Enervit sent us a sample of Enervitene Cheerpacks to try, RL sent it my way knowing that I have the “Vision Quest” 56 mile and 12,000 feet of climbing mountain bike event coming up.

I have been training hard for the upcoming event on March 20, 2010, and I need every edge I can get this year.  I just had my second child a month ago and there has been a lot of sleepless nights.

I have registered for the Warriors Society “Vision Quest” as a Rigid Single Speed so I have my work cut out for me,  I have been hill climbing like mad. My training has consisted of riding from home up the side Saddleback Mountain and returning home completing a 20 mile loop. My other training has been digging trenches, moving palm trees, and renovating the my entire yard.  I wanted to test how my body would react to Enervitene before race day, so I conducted my own basic test after six loops totaling 120 miles.

I did not know what to expect when I opened the first packet. It was a refreshing orange flavored syrup that went down easy. The twist off cap is so easy to use even with gloves on while riding the trail.

For three loops I took one Enervitene Cheerpack at mid ride and finished my 20 mile loop though the hills strong. When I arrived at home I was not winded or fatigued after an intense loop pushing hard, nor did I feel a crazy buzz. I just felt good being able to stay awake and help clean up the house after my ride, a Happy Wife is a Happy Life.

Vise versa I drank only water and ate two bananas on three rides and rode the same loop and was fatigued when climbing out of the trail pulling back into my neighborhood. The experience was about the same each ride and I would then want to sleep the rest of the night, this would make my wife crazy.

Enervit also sent some after ride recovery R2 it tastes like orange flavored medicine but it too works. I took the R2 recovery supplement after two 20 mile loop rides, and again was able to keep training the next day. I even took some in the early morning before work when I woke up on the wrong side of the bed after an intense battle in the yard the day before.

I would recommend these two products, as I feel my testing has proved to myself that it does work. The biggest test will come this Saturday March 20, 2010 during the  Warriors Society Pow Wow event. Riding  56 miles in dirt is hard enough let alone on a single speed, I have confidence that Enervitene will help me arrive at the finish line in fair shape all 245 pounds of me. I think if Enervite can keep “The Animal” fueled up on the trail, it most likely will help you too.

R2

R2 is an energy supplement loaded with branch chain amino acids, vitamins and minerals that accelerate the body’s natural recovery process after intense, prolonged exercise. R2 helps restore correct protein levels, and stave off fatigue and its symptoms, and contains simple carbohydrates that replenish your body’s depleted glycogen stores.

Use: Post-workout

Essentials: Simple carbohydrates, branch chain amino acids, L-glutamine, vitamin C, vitamin E, potassium, magnesium, polycosanols

Below is some more info about the product

Cheerpacks provide an immediate, caffeine free boost of energy for that mid-ride surge or finishing kick. This is fast energy delivery, in a resealable packet. So effective, it’s almost like cheating!

Use: Finishing stretch, mid-workout push, Essentials: Fructose, maltodextrin and B-group vitamins, Flavors: Original, Orange.

http://www.veltecsportsusa.com/default.aspx?tabid=331

Please click here to read our review disclaimer as required by the Federal Trade Commission.

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MtnBikeRiders.com first heard about the KHS SixFifty 606 just before Interbike 2009. Excited with the 650b concept, I couldn’t wait to see it in person in Las Vegas. To date, there are only a few manufacturers entertaining this wheel size as part of their line-up. The 650b (27.5”) is the third option in mountain bike tire size. It falls in between the established 26” and the revolutionary 29er (29”). The 27.5” tire is fairly new in the current MTB arena however the tire size itself has been around for many years. The 650b is designed to roll faster than a 26” bike, yet is lighter than a 29er and will fit smaller riders.

