Shimano R500 Clincher Front Wheel

Advantages: Great Price, Great Components, Super Reliability
Disadvantages: None whatsoever

...noticed was the handling - rather than the soft feel of the aluminium forks of my original Trek 1500 the carbon fibre forks felt weird - more rigid and powerful. Combined with the carbon fibre seat post the feel of the tarmac was completely different and it took several miles before I started getting used to it. The wheels that the bike arrived with would not be my first choice - I have had Bontrager Select wheels before, and while they are very strong and ultra-reliable they lack a bit on the aerodynamic side. Mavic Ksyrium SSL would be my choice - but until i save up another £500 I'll keep with the Bontrager! Tyres again are a personal choice - and Michelin Pro-Race are the best i've had for both puncture resistance and speed - the Bontrager tyres that come with the bike are fine for spares!! The other change to my original bike... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful

Advantages: Great price & fair all rounder
Disadvantages: Tyres are poor in mud!

...are great on hard pack surfaces but if you ride in mud, your going to come off, buy decent tyres if going off road in mud!! FULL SPECS; Frame: Heat treated alloy formed ATB design with replaceable derailleur hanger Forks: SR/Suntour XCM DA 100mm travel with 30mm steel stanchions alloy legs and preload and hydraulic damping adjustment Gears: Shimano FD-C050 front and Shimano RD-M340 Acera 8 speed rear derailleurs Shifters: Shimano EF-50 triggers Chainset: SR/Suntour XCC-150 42/32/22 tooth gearing Brakes: Radius mechanical discs with 160mm rotors Wheels: Alex PC19 32 hole double wall alloy rims built on Joy Tech disc compatible alloy cassette hubs Tyres: Kenda Komodo 26x1.95 Handlebar: Mongoose 31.8mm clamp diameter alloy 30mm rise Stem: Mongoose alloy threadless Saddle: WTB Speed V Sport with Mongoose logo Seatpost: Alloy with micro... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average somewhat helpful

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

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful