Race Face Ride DH X-Type Triple Chainset

Advantages: Great price and beautiful ride
Disadvantages: Lots of small probelms and so many expensive upgrades to be done

...Bianchi Via Nirone 7 2005 Alu-Carbon Xenon Compact/Triple Drive Size 59 LiquiGas/Bianchi Team Colours (see photo at botom of review) £574.99 The bike and the ride In late summer of 2005 I purchased a Bianchi Via Nirone 7 from Evans online at the website (http://www.evanscycles.com/) and was impressed with the delivery within 3 days. The parcel was well protected and all I had to do was open one end of the box, wheel the bike out, adjust the handlebar orientation and basically it was good to go riding. I changed the saddle for a Bontrager Race X Lite saddle as an upgrade - saddle selection is a very personal choice for comfort on the long rides. After inflating the tyres to a high pressure (I use 100psi to allow for the humps and bumps on the Great British roads). The handling of this bike with carbon fibre forks, stem and seat post... 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

..., the Shimano instructions are very simple to follow, although as with all jobs of this type a basic knowledge of bicycle maintenace is required. It's a beautifully made item, with lots of cold-forged, anodized aluminum giving the mech a "jewellery" look (in my opinion, better looking than the new 10-speed version) and has so far always shifted faultlessly with 105 STI levers. Mine is the "SS" version, with the short cage, although a longer cage version is (was?) also available to work with wider range rear cassette sprockets, or a triple/compact chainset - this "GS" version has a total capacity of 38 teeth. Clearly, this will be a little heavier than this version... Looking at ChainReactionCycles.com today (April 7, 2006), it's available at £49.99, saving 23% off the RRP of £64.95, so pick up a bargain... Overall, a top of the range mech, well... Read review

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Advantages: Great all-round capabilities
Disadvantages: perhaps master of none?

...I’ve used the Tioga Factory DH's (26’ x 2.3’) for quiet some time now and I've been pretty pleased with the performance in most conditions. Admittedly, perhaps not king of anything but nevertheless a great 'all rounder' at least competent in all conditions as far as I have experienced and I've done a lot of riding in different places and weather conditions. The knobbles are nice and meaty to ensure plenty of traction both on straights and through the corners. The side knobbles also insure cornering stability and if you do push too hard they are nicely predictable as they slide. Relatively hard wearing so long as you get the good versions rather than the cheap grey market ones... Highly recommended for all round hardcore riding...... Read review

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