BIKE SPECS:
Frame
650B” Full Alloy, Hydroformed Tubing, Gussetted Headtube
Fork X-Fusion Velvet, 650B
Headset Cane Creek A-Headset 1-1/8″
Rims Weinmann XM280 Disc Specific, Doublewall, Black, 650B
Hubs Alloy 6-Bolt Disc, QR, Cassette
Tires Kenda Nevegal Folding Kevlar, 650B x 2.1
Spokes 15G FT/14G RR Black Stainless, 32°
Front Derailleur Shimano Deore
Rear Derailleur Shimano SLX
Shifters Shimano Deore Pods w/Optical Gear Display
Chain KMC Z9000 w/Master Link
Crankset Truvativ Fire 44/32/22
Bottom Bracket Truvativ GXP outboard cartridge bearing
Cassette SRAM PG950 11-34, 9 Speed
Pedals Wellgo Alloy Platform
Seatpost Alloy micro-adjust
Saddle WTB Siverado
Handlebar FSA XC300 31.8, Alloy
Stem FSA OS190 31.8, 3D Forged
Grips PowerTools Dual Density
Brake Levers Hayes Stroker Ryde
Brakes Hayes Stroker Ryde, 6″ rotors
Color Gloss Red w/White Panels
SIZES: S, M, L, XL
MSRP: $1199

ABOUT ME:
5’10” 195lbs, 40 year old male, mountain biking enthusiast.

TESTING GROUNDS:
SoCal’s finest: Aliso Woods, Whiting Ranch, Fullerton Loop, Santiago Oaks, Turnbull Canyon and Santa Ana Mtns. (Coal Canyon & Skyline).

THE BIKE:
The KHS SixFifty 606 was ready to ride from the day it was picked up from the KHS office. Already pre-assembled, there were only minor adjustments and changes that I had to make. First were the pedals. The SixFifty 606 came with the generic plastic flat pedals. To give it a thorough testing, I installed one of my Crank Bros Candy pedals. I then made an adjustment with the handlebar position pushing forward by a few degrees. With its initial set-up from the factory, I felt cramped the way it was laid back. Last were the throw on the brake levers of the Hayes Stroker Ryde. These seemed to be installed right “out-the-box” where they were too far for my index finger to reach. From here I was ready to go! Later on I installed Ergon GC2 grips with integrated bar-ends.

AESTHETICS:
The KHS SixFifty 606is truly a good looking bike. The top tube is a unique hydro-formed shape that resembles a hexagon shape. It’s a solid hardtail frame. I love the color scheme of red, black and white. Looks very sharp and FAST!!!

COMPONENTS:
The components paired up with the KHS SixFifty 606 would be considered mid-level. Far from the top of the line, however the performance was exceptional. First is the Hayes Stroker Ryde. Like its predecessors, it provided excellent stopping power. At high speeds I was able to control the corners on a fireroad descent with light dabs on the lever. The Shimano Deore shifters and the SLX rear derailleur performed really well. The shifting was precise and crisp. (during a race I had minor issues with shifting; it was later resolved with adjustments).

The X-Fusion Velvet is a very good fork. For a 100mm of travel it performed really well through the trails I frequent. Although geared for XC, I did take it on a few runs down technical/rocky sections such a Rock-it in Aliso and portions of the Troy Lee trail in Corona. Short of additional travel, it handled the well.

Rounding it off with Kenda Nevegals. All of my bikes are equipped with the Nevegals, so off the bat I’m already partial to it. Needless to say, it performed well to my standards.

PERFORMANCE:
Climbing: Ascents on the 650b, whether it was on a long grinding fireroad or technical switchbacks, the semi-big wheel motored up without any issues. You are centered in the best position to make a quick fore-to-aft shifts in upper body weight that make a difference in handling. I always felt balanced on the SixFifty 606. When I was crawling up tight switchbacks the 650b felt like a 26” bike. On sandy sections where I had struggled on my 26” bike, the semi-big tires motored through it. Finally, climbing on and off the saddle felt great… off course it’s a hardtail.

Descending: Through the various trails that I rode the SixFifty 606, there were never any descents where I was uncomfortable on. The bike felt great and rolled exceptionally well over rocks. Off course I didn’t ride it on a six inch (or more) required gnar-gnar trail… after all, it is a XC bike. But for the likes of Chutes (Santiago Oaks), Rock-it (Aliso Woods) and portions of the Troy Lee Trail, the SixFifty handled really well. The 90mm stem placed me in a better position than the traditional 110-120mm XC stems.

Cornering: The SixFifty 606 was very nimble. It felt light and responded quickly to my steering.

