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Featured Review: Hutchinson Fusion 2
by JJsKHS

Price Paid: $25.00 at chainlove.com
Review Date: October 20, 2009
Used product for: 6 months
Overall Rating: 5 of 5
Value Rating: 5 of 5

Bike Setup:
Giant TCR C1, Ultegra, Ksyriums

Summary:
I ordered a pair of these this past spring after reading positive reviews and finding a deal online. Little did I know what kind of value I was getting.

I have ridden 2,000+ miles on these tires and raced on them about 10 times. I won’t attempt a superficial ride quality quantification other than to say “they ride swell”. They have never slid out in fast crit corners or crazy descents, even in wet conditions (taking proper precaution of course).

They have also not flatted once. In fact, the only time I have had to pull them off the rim is when my crappy tubes have ruptured at the valve stems. By the way, the ease in which you can pull these tires on and off the rim can’t be overstated. I hardly needed to use levers even when they were brand new.

My pair are starting to show their wear and I’ll be replacing them soon. They have all sorts of miniscule cuts in the center tread from a season of abuse and the sidewalls are starting to fade (still, never a flat from the road). And I am 100% positive I will replace them with an identical pair of Fusion 2’s.

These tires may or may not stand toe to toe with your $60-$70 boutique tires, but for what it’s worth, they’ve more than proven themselves to me. All season long, through rainy races and over patches of gravel on my most ridden routes, every time I’ve looked down I’ve been reminded of the stubborn quality of these Hutchinsons. The name is ingrained in my mind as I have praised these tires to my riding buddies all season.

Not to mention that they also look really sharp.

Strengths:

• durability
• a child could put them on a wheel without using levers
• solid cornering grip in both wet and dry conditions
• looks

Weaknesses:

• Hutchinson is a weird sounding name (seriously, that’s it)

Similar Products Used:
Michelin Pro2Race

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Featured Review: Brooks Swift Titanium
by Iasonas

Price Paid: $280.00
Review Date: October 26, 2009
Used product for: 2 years
Overall Rating: 5 of 5
Value Rating: 4 of 5

Bike Setup:
Raleigh Supercourse (1973)/ Raleigh Interntionl (1972) / Medici Pro (1990s)/ All campy Record 10 speed system.

Summary:
This may be an unorthodox way to start, but very few would be the alternatives on what I would put on a classic 1970’s Raleigh. Those were coming with Brooks B17 actually but still, this saddle suits them much better. I think that it is either the most beautiful or at least one of the handful of those saddles that really look beautiful. When it comes to looks I was also considering the San Marco Royale, but the idea of riding on leather to me was not exactly that of having a plastic layer underneath. Once heavy thick leather breaks in, it is a different situation. The surface level softness is not really my aim when it comes to a saddle. The Swift takes way too long to break in. You need to work on it a lot and use lots of that proofide (not a lot at once, but a thin layer at a time). I also used a fair amount of leather wax in the beginning (wax based shoe polish also), which did not do as good a job as proofide. A B17 breaks in within a month or so. The swift may take at least 1000 miles and a number of proofide applications for you to sense the initial change. In the meantime you get used to the harder ride and you appreciate how well it is contoured. I can feel the bounce of the titanium rails more than that of the leather!

This saddle is not for everyone. It is for those of us that have the patience and the will to break it in and form it, and in the meantime for us to adjust to it as well. It is the saddle to use if you want to have those sudden bursts of acceleration and be able to slide on it. In the beginning I needed good padding. Now, I can easily ride it without any padding. The swift will likely never become very soft. It is not meant to be. It is a classic performance saddle. For randoneuring it may be slightly hard even after break-in. Like a thoroughbred horse, its elegance and grace are unmatched, but it will not do for just any type of riding and it takes patience and work to get it there.

Strengths:

• Beautiful just to look at.
• Once it breaks in it is comfy.
• Titanium rails have great elasticity.

Weaknesses:

• Takes patience and time to break in.
• Expensive.

