i like having the seat still there for something to control the bike”

Getting the 4in drop may help you stop doing this.
You shouldn’t be “controlling” the bike via the saddle.
That’s bad bike handling IMO :-)

Re: Intense v Santa Cruz – there’s MUCH more to bikes than basic similarities in suspension platform! Geometry for a start :-)

It depends what model Rize you pick up ;-)
The high-end ones are significantly lighter (and more expensive!)

Rize is an all-day XC ride bike.
Prophet is better at more “ragging” type riding :-)

All will be revealed in the next issue BTW :-)

Sheldona and Roddersrambler are incorrect.

st – you’ve posted on our website basically questioning our professional integrity – you should have seen my pre-edited response! ;-)

Wow. Who’s deluding themselves now? You really overestimate the power that distributors have over journos! :-)

And Singletrack never review any product after just riding it at a Press Launch. All our reviews are done on home turf over a decent length of time and (for bigger things like bikes/forks/etc) with a few different riders trying them out.

How magazines from other sports (eg. skiing/snowboarding) choose to do things I wouldn’t know.

Not very sprog-friendly trails around there really. You could do some of the milder ones (and some minor roads etc) around the Greendale area.

And for grown-up riding, with only 2-3hrs to play, I’d probably go over to Miterdale Forest and explore the stuff in there. Simon’s route is a good one but will prob take longer than you have time for.

Although if we test them for much longer than 6-7 months then we run the risk of the review being obsolete by the time the mag comes out! :-)

Maybe a member of the ST editorial team could clue us in to how long forks are usually tested for reviews?

Anything between 2 months (for fork group tests – that we try not to do) and 4 months upwards for one-off “Grinder” reviews.

IIRC you get sent a link to your download and then the PDF is yours to view as much as you want.

http://www.singletrackworld.com/shop/acatalog/Premium_Subscriptions.html
“PDF Download Subscriber Info…

“PDF content is accessed via your Shop Account. This will be enabled usually within 5 days of placing your order. Full login instructions will be included in the confirmation email that contains your username and password. These details are sent to once we have set up your account. This is a manual process and can take up to 5 days to set up.

“To access your downloads just add them to your basket and checkout as normal. All downloads will appear priced at £0.00. Your download links will appear on screen in your shop receipt and copies will be sent to you via email.

“You MUST use Adobe Reader version 6 or greater to view our downloads.”

Roar! :-)

Gravity Dropper, Crank Bros Joplin and Pure Racing i900 posts reviewed in the new issue of Singletrack :-)

The new Altura Attack jacket is reviewed in the new issue of Singletrack on sale later this week :-)

Singlespeed hardtail.
More out of necessity than choice ;-/

Devs – whereabouts are they? :-)

Fair point :-)

“Don’t use your front brake”??

You need to use a fair bit of front brake (and the rear) on steps around Hebden IME. You need to go down as slow as possible on some sets because of no run-out or sudden tight turn at the bottom etc.

Don’t hang off the back of your saddle too much. Locked arms are of no use. Get low but more central on your bike. Elbows bent.

And yes, start easy/small/regular and go from there :-)

What is it exactly?
Just a zip file on that page :-)

I think it’s Afan or Cwm Carn. And not speeded up.

IIRC there’s no room for the mech clamp on the seat tube (the swingarm pivot is in the way). The Prophet was designed for E-type front mechs.

Hebden tech. Woop!! :-)

DezB – the red thing is rebound dial. The amount of Pro Pedal is the blue “hat” on top of the (also blue) Pro Pedal on-off lever :-)

A Soul and a 456 have quite different geometry though don’t they? It’s not just a matter of cost.

Regular stuff…

Editors’ Choice 2008
Gary Fisher Roscoe, Kona One20, Lapierre Spicy
Tubeless group test
Softshell group test
2008 Long Term test bikes
Singeltrack Reader Awards
Yorkshire Dales route guide

Adjustable seat posts reviewed in the new issue of Singletrack Mag :-)

:-(

Gisburn Forest.

711mm bars and a 70mm stem.

You’ll love it :-)

Go up to here.

Come down this.

Then either finish on road or down the Roman Road you started on.

Enjoy! :-)

Yeti 575’s work hugely better with a Fox RP23 turned up to 3 on the Pro Pedal IME. With it switched off 575’s can wallow around and over-eagerly blow through their travel. With it switched on (and turned up to max) the bike is completely transformed into a very, very ace bike :-)

Pro Pedal is not just about counteracting bob IME.

Some bikes feel better throughout the suspension compression with some Pro Pedal dialled on.

Pro Pedal can also improve a bike’s handling – less wibble and wallow, digging tyres in for traction, better handling through corners etc etc. I can’t stand “too plush” bikes – vague horribleness. I like suspension to deal with mid- to big-sized hits. Big decent tyres can do the small stuff.

IMHO :-)

Pro Pedal yes. I like it a LOT. I’ve not ridden a bike that didn’t benefit from a touch of Pro Pedal.

Lock Out no.

People can only enter for fun :-)

http://www.singletrackworld.com/2009/01/singletrack-mag-goes-up-to-8-issues-for-2009/%5B/url%5D :-)