I had the opportunity to race the SixFifty 606 at the Mt. SAC Fat Tire Festival. The course laid out dry, sandy un-groomed trails as well as hard-packed dirt. The bike plowed throughout the course. Then somewhere in the middle of the race I started experiencing “ghost” shifting which hindered acceleration on certain areas. Never the less, I finished the race however did not place.

At the same race but in the Pro category, a better testimonial came from a Charles Jenkins, Professional Racer who won on the KHS SixFifty 606. See video below:

WEAKNESS:
I found no weakness with the SixFifty 606’s performance. Other than the mis-shifting that I had encountered during a race the bike has performed exceptionally well on the trails. The gears shifted on queue, the fork was plush and reacted well to the trail.

One thing that it can benefit from is a diet. At 29lbs, for a hardtail there are plenty of areas where lighter components can be used. Short of wheel selection for the 650b size, the rest are standard in the market. However with an MSRP of $1199.00, it’s spec’d appropriately with the components listed above.

SUMMARY: The Good just got Better…
Since taking possession of the KHS SixFifty 606, I have logged approx 300 miles on it. Riding the 650b I did notice a faster rolling bike. In the beginning I wasn’t quite convinced, however I rode it frequent enough were I eventually felt the difference. It has many characteristics of the 26” yet the benefits of the big wheeled 29er. I would often switch between my 26” bikes and the 650b throughout the week and on the same trail. The SixFifty is so enjoyable to ride, that I would have smiles for miles on the trail. I wouldn’t mind having a 650b in my stable however I’ll have to rid some of my 26” bikes first

For more information on the KHS SixFifty 606 visit www.khsbicycles.com.

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I recently received the Prologo Vertigo Nack to review. I’ve only put about 40 miles on the saddle, so this is just a quick first impression and some pictures for everyone to look at.

Out of the box, the Vertigo Nack looks plain Jane from the top save for the flash of gold on its rear

Out of the box, the first impression you receive is that this baby is light! The Vertigo family has three different variants: Vertigo, Vertigo Max and Vertigo Nack. All are designed for mountain biking. The lightest and most XC oriented saddle is the Vertigo Nack. I don’t have a gram scale, so my office’s postal scale will have to do. It came in at a svelte 5.8 oz which translates into 164.4 grams. The posted weight of the saddle is 163 grams, so I’d call this truth in advertising… a rarity. A push with my thumb yields a decent amount of padding up top, but its the butt’s opinion that will matter.

Mounted on a Thomson post to my Niner AIR9, where this will probably stay for a while

I’m coming from a WTB Rocket V saddle and I was surprised to note that the sizes are similar. The Rocket has a more upward sloped rear end to its saddle as part of the whale tail design while the Vertigo Nack eschews that element. The length and width are pretty similiar with the WTB being a slight tad bit shorter than the Vertigo Nack. I really should get up a picture of the two side by side. I guess that will have to wait until the review.

The rails look like they have a carbon fibre weave (but it may be just for looks) and distance markings, note the red dots, but they are hard to make out. I could barely make them out with my own eyes, let alone get them to show up in a picture

The fit and finish on the saddle is good. The base is made of carbon fibre and kevlar and looks really cool! So cool, that I wish it was the design on top so that EVERYONE would be able to see it when I ride. Oh… vanity! The cover is made of Lorica and the design is low key. A quick search for the word Lorica nets me: a Latin word literally meaning body armour. This doesn’t help me very much but I will be testing the durability of this product with some use over the next couple of months.

The underside of the saddle is pretty. The white “Prologo” against the red/black weave is a nice look

After putting about 30 miles on the saddle the first weekend I received it, I was surprised to find that I was immediately comfortable on it. I basically copied the same clamping angle (got to love the Thomson posts for that!) and location on the rails as I used for the WTB. This put the saddle in a very comfortable position. Saddles, in my opinion, are a highly subjective piece of equipment and as such I was very concerned my sensitive tush wouldn’t take well to the Vertigo Nack. I was sorely (or not sorely) mistaken.

A little more detail of the carbon fibre (look?) weave of the rails

A review will be upcoming after more miles and saddle time on the Prologo Vertigo Nack.

For more information check out the Vertigo Nack here.

