How to Read a Review

Guitar Ted here, with my take on how to read your "garden variety" mtb reveiw. This example has been taken from an article published on Velo New's website, ( www.velonews.com ) entitled "Tech Report: Hone- ing in on Shimano; High Fiber braking". Written by Andrew Juskaitis, this embodies a "typical" mtb reveiw- in this case, Shimano's new "Hone" brakes, and gruppo. I'll give you some excerpts, and the "everyman's" interpretation afterwards in an effort to help you cut through the "crap".

Example 1. " I quickly noticed the improved crankarm stiffnes provided by the Hollowtech II arms and bottom bracket, comparable to Saint by my own "scientific" seat-of-the-pants estimation." Interpretation: Shimano says these are stiffer, oh yeah! I can feel it! ummm.....whatever, dude! I guess the BIKE they are connected to has little to nothing to do with that "feeling"!

Example 2. "I asked Thorpe if this lighter action and audible click would make its way up the food chain to XTR and he hinted that it probably would. "We're currently working on a couple of improvements for XTR....." Interpretation: XTR has some serious short comings in it's current form that need to be addressed. Shimano got it wrong- AGAIN- people. Same 'ol story!

Example 3. Think I was being harsh? check this little qoute out. ""When Dual Control first was shown to the press, Shimano didn't do the best job in explaining why they were offering this new design." That was straight from the Shimano reps mouth. Interpretation: Shimano didn't have a good reason for the rider to make a change from a "riding" point of veiw; as this was all market driven. You'll get the hang of it eventually.

Example 4. This one has to do with Shimano's "Rapid Rise" rear derailluer technology. Check this out."Where a rider used to force the downshift with their thumb, the rear derailluer's return spring now applies just the right amount of force to move the chain to a larger cog." Interpretaion: Well, really a question. If this is true, what happens when you need "just the right amount of force" to shift to a higher gear? What happens when dirt and contamination enter the picture in regards to the "right amount of force"?" What is the "force" anyway? Should I use it?
Jedi knights needed to answer my mtb-ing questions?

Well, I hope that this small look into a typical reveiw will have you taking a second look at what you read in the major mags. Think about this stuff they write. You'll get through the crap, and find out that there is not much substance to be had. But- at least you'll be able to keep what is good, and toss the crap!

Guitar Ted! Slush in a DQ cup= good. Slush tossed at me on the road in January= bad! Keep Ridin' an' Smilin'!