Component Reviews

Sneak Peak! New Tread Design

I have been involved in the product development end of a new tread design out of one of the major tire manufacturers for several months now. After several sets…I can say that these are probably the best cross country tires that I have ever ridden.

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Tag TR3 Composite Wheels

Ok…I had seen these wheels posted around the net on several blogs and press releases. They are the new Tag TR3 composite wheels. Curiosity got the best of me and I emailed the guys over at Tag for more information. They sent me their new press release with their booth number. Here is what I gather from the press release descriptions.

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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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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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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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