Similar Products Used:
Brooks B17

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Featured Review: Bontrager Race X Lite AC Clincher Tire
by Minnesnowtan

Price Paid: $60.00 at Lutherville Bikes
Review Date: September 12, 2009
Used product for: 3 months
Overall Rating: 5 of 5
Value Rating: 5 of 5

Bike Setup:
Specialized Sequoia (alum w/CF Fork), Alex rims (oooh..), Sora 3×8 gearing (aaah….) Topeak rack & trunk bag.

Summary:
I was looking for Race X Lite Hard Case but somehow got the Race X Lite AC. The labeling mentioned flat protection and the sales guy played that up in a big way. In the store, I thought that the AC was “HC” for hard case. I had previously bought a set of Bontrager Race Lite Hard Case tires in 32mm for my hybrid, and they never went flat. So I liked the Hard Case label, and maybe I am a bit of a Hard Case too.

This was my first time ever installing a tire without a wire bead. It didn’t form a U channel in which to pour in some baby powder. It was weird, but I figured it out and got it on properly. That was at home on the couch, I don’t want to do it again on the street, but I could. I may not have to.

After a few hundred miles of riding, (some limestone trail [NCR] and lots of road) the tire looks almost like new. The is a scrape of some rubber, but it is minor. I do recall a time or two where something hard shot out from under my tire, and that abrasion is probably the result.

In contrast, my front tire (Specialized All Condition Sport) has soft tread that gets a lot of small cuts, one of them currently open and gaping (but still small). Although the front tire has been around longer than the Bontrager, it is certainly less than 1,000 miles old and makes the Race X Lite AC look pretty darn good.

Recommended pressure is 100-130 psi, so I stay at 100-110, as I am a fairly light 160 pound rider. The ride seems the same as with the previous tire (Specialized All Condition Sport, which handles well enough but is a hole-magnet), maybe slightly less grippy than its soft treaded predecessor. But it is very similar in handling from what I have experienced so far, and that is good.

My front tire needs to be replaced (due to its small gaping cut) and I may put another Bontrager Race X Lite AC on it, but this time in 25mm rather than 23mm. I may be commuting to downtown, and want something that grips in the wet and is flat resistant as well. If anyone else has experiences with this (or other) tires, please post reviews so that we can learn from you.

I rated this overall as a 5 because it has done all that is expected of it so far, and value a 4 because bike tires should not cost what car tires cost.

Strengths:
It has been doing well for 300 to 500 miles so far, and on some rough roads, downtown Baltimore city streets (such as the Hanover St bridge which has a lot of debris on and near it).

Weaknesses:
$60 for a bike tire? I can get a good, and I mean very good car tire for $66 new online. Other than the price, not enough time with the tire to find any flaws, if there are any. The LBS who sold me this bike aren’t thrilled to see Bontrager on my wheel as opposed to Specialized. Oh well

Similar Products Used:
Bontrager Race Lite Hard Case in 32mm on my former bike, a hybrid. I started club riding on it, never a flat. Had trouble keeping up, but no flats.

Pedal Force TT2 Time Trial Frame Pro Review - By Steve Cooper

Targeting budget minded cyclists, Pedal Force has dominated the performance/value segment with frames that handle on par with bikes costing many times more. Their TT2 Triathlon/Time Trial frame, list priced at $900, is no exception. In performance terms the TT2 surrenders nothing to its higher priced brethren, and from an aesthetic perspective the TT2 is alluring and draws lots of attention at any event.

For the review, Pedal Force supplied their large 54.5 cm carbon weave frame with a mid-level component package and matching fork, seat tube clamp and teardrop seat post. At 1420 grams for the frame, 460 grams for the uncut fork and 260 grams for the seat post, there are lighter time trial frame packages but with careful component selection and a little deeper budget an ultra-light TT rig can be built.

Fully assembled, our TT2 just surpasses the 17 pound mark, very respectable for a time trial bike. With a 75.5 degree seat tube, 73.0 degree head tube, and 980 millimeters axle to axle the TT2 is a steep, triathlon/time trial specific ride. Top tube lengths match seat tube heights for the full range of frame sizes. The large frame provided enough seat post shaft length to match my road seat height to bottom bracket axle of 32.5 inches. While there is another inch of seat post above the minimum insertion point, I feel as though I’m at the outer range of the large TT2’s fit window.

