american classic - downhill 26 disc

Now, everything I look at or read about I say to myself "take it with pinch of salt" because everyone's bumming up their own product yes? So as with my Boxxers 2010 review I've had the product and tested it properly in the real world.


OVERVIEW

Good looking straight out of the box. Nice design and colours that could go with any frame colour. The decals and paint don't scratch easy either which is take big bonus. Laced with 32 of American Classics's own spokes and one red one too to locate the valve even easier! Also quite a unique attribute on a set of wheels.


Techno Techno Techno

The hub is the most incredible feature of American classic mtb wheels. as far as I can understand its made up of the hub body and inside this there is a small sort of axle that has two slits in the centre of it. This axle and its slits take side load off of the bearings, this = extended bearing life by decreasing rate of wear. Now the bearings are just soooooooooo suuuuper smooth the first time I felt them I got a little bit too excited and kept telling people to feel them! I have honestly never felt such smooth rotation in my LIFE. That's only the stainless steel ones! There's a ceramic upgrade! Cleverly used to create this almost frictionless movement is marine grease. Simply beautiful stuff. Last but not least the hub flanges are extra big (still pretty though) so to create a stiffer build with short spokes and the rear hub is designed so as there is very nearly almost equal spacing from end of hub to flange to create a more triangular wheel build and central, meaning spokes are at more equal Angles on either side of the wheel instead of one side having almost vertical spokes and the other horizontal. The freehub is a quiet runner and its body even has 3 steel inserts to stop the cassette damaging it!

xxx NIPPLES xxx

Now I wish I fully understood these and I'll try my best. Basically aluminium nipples are known for breaking but are considerably lighter than brass, 6 times in fact. So once again American Classic have designed their own little bit of genius keeping the light aluminium but sorting the problem. The threads in the head of the nipple are loaded with compression where the body of the nipple is not loaded in tension thus there is no load stress where the head and body meet dissipating fatigue unlike other aluminium nipples.


Rolling Out On 26"s

American classic design, nice and wide to accommodate the big bertha tires and to allow it to seat nicley giving you a nice comfortable ride as well as tyre stability and confidence. Strong as horses with looks to make you double take double take.

Pheeeeeeeew boring bit done but vital as to why these wheels are so exceptional.

Four months of abuse, including 3 races, one being the legendary bike breaker, Fort Bill. Swapping from pro2's built on mavic ex721's to these was noticeable straight away. Freehub Pick Up Equal. Rolling Resistance miles better on the American classics. I was hitting jumps at Caersws pedalling then I swapped to these and I free wheeled into them and cleared them with ease!! The look and relative unknown factor of these wheels really catches peoples eyes too. Toughness...I'm still in awe. I raced Fort William, still drunk for the first race run on the Sunday, hitting every rock going and there's a hell of a rocks up there! My back wheel didn't even buckle, the spokes barely lost tension, tiny little chips in the paint, nothing major though still more than happy with looks. 2 or 3 tiny flat spots in comparison to my old wheels which I had to rebuild after every trip to Fort William just stands testament to the strength of American Classics's Downhill 26 Disc.

I LOVE these wheels! Mark MY words there going to be big!! American Classic have thought of everything!! Check them oot for yourself:

www.amclassic.com

Did i mention... £350... For the pair!!!!

10/10

GET THEM NOW - Ae Bike Shop and Cafe

Handy Dandy links

My reason why iv been a lazy blogger is because my button left of 'S' no longer works and it makes everything very frustrating to type! So i have decided to put up a Handy Dandy list of race websites that you my have never used. Some are purely information others purely photos and some are both!!! I will write something proper when my problem is fixed...soooooorrrrrrrrrryyyyy :D

www.ianlinton.com
www.npsdh.com
www.sda-races.com
www.borderline-events.co.uk

NWD 10 - Dust and Bones

Mentalists or skill? I think there all just a bit lairy.You decide! Even of your not into something like this it would still be a good buy just for the oooooooo bet that hurt factor

http://www.pinkbike.com/news/New-World-Disorder-10-Pre-Order-2009.html

SORRY CLASSES NOW FULLY BOOKED!!!!!