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The WTB Wolverine tires came stock on the KHS XCT 555 that I reviewed. I’ve been riding with these tires for a few months now and I wanted to provide our readers a review in the event they are looking for a new set of tires to roll with.

Before we get started, here’s the specs:

Wolverine

USAGE:All Mountain
CONDITIONS:Moist to Dry / Hardpack to Loose
MSRP:$50 Race / $60 UST / $60 AM TCS
In the wild, wolverines are known to attack anything, often preying on much larger animals. On the trail, the Wolverine confidently tackles dicey descents, flies across flats and devours steep climbs. This fast-rolling tire’s moderately-spaced tread pattern combines plentiful working edges that cling to hardpack and outside knobs that let you shred corners. Like its namesake, the Wolverine’s slight profile belies its fierce bite.

SIZE GMS LEVEL WEIGHT DETAILS
2.2 54/52 RACE 560g aramid bead | dna rubber | lightweight casing

WTB markets this tire to be used in ALL Mountain riding conditions. Though there is a XC version of it, the set I tested are pretty XC worthy since it only weights 560g. I’ve taken these tires all through out Southern California from mild XC trails to DH race runs as well as the 4X track.

One of the things I liked about the WTB Wolverine tire is that is a low profile design, which translates to a faster rolling tire. I find that higher treads means more grip, but you sacrifice speed. However, the tread pattern and the right height makes this one fast, grippy and aggressive tire. I can easily get my speed up with these tires and take a fast corner without worrying about washing out. If I were to compare these tires to the rolling resistance of another tire, I would say its right up there with the Kenda Small Block Eight. If you’re not familiar with the SB8, that’s one FAST Tire, but you sacrifice traction when you’re in loose terrain. With the Wolverine, you get great speed and great traction.

Not sure if you’ve noticed, but if you look closely, you may see that I’ve set up my wheels as a Ghetto Tubeless. Basically I used a 24″ tube, filleted it down the middle to act as my rim liner, I then installed the WTB Wolverines, poured in some Stan’s and Voila! Tubeless.

Surprisingly the WTB Wolverines worked well for my tubeless conversion. I’ve been running them with this set up since I got the bike and it does make a difference in the tires riding capabilities. In fact I felt more confident with this set up than I did with tubes. I basically get less side to side rolling. What I mean is, if I’m taking a corner, I lean in, I feel the tires grabbing terrain and the tire doesn’t feel like its going to peel off the rim. I believe this has something to do with the rubber compound that WTB uses (DNA). Cheaper tires will often feel squishy on turns and may even washout more than better quality tires.

Flats? I’ve had a few thorns, 3 total. But since I’m running tubeless, all I did was pull them out and keep riding. I really don’t have anything negative to say about the WTB Wolverine 2.2. I think they are awesome tires, works great as a front and rear, plus they are fast! I’ve never had issues with the sidewall getting torn or punctured. If I need to remove the tire, the bead is super easy to work with. Installing is a breeze and they worked with my Ghetto Tubeless Conversion.

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The Sette Ace was sent to us by the kind folks of Sette USA as a demo bike. Here’s a bit of info before we start with the review.

Price: $999 from Pricepoint.com

Specs:

Frame Aluminum 7005
Size(s) Small (16.5″/42cm)/Medium (18.5″/47cm)/Large (20.5″/52cm)
Fork Rock Shox Tora 302 Air (4.72″/120mm) w/PopLoc
Rear Shock Rock Shox Monarch 2.1 (4″/101mm)
Shifters SRAM X7, 9-Speed Trigger
Front Derailleur SRAM X7, Low Clamp, Blk, 34.9 Top Pull
Rear Derailleur SRAM X7 Black Long Cage
Shifter Cable/Housing Jagwire Slick
Brake Levers Avid Juicy 3
Front Brake Avid 160mm Rotor
Rear Brake Avid 160mm Rotor
Hoses Avid Hydraulic Hose
Crankset Truvativ Firex 3.3, 175mm, Black, 44/32/22T
Bottom Bracket Truvativ Giga Pipe XR, 73mm English
Cassette SRAM PG-970, 11-34
Chain SRAM PC-971
Headset FSA 1-1/8″ Standard – Black
Handlebar Lightweight Alloy Riser Bar- Black
Grips Durable Ergo Grips – Black
Stem Lightweight Alloy – Black
Saddle High Performance Saddle – Black
Seatpost Lightweight 6061 Alloy – Black, 31.6 x 350mm
Rims Mavic XM719 32H Black, Presta Valve
Front Hub Shimano XT M756, 6-bolt Disc Brake, 32H black, QR
Rear Hub Shimano XT M756, 6-bolt Disc Brake, 32H black, QR
Spokes 14/15 Gauge Double-Butted, Stainless Steel, Black
Pedals Shimano PD-505, Silver
Front Tire Kenda Krusher 26″ x 2.1, 60 TPI
Rear Tire Kenda Krusher 26″ x 2.1, 60 TPI
Color(s) White
Warranty 5 Years
Weight 29.8lbs/13.5kg (w/Pedals, Medium Size Avg.)

