Litespeed Avior Dura Ace 10 Speed

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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Advantages: Durable, great for exercise
Disadvantages: Expensive, boring in weak winds

...Well I bought this kite as I wanted to get into power kiting, which is a sport that uses powerful kites for jumping, traction, skidding, and surfing. This kite was on offer at £90 when I purchased it 6 months ago, but these offers have been around recently. They come in a large selection of colours but in offers they usually only have a few colours to choose from. Mine is in fluorescent yellow. The wingspan is about 10 foot, hence the name super 10. The Kite: The kite is provided in a fairly strong zipped fabric sleeve, which is about 1/3 of the kite's wingspan. The carbon wingspar is made of 3 rods which are connected using 2 brass connectors. The kite itself is made of chikira ripstop nylon which seems very light for its strength. The spar then needs to be threaded through one of the wingtip through to the other end... Read review

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Advantages: Cheap, shifts well, excellent joining link
Disadvantages: Can suffer chain breakages

...by twisting it, nor is leg power alone sufficient to break a chain. 9 speed chains can withstand as much force as 8 speed chains. However, making the sideplates thinner has made the chain more prone breaking, and it is a problem across all 9 speed chain makes when used off-road. Used on road 9 speed chains appear to be reliable, only becoming a problem with 10 speed systems. One reason cited for chain breakage, is not using the joining link. The act of pushing out a pin, and then reinserting it could weaken the sideplate/pin interface. Breakages are still reported to occur with properly joined chains. I have had only one incident where a 9 speed chain snapped on me. It was a 971 chain. The chain snapped on the flat under moderate pedalling pressure and was 4 months old. This was over 2 years ago. I do not attempt to rejoin chains... Read review

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