SORRY WINTER MAINTENANCE CLASSES NOW FULLY BOOKED!!!!!

All places were snapped up in record time, Contact us to find out next class dates.

Ae Bike Shop on 01387 860541

Innerleithen SDA Round 5

Here we are, the last race of the year for many including ourselves, fasten your helmets!

The track used was all of 'The Gold Run' as far as I could tell. One of the best ways to pick your way down the hill for its fast technical tight sections coupled with some of the big baddest roots in town and a hint of madness thrown in thanks to alot of lines to choose from. Quite flat till you reach the final section (also used in the National Champs in July) which is just perfectly steep and loose with plenty of corners to try and rail round if you can stay on.

Innerleithen is a loved place amongst all riders and is always a great venue to end the year on. Come race time it was business as usual and heres how the final play of the dice went for the Ae Bike Shop and Solway Insulation Services team.

Frazer McCubbing in Juvenile 9/21 3.51.304
Callum McCubbing in Junior 17/52 3.21.397
Lewis Cochran in Senior 33/97 3.28.567
Myself, Ryan Chambers in Senior 8/97 3.14.27

SDA OVERALL SERIES RESULT

Callum McCubbing in Junior 10/60
Lewis Cochran in Senior 28/63 (3 out of 4 races)
Myself, Ryan Chambers in Senior 4/63

I think for all of us the best ride of the day was from Frazer, 12 years old, at his second ever race showed exceptional pace, a great race attitude and a lot of promise for whats to come.

The line has been crossed for the final time this year. Everyone of us taking away something from it. Maybe what we need to improve on or were we want to be this time next year. NO matter what has happened throughout the year at the races whether crashes have happened, the timing has went down or any other technical difficulties, at the end of the day thats racing and the one thing you have to believe even if you don't want to, the clock never lies.

Thank you to everyone who has helped us out this year and shown there support especially our sponsors; The Ae Bike Shop and Cafe for keeping the bikes in tip top condition and putting up with the broken parts; Solway Insulation Services for transport, support and food at the races; and Uplift Scotland for the free uplifts so we could improve our training tenfold! oh and congratulations to Tally and Wendy on their baby girl. There is no doubt in my mind we would have achieved what we have without your help!

Thank you to all the race organisers and spectators who turn up to cheer, makes it all the more worth while.

I don't know when the next post shall be but until then all the best and keep it lit ya fairies!

Pinned or Binned

Kill The BILL-Fort William duuuuuuuuuuuh!

On the first weekend of September the Ae Massive rocked up to the lovely sunshine of Fort Bill. Did i say sunshine sorry i meant torrential rain! This was just a one off event not involving any series so was a good way to have a relax before the last SDA which is the 19th/20th September at Innerleithen. It's always a good one with a big turn out so come watch the amateurs give it their all in the quest to define ourselves from the others.

Back to the Bill. I'm sure by now you are More than fed up of me writing a report on Fort Bill so me being the nice guy I am found a video for you.

http://freecaster.tv/mtb/1009341/kill-the-bill-2009?page=4

And if you open your peepers real wide round the 4 minute mark you will see Cub making his way down the wood sections and MoffatSubZero I now have proof! thats right PROOF! I pedal 4.30 blink and you will miss it! Hope everyone takes my advice and come and watch the last SDA even if just on the Sunday when everyone on it!

Results for all those interested - Cub In Junior - 11/34 05.55.2
Myself In Senior 9/72 05.49.5
Lewis In Senior 32/72 06.19.7

Pinned or Binned!

Downhill World Championship - Canberra

To me there is only one thing to say about this. Long Live Steve Peat! Finally after over 16years of trying and being so close, unlucky, whatever the case he finally done it. Your 2009 UCI Elite Male Downhill World Champion is STEVE PEAT aka Sheffield STEEL!