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Parlee Altum Frameset Review by Matt Wikstrom

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Parlee has a reputation for high-end custom-built carbon fibre frames, but in recent years the company has turned to Asian manufacturing in order to expand its catalogue. The Altum series comprises three models (Altum, Altum-R, Altum Disc) that were introduced last year. In this review, Australian tech editor Matt Wikstrom takes a looked at the lightest version. Bob Parlee made his way into the bicycle industry after a long career (27 years) building sailing boats. While there may not be an obvious link between the two, boat-building provided Parlee with extensive experience in a variety of crafts (such as woodwork)...

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ALL ABOUT ROAD HUBS

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In the universe of bicycles, hubs are the sun and everything revolves around them – literally.  The best rims in the world are worthless unless they are built around a great hub. If the hub ceases to function properly, your ride comes to a halt. For this reason, ENVE only specs Chris King, DT Swiss, and now the ENVE Carbon Road Hub. So, what is it that makes these hubs great? Let’s lay it all out there… First, these hubs reduce the tradeoffs between reliability, strength, weight, stiffness, and efficiency better than any other hubs we’ve tested. RELIABILITY The best...

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PRAXIS BB30 TO GXP CONVERSION BOTTOM BRACKET

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We first found out about and sought after the Praxis Works Conversion BB when our Turner RFX arrived for testing and we realised that it had a BB30 shell.  Since we only had SRAM GXP cranks on hand and we also have an aversion to the BB30 system in general, we reached out to Praxis Works to see if their solution could get us out of our current quagmire.  Fortunately they obliged.  Read on to see how it treated us over the last few months.   Specs For SRAM™/Truvativ™/Quarq GXP™/ISIS2STEEL Spindle, also Oval Concepts 400 series MTN cranks. Designed precisely to SRAM bearing stance & chain line spec. Forged...

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Elliptical Chain Rings Don’t Work (Because You Won’t Let Them)

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New research shows how biomechanics trump bike mechanics Depending on how you feel about elliptical chain rings, a new study on them will either sound like a snipe hunt or a deep dive through cycling’s warehouse of obscure and useless novelties. The new study in question has reached profound conclusions on longstanding debates and generated new areas of study for how this magnificent mechanism we call the bicycle actually works. The short answer goes like this: Elliptical chain rings don’t do anything to help you. Nor do they do anything to hurt you. Also, it’s not that simple. The long answer...

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Long Term Review: Dash Cycles’ Strike 9 Noseless Carbon Saddle

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Last November, I received the Dash Strike 9, a noseless saddle with full carbon fiber construction and a well padded split shell. They gave it their reinforced, heavier duty layup for my 185lb body. And it weighed in at just 111 grams. Surprisingly, the odd shape of the saddle didn’t take too long to get used to. Basically, it’s just a truncated bike seat without the full nose, so all the important sitting parts are there, plus a vestigial tail. It did take a bit of work to get it adjusted to the right position, though, which was forced by the...

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