The bike was shipped to the MtnBikeRiders.com HQ in the same way it would be if you purchased it from Pricepoint.com. After assembly, I made sure everything was tight, aired up, and lubed. I set my air shocks to have at least 25% sag. I took a quick spin around the block and right away the bike felt very nimble and agile.

One the first day out on the trail, I chose to test it on the Fullerton Loop. This is a simple trail that combines some climbs, descents on all sorts of terrain that ranged from single track to pavement.

One thing I need to note, the Sette Ace weighs in at 29lbs (used my scale in the garage). Though its not a super light weight XC bike to some people’s standards, the bike felt light and quick. During a nice pace on the single track, I was able to get it on the big ring and mash on the pedals to see how fast I could get this bike to roll. I’m not your typical XC rider that weighs in at 130lbs. No sir, I’m a big boy, I’m weighing in around 206lbs right now. So that meant there’s more effort on my part to get me rolling fast on the trail. With that in mind, the Sette Ace is easy to get up to speed and maintain the pace. Quick turns and switch backs are not a problem because the bike responds like a small sports car.

Let’s talk about aesthetics for bit. We all know that when you’re looking for anything, a major factor on your decision relies on how the product looks, right? Sette Ace goes with a classic white look with a few gray and black accents on the frame. Most of the folks that I showed the bike to, all liked the all white scheme. In fact one of our friends even mentioned that the Ace reminded him of his old Santa Cruz.

On the Sette Ace, there was one feature that was new to me since other bikes that I’ve tested didn’t come with it. It’s the POPLOC System on the Rockshox Tora. Other forks do come with a lock out, but having the remote ready to when ever you need it means you’re saving time and you’re keeping both hands on the bars, which translate to safety. When I first got the bike, the fork felt like a pogo stick, but that was quickly remedied by making a few quick adjustments on the rebound and after that, it was like butter. The RockShox Tora never flexed during my testing nor did it give me any problems. Air pressure stayed the same throughout the time I rode the bike, about a good month and a half.

Strengths:
Climbs REALLY well. As long as you have your air pressure correct in the rear shock, you’ll have a very efficient ride going up and down the hill.
Very nimble and responsive.
It has a potential to be a good 4x rig…its a vision I have for this bike…
Never bottomed out (yes it can handle jumps)
Great mix of good parts. Rockshox, SRAM X7, Avid and Truvativ
Shifts like butter, thanks to the Jagwire cables and housing.


Weakness:
Wouldn’t be so bad if it was at least 26-27lbs. But then again, the rider could simply lose the weight difference through a simple diet plan.
Brake rotors warped. I noticed that there was a slight warp to the rotors when I first got it. The demo bike I rode was previously tested by another organization. So its possible they had something to do with it. Other than that, the bike stopped on a dime.

Summary:
The Sette Ace is a pretty decent contender amongst other XC race bikes in the market. It has good parts, an awesome price point and it looks good. I also have to mention how this bike rides overall. Though its not as plush and squishy as my ALL Mountain Bike, it certainly is quick and very responsive. I certainly liked the Sette Ace and Priscilla did as well. The Sette Ace is the perfect bike for guys or gals who have been riding a hard tail and want to step into the Full Suspension XC bike without breaking the bank. You really can’t go wrong with the Sette Ace, low price ($999), great parts, light enough to race with and the white frame is simply HOT!

