Bikes

This is where you can find details of my bikes and reviews of bikes I’ve tested…

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‘Alpenized AM’ 2006 Specialized Rockhopper Disc – XC/AM bike

120mm Rockshox Reba RL (2012)

Rockshox Reverb 125 Hydraulic Adjustable Seatpost

Shimano SLX Dual/Bash Chainset

Shimano SLX Front Mech – Dual Ring

Shimano XT/SLX Shifters

Shimano XT Rear Mech & 11-32 Cassette

Stan’s ArchEX rims with double butted spokes

Superstar Trizoid DH & Switch EVO hubs

180mm Helix disc rotors front & rear

Easton Haven 711mm All Mountain Alu bar

Superstar Zenith AM Stem - 80mm

Crank Brothers Mallet 2 DH Pedals

Blackspire Stinger to minimise chain slap and more importantly to keep the chain from coming off on the rough stuff

Continental Black Chili Rubber Queen & Mountain King 2 tyres with tubes…for now

Since moving to the Alps I have slowly been upgrading this bike to make it more capable on the steep stuff.  I have slightly sacrificed climbing ability by fitting a longer travel fork but what I lose going up it more than makes up for coming down again!  The ‘Dropper’ seatpost is an invaluable bit of kit over here too

Current Weight :  12.0 kg

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2011 Trek Session 8 – DH Race Bike 

A full on Vertical Assault Weapon.  >200mm of travel front & rear to soak up everything in its path.  SRAM X9 drivetrain, Avid Elixir R 200mm brakes, 720mm wide bars.

Current Weight :  16.7 kg

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Nukeproof Snap Urban Dirt Bomber - Park / Street / Jump / 4X Race Bike

This is the latest addition to the stable and also my first custom build

- see all the progress of how it took shape over 2 months in the summer of 2012 here

This bike was primarily built as a fun bike to ride ’round town (and to use up a lot of the spare parts that came off the Rockhopper – see above) but with the opening of a new DJ track 10mins ride up the road it will be getting a lot of use there – as well as the BMX track and local skate parks.  The total build cost was £495 (€630) not bad when the cheapest fully built version retails at over a grand (€1,300)  Plus it was great fun to build…but even more fun to ride!

Current Weight :  13.6 kg

Nukeproof Snap Urban Dirt Bomber

TEST BIKE :  2011 SPECIALIZED ENDURO COMP

Spent a few days with this last summer and it’s an amazing machine.  Climbs like a mountain goat and easily held its own on some fairly gnarly DH runs in Montgenevre.  The Command Post is a great (and well needed) bit of kit too.  If I could only own one bike over here this might well be it.

A real all mountain ride and a serious contender for the title of “One Bike to Rule Them All”

TEST BIKE : 2011 SPECIALIZED STUMPJUMPER FSR ELITE

Had a few days last summer to put this full-suspension Stumpy through its paces and I can sum it up it two words : WELL BALANCED

A truly great bike that is as happy nimbly climbing as it is descending at speed.  But it really comes alive on twisty, technical single track where its perfect balance shines through.  No matter how hard you push it you always feel in control which gives you the confidence to ride a little harder than you normally would.  It’s a fun & lively bike that seems to enjoy having two wheels in the air as much as on the ground.  It would be nice if you could adjust the shock on the fly though.  Other than that, a true legend of the trails