As one of the best and biggest UK based bicycle component manufactures it is fair to say that HOPE-Tech are doing a wonderful job not only supplying Hundreds if not thousands of Top-notch components for all of our riding pleasure but do you know just how much they put in to making our ride as  pleasurable as  it can be???

Here is a wee video that will put it in to perspective for you.

Please take the time to watch this as it will empress. I defo was!!!!

Now if that did not empress you then Here it is in their word’s

“HOPE, as a company has now worked at the leading edge of engineering technology since 1989. Ian Weatherill and Simon Sharp, 2 Rolls Royce aerospace engineers decided that the brakes on their newly discovered mountain bikes weren’t up to scratch when compared to the motorbikes they were used to riding. A mechanical brake was produced and a hub to attach it to, and that, as they say, is where the story started.

Now, 22 years on, we employ 85 people (several of whom started out at the beginning and a huge 90% who live within 2 miles of the factory) to run over 50 CNC machines, 24 hours a day. The whole range of components are produced in house. The design team use their extensive knowledge and skills on the latest computer aided design software to create drawings, 3D printed models and prototypes that are then turned into the finished parts.

Everything is made in the Barnoldswick Factory (with the exception of electronics in the lights, rubber seals, pad material, hose and bearings) right down to the connectors, shims, pawls, and other small parts that go into making the finished piece”

And that is just one of the reasons that every set of wheel’s I have ever built for myself have been built on HOPE hub’s and there has been many other HOPE components used on my bikes through the years.

Stevie
Head Mechanic

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shaka

FreeFlow and Shaka Smash Aviemore

So how did it all begin??? Well around two weeks ago in walked Jud and martin looking to have Jud’s bike fixed, as Craig done his thing going over the bike I got chatting with Martin, he started telling me about this events company he and a few mates had started, focused at the extreme sports market, Shaka events were looking to bring a new vibe to the industry, DJ Jay Allan on the decks, Martin Bongo on the bongos and Robbie taking care of the visuals.

My brain started to go into overtime as I could imagine this Ibiza style party with the FreeFlow logo above the DJ box, I started asking Martin about sponsorship and how we could get involved, I could see that he was keen on having FreeFlow on board, he went on to tell me how we could link up. He went over a few of the events coming up and what they had done in the past, previously they set up a rail outside a night club in Glasgow city centre with real snow!! And had guys dropping in off a makeshift box onto the snow, boarding along a little then up onto the rail, it looked amazing to say the least. He also mentioned an event coming up in Fortwilliam and Aviemore that we could get involved with and right away we started making plans for banners and advertising. A few days before Martin txt me asking if I wanted to come along and see what they were all about for myself.

Friday morning and Fortwilliam got cancelled due to weather conditions, not the best start to the tour but onwards and upwards, I picked up Jamie then Jud and martin and we set off for Aviemore, making great time we reached our accommodation, Martins aunties house, she was in Edinburgh for the weekend. Rolling up a dirt track road we reached the Shaka Aviemore HQ, a beautiful old style bungalow with a real country feel. Entering the house you really felt at home and relaxed it was great, Martin set about starting a fire in the huge wood burner and we all relaxed and chatted about the next day’s plan of action.

The next morning it was pancakes and bacon for breakfast with a cup of tea……rock and roll!!! Everyone was pretty excited and well up for the nights event, during the day the guys went over the equipment making sure everything was in order and working then we headed into town to have a look around and see what the atmosphere was like. DEAD!! Could be the only real word to describe the village, not a great first impression. We popped into the winking Owl to see what was going on in there, one man on stage with his guitar playing some classic Scottish music and a bit of Johnny Cash to 7 people while a strobe light and disco ball lit up the room!! Obviously this had not been thought out properly, so after twenty minutes we made our way over to the Vault our venue for the night. We had heard some horror stories about the place that it was small and dark and a bit dated , not really sure if the people who told us this had been in the place in the last six months but the place looked great. The guys started setting up, Robbie fixing the projector to the roof, Martin setting up the Bongos and Jamie connecting a lot of random wires that made no sense to me at all, but I’m sure they were vital.

10:30pm and the doors opened…………………..two people trickled in then another two then a few more we started to panic, assured by the Club owner the place would get busy we were a bit sceptical. Then around 11:30 as if a coach had dropped people off outside the door they came flooding in, relief. Jamie had the beats banging and the crowd where loving it, the visuals were playing on the back wall and people were amazed at the shots of heli drops and sky diving, then on went martin, positioned on the dance floor as soon as he started playing the crowd went wild they could not believe it. As the night went on the beats got better and the crowd got bigger, impossible to move across the dance floor the DJ booth was the only free place to stand, even the speakers where not safe as girls climbed on top to bust some moves. Quickly 3am came around and the night was over, this was not welcomed by the crowd as they screamed one more tune and stomped their feet, but it was not to be as the management turned on the lights and security started ushering people towards the door, everyone with a huge smile on their face. We all gathered around totally buzzing after what was agreed one of the best club nights the guys had done.