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TRP R960 Road Bike Brakes Pro Review - By Twain Mein

• Lightweight Dual Pivot caliper brakes
• Forged and CNC’d 6061 Aluminum Arms
• Adjustable cartridge pad holders with SwissStop pads
• Patened “Slyde” quick release
• Titanium nuts n bolts
• Available in anodized Red or Black
• Reach: 39-49mm
• Claimed weight: 120 grams each; 240 total with pads. Actual 238 grams total with pads.
• MSRP: $399; (Currently available for much less)

TRP specializes in bicycle brake calipers and levers for a range of applications including road, mountain, cross, and tri/tt. They use a variety of materials including carbon, aluminum, and titanium. The TRP R960 is the lightest in their line of road brakes and features very lightweight forged and CNC’d aluminum arms.

What strikes me first about these brakes is that they are massive. The calipers are 30mm wide. They are 100% wider than Zero Gravities which measure 15mm across. They also use three arms to enable the dual pivot mechanism. Conveniently, the centering bolt is easily accessed for fine tuning.

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Easton EC90 SLX Clincher Wheelset Pro Review - By Twain Mein

• Hand built, fully aluminum rim
• Sapim double butted and stainless steel spokes, 18 front radial, 24 rear radial/2-cross on drive side
• 20mm deep front, 24mm deep rear
• Weight: Front: 600 grams, Rear: 820 grams, total 1420 with rim strips. Estimated 1390 actual versus claimed weight of 1398 grams.
• Ceramic bearings with tool-less bearing preload adjustment
• Included quick releases skewers, 121 grams
• No rider weight limit
• $1000 msrp for the pair

A few years back, Easton bought a wheelmaker, Velomax. Velomax made some fantastic wheels, including what became the 2006 Easton Ascent II. They were highly regarded as being a great value in a superlight wheelset (1430 grams w/o rimstrips). Some folks complained that they were a bit flexy; I own a pair and they have been plenty stiff for me and the only issue I had was the need to replace the rear wheel bearings last year. Easton customer service was excellent and installation was a breeze.

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Fizik Ares Saddle Pro Review - By Twain Mein

• Specifically designed for to meet UCI regulations for time trials
• Cost: $199 MSRP
• Natural Leather Seat Cover
• Made in Italy
• ICS bag compatible
• Cool black and white color scheme. However, the white is subject to grease and fingerprints.
• Weight: Claimed 155 grams. Actual: 159.

This is a review of the Fizik Ares saddle, which is expressly designed for time trials. Fizik has been making some fantastic products and the Ares is the newest in the line. Fizik’s most well known offerings include:

The Arione — extremely popular and uniquely longer than most saddles (unfortunately, this saddle causes numbness for me)

The Aliante is perhaps the most comfortable saddle ever made; I can’t recommend it highly enough for folks who commute. And it will make any “superstiff” bike a lot more tolerable.

The Antares, while not as comfortable as the Aliante, is an excellent triathlon saddle and provides a firmer ride than the Aliante that doesn’t rob any power.

So I was really excited to test the Ares, thinking it could be the ultimate triathlon saddle.

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Lazer Oxygen (O2) Cycling Helmet Pro Review - By Paul Thai

Specs:

• Model: Oxygen (O2)
• Color Available: (8 total) Black/Grey, White/Silver, White/Red, White/Blue, White/Black, White mat, Black mat, Solid Silver.
• Material: In molded absorbing foam, Plastic sheet cover and Coolmax pads.
• Weight: Approximately 310 grams
• MSRP: $110

Introduction
The Lazer Oxygen (O2) helmet is the latest helmet from Lazer featuring their patented Rollysys system, it also is their latest helmet to win the coveted Golden Award from the Eurobike show. Winning that honor just last year, the O2 packs a lot of trickle down technology into a cost effective helmet that should appeal to many consumers given the wide range of sizes the one size fits all helmet can accommodate. The awards are not surprising for a Belgium company that’s been around for some 90 years. Founded in 1919 by Roger Lacroix, the sole aim of Lazer has been to protect and save people’s lives, starting with motorcyle helmets, and venturing into cycling and paragliding in the 80’s.

