Thule ProRide 951 Review

I don't have Thule ProRide 951 bike carrier, but my friend does, and I usually take it when we go to Finnish bike parks. After using this bike carrier for couple of years, I can easily say that Thule ProRide 951 is the most convenient bike carrier on the market. With this bike carrier, a bike can be mounted in a few seconds. User manual tells us that a maximum weight of a carried bike can be up to 17kg (37.5lbs), but I didn't have any problems mounting 19kg downhill bike. Even driving bad roads, this carrier keeps a bike securely mounted.

Specialized Demo 2011 on Skoda Fabia using Thule ProRide 951:

Review: Hollywood Express 3 Bike Rack

I've been using Hollywood Express 3 Bike Rack since 2009. From my point of view it's the most cheap way to transport couple of bikes. It's price is about $60. Hollywood Express bike rack can securely carry two bikes with the weight of 15kg (33 lbs) each. I didn't even try to put three bikes on it, cause I think it's rather dangerous. Downhill bikes are usually much heavy than 15kilos that's why it's better to take off front wheel and other quick releasing staff as saddle with seatpost and pedals.

Here is the way I mount Specialized Bighit and Trek Session with Hollywood bike rack:

Weight: Shimano PD-M530 Trail Pedals

According to Shimano web site, Shimano PD-M530 Trail SPD pedals' weight is 455 grams (1 pound), and this seems to be the truth, because my scale displays 450-460grams for the pair of PD-M530 Trail clipless pedals:

Video: Road Bike Party 2 - Martyn Ashton

A must watch video of amazing trials and tricks on road bikes, featuring Martyn Ashton, Chris Akrigg and Danny MacAskill! The most impressive bicycle movie of the last month. Even if you don't like road bikes or bike trial you would be impressed by this video, be sure!

Video: Fast and Smooth Trail Riding on a Hardtail

This guy really rips the trail with his chro-mo hardtail bike with 26 inch wheels. Super fast and super smooth riding! Great motivation to go out and ride your bike!

Cotic Bikes Presents #26aintdead a Mountain Biking video by steelcitymedia

Weight: Shimano PD-M540 Pedals

Shimano PD-M540 clip-in pedals. They are very cheap and rather lightweight, their weight is about 360 grams (0.79 pounds):

Weight: Shimano FC-M552 Crankset

The weight of Shimano FC-M552 (42-32-24) Cranks with chainring but without bottom bracket is about 860 grams (1.9 pounds):

The weight of Shimano FC-M552 Cranks without chainrings and bottom bracket is about 650 grams (1.43 pounds):

The weight of three chainrings (42-32-24) without bolts is 180 grams (0.4 pounds)

Race Face Narrow Wide Chainring for my Trail Bike

My new Race Face narrow/wide chainring has just arrived from bike-components.de. I've ordered this chainring with 34T and red anodizing.
34T narrow wide single chainring weight is about 40-50grams:

 What a great weight reduction! I've thrown away 3 Shimano chainrings with 4 bolts (-200gr), front derailleur (-150gr) and front gear shifter with cable (-170gr).
I hope this chainring will keep my chain in it's place, cause I don't want to use a chain guide.

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.