The next morning the atmosphere was still electric, everyone really happy on how the night went, but everyone had the same look in their eye, time to head home and back to reality, we packed the car and made our way down the dirt track road everyone in silence as we took in one more look at the natural beauty of Carrbridge.

The next Shaka event is this Friday at bar Bloc on Bath street so if your around why not drop in and see it for yourself.

Colin

Sales and Marketing Manager

DJ Jay Allan & Robbie

shaka Crew

shaka aviemore HQ

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If you have not seen this yet then where have you been!!! And if you have then I am sure you can appreciate Just how much Yeti have put in to the finished product .

I am sure you will notice the difference compared to any of there other Frames.

The SB-66 features a totally different Rear suspension system to not only there own product but most of there competitors to .

Features:

· Custom butted hydro-formed 6000 series aluminum
· Tapered inset head tube
· Over-sized pivots with Enduro Max bearings (17mm thru axle angular contact for the top link and 15mm thru axle for the main pivot)
· Fully-sealed eccentric system
· Switch Technology – patent pending suspension system
· Yeti Chip System for an interchangeable 9mm x 135mm qr hub or a 12mm x 142 thru axle hub
· Internally routed cable guides on the rear triangle
· Seat dropper cable guides
· Direct mount front derailleur tab
· Custom elastomer chain slap guards
· Post mount disc tabs
· ISCG removable 03/05 chain guide tabs
· Air or coil over shock compatibility

Dew to the Switch Technology this gives one of the most liner feeling rear ends on the market.

We currently have Three of these Frames left on stock we have Two medium’s 1x White 1x Black  and a Large Black.

So grab them while you can as There are not meany left in the UK

Here are some links to Videos that show the Frame in action.

<a href=”http://blog.freeflowbikes.com/?attachment_id=971″ rel=”attachment wp-att-971″><img src=”http://blog.freeflowbikes.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/2012_Yeti_SB66_Aluminium_MTB_Frame_White-550×550.jpg” alt=”" title=”2012_Yeti_SB66_Aluminium_MTB_Frame_White” width=”550″ height=”550″ /></a>

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Give me a call for any more info

Cheers for now

Stevie@Freeflowbikes.com

0141 630 0021

Have a good weekend\Ride and just think how much better it would be with one of these between your legs

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When setting up your bike two things are important:

1. Comfort
2. Efficiency

Once these two factors are addressed speed and performance will follow although often at the expense of comfort.

A quick method of getting your fore and aft saddle position correct which will increase both comfort and efficiency is known as the Knee Over Pedal System (K.O.P.S.)

As the name suggests, this method aligns the very front of the knee with the axel of the pedal when the cranks are parallel to the ground, i.e. horizontal at the 3 o’clock position.

It sounds complex but using a plumb line or a weight on the end of a string will give you a vertical line which you can use to judge whether the knee is in front, in line or behind the pedal spindle.

If the plumb is behind the axel, the saddle needs to go forward a little by sliding the saddle forward at the clamp and the measurement repeated. If the plumb is in front of the axel the saddle needs to be slid back a little in the rails and the measurement repeated.

For more aggressive riders such as time trial riders, a more forward position is often sought and for recreational riders, a more rearward saddle position is desirable. The main thing is to experiment with what suits your needs and type of riding, getting the most from your bike.

NOTE: This methods work best with bikes which have a seat tube angle of between 73 degrees and 75 degrees.

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I have know had the rear shock that I was getting upgraded to Kashima coat on the bike for just over a week and can confirm that it was well worth it.

I have been out a couple of time at my local trail and am well impressed with just how much more active the shock is.

If you are toying with the idea or just  not sure if it is a worth wile upgrade!!!!

Do it you will not be disappointed.

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I am head down working hard and it has came to my attention that  it is my Birthday.

I am surrounded with lots of the top parts any rider could wish for.

I have the overwhelming urge to treat myself .

So help me out I am not thinking bike as that would just be greed. (As I have two of the sweetest rides out)

I am thinking shinny parts!!!

What would you go for?????

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German brand Cube have a vast range of bikes that never seem to disappoint.

One of the newest to there range is the Two15 Full DH race bike now on sale.

At first glance it is a very nice looking bike and on further inspection it is very nice spec to with colour coded parts to help it blend in.

One thing that jumped out at me was the New ovel piston brake from Formula.

This paired with the rest of the spec for £4199 it is not to be over looked

Let us know your thought’s

Stevie

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