{"id":887,"date":"2009-11-26T17:47:47","date_gmt":"2009-11-26T16:47:47","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.stodgell.co.uk\/?p=887"},"modified":"2009-11-26T17:47:47","modified_gmt":"2009-11-26T16:47:47","slug":"bike-testing","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.stodgell.co.uk\/?p=887","title":{"rendered":"Bike Testing"},"content":{"rendered":"

I have been thinking of changing my race bike for a while, not because I don’t like it, just that the frame is now 5 years old and I can get a whole bike for not much more than a new frame and bits. Carbon frames are now the norm but I would like to stay with Aluminium (had too many gates close on the bike on MTBOs in the past) So what to buy…….
\n\"\"<\/a>A fellow GB team member, now Corratec Product Manager for the UK distributor Raleigh, indicated a deal could be done on a Corratec Bow, but to make sure I like the bike I have just picked up a demo model to try for the weekend.
\nThe demo model is a 2009 Equipe which is of a similar spec to the 2010 XT World Cup model I have as an option.
\n\"\"<\/a>The Bow is unique in its design, having a top tube that\u00a0divides and then runs all the way to the rear becoming the seat stays.\u00a0This is suppose to produce a very rigid design giving it very good climbing characteristics. An initial look over the bike seems promising with a full XT groupset and Avid Juicy 7 brakes, but the own brand wheels are a tad heavy. The bike is a little ‘shorter’ than i’m used to but friends who have ridden my XTC have always commented on how ‘long’ it feels so perhaps it is no bad thing.
\nA quick lunchtime blast without touching the setup has shown the bike to be less twitchy than the\u00a0XTC and the wide handle bars require\u00a0more input to\u00a0get it to turn, however this may be due to the aggressive tyres on the test machine.
\nThis is not a bad thing and perhaps may suit my riding style more, I certainly was not hanging about on it.<\/p>\n

Next job is a quick service,\u00a0to sort out the\u00a0front shock pressures, and play with the stem and seat position before heading out on Friday\u00a0to give it a proper test on\u00a0Follow the\u00a0Dog with the Berkswich Primary School Dads ride.
\nIll then put my\u00a0race\u00a0wheels and map board\u00a0on it to give it a final test on Sunday but I think I may have found my new steed !<\/p>\n

http:\/\/www.corratec.com\/en\/bikes2010\/mtb\/superbow\/superbow_wc_xt.php<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

I have been thinking of changing my race bike for a while, not because I don’t like it, just that the frame is now 5 years old and I can get a whole bike for not much more than a new frame and bits. Carbon frames are now the norm but I would like to … <\/p>\n

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