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I may make tiny kittens cry, but this sentence in BR's long termer for the Giant Trance 27.5 made me cringe:
"The subtle size boost doesn't quite lend the 650b (27.5in) wheels a monster truck-like feel when it comes to just carelessly bombing through rock gardens but it more than makes up for that in terms of agility."
So.... they're saying it doesn't plough through things like a 29er, but it's more nimble - so that justifies the smaller wheel size.
Extrapolating from that, 26" wheels would be more nimble, hence according to the reviewer's logic, even better.
That, and that they say the new Trance is worse than the previous years, suggests to me that Giant have made a wrong move.
I really fancy a 29er Trance, but they're not being made any more.
Damn it.
How many kittens died due to me writing this?
[url= http://www.bikeradar.com/mtb/gear/category/bikes/mountain-bikes/full-suspension/product/review-giant-trance-advanced-27-5-0-long-term-48000/ ]Link to Review[/url]
Or the recent US review of the hardcore Niner hardtail, where they were saying how the EBB changed the headangle and chain stay length ?!
There are a few good reviewers out there who know their stuff and can actually ride, however some of the stuff written is just wrong.
EDIT: everything in STW is obviously perfect 😉
Most reviews have me wanting to stick pins in the eyeballs...of reviewers.
Wow - £5,500 and "mediocre pedaling performance and somewhat disjointed suspension balance". Well worth 4.5 out of 5 then (assuming they know what they're on about...) 🙂
LoCo - MemberOr the recent US review of the hardcore Niner hardtail, where they were saying how the EBB changed the headangle and chain stay length ?!
Head angle was wrong- think they meant seat angle. It's all effectives, moving the axle forward changes the effective seat tube angle and yes chainstay length. The actual stay doesn't change obviously but that's not really that important.
I liked another recent Future one, "the suspension works pretty well with minimal fiddle", then later in the article "I had the Fox 34 TALAS fork converted into a Float version and with some Mojo magic it became a fork I could live with".
His definition of "minimal fiddle" is different to mine. Also "pretty well" means "can't live with it without replacing loads of it" It's like he suffered a stroke halfway through writing it up or something.
Do reviewers actually realise what they're saying?
Head angle was wrong- think they meant seat angle.
Kind of proves the point doesn't it. I don't think the chainstay comment is valid either tbh.
Regarding the suspension, dirt seems to be the only mag that is really willing to properly slag off substandard kit
I stopped taking too much notice of reviews a few years back when MBR reviewed the ASR5 and said the build by Bromley Bikes was built to perfection. Two paragraph later they complained the gear shifting was poor until they realized the middle ring was fitted back to front. How you actually do that, I'm not sure. But to me most reviews are justifying either advertising revenue or their own existence.
Best reviews are joe public. Tell it as it is.
Rickon, contrary to popular belief, the trance and anthem are still available in 29er size for 2014.
Just in case there are any "fans" of bike reviews who haven't read the bikesnob Dream Bike Shootout:
http://bikesnobnyc.blogspot.co.uk/2007/08/bsnyc-2008-dream-bike-shootout.html
A masterfully curated piece, dobbing every box on your Bike Review Bullshit Bingo sheet.
Ah, I see the 29er models. One with 'OK' kit and a bad paint job, and one with poor kit and a Recon fork, and an alright paint job.
While on the 27.5, good paint, good kit, and a good range of prices.
Iirc mbr did a group test (May have been bike of the year) that read along the lines of 'we changed the tyres and they were rubbish, so we've knocked a mark off' meaning a 5ive won the test....
do they not just cut and paste lines that the product maker provide them with anyway.
Pinkbike have an amusing review or some Industry-nine wheels. Between saying how well made the hubs are they are explaining how badly made they are...
nedrapier - thanks, muchos sniggarillos chez al.
"descends like a monkey in a set of crampons dropped from a helicopter"
😆
tomhoward - MemberIirc mbr did a group test (May have been bike of the year) that read along the lines of 'we changed the tyres and they were rubbish, so we've knocked a mark off' meaning a 5ive won the test....
Yup. Another time, they did a (IIRC) £2000 bike test, took a Five that wsa under £2000, and threw about £400 worth of upgrades at it. Then they give it an extra mark specifically for things that were in the cheaty upgrade, and downmarked the Zesty for having hard brake pads that would have cost a fiver to replace. Genius.