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This past year Joe “J Sizzle” Solancho hooked up our team with a new team sponsor “Spenco“. If you haven’t heard of this company yet you MUST check them out. The company offered to send us some sweet gloves to ride with. I must confess that I initially was not impressed with the limited selection of colors to choose from. What can I say? I am a girl and I like pink – deal with it. I didn’t let my color preference deter me from giving these gloves a test run though.

Specs:
Designed with cold weather riders in mind, these gloves are declared “perfect” for temps as low as the 30’s.

Anatomically pre-curved for maximum comfort
Patented channel over the median nerve reduces hand fatigue and numbness.
Fleece lined for warmth and comfort even when wet.
Silicone dots on palm ensure great grip.
Neoprene cuff and wind gusset designed to keep cold air out.

MSRP: $39.99

The riding conditions this past month have been a little chillier than this california native prefers to ride in. Great opportunity to whip out my Spenco “COLD SNAP” gloves. Now you must understand Lady P does not like the cold – hence the reason I reside in SO CAL. I am a cold blooded gal – seriously. My hands and feet are always freezing. RL screams at night when I place my feet between his legs because my feet are freezing to touch. Perhaps this is a little much information for you but I say this only so that you can get a FULL understanding of how extremely sensitive I am to ANY cold conditions. The cold makes me shiver, my teeth chatter and my bones ache. Granted, it is not thirty below zero, but 40 degrees in SO CAL is about all the cold I can handle!

Me wearing Spenco Cold Snap Gloves.

Anyways, now that you have an idea on my tolerance for cold lets continue. The past few weeks the temperature has deterred me from getting in a few good mountain bike rides. It’s sad, I know. This past Saturday though I was determined to make it out to Aliso Woods because rain is in the forecast for the next two weeks! When we arrived out in Aliso Woods at 8am I stepped out of the car and immediately thought that perhaps I should have just stayed in bed. It was cold and overcast and big rain drops were beginning to fall. Even the hottest blooded man I know (RL) was complaining! I threw on my third layer of clothing (no kidding) and tried to tape up the ventilation holes on my shoes but the tape wouldn’t stick because of all the dirt on my shoes. This was in addition to my ear warmers and leg warmers. It was cold. You get the idea.

RL reminded me I had my Spenco gloves and I knew immediately my hands were going to be a’ok. I have got to tell you that these gloves are a sure bet for keeping your fingers protected from the cold. These gloves are thick but not so thick that you can’t grip your brakes or drop a gear without ease. The outside fabric is tough, but the inside is FLEECE – wonderful fleece! That fleece kept my fingers toasty even as the temperature dropped another 10 degrees riding through the lower canyon.

RL wearing Spenco Cold Snap Gloves (he loves them!)

These gloves have become an absolute necessity for my winter mountain bike rides. My fingers don’t feel numb as they typically would. Actually last year I had to line my hands with a latex glove that would leave my hands looking like a wrinkled raisin by the end of the ride because of all the moisture. Since I have received these Cold SNAP gloves though I haven’t had to rely on latex to keep my hands warm. It’s still cold, but it’s much more manageable with these gloves. There’s other cool features – like silicone dots for gripping, and some sort of patent channel to reduced fatigue in the hands or something like that. That’s all great and all but what matter’s to me most is my hands are not freezing and I can still maneuver my breaks and levers. This makes Lady P very happy. Now if they can just come out with some socks for my toes so that they don’t feel like they are going to fall off.

I am pleasantly surprised that I have enjoyed using these gloves as much as I have. Sure, they aren’t as feminine looking as I would like them to be..BUT they do what they are supposed to do – they keep these manicured fingers protected from the chill. And as long as that makes my bike ride that much more enjoyable then this glove gets two thumbs up from Lady P.

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We received the e thirteen LG1+ chain guide as a test sample a few months back and I’ve been testing it ever since.

This was mounted onto my Sette Venom. This bike is primarily used as my DH bike and has seen racing action at Fontana and Mammoth Mountain.

Specs:

PRODUCT DETAILS
Includes the enhanced Taco direct mount bashguard
NEW!

