to race or how good it is when your leaping over a jump. Its all rubbish. For the standard rider your never going to notice much of this. Its more important to know that you personally like the feel of riding it and that you have or develop the ability to ride a mountain bike well. If you can't ride a 100 pound bike you wont fair any better of a 1000 pound bike. So to stop rambling, I chose it because I knew the reputation, quality and because I had a Rockhopper Comp way back in the early 90's and it was great then. There are another 3 in the range. Rockhopper (549), Rockhopper Disc (649) and the Pro (949). WHAT SIZE - TRY BEFORE YOU BUY I visited a couple of bike shops looking for this bike. As I am 6'3" I was looking at the 21... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful

Advantages: Great fun board
Disadvantages: Loses its pop

...I picked up a NS SL series board 3 seasons ago, so it isnt this seasons model I am reviewing. I still have the board the 155 length), and having now ridden, at a guess, 2 months on it in all conditions I can say that: From new, its great. Does just what it says on the tin - lots of pop, snappy turns, enough give in the tip and tail to make landings a cinch. When i first got it I was really pleased with it, and had a lot of fun with doing bigger ollies etc than I could before, but then a new board always has more zip in it than an old one. After about a month or so, I felt that it had lost a lot of that initial flex, and was losing more, faster than my previous board (a forum) had. Now, I am sure of it. The board is still fun, and I ride it a lot, but there is a lot more flex in it now than when I bought it and on a powder day I would... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful