Reviews

My reviews on bikes and parts.

2008 Ellsworth Evolve 29er Final Review

If you are looking for an incredibly fast cross country machine…take the Evolve for a test ride. You will not be disappointed. This bike performs flawlessly for what it was designed for…fast, hammering xc singletrack. I had some friends throw a leg over the ride during this test session and on our local trails…the Evolve was hard to beat.

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Ellsworth Aluminum All Mountain Wheels – Preview

After the exclusive interview with Tony Ellsworth, I got set up with a demo set of the Aluminum All Mountain Wheels for review. They came this week and here is your first look at the set. Check out the pictures and specs in the post. This should make for a great test against the wheels that I am used to…Industry Nine’s and Chris King’s.

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Wrenched – The Bike Maintenance Video

As I have said numerous times, every rider should have some working knowledge of their bike so they can perform routine maintenance and repairs. Many of these simple tasks may be the difference between walking and riding back to the trailhead. The problem lies in the delivery of this crucial information.

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Avid Juicy 5 Hydraulic Disc Brake Review

Are you looking to make the switch to disc brakes without breaking the bank? Are you tired of the poor lever feel and performance out of those other “budget” disc brakes? Look no further than the Juicy Fives from Avid. Before the introduction of the Juicy 3’s, the Juicy 5’s were Avid’s answer for low cost hydraulic disc brakes that didn’t perform like their price would suggest.

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Schwalbe Big Betty UST 2.4 Mountain Bike Tires

I have been a huge fan of Schwalbe tires for quite awhile. The Big Betty has been my go to tire for 6″ travel bikes because of it’s mass/volume, tremendous grip, fast rolling and surprisingly light weight for a true 2.4 tire (2.5 at the tread). They have, until now, only been available in a Gooey Gluey and Triple Compound version…no UST.

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Fox Flux MTB Helmet Review

Finding the right helmet that fits your needs and your head can be a difficult task with all of the different versions and brands on the market today. Fox jumped into the mountain biking helmet scene in 2007 with the Flux. After looking over the Fox’s list of features, I decided to give it a try several months ago.

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Hope Pro II Hubs – Preview

I came home yesterday surprised to see a package from Hope Tech on my doorstep. The Hope Pro II hubs had arrived for the Fox Talas 15QR thru axle review. Included in the package was the 15mm and QR end caps with the 20mm thru axle end caps installed on the front hub. For the rear hub, I opted for Hope’s 10mm thru axle setup to stiffen up the rear end.

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Ellsworth Evolve – Project Pink 29er – Review Update

The momentum that 29ers create is well documented. On my local trails, the larger diameter wheels are incredible. Locally, almost everything is typical rolling cross country loops with rocks and roots, but there are no major drops or typical “all mountain” riding. The low top tube of the Evolve really gives the bike a lower center of gravity causing you to feel in-between the wheels instead of on top of them.

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