Hope Sport Series Rear 165 inc Torsion Arm

Advantages: Beautiful high performance
Disadvantages: none really

...I believe these hubs have now been superseded by the Hope XC range but nevertheless I am still running one of these and am really pleased with performance... As a keen cyclist I've been using Hope equipment for years and I am currently using this hub on two of my bikes and am very satisfied with them indeed. So, why am I so pleased with my purchase... Well, for a start, although on paper they look more expensive than Shimano or similar they are not really that much more money and the following reasons should help to explain why they are worth so much more than a standard Shimano hub. Value for money, these hubs will last almost forever they are such good quality, bearings last for years and are not sealed units making them impossible to replace, instead, they are very easy and cheap to service and replace. The hub makes an (the sound... Read review

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Advantages: Moulds to your body, great protection
Disadvantages: Bit pricey

...My good old father always told me about the importance of protection, well in fact his actual, and only words, with regards to my sex education were "Show them a good time but don't get them in the family way" which I then interpreted to mean that he meant wear protection. Wise words indeed and an ethos I apply to any sport which involves the risk of injury hence for horse riding a body protector is a must have item. Body protectors resemble the stab or bullet proof jackets that you see police officers and drug dealers wearing and are designed to protect the back and ribs from injury should you take a fall from your horse and the Rodney Powell range of Body Armour have a good reputation both in the professional ranks and the general riding population. The latest body protector that I have bought is the Series 5 protector and it cost... Read review

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Advantages: Top of the range "bling" rear mech
Disadvantages: 9 speed "only", superceeded by RD-7800 10-speed version

...I bought this rear derailleur to replace an Ultegra mech when upgrading my bike from 8 to 9-speeds (well, 16 to 18 speed really with my double front chainset). Apparently, this mech is also compatible with 8-speed systems, you just need to change the cable mounting position. Dura Ace is the name of Shimano's top of the range group of bicycle components, or "groupset", for road race bikes, and the 9-speed 7700-series was introduced to the public in 1997 after Shimano sponsored riders using Dura-Ace 7700 series equipped bikes in 1996. Year by year, it's been enhanced, and this review is of rear mech from the 2004 model year. For the non-bike-ophiles among you, the rear mech (or mechanism) is the device at the back end of the bike that moves the chain across the muliple cogs (cassette) on the back wheel to change gear - bigger cog... Read review

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