Degree Headset for my Trail Bike

As I have mentioned in the second part of my Corratec X-force review, this bike has a very steep headtube angle equal to 69 degrees. It's rather uncomfortable to ride steep mountain trails with such angle of the headtube. I was searching the web trying to find possibilities of reducing my bike's head angle. There are several angled headset manufacturers. The most popular and the most expensive is Cane Creek Anglset headset. There are also K9 Industries Angled Reducer Cups and Degree headset from Workscomponents.co.uk. Unfortunately all of these manufacturers don't have out of the box headset for Corratec X-force 2011-2012. My bike has a ZS56/ZS56 headset.
I've wrote a message to Anglset support:

Specialized Demo 8 2011

Couple of years ago my friend have sold his old Norco A-Line 2007 and bought brand new frame Specialized Demo 8 2011 in yellow colour. Needless to say, the cost of the frame was equal to his two month salaries. He was very happy to buy such a high-end downhill frame, even if there were no any mountains in our community. He always buys expensive staff like Troy Lee Designs D2 helmet and Fox 40 fork.
Let's see his bike's specification:

frame: Specialized Demo 8 2011 with Fox RC4 shock;
fork: Fox 40 RC2 Fit;
crankset: RaceFace Atlas;
wheels: Kore hubs with Sunringle MTX 33 rims;
handlebar: Truvativ Boobar 780mm;
seatpost: thomson elite (came with a frame);
pedals: Wellgo B-54;
brakes: Avid Elixir CR Carbon with 203 rotors;
transmission: Sram X7 or X9
chain guide: E13 LS1 with taco;
tyres: Intense DH FRO Lite 2.5.


Sorry for these ugly photos of a bike.

Broken Trek Session 88

My friend was riding his Trek Session 88 for couple of seasons. Trek Session is a very lightweight frame. The whole bike with Boxxer and average components had a weight less than 17kg (37.5lbs). Session was the lightest downhill frame on the market in the year of manufaturing. Maybe this lightness caused some strength problems...

Video: How to Become an MTB Rider

Every mountain bike board and blog have posted this outstanding video today. Mine one won't be and exception. I think this VOD will beat the score of MTB videos!
Most of the steps are familiar to you, aren't they?

Thanks to NSMB

My Bikes from 2007 till 2013. Part 3. Specialized Big Hit 3 2010

<<< Part 2

In the end of season 2010, I've bought new frame - Specialized Big Hit 3 2010. All of the components were take from my previous bike setup - Fireeye Griffin.

Frame:   Specialized Big Hit 3 2010;
Fork: Marzocchi 66 RCV 2009;
BB:   NC-17 ISIS MTB Pro Bottom Bracket;
Crankset:   FSA Maximus DH Chainset  170mm 32T;
Front wheel:   WTB Dual Duty FR + WTB 14G Spokes + WTB LaserDisk Super Duty 20mm;
Rear wheel:   WTB Dual Duty FR Rim, DT Swiss Champion Stainless PG Spokes, Cycledisign 2 sealed bearings hub;
Brakes: Avid Juicy 5;
Handlebar: Da Bomb Apache 750 Bar 2010;
Saddle: BeOne Blizzard Ti Alloy Saddle;
Tyres:   Tioga Factory DH;
Chain guide: Truvativ Boxguide;
Rear Derailleur: SRAM X.5  9sp;
Shifter: SRAM X.5 Trigger 8sp;
Chain: KMC Z82 8sp Half Silver;
Cassette: SRAM PG830 8sp;
Grips: Lizard Skins Logo Lock-On Bonus Pack - Peaty

Corratec X-Force 2011-2012 Bike Review (Part 2)

<<< Part 1

I've been riding my Corratec X-Force 0.3 2012 since April 2013, and I've visited two Enduro races in Finland with this bike.
My first impression of a bike was: "It's so light and so fast! I push a pedal and the bike accelerates very quickly!" My Specialized Bighit 2010  weights 19.5kg, and it doesn't accelerate, that's why I was very surprised when X-force gave me opportunity to turn pedals and go faster on non-downhill trails and in the city.
Corratec X-force is like a XC bike but with downhill capabilities. 140mm of suspension is enough for agressive trail riding. X Fusion E1RL rear shock works similar to Fox shocks. I like to have about 30-40% in the rear with this shock when I go down a hill. When I go up, I use lockout to get better riding position.

My Bikes from 2007 till 2013. Part 2. Fireeye Griffin

<<< Part 1

In the winter of 2009 I've bought the most cheap mtb freeride frame at ChainReactionCycles  - FireEye Griffin with Manitou Swinger 4X shock. It's a frame with 180mm of travel, with chro-mo front triangle and alloy rear swingarm. Equipped with Manitou swinger shock, suspension of this bike works very very well. This frame is worth every penny paid for it. The only minus of Fireeye Griffin is a high position of bottom bracket. Most of the components were taken from my previous bike.  I've installed new Avid Juicy 5 brakes, Marzocchi 55 ATA fork and new FSA Maximus DH ISIS Crankset. This is a photo of complete bike in the begining of 2009 season:

First Steps on Wiggle Balance Bike

This summer I've decided to buy first bike for my 2 years old daughter.
I've been choosing between Rebel balance bike from ChainReactionCycles, Strider bike from Ebay and Wiggle balance bike. I've ordered Wiggle balance bike from wiggle.co.uk, cause it had the most cheap delivery cost to my country.

Wiggle balance bike with a "Tour de France" decal has a steel frame, front brake and cheap plastic/foam wheels. The bike is rather lightweight, its weight is only  3,7kg without brake. The frame of the bike is rather high. It's designed for children 1m of height and higher, that's why I've cut the seat tube of the bike to the minimum to fit my daughter. She's only 90cm.

Wiggle Balance Bike:

My Bikes from 2007 till 2013. Part 1. Stark Pusher

My first mountain bike was Stark Pusher 2007.
It was equipped with crappy RST Gila fork,  semi-slick Kenda tyres, heavy wheels and bad pedals.

After few months of riding I've decided to change the most crappy components. I've bought Marzocchi Bomber Drop Off 150mm fork, Wellgo V8 Copy pedals and Bontrager Earl 26x2.4 tyres. The bike had begun to look like a freeride hardtail.

After riding in the mountains on this hardtail bike, I've decided to buy a suspension frame.
In the winter of 2009 I've bought the most cheap freeride frame at ChainReactionCycles  - FireEye Griffin with Manitou Swinger 4X shock.

Part 2 >>>

Corratec X-Force 2011-2012 Bike Review (Part 1)

Summer season is ending, and it's time to write a review of my new all mountain bike Corratec X-force 0.3 2012.

Stock bike specification:
Frame:      X-Force - 140 mm Travel - 2CIRCLE Supension - Alloy 7005;
Brakes:     Shimano M596 Black 180/180;
Bottom Bracket:     Shimano BB51;
Crankset:     Shimano Deore M552
Derailleur Rear:     Shimano XT RD-M780 shadow Rear derailleur;
Shifter:     Shimano DEORE SL-M591 10 Speed;
Handlebar:     zzyzx MTB 720 Low Rise 8 degree sweep;
Saddle:     Corratec 2012 MTB;
Stem:    zzyzx 70mm;
Forks:    Manitou Minute Pro Remote 140 20TA Taper;
Rear Shock:     X-Fusion E1RL 200mm;
Tyres:    Continental Mountain King II 2.4;
Wheelset:    zzyzx, 20mm front, 135x12 rear, 19mm rim width.

Stock weight of the bike was 14.45kg (31.86lbs) with magnesium MG-1 pedals: