Product Testing.
Up for test review:
Thomson's new X-4 stem and Mastercraft seatpost.
Kenda Tires.
Middleburn Cranks
Skins
SKINS www.skins.net
"I feel like I can recover from the race a day earlier now, and that means I can train again sooner", reports Andy. We put the Skins on after the race and immediately start to feel great. Even going up and down stairs you feel better and do not get that tired/sore feeling according to Wes. With the Travel/Recovery tights we feel our training and recovery is greatly improved. After a hard race or workout we will sleep in Skins and wake up much more refreshed.
For the travel part, on long drives we will wear Skins to keep the legs from getting stale. This is a must for airline flights as there is limited mobility there.
The Skins are very comfy and highly prized by CycleYouth.
The science is the compression fabric that helps "vascular return". This means it helps the blood flow back uphill from your feet and legs to your heart.
We have always known that on cold days when wearing long tights that performance was increased, but could not really credit it to the regular sports tights. The Skins technology has proven that and take it one step further.
Our Skins Travel/Recovery tight is defiantly a favorite in our cycling wardrobe!
Kenda tire review
Christian Fontaine (Kozmik II front and rear):
How long have you been using the product? 2 years
What did you use similar to this before? everything
What is the best part of this product? the way they shed mud and the grip
How does this make you faster? I can slide easily through the turns and catch grip on the uphills
What do you think about the weight of it? they are very light
How does it handle? very well
What are some of the characteristics of it? how the tread seems to shed mud easily
Is it easy to use? yes
Andy Johnston:
Kozmik II and Tomac Short Track 2.0
The Kozmik II is what we call the sleeper. It is a great tire, despite it's meager appearance. The tire tread has a low profile (semi-knob) that would look like it would not grip in many conditions. We rode this tire in Pisga National Forest in damp conditions over slippery rocks and roots and were amazed at the gripping power of this lightweight tire. In these conditions a deep tread wasn't needed, rather the short treads were perfect as they did dot fold or bend under extreme pressure.
For muddy conditions the tire will shed mud easily, but does require advanced pedaling efficiency to not slip up steep hills. It's not intended for muddy conditions, but we use it in the mud a lot.
The tire rolls very fast on hardpack, much like a semi-slick will.
The only weakness is as a front tire when turning in hard-pack trails with sand overlaid.
The Tomac Short Track amazed us with its grip. So little there, yet it bites the ground. The tire is a semi-slick with a 'file-tread' pattern all over and small knob at the edges for turning. It feels like a slick when riding on the road, but grips better than a lot of knobbies on dirt. Since it has so much more contact with the ground (as opposed to all the spaces regular tires have between knobs) there is more rubber on the road. Even in wet conditions the tire hooks up. The side knobs provide plenty of cornering traction, but don't slow the rider when riding in a straight line.
Tire has been used on the rear only so far. It looks like it would work great for the front as well.
Single Track Solutions Rear Fender:
Such a simple design, yet so functional.
The sts rear fender is a shaped plastic cut-out that fits nicely under the rails of the saddle.
It installs easily on most any bike, but some saddles require cutting the fender to fit.
In wet conditions the fender keeps you chamois clean and dry, and saves you saddle the wear and tear associated with sitting on mud and dirt while riding.
Some even use the fender on their road bikes to keep spray off their shorts.
It's nice not to get hit in the back-side with water or mud while riding.
It weighs nothing.
THOMSON X-4 stem
Simply incredible. The new stem takes holding the handle bar to the bike to new heights. A lot lighter, yet still stiffer. The X-4 uses the newer style 31.6 mm bar clamp, which makes everything stiffer - less flexy.
The styling is smooth, yet retains that machined look.
We have replaced the steel bolts with titanium bolts with no problems or breakage.
Kenda Karma Tires
The Kenda Karma tires are by far my favorite. I have used these on front and rear this year. I made the change from my Kharismas as a last minute thing before a very, very muddy race. Man, have we had a lot of muddy races this year! Anyway, it was an excellent decision. They shed mud like it was dust! It was the best decision I have made this year, considering I have raced in the mud for 75% of my races. I really like the traction I get when cornering and climbing. They are a great all around tire.
My brother, Jansen is using the Kharismas on both his front and rear. He really likes the low resistance and that great feeling he gets when he hammers through the flats during his races. He is totally stuck on this tire and promises that it is the reason he can sneak past all those men on the long climbs. He won't use any other tire!
My mom uses the Karma on the front and the Kharisma on the rear. She really likes the combination of speed and stability that this set-up gives her. She feels more comfortable taking the corners fast with the grip that the Karmas give her and likes the quick turn the Kharismas give when climbing in a difficult, technical section.
I guess I just have a Kenda family all around! They have been very good to us. Thanks!!
Everett Lindner
Middleburn Cranks
In short, these cranks are the most versatile cranks ever made.
Besides being really light and cool looking you can use them
for any application.
The secret is in the locking spider design. Most of CyleYouth
use the Dou, 2x9, set-up. This is a small inner ring, usually
29 or 32 teeth, and an outer ring, usually 42 or 44 teeth for us,
but a 27 inner ring and other outer rings are also available.
On the Duo model the inner ring attaches to the crank arm
and the outer ring attaches to the inner ring as if the inner ring
were a spider arm.
For our triple users there is a spider ring that attaches to the
crank and the chain rings attach to that as usual.
These can also be set up as single speed cranks by bolting on
a single chain ring.
New bcd on the market? Middleburn likely makes a spider or
ring to work with it. so, 10 years from now when these cranks
are sitting on the floor covered in dust, you can still mount them
on your project bike with whatever new chainring configuration
happens to be the trend.
Show here is Wes with black cranks, a red spider-arm and
regular FSA rings. Many anodized colors are also available.
How do they work? GREAT! These use an internal bottom bracket design which we favor. The old-style bb's are more mud-proof and spin much easier as the bearings are tucked inside the frame and have a smaller dust seal (less area for contaminants to get in). Though it is said all that drag on the external bb's does not translate into resistance we still prefer the internal for now, for it's low maintence mainly.
I do not think I will bend either an internal or external bb spindle so am not as worried about stiffness there.
The Middleburn chainrings come with a radical hard coat which is a sort of anodization that penetrates the metal and creates a much more durable tooth than other chainrings. Our chain rings last the whole season and into the next.
Check these out and buys yours at www.mtbtandems.com
Test
