[Closed] that hemlock review on biketragic?

Not interested in French bikes thanks

I think we need to stop the Future character assassinations here people. They tested the bike, they tested it with replacement parts (effectively a re-test) and drew their conclusions. They informed me of the situation, and whilst I disagree with some of their conclusions and methods, I think they were fair. They may re-test the revised frame next year, they may not, but I shall be offering.

[i]IMO, I find it really disappointing that follow up tests & reports to articles like this aren't done & published - especially when the manufacturers/suppliers have gone to the trouble to rectify things (is it just me, or do WMB/MBUK seem to be quite bad in this respect?).[/i]

My guess is that given that all manufacturers know they have only one shot to get things right in a review, then the onus is on them to supply a bike that they want to be judged on. If they want to be judged on a bike that hasn't been assembled correctly then that's their choice.
I know that sounds rather harsh, but unfortunately that's the nature of a review.

Cotic offer a 2 year warranty and appear to have sorted the issue.

If I test rode one and liked it, I would see no reason not to buy one.

A good test ride is worth 100 reviews and 1000 forum recommendations IMHO.

Note to self, dont ever threaten benjag on the forum (big buggers hurt)

I'd get him whilst he was down, nursing a battered knee after a doubles jump fail at the moment!

benjag, for future reference Im 5ft 6, 20yrs old, blonde and talk with a broad Norfolk accent 🙂

Hang on, I sound quite tasty 😐

Juan - will 1000 words be okay? 🙂 We've reviewed the previous Hemlock in an earlier issue. I'm eager to see how the new Hemlock rides with the Fox shock, as the RockShox Pearl in the old Hemlock wasn't my cup of tea.

[b]hora[/b] said... big buggers hurt

I'd imagine your eyes would water at the very least.

I want to test ride a Hemlock now. Bother. Just when I need to be saving up. 😀

MBR had a canonndale fail on them and gave it 3 out of 10 but also printed what canonndle said they also rereviewed it a few months later when the mods had been done. They also put in pictures of what happened.

Juan - will 1000 words be okay?

6'4", 34, yorkshireman, although I'd be more worried about Ton than me!

Right, lets settle this once and for all; Cy, I am 6"3" and about 18 stone in kit, if you could send me a built up Hemlock, (I would like xt, pro 3's and thomson finishing kit, oh, and a travel adjust fork.) If you could also include approx 500 quid for misc expenses (petrol/B&B's/apres ride Lia Fail)

In return I will test it round the Grampians for the next 18 months, and post on this site, and Bikeradar about how I get on. My lack of any skill combined with my almost child-like confidence in my ability to get down vertical slopes makes me an ideal person to test it's robustness

Not having ANY connection with the bike press everybody can be sure of getting an impartial review, so both you and the stw users win.

No,no, don't thank me...

[i]"Well I'd like to know more about how it's test"[/i]

I was thinking of riding it a lot.

[url=

Singletrack Test Bikes[/url]

duckman - that's a lovely offer. You shouldn't have. No, you really shouldn't 😉

I'm 6ft 3in and 14st in riding kit and not exactly a pansy on the bike, so I'm reasonably well covered for big lads! I haven't broken mine, either.

...........with more action pictures, etc etc

Something you can colour in perhaps?

I hope 18bikes got mine before they ran out!

I just had to have one after demo'ing it at GT. Cy - I'm the bloke with the dodgy beard that came back grinning ear to ear!

Just wish I had the funds to get some Thors and Martas for it. First time I've ridden Magura kit and was duly impressed by it.

Oh, and while I'm here, what length stem do you have on yours? That is a great set up, it felt so 'right'.

Cheers!

uplink nope but something that is going to give me a hint about how the bike is tested.

When you pay 4£ for a mag you expect a bit more of a test than one page with half of it filled up by a static picture of the bike.
I'd like to know how many hours the bike has been ridden, by whom, where, what did they did with it etc etc...
You know basic stuff

mustard - glad you like it, I remember you! 18 haven't ordered anything recently unless they have a stock frame, so you may have to wait a while. It'll be June for sure for the re-stock.

My bike runs a 70mm x 10deg stem with Bontrager King Earl 710mm wide bars. I think the Rhythm Pro bars are the equivalent product for 2009. Seatpost had 20mm layback.

I saw a medium frame in stock at 18 bikes at the weekend.

Juan - Nice idea. I'm not sure Singletrack is the mag for that though really. We're not a product-led publication. That's kind of the point really. We're about features and words and flowery w*nk. We're about the "why" not the "what".

Did you read any of the non-test features in the issue you purchased? 🙂

Ben

I too am fed up of static pictures of bikes in Singletrack. Next time you test a bike, could you print a series of pictures of it in the top right hand corner of every page. Then I'd be able to thumb through the magazine at a variety of speeds getting a very real impression of how it will ride.

My 09 Hemlock rocks hugely.

That is all.

Second Higgo's moving pics request!

I too am fed up of static pictures of bikes in Singletrack. Next time you test a bike, could you print a series of pictures of it in the top right hand corner of every page. Then I'd be able to thumb through the magazine at a variety of speeds getting a very real impression of how it will ride.

