Singletrack have had their awards and the last issue of the magazine had the staff choice; so what are the forum dwellers favroite bits of kit from 2008.
It start by nominating home brew lights - Night riding is fantastic and what is better then doing it on the cheep with a light from Tesco and some plumbing bits from B&Q.
Rules: Must be something you own or use regularly.
Avid Matchmakers.
Pointlessly pimp, but they really do make my bars look lovely!
Not 2008 gear but my product of the year is a pair of 2006 Marzocchi 66SLs I bought in Autumn. Performance close to 888 dh forks but only approx 6lbs!
I am getting a lot of satisfaction from my camelback bottle - love it!
For me it's the Dialled Bikes Alpine, fantastic bike that just get's better and better.
Ti5456
Not sure if its kit but Nuun tablets are a great invention. I drink/sweat loads so being able to energy powder in an nice little packt with me on rides is a massive bonus.
wingnut hyper 3
recommended by ssstu
top bit of gear.
Best performing kit for me has been an old XTR rear mech and a Vanilla RC coil shock, neither of them new but they just keep on working year after year.
As for new kit, the Hope led 4 has been very good.
Fulcrum 5 road wheels - used as my general training/ riding wheel all year, hit every pot hole in Derbyshire and never moaned once - great because I never even think about them.
Pikes again
My 10 quid waterproof I got from sportsworld!
Best kit for me this year - hard to choose 1 thing so it's a toss-up between the Ergon BD1 backpack, Exposure Maxx-D and my Garmin 705. I'd recommend all of them...
My tesco torch :o)when my dinotte light went t1ts up and had to go back to the US
Pikes here too but Motor Tabs work for me.
Long service award has to go to my LX shifters. Came to me on a s/h bike and have been on my bars ever since. That was 3 years ago!
Shimano MT51 boots, got them in a sale for £19.99 and love them.
Bought a 456 frame to hang all the bits lurking in my workshop on, hardly ever ride anything else now...
...but seem to have upgraded many of the parts and now seem to have almost enough stuff to hang on another frame!
Gore Alp waterproof shorts.
Endura stealth jacket is fantastic.
TI456 out of this world!
Endura stealth jacket is fantastic.
TI456 out of this world!
Sombrio Vapour jacket
16" 853 Black Inbred
Lidl waterproof winter gloves. They do what it says on the tin!
bionicon eddison
and prince albert...
Fox Sergeant shorts.
Nothing spectacular performance wise but they look great.
Wingnut Hyper 3 and Endura Stealth Jacket.
They've both made a real difference to comfort while riding.
Bike wise the Singular Gryphon prototype. Never had so much fun on drop bars.
I've built up 2 Dialled Bikes' bikes this year and think they are both wonderful. The Alpine sneaks it over the Mk1 PA as I've been places with it that I have never been confident taking a HT before. Strange thing is, I've just sacrificed its bits to build up a 5 Spot, but I've no intention of selling it.
456 Summer Edition - the frame that's kept my Prophet indoors a lot.
SLX discs - cheap, great, pretty.
Bonty CF Risers - a great blend of looks, function and width.
Endura eVent waterproof 3/4 length shorts.
They keep my bum dry without making me boil. Haven't tried any other waterproof shorts, but I don't need to.
Aldi windproof softshell jacket, worn it loads since I got it earlier this year.
Gore Phantom; especially as I managed to get it for only £50.
Shimano SLX shifters and rear mech; after several years with SRAM I'm now back to Shimano and grateful for the far more robust rear mech and minimal profile.
Forks that are properly good. This year we've seen 20mm axle'd 140mm travel lightweight XC forks that work brilliantly, in all sorts of flavours and prices...
My xmas pressie last year was a headset press what a joy to use and it has been used quite a lot. Once word gets round you have a headset press its surprising the number of people who want you to fit a new headset I have done 6 in the last year. 🙂
My Rebas, 661 evo knee pads and the Fox shorts I got in the Evans sale.
Pair of £15 LiDL MTB shoes. Taken a right battering, so far, and show no signs of giving up. Proof that a lot of other branded kit is a rip-off.
Oh, and the £9 Tesco 3W torch. Proof that other, far more expensive lights are a rip-off.
And just to show I'm not a total skinflint; Sealskins waterproof socks. Sooo nice to have nice warm, dry feet!
