Gear Review - hope pro II hub and Shimano DX pedal

Scott11 - International Mountainbike Downhill and Fourcross Team
The Team's Scott Gambler (spyshot)

Hope Technology Pro II Hubs









By Jenn Hopkins
£50 Front, £120 Rear
Hope's Pro IIs have been about for a while now and fast became a favourite. The improved drive system - four pawls running round a 24-tooth ratchet - which gives a super quick and accurate pick-up while still being easy and quick to strip and service.


It does make a bit of a racket but this calms down after a few miles to a reassuring tick - no good for sneaking up on race rivals but very handy for echo location on nightrides. Both the bearings and freehub are kept away from grit behind decent seals and a full range of spares is available at Hope dealers nationwide.The weight is on the sensibly solid side of svelte and it enables the hub to tackle anything from purest cross-country to all-mountain and beyond.



Just about every possible combination of spokes and fixtures is available - 28-, 32-, or 36-hole, bolt-through, bolt-on, singlespeed, quick release... The only thing missing is a Centrelock version. Pair with good rims and matching skewers for one of the prettiest and most functional wheel packages going.




Shimano M647 DX Clipless Pedal




By Justin Loretz


Here's Shimano's dependable SPD system in a bigger, easier-to-hit pedal. This is a trail pedal you can clip into, stand on, whack into rocks and not worry about.



The usual clockwork precision of the SPD entry and exit will delight Shimanoites, as will the durability.Shimano has made metal-bodied platform cipless pedals, but its cheaper resin-bodied ones turned out to be more durable as well as lighter, so Shimano came up with this high-end version.



It's also believed that in some circumstances the resin body will slide over rocks rather than gripping and launching the rider over the bars, so if you're prone to pedal-snag crashes, these might save you a flying lesson.



Detractors will point to them being less than optimum for planting errant feet, and they’re only okay at dealing with thick mud.


Essentially, if you like pedalling where others don’t, then save yourself at least one avoidable crash and use the resin-bodied DX.