Tubus Cargo Rear Carrier

Advantages: speed, style, comfort
Disadvantages: tedious to remove chain guard

...the gears you want right up to high cruising speeds where only racers overtake me. Stopping is not a problem with the powerful v-brakes and comfortable rubber coated aluminium levers. The front forks have SR Suntour suspension, and the Post Moderne saddle post provides the suspension at the rear as well as supporting the Selle Royal Comfort saddle that truly lives up to its name. The full length mudguards, sturdy alloy carrier, chain guard, excellent road tyres, non-slip pedals, SRAM MRX Rotational gear shifters and fully adjustable handlebar stem all add tot he civility and practicality of this hybrid which is cheap for its range of features at just over £200. It comes in only one colour called gemstone, which to you and I is blue, the rest of the bike essentially being silver. It's as durable as any other hybrid, so the tyres won't wear out... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful

Advantages: Cheaper than the market leader
Disadvantages: Doesn't fold so well

...that you have to hold it slightly at arm's length like a muscle-bound body builder taking his Rottweiler for a walk. Mind you, a few hours carrying this and you'll BE a muscle-bound body builder; at least on one side you will. Of course no-one in their right mind carries a folding bike for a long distance - you just unfold it and wheel it. Basically, as long as you're strong enough to lift it into a car or onto a luggage rack, that's all the oooomph that's needed. The small rear carrier affords the storage of a set of waterproofs and maybe some vital tools. Fixing a rear light is problematical since the favourite spot, the seat post, is too thick for most clamps. Not so a front lamp, as the handle bars are a standard thickness. The seat post is calibrated to help you find the same height twice, which important if the bike is to be shared... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful

Advantages: Price, Ride, Street Cred !!
Disadvantages: Hard seat for long rides !

...Having used an MBK Raider hartdail for the last 10 years, and seeing all this new suspension technology coming in, I was tempted to purchase a new Mountain Bike. After looking at all the options :- hardtail, front suspension only, front and rear suspension, I decided to go for the Claud Butler Karve Full Suspension Bike. The price was £400, and for this you get an all alloy frame and rear swingarm, front Suntour MG81 with preload adjusters and disc mounts, rear RS-I alloy shock, Alivio 24 speed with Acera STI shifters, front Grimeca cable disk brake, rear Vuelta alloy 'v' brake, Tioga aheadset, Vuelta tyres and Airline 1 rims, Zoom stem, QR front and rear, QR seatpost plus Tioga Multi Control 2 seat with Kevlar sided panels (which can be a bit painful on long rides! ) (phew !!). The ride itself it very lively, giving great control... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average somewhat helpful