Rudeboy, that's not a rip off, that's called choice...
My AyUp lights, just work with ace customer service, opened a new facet of riding for me.
nickc; yeah, I suppose you're right. You can CHOOSE to be ripped-off, or not!
I've bought top-branded 'mtb' kit, and much cheaper non-specific stuff, and there's very little difference in quality, if any at all, with most of it. I appreciate some things are made by smaller companies, and are always going to cost a bit more than stuff that's made in huge volume in huge factories staffed by people on very low wages, but there is still a lot of stuff that is simply over-priced.
For balance, for example; I've bought Hope hubs, which cost a good bit more than other equivalents, and been glad of the investment in quality. So, as you say, 'choice'...
All the Superstar gear that I own.
My Castelli Espresso windstopper jacket.
Dirtworker. End of ride, squirt off the mud, bike goes home clean, no rows about destroying the house, etc etc. Genius kit.
XT Shifters - smoother and better than the rest
E13 bashguard in stead of a big ring, with a 36 tooth middle ring. Just brilliant for the kind of riding the Iron Horse gets used for.
Wingnut Enduro Pack - light, comfy and stable, side pockets = ace
Pure Racing Cobra i900 seat post - reliable and practical
Altura Attack 3/4 waterproof shorts - dry nads
Ibis Mojo - pretty and hardcore
Kona Ute - absolute blast; carry kids, shopping, spare wheels and go fast downhill in comfort
Endura full length trousers. Expected to sweat like a pig. Didn't. Happy boy.
one of those neoprene thingys you put on your forks to stop mud flinging up in your face.
essential!
so much ive got in the last few months have been great. highlights tho gotta be wingnut hyper 3 and shimano winter boots for my riding comfort.
bike wise im loving the five spot 😉 the talas forks seem to be working out great too and the dt ex1750 wheelset with rws levers i got to upgrade the wheels really stiffened (is that really a word) up the front end too
Stan's Olympic Rims run without tubes. I wish I'd tried tubeless before.
midge bars,they look fun but are very very comfortable,they amaze me every time i ride them,fantastic on single track
Hope Tech X2 brakes
Dirtworker
Gore Cosmo Windstopper jacket
Conti Mountain King Supersonics
Garmin Edge 705 and yet to try ATC5K camera. Of course my ever so trusty mount Saracen Zen2
Ibis Mojo - it's...it's just....there are [u]NO[/u] words to describe how good it is.
XTR Crankset (This has got to get the award for most improved since its last incarnation. The rings seem to last forever)
Gore Fusion trousers - They're frickin amazing. There's nothing to them, how on earth do they keep me warm, not sweaty and looking good?....the mind boggles.
Dirtworker - No more muddy bikes in the house.
I have XTR cranks and really can't say they're noticeably better than the latest XTs. It's a purchase I wouldn't make again.
GF - I don't have the latest XTs, was just comparing M960 - M970.
My Joystick Maxx.
And the Aldi padded short liners, now I can finally wear my Endura baggies in comfort.
Galvin Green Goretex Jacket
Aldi Flapjacks
Aldi Winter Gloves
Asda MTB Tyres
My 2 Alfine setups - boomin marvellous.
Specialized Radiant gloves. I used to really suffer with cold hands in winter and I've never found a warm glove that isn't the size and weight of a boxing glove - until now.
Endura eVent jacket, a truly waterproof waterproof that didn't break the bank, fits well, looks good and has all the features I want with none of the pointless fripperies.
it would have to be my wellgo pedals i dont think the pins have worn down at all in 2 years!!!! and i ride to school everyday and mountainbike most weekends.
Raceface Dh 3/4 shorts. Bombproof, comfy, not too hot, not too cold.
Thor gloves.
Maxxis tyres
RRP p1ssflap neoprene mudguard thing - one of the best things i've ever bought for my bike. Obviously it can be done ghetto style with inner tube and zipties, but that doesn't involve spending any money and where's the fun in that?
Honourable mention to my Dialled Alpine, as it's a proper ace little bike.
2nd hand pikes and slx 20mm hub. Cheap way to transform a bike!
Also oro k24's are top.
Gore Phantom Jacket - just superb!
Hope Stainless BB - ridden it to hell and back and still okay
Defeet Woolie Bolie socks - still comfy when wet.
Waterproof trousers from Millets - avoids puddle water enemas.