That's a genuinely brilliant idea. Free 'video' with every copy!

I'd like to know how many hours the bike has been ridden, by whom, where, what did they did with it etc etc...

Sound like one of those Euromags. Have you seen a German cycling mag? Stats heaven! Yawn. = ;7)

Completely ignore the joke, putting little videos featuring bikes reviewed on the website when the mag hits the newsstands could be a nice idea.

Did you read any of the non-test features in the issue you purchased?

If you are a non product driven mag why do you do test then? If you go through the trouble (or not) to do some testing why not do it properly?
I was looking forward to it to be honest as I would quite like the orange, however before buying a flight ticket to test one I would have love to know what people think of it.

Is it that daft to ask?

I have a pic in a recent mag (not STW)upstairs, showing a bike on next to a spirit level, clearly having angles checked with a digital measure. Shame they seem to be measuring the head angle using the fork stanchion [img] [/img]

FWIW, I don'r read much into most magazine tests these days. STW seems to be the only one with half an eye on real riding and riding related to wha I ride - the others seem to witter on about the same pet hates/dislikes or blow up a minor point into a big one etc etc

I didn't like the flexi Hemlock MK1, but having seen and twisted a few of the new ones, and ridden one as well, I would buy one (heck, it was plan A with short rockers on my insurance replacement rather than the ST4). I would trust Cy's response and support over the journo's, despite the clear failure.

Tests have their place in our mag but it is not the be-all and end-all of the mag. To fit more test pages in the mag would mean losing feature pages elsewhere.

Other more product-led magazines are available.

BTW get the Orange.

Second Higgo's moving pics request! Come fella's this is a good idea.

Juan, if you don't buy don't moan about the content. You could be from Yorkshire, put your hand in your long pocket and reach.

BTW get the Orange.

I did 8) It is schweeeet

Other more product-led magazines are available.

My wife bought me a couple recently. I read them and come away feeling that all they say is 'buy, buy, buy - last years is soooo crap and outdated, you *need* this new one thats en-vogue*

I read STW, and generally come away thinking 'ride, ride, ride and oooh, gotta ride there some day and hmm, they are nuts' etc

I sort of see what Juan means. I dont think it explored the content enough (of course only IMO- everyone has an opinion)- more along each bikes intended use, more on each build etc etc (i.e. depth) as I was- silly I know, confused on how the commencal sat in the range (infact until you dig through their site its pretty confusing)- 666, 6 etc etc.

Sod all the studious explanations of why it's a sound design. Where's that picture of Jon jumping one over a fence? 🙂

i did a 4 foot drop on deejays hemlock loan bike prior to it breaking with his 10 stone frame on it....... 😉

i've had my Hemlock for 2 months and i love it. i haven't bent or broken it, and haven't found flex to be an issue.

the way i see it, it's a sturdy, light bike, with Dh friendly angles. it allows me to ride technical xc trails, without fearing for my life/face/teeth when i point it down something steep.

it even goes uphills alright, the top tube is a touch shorter than my old enduro, so i don't fall off the back when i pedal.

it's possibly the most fun bike for its weight...
(remember boyles 3rd law: you can break anything with a big enough rock)

i hope one day Cy makes a super-sturdy Hemlock, because that would kick ar53 on uk Dh tracks.

mind you, if the current frame passed the new euro strength-test, then it's no weakling...

Bikeradars (numerous) reviews on the Meta 5 draw your attention numerous times to its flexy rear end (one occassion loosening the QR), especially on a group test where they said the Giant (Reign?) was superior technically (and all round) yet the Meta won for its woop/grin-factory. WTF?

They pointed out themselves that the meta had a flex problem and (to me) the shoot-out was worded/weighed firmly in the Reigns favour. It was actually that review that stopped me buying a Meta 5.

Cy

Have 18Bikes been in touch with you about their demo bike? I had it last Friday and was really enjoying it. Climbed most of Jacobs Ladder without a problem, came down the other side really well - felt spot on - excellent on the twisty single track and way lighter than I was expecting. I was working out in my head how to spec it when . . . .

[img] ?v=0[/img]

The washers were fitted. As you can see from the shock the travel was no where near used up.

Oh and Ton was NOT allowed on it

Yes, they've been in touch about that one. We're not sure what happened there, and I'm still looking into it. The next lot coming over in June won't have that design anyway, but I'm still concerned and I'll admit a little puzzled. Since we sorted the spacers out we've not had any trouble, I ride one all the time without problem and it really isn't like they're dropping to bits left, right and centre. It's even passed it's lab tests, so I'm still trying to figure out why that did what it did.

I'm glad you were enjoying it up to that point.

Is that what they call a virtual pivot floating suspension design 😀

I'm glad you were enjoying it up to that point.

I really was and would be very happy to try a new one when they appear - mind you 18Bikes might not let me 😉

I've never broken a frame before. Cy, throw my name into the test pool. I found a crack on my 456 Summer season yesterday 🙁