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

...Racelite 700x23c DRIVETRAIN SHIFTERS: Shimano Ultegra STI for Flight Control FRONT DERAILLEUR : Shimano Ultegra REAR DERAILLEUR : Shimano Ultegra CRANKSET : Shimano Ultegra 53a/39a CASSETTE : Shimano 12-25 10spd PEDALS : N/A COMPONENTS SADDLE : Bontrager Race SEATPOST : Bontrager Carbon HANDLEBARS : Bontrager Select OS STEM : Bontrager Select OS/7d HEADSET : VP01-ACG Semi-intg1 1/8" sealed BREAKSET : Shimano Ultegra/Shimano Ultegra STI Leavers... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average very 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

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Advantages: Lightweight comfortable fast great handling
Disadvantages: none

...is worth buying over the standard Elite as it has high quality Shimano R560 wheels and 105 brakes, which have been highly acclaimed in recent tests. The gear shifts are fantastically smooth with 105 handles at the front and Ultegra at the rear. As you would expect, the carbon fibre frame is feather light and performs brilliantly. I am working my way up in terms of ride duration but feel pretty confident that the Roubaix will match me every step of the way, no matter how far or high steep I try to ride.... Read review

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Advantages: See text
Disadvantages: See text

...Shimano Deore is the main manufacturer of biking gear components. With them being the main manufacturer they will obviously more established and well known. Shimano Deore is the better part of Shimano's gearing. They have the SIS gearing which is lower quality. The models of the Deore range is; Deore, LX, XT and XTR. With the kit's getting better as you read them. I currently have a LX rear derailleur. You are probably thinking what is better in the different models. Some people don't really care and they just want the best model they can buy. All of the rear derailleur is covered to prevent and muck and sand to get into it and wreck it. The best part of the Deore range is that when you are going up hill's or you just need to change down a gear quickly, they don't jump, forcing you to not pedal really quickly, this is really... Read review

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Advantages: Control, power transfer, efficiency etc
Disadvantages: You might fall off once or twice....

...If you're riding XC there is no other option, you should be riding clipless! Clipless pedals (so called because they do not require a toe clip & strap)improve bike control, power transfer, efficiency of pedal stroke (your foot is closer to center of spindle) & allow those that have trouble lifting the bike at the rear to cheat! Mainly used for XC not trials, downhill or duel, some platform types exist like the shimano m646's that can be good for all disciplines! There are two main players in the mtb emporium; these are Shimano who make the spd (shimano pedal dynamics) & Time who make the Atac. But I've seen loads of other makes I hear you cry - sure the list is endless, VP, Ritchey, Wellgo etc etc but at the end of the day they are all shimano copies & are usually adequate but not as good as the real thing! They are generally... Read review

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Advantages: Robust, Shifts cleanly
Disadvantages: Might be a little tricky for novice mechanics to install

...For all the non-cyclists reading this, I bet your first question is going to be "What's a rear mech?" A rear mech is the doobery-wottsit that hangs down at the rear of the bike and moves the chain between different gears, also known as a rear derailleur, although this term isn't used much because nobody ever seems to be able to spell derraileur correctly two times in a row! This one in particular comes from Shimano, who are pretty much the Microsoft of the bicycling (and fishing) world, with most bikes out there having at least one bit of Shimano kit on them these days. Deore LX is what Shimano class as their MTB Enthusiast range, which seems to fit somewhere in the middle of all their kit. I didn't actually buy myself this mech, it came with a bike I bought in 2000. Although this is now two years old, Shimano don't update... Read review

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Advantages: Fork with lockout, hydraulic disc brakes and rigid FSA crankset
Disadvantages: No travel adjustment on fork, lighter options for the money

...This review scrutinises the Kona Cinder Cone 2007. Frame tubing Kona All-Mountain Butted Aluminum Fork Marzocchi Mz with Lock out braze-ons 2 bottles, fender, Disc brake tabs Headset TH Crankarms FSA Alpha Drive Powerdrive Chainrings 44/32/22 B/B FSA Powerdrive Pedals Wellgo LU-A9 w/Toe clips and straps Chain Shimano CN-HG53 Freewheel Shimano Deore (11-32t, 9speed) F/D Shimano Deore R/D Shimano Deore LX Shifters Shimano Deore Handlebar Kona Riser Stem Kona Control Grips Kona Mooseknuckle Brakes Hayes Hydraulic Sole Brake Levers Hayes Sole Front hub King Kong KDF2S Rear hub Shimano FH-M475 disc Spokes Stainless 14g fr/14g rr Tires Maxxis IGNITOR 26x2.1 Rims Sun Black Eye Saddle WTB Pure V SPORT Seatpost Kona Thumb Seat clamp Kona QR Colour Orange The Back Country aluminium frame is fairly light and uses the same frame as the £100... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful

Advantages: Fork with lockout, hydraulic disc brakes and rigid FSA crankset
Disadvantages: No travel adjustment on fork, lighter options for the money

...This review scrutinises the Kona Cinder Cone 2007. Frame tubing Kona All-Mountain Butted Aluminum Fork Marzocchi Mz with Lock out braze-ons 2 bottles, fender, Disc brake tabs Headset TH Crankarms FSA Alpha Drive Powerdrive Chainrings 44/32/22 B/B FSA Powerdrive Pedals Wellgo LU-A9 w/Toe clips and straps Chain Shimano CN-HG53 Freewheel Shimano Deore (11-32t, 9speed) F/D Shimano Deore R/D Shimano Deore LX Shifters Shimano Deore Handlebar Kona Riser Stem Kona Control Grips Kona Mooseknuckle Brakes Hayes Hydraulic Sole Brake Levers Hayes Sole Front hub King Kong KDF2S Rear hub Shimano FH-M475 disc Spokes Stainless 14g fr/14g rr Tires Maxxis IGNITOR 26x2.1 Rims Sun Black Eye Saddle WTB Pure V SPORT Seatpost Kona Thumb Seat clamp Kona QR Colour Orange The Back Country aluminium frame is fairly light and uses the same frame as the £100... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful

Advantages: Beautiful high performance
Disadvantages: none really

...I believe these hubs have now been superseded by the Hope XC range but nevertheless I am still running one of these and am really pleased with performance... As a keen cyclist I've been using Hope equipment for years and I am currently using this hub on two of my bikes and am very satisfied with them indeed. So, why am I so pleased with my purchase... Well, for a start, although on paper they look more expensive than Shimano or similar they are not really that much more money and the following reasons should help to explain why they are worth so much more than a standard Shimano hub. Value for money, these hubs will last almost forever they are such good quality, bearings last for years and are not sealed units making them impossible to replace, instead, they are very easy and cheap to service and replace. The hub makes an (the sound... Read review

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Advantages: Very good flex distribution for multi-piece rod
Disadvantages: Handle and guide could be better for its price

.... Due to its stiff flex, it is nice to use this rod to give a reasonable hard strike to hook the fish, but I am always struggling on landing carps on this rod. I paired this rod with rear drag symetre 4000 and it works great. There are 2 dissappoitment that experiece though, my tip guide broken to half (cost me 2 quid to repair) and the handle is not firm enough for my liking. But for such flex distribution on multipiece rod, I guess that is not much better option out there. I wish that Shimano will improve this aspect and perhap put SIC guide rather than aluminum oxide.... Read review

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