Shimano MX70 DXR Crank Set HollowTech II

Advantages: Lightweight, good quality components
Disadvantages: A lot of money

...– or to cycle backwards. Scary stuff if you ask me! All of these components on the Caldera are of the quality you would expect with an eight hundred pound bicycle and I can’t fault any of them. If you wanted you could upgrade your freewheel for one that bites a little quicker or maybe buy a titanium axle but these modifications are only really for very serious riders. -Crankset- Don’t know much about this crankset unfortunately (all the specs are at the end of the review). I can tell you that the chain rings are 44/32/22 which is the standard sort of set up but I run Shimano hollow tech cranks which come with their own funny bottom bracket and I like em! Really light at 927 grams and priced reasonably at £100. -Tyres- Maxxis Ignitor 26x2.1 Unfortunately I cannot comment on these tyres as I’ve never owned a pair however a quick look... Read review

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Advantages: Cheap, extremely durable, abuse tolerant
Disadvantages: Poor crank choice, may not be suitble for extreme use

...What's this? It is a JIS square tapered BB. And in english... BB - bottom bracket. Screwed into the frame and serves as a mounting point for your cranks. Square taper - Axle shaft of the bottom bracket is tapered. The shaft is wider at the base than it is at the tip, so it ensures a very tight fit when the crank is tightened up. It fits square holed cranks only. JIS - Japanese International Standard. This is a measure of the degree of taper. There is also the ISO standard used by European manufacturers, such as Campagnola. The vast majority of mountain bike cranks are JIS. An ISO crank may or may not fit a JIS square taper BB depending on the tolerances and amount of wear. Evolution or Devolution? In the last few years BB's have undergone something of a revolution. Octalink from Shimano, ISIS from the others... Read review

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Advantages: Lightweight, Durable, Value for Money
Disadvantages: No lock out on the forks, no disc brakes, poor quality chainset

...After a long break from cycling I decided to get back into mountain biking. My budget was limited and I wanted something lightweight and durable. After coming across the Trek 4300 my mind was quickly made up, lovely lightweight frame that wouldn't be out of place on bikes twice the price. A reasonable set of Shimano Alvio shifters and forks with adjustable pre-load. Perfect for what I wanted, something I could commute to work on but also give a good thrashing around the local MTB routes. The bike is versatile, the adjustable pre-load works well and although the forks aren't fantastic, they'll serve you well as long as you're not throwing it off 6 foot drop offs. The only things really letting this bike down are the Suntour SR cranks. Mine were poorly fitted and the pedals had been cross threaded which meant that when I went to fit... Read review

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