REVIEWS

My old full facer expired, the innards coming away from the shell. I was on the market for an alternative.

I never liked the disco Troy Lee design, and the last few seasons' paintjobs have gone seriously wrong in my opinion. Alongside the fashion nightmare, I was fed up overheating or steaming up at the slightest sign of a climb, or on a technical section I want to push up to try again (this happens a fair bit with me on the Shore).

But I do still like the idea of having a jaw.

Along comes a shiny new Specialized Deviant in poncy Carbon.

It's been two years since the last review, so here goes.

Here's a review by The Prawn of the new Specialized FSR XC Pro test bike that Marshalls Cycles foolishly lent him for a weekend so he didn't have to ride his 50lb Demo 8 around the North Downs:

There's more to it of course, but if you wanted a quick summary, that's the gems you need right there.

If you're going big, you need to know your bike can take the knocks. Most bikes this overbuilt cost a lot more than £19.99. Not Target though. They've left no stone unturned in cutting corners to make this super hardcore frame with none of the credentials you'd expect to find: so no gussets, significant lateral flex, no-travel Y-frame system, automated welding, bog standard tubing and mass mass production. At this price you can afford to break one ever other drop and still save money over a Demo 9. Awesome.

Don't believe me? Read the reviews here: CRC Review of the Target Y-frame.

This headset is brilliant. It comes with an amazing elastic band that completely traps grit and gives your headset that "just grinding those crappy bearings to paste" sounds for the 3 weeks it lasts before seizing completely in a typical British autumn.

Comes in a choice of colours. Goes in a choice of coloured bins 3 weeks later.

I ordered a fresh set of High Rollers off some bloke on e-bay for £8. Turned out I hadn't read the description properly and not only was it only one tyre, it was a 2.35 not a 2.5 like it said in the title.

Maxxis have clearly got a lot to learn about customer service.

If you've ever tried a cheap full facer, then try a Troy Lee lid and you'll realise that these things are like custom made ultralight head sofas that might also save your life if some chav throws a brick at your bonce while you're out riding.

You wouldn't dare fall on it, the graphics are far too nice to risk an accident, and the replacement decals are £30.00 a sheet anyway.

Annoyingly good, and annoyingly expensive. We like.

North Downs rider Will Young* has taken time out to put together an in-depth review of the differences that he's noticed in going from a long-cage rear mech to a short-cage - known as SGS and GS respectively.

Now, many of us feel the need (peer pressure or otherwise) to wear some protection on our heads when indulging in bike riding, canoeing, and crime fighting. so recently I chose to procure a Giro Semi MX.

I've just tried the new Flash Mark and Stain Remover - you know the one that the bloke who used to be Jacko in Brush Strokes advertises. Karl Howman I think he's called. Anyway, I digress.

Ran it under the tap like you're supposed to, then gave it a squeeze to remove the excess liquid. Kind of felt like a weird space age foamy cheese thing. Then I set off on a mission to find all the tyre scuffs on the walls of my flat and stuff, to see if it works.

Fuck me, this is an ace product. It gets tyre scuffs off in 10 seconds, and those scuffs from the end of bars where they rest on the wall and the bike slips. It even got those heat/dirt marks that you get above radiators off.

Well, they arrived this morning at 7.30.

I mean, 7.30? What the fuck was that about? Our post doesn't normally come (well at all) until about 11. So I had to actually get up and answer the fucking door. Got tyres, went back to bed for a couple of hours. Oops, late for work, but no-one cares.

So, I snipped the bits of parcel tape and seperated them. They are indeed Nokian NBX 2.3's with a steel bead. Skinny looking, but I'll put them on later. The tread looked completely unworn and very shiney. So far I'm pleased with them, but haven't had them long enough to test their durability.

Okay, lets get this cleared up first. I'm no expert, I just like riding bikes. Cool?

Here's my views of a long weekend with the Kobe Ti from Dialled Bikes...