Wearplates have chainring size indicators for simple adjustment
NEW!

Easily change chains and chainrings w/o removing wearplates
NEW!

Captive gold anodized alloy hardware
NEW!

Adjustable direct mount Taco bashguard accommodates all backplate designs
NEW!

Tech 3 Stealth Idler
NEW!

Available in black or white
ISCG 05 kit includes ISCG adapter plate for use on frames with NO ISCG tabs
ISCG OLD kit does not include ISCG adapter plate
Made in the USA

Weight: 169 Grams
Chainring size compatibility: 32T-36T or 36T-40T

Installation was straight forward and pretty simple. I got this thing dialed in within 45 minutes. That included me removing my old MRP set up and installing the LG 1+. Since the Venom doesn’t have ISCG mounts, I had to use the adapter kit. Once that was set, I also made the adjustments for the unit to accept my 38t chain ring. I really liked how the LG 1+ allows you to micro adjust your guides to go from 32t and up to 40t.

Though the LG 1+ boasts that its super light weight and durable, that wasn’t my main concern during the testing period. I wanted to make sure that this thing kept my chain in line, and on the rings.

I’ve had the privileged to test this unit through many practice and race runs at Fontana. On my last race, e thirteen was with me and helped keep my chain on the ring which led me to take a 4th place position.

There really isn’t anything bad about the e thirteen LG 1+, its pretty simple to install, works great and it looks pretty sharp on my bike!

The e thirteen LG1+ can be found all over the net and the prices range from $119-$127.

Between you and me, if your chain falls off due to rough terrain, that could spell a few things, you’re going to lose time during a race and you can potentially damage something like your chain or ring. Having the LG1+ is great for the bike, but it’s also peace of mind since this will assure you that there’s nothing to worry about when you’re bombing down hills except for that boulder in front of you.

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I’ve been riding the Sette Venom for a few months now. It originally came to us as a frame for a build project.

You can easily order the Sette Venom from Pricepoint.com. As of this writing, the frame is for sale at the price of $499.With the frame you’re getting a Rock Shox Vivid 5.1.

I’ve been riding the Sette Venom for a few months and it has even seen some racing action. The bike debuted at Mammoth for the Golden State Finals. I was able to claim a 4th place position in my category.

So how does this bike perform? Pretty well if you ask me. After the build I weighed it, and I was able to get the Venom down to a pretty lean 35lbs. That’s not bad considering I was using this bike as my primary downhill bike. The head tube angle on the Venom is set at 68 degrees. You can actually tell right away when you sit down on it that the angle is not as slack as a bike that is comparable like the KHS Lucky 7 at 66.35 degrees.

If anything, the Venom could actually be set up as a great All Mountain bike. You could if you wanted to since it has the ability to run a front derailleur. I had thought about that set up because it would make the Venom more versatile. But I opted to run a chain guide with a 38T ring for DH racing.

The Sette Venom actually rides pretty plush. Thanks to the Rock Shox Vivid! The bike excels on the turns and berms. At the Mammoth race, on the lower section of the course, there were some deep berms that were gouged out by previous riders on their race run. So by the time my category (we were the last ones to go) lined up, the corners were pretty much chewed out. So that meant that some of these turns were deeper and faster. Turn after turn, the Venom would hook up, and launch me out of there with conviction.

Specs:

Material 7005/ 6061 Aluminum
Welding Tig Welding
Rear Suspension Travel 7″/ 177.8mm
Recommended Fork Suspension Travel 7″-8″/ 180-200mm
Headset 1-1/8″ Standard
Front Derailleur 34.9mm Bottom Pull
Bottom Bracket 73mm
Max Rear Tire Clearance 2.5″
Seatpost Size 31.6mm
Seat Clamp Size 34.9mm
Disc Mount IS Standard
Shock Length (eye-to-eye) 8.75″/ 222.3mm
Shock Stroke 50mm
Damping External ending stroke rebound, beginning stroke rebound,
and compression
Available Sizes Small (17″/43cm), Medium (18″/46cm)
Color(s) Red
Weight

11.35lbs (w/ Shock, Small Size Avg.)
Warranty 5 Years

Here are some of the things that I really enjoyed about the Sette Venom:

1. Affordable
2. Light DH/FR bike
3. Unbreakable. The bike fell of my roof rack…no damage.
4. You can use standard QR wheels in the rear (135mm spacing)
5. Takes corners and berms like a real man
6. Rear end reacts to the trail conditions. No pogo stick effect from the Rock Shox Vivid
7. Adjustable travel, 6-7″
8. Pivot bearings are legit. Haven’t had any issues.
9. Front derailleur ready
10. Great DH bike for anyone on a budget.

