Specs: Ice Toolz E213 One-way torque screwdriver, 1~5N•m, for 1/4" drove sockets. Also contains bits of Hex, Pozi®, Phillip, Slot, Torx® (totally 32 bits), and a 1/4" adaptor.
Price: $107.63
The E213 is very easy to use. All you have to do is pull the knob on the handle back, then turn it to the proper setting you need for the job.
Then just tighten, and when it clicks, that means its been set to the proper torque.
This tool is perfect for any bicycle mechanic that is working with torque sensitive parts. I have a set of FSA cranks that requires me to torque down the crank bolts at just the right amount, if I don't it puts too much pressure on the bearings and the end result, the cranks don't spin freely. Haviing the Ice Toolz E213 took away the guessing game and wasted time in trying to figure out if it was tight enough.
Our review disclaimer as it is required by the FTC.
RACE REPORT OK, I could start by rehashing everything I talked about on the test and I will mention a few things, but this is about what the AIRBORNE TAKA could do when it is truly put through the paces for what it’s meant to do and that’s “RACE”.
THE PLACE The race was the Golden State Championships at Fontana Ca. Saturday was practice and Sunday was the race. I didn’t get as much of a practice as I had hoped, and bringing the TAKA out here and putting it through its paces would be by far different than just riding it on a downhill trail; you push your bike in a totally different manner, you may have to adjust your suspension, adjust tire pressures, or change tires altogether. I did adjust tire pressure and I did adjust the suspension by slowing down the rebound on the Marzzochi 888’s. When this was said and done as in the trail test the TAKA was a point and shoot ride, no fighting, no fussing, just ride which allows you to concentrate on your race, its geometry shined on the course which was made up of jumps, flowing turns, and rock sections with loose to hard pack ground. As I said the geometry with its DH angles gave the TAKA precise steering in the turns and was very stable at speed. The suspension worked in perfect unison with each other and if there was any brake jack I really didn’t notice it as I did on the trail test. Now the only thing left to do was the race.
THE RACE Well I got one practice run out of the way and I would have like to do maybe one more, but time did not permit, so the time came and you’re on the start block for a brief second you think is there anything I could have done to make the bike run faster or better, but truth be told the TAKA was set up fine it was all up to me now.
I left the start gate and as I raced down the course I found myself flowing without effort only thinking of the course not the bike. This is a good feeling and as experts, or pros we demand a level of quality on the gear to win races and become champions.
I said this would make a great beginner , sport race bike, well I can also state that the AIRBORNE TAKA DH bike would make a great expert race bike, why because it took me to a “FIRST PLACE WIN” LAST WORDS One thing that was kind of funny is that all my friends that race, saw me with the TAKA asked ‘What’s that?”, “Why you racing that.”, “HOW MUCH IS IT, YOU'RE KIDDING!” The end result comments “Hey Art it’s time to sell your high end bike!” I guess the truth is you don’t need a $5000 bike to win races.
So whether you want to just freeride or race and you are on a budget this is by far the best way to get into a DH bike. You won’t regret it, you’ll just have fun and win races too.
A big thanks to the guys at AIRBORNE for allowing us to test their TAKA.
Click Here to order the Airborne Taka for just $1,399.95 (Free Shipping!)
The Introduction OK I have been a downhill racer for a long time and if there is one thing I know its protection and protecting yourself from impact, my fulltime job puts me in contact with the best protection company in the world.
That being said, while at this year’s Interbike show I was wandering the countless aisles. While there you will see many cool things as well as the newest ideas that will never be.
While turning the corner of one said aisle I hear a loud bang three or four times, so as I see this tube and a man talking to the crowd he drops a bowling ball down the tube on a pad about an inch thick and the bowling ball is bouncing on the pad, next he pulls the competitors pad out and places their pad in place. Now this thing is only about a quarter of an inch thick and he is going to drop this bowling ball on it. OK one word comes to mind “RIGHTTTTT!” Thinking this pad will be obliterated on the first hit I decide to stay and watch them go down in a crash of burning flames. I try to get close to the action so I could see this and as he gets ready to drop the ball I’m ready to see this thing blow apart or beat it to a pulp.
He’s ready, drops, and “BANG”, wait no multi bounce of the bowling ball”! What gives, is this the same stuff that 661 uses; it can’t be it’s not as thick as their pad. Now this demonstration did what it’s meant to do catch your attention and that it did.
Time to talk to someone.
The name of the company is called G-FORM and you can go to www.g-form.com to check them out. They make elbow, knee, and shin pads, as well as some other things. When I looked at these I thought they can be used in a number of sports and the first thing that came to mind was cross county riding as well as racing, heck these pads can have uses in cyclocross and shell I dare say road riding, and racing.
Now Tech Talk The pads are made of Poron XRD foam, a molded, rate-dependent impact pad. These pads will stiffen on impact and absorb the shock (remember the bowling ball not bouncing), but will stay flexible and soft while wearing them. One reason for the flexibility is the ridges and hinges on the pads which create an exoskeleton and gives your arms or knees movement.
The XRD foam is attached to a Lycra compression sleeve with a strip of silicone on the upper part to avoid slippage on the arm or leg. The elbows come in a short or long compression sleeve in sizes ranging from XS-XXL. Legs come in sizes 2xs-3XL and are a short knee pad. Shins come in sizes 2XS-3XL. All pads are priced at $39.99. These pads are made to wear outside the garment.
The Ride Test The first thing I liked about these pads is the fact that I could pack them in my pack, but really when you put them on their really is no need to take them off, they have great breathability and they feel light while wearing them and had no movement at all, which I love in a pad.
One thing that is great about the G-FORM pads is on a long ride I didn’t get hot in them and on a cold day they kept my knees and elbows warm.
On rough terrain or jumping with them again no movement, “love it”.Now all testing so far has been trail riding and I have yet to give them a race test or of course the dreaded crash test which I’m sure will come. As I had said earlier these pads I believe can be used in cross country, cyclocross, and road riding as well as racing. I do look forward to cyclocross in these pads as well as maybe an XC race, or Super-D. The Bottom Line Are these pads good for all occasions? Sure why not. To me they are good for XC, CX, Super-D, and those long trail rides. They offer lightness and pack ability no other pad can offer, as well as fit, comfort, and protection that is not typically offered or found in a pad for the XC, trail riding crowd. The price is not bad either at $39.99 I say go out and get yours today, so go on line and get a hold of the guys at www.g-form.com today and dress for all occasions.
And thanks to Ami at G-FORM for the test products. Finally a light pad for the trails! “Yeah!”