Lazer’s headquarters are located in Mont Saint Guibert. A town located about 20 miles south east of Bruxelles, Belgium. A land full of cycling history known to produce some of the fiercest warriors of cycling such as Eddy Merckx, Tom Boonen, and Erwin Vervecken. These guys know a thing or two about cycling, and Lazer is not afraid to tap into that knowledge in the development of future products. To help the company on a quest of technological advancement, the entire Quick Step road and Fidea cyclocross team are put on the pay roll. The 2 teams give Lazer all the feedback it needs to stay ahead of the game. The styling is unmistakably European and with a guy like Boonen using the helmet, it would be hard to make a product that is unattractive and unworthy.

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By Kurt Gensheimer

So you’re about to mosey on over to your local bike shop and drop more coin for your first genuine racing bike than most people pay for an entire motorcycle. You’re either new to the sport of cycling or you’ve been riding for a few years, learning the ropes on an old aluminum frame that’s one season away from the dumpster.

You’ve been watching all the Spring classics, the Giro, the Vuelta, and the Tour taking notes on who’s riding what. You’ve drooled over your own teammates’ high-dollar race rig that has more carbon fiber on it than the International Space Station.

You’ve done all your research, have test-ridden all of the latest, high dollar, carbon fiber machines, and you’ve picked your winner. The checkbook is in hand cocked and ready to besmirch every last dollar in your savings account, and all that’s left to do is negotiate with the shop so you at least have a little bit of cash left to buy some inner tubes.

But before your visions of grandeur run rampant and your checkbook becomes more hollow than Landis’ Maillot Jaune, are you sure carbon is the right frame material for your needs?

Don’t take it wrong, carbon indeed has its merits, but the recent carbon craze seems to be heavily tied to bandwagon mentality; whatever the pros are doing is what the masses want to do too. It was true in the ‘70s with drilled-out components, in the ‘80s with copious amounts of hair gel and Briko shades, in the ‘90s with those horrific lycra shorts designed to look like blue jeans, and today with carbon racing bikes.

And why shouldn’t carbon be popular? A frame and fork weighs less than a six-pack of brew, they’ve got terrific road damping capabilities, are stiffer than an I-beam – at least initially – and most importantly, carbon fiber has an indisputable cool factor. As a testament to the popularity of carbon, custom bike builders who made their name in steel are now crossing over to carbon. Names like Steelman, Serotta and Independent Fabrications all offer bank account-busting custom carbon frames.

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Vuelta Corsa Super-Light Wheelset Pro Review by Twain Mein

• Light alloy rims at a competitive price point
• 20 spoke front, 24 spoke rear with triple-butted aero and stainless steel spokes, sealed cartridge bearings and “lubeable” cassette body.
• 27mm rim
• Claimed: weight — Front: 607 grams, Rear: 835 grams, 1442 total. Actual — Front: 650 grams, Rear: 870 grams, 1520 total, +78 grams (5.4%)
• $400 msrp for the pair

This is a follow up review to the Vuelta Corsa Carbon 50 clinchers.

These are impressive wheels, especially for the unbelievably reasonable price point of just $400 for the set, including quick release skewers. They feature the same “fast looking” red and black graphics and deliver on their promise.

The wheels feature 20/24 spoke rims with triple-butted stainless spokes, and the awesome “lubeable” cassette body. They also have the same excellent quick release levers featured in the Corsa Carbon 50 clinchers. And while not as light as the claimed 1442 grams (they came in at 1520), they are relatively light and very strong.

Often times with aluminum rims, you can see the seam and joint which is at the opposite side of the nipple hole. And, as you can see from the pictures, it was impossible to see the joint in the rim, compared to another competitor. This is a nice touch and hints at the fine finishing work.

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