Some of the things I didn’t like about the Sette Venom:
1. Ugly color.
-I wasn’t a fan of their version of “red.” The Venom is more of a brick red than an Angel’s Red.

There really wasn’t more to list on the negative side. All in all I was pretty impressed with the frame/bike and in the months I’ve tested it, I didn’t experience any issues with the frame.

Summary:

The Sette Venom is a legit frame. Race tested and Rider approved. This frame has been through many crashes on the trail and it even fell of my car while I was transporting it. For the price, you can’t beat it. This frame is perfect for anyone that is on a budget wanting to get into DH. It’s bombproof, reliable and its affordable. If there’s anything I could stress about the Sette Venom, it would have to be the cost of it. $499 is crazy for a frame that could do all the things that I had it do. Shoot, some XC frames cost more than the Venom. At least with the Sette, you can abuse this thing and it keeps coming back for more. The Sette Venom helped me get through 2 downhill races, both times I placed 4th, and it has been a blast to ride through some of the local trails in Socal.

Here’s some video that shows the Sette Venom in action. I’m the guy wearing white with green sleeves

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I am a fan of Robb Sutton’s website bike198.com. I have his site on an RSS feed and I enjoy reading his postings. I especially like his content including his well written reviews and pictures. So color me happy when he produced an ebook called: Ramped Riding for $20.

Ramped Riding ebook

In these down economic times I’m always looking for a deal. $20 for an ebook to me is a bit steep, so I put off purchasing it for a while. Yesterday, though, I saw that Robb Sutton was offering the book for FREE to subscribers to his newsletter. Alright, now that’s a word I like to hear!

Ramped Riding
I immediately subscribed to bike198.com’s newsletter and proceeded to download his book. With great anticipation I sat down to read a few chapters last night. As I got past the preliminaries (intro, table of contents…) and into the first chapter I noticed something: the content in the ebook sounded eerily familiar. I began to think “Where have I read this before?”

My smile turned upside down as I hopped on bike198.com and searched his site. To my dismay I realized that Robb Sutton had taken his postings on bike198.com and strung them together to create an ebook. Even worse, he was charging people $20 to read the ebook when the contents of the ebook were on his website for FREE.

Don’t believe me? Here is a screen shot of the table of contents.

The first few topics and the corresponding webpage:
The Perfect Mountain Bike… here
What Kind of Rider are You?… here
14 Must Have Items for Every Ride… here

Now, I’m just picking random topics:
How to Turn At Speed – Keep Momentum … here
Rocky Mountain Bike Trail Techniques … here
#1 Way To Get Over Descending Fears … here

How about page 2 of the table of contents? Maybe some new stuff later in the book, right?

Nope, just more of the same.
Miles, Miles and more Miles … here
The First 30 Days in the Saddle … here
Top 5 Ways to Get Back on the Horse … here

These are word-for-word copies from the website to Ramped Riding. Also, the book has very few pictures: 6, total. There is a picture to start each each section but no pictures in the topics (couple of diagrams). The pictures that were on the the website did not make the book.

In the end I did not read the whole book, or maybe I did. I’ve had an RSS feed on the site since early on and when I wasn’t busy at work I did go through the site’s history to read his postings. But, I didn’t last night.

Would I recommend Ramped Riding?
No. Ramped Riding is not original material. My recommendation is for you to spend a couple of hours or days on bike198.com and you’ll have read Ramped Riding AND seen pictures that aren’t found in the book. You’ll also read his reviews which I recommend. Subscribe to Robb Sutton’s site bike198.com and skip the ebook.

Editor’s Note:This post reflects the opinion of the writer and not of MtnBikeRiders.com.

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