http://www.ambmag.com.au - 67The SKF brand should be familiar if you have ever
been hunting down bearings for your bike. The
Swedish brand is well known for the bearings they
make, but they have expanded into lubricants and
seals as well. While their fork seals are used on
motorbikes, they also make the original seals for
Fox and Marzocchi mountain bike forks.What is new, is that they are providing their
seals as an aftermarket option. We had ours
fitted up at Summit Cycles, down in Maroubra.
Their mechanic Joe has spent the past 5 years or
more up to his elbows in bike builds, suspension
servicing and wheel builds.SKF seals have an upper dust lip to keep
contaminants out, but also a lip that keeps
the oil in from below. The idea being less
contaminants come in, along with less air
suction, ending up with better performance and
maybe longer service intervals. The foam ringKnee guards are quite a personal thing these
days, I know for my last purchase I had already
been through four different brands before hitting
the one that worked for me. I’ll admit I have quite
hairy legs and sometimes that can play havoc on
the retention systems of these things - but this is
where the Bliss knee guards surprised me.They were comfortable from the first run down
the hill. I opted for a size large, I usually go for
medium, something that usually shouldn’t work
or doesn’t work for me. The design of the Bliss
Vertical Kneepad is quite simple, a pad of ARG
gel (a substance that is fluid until struck) and
patented Kevlar is ready to stiffen up and absorb
an impact. EVA foam pads protect your kneecapBliss ARG
VeRticAl KneepAd
WoRdS And PhoToS: MIKE BlEWITTsKF FOX
FORK seAls
WoRdS And PhoToS: RoBERT ConRoyHits- A more supple feel for older forks
- longer service intervals
Misses- not a huge difference for recent models
Price: $44.99
From: EMR Suspension ServicesesseNtiALs
testeD
is also impregnated with lubricant, which helps
installation and reduces the break in period.
According to Joe, it was just like fitting a Fox seal- except they were green, slippery, and the lowers
went on really smoothly.
While Fox already spec these seals, they haven’t
always done so. The lower stiction right after
fitting, and the longer service intervals make them
a great upgrade if you have older model forks.hITS- Sturdy straps that don’t
budge in the course of riding - Strong enough for downhill, light enough
for trail
Misses- The aerated hole in the back of the sleeve
for the riders who don’t shave can
occasionally catch
Price: $139.99
From : bliss protection.com.au,
outdoorsinternational.com.au
and leading storesesseNtiALs
the range available and not just going for your
regular go-to size before finding the cashier. The
actual protection of the pad, the gel and shock
treatments aspects have long been a part of high
level protection and we have no doubts of the
pad’s ability. If you’re after a new pad go for the
one that fits. Go the Bliss ARG.from side impacts and anything your bike may
throw at you should you crash. Behind the main
body is a sock like sleeve with an aerated opening
around the back of the knee and two strong velcro
straps at the top and bottom.The design is multi platform and while the ARG’s
natural home is protection for downhill riding
and racing, it is light enough for all mountain and
enduro, plus the odd bit of trail use. Provided of
course you don’t mind breaking the “no pads”
tradition of that discipline.Fit wise the large gave me that little bit of extra
room and kept the hairs of my leg away from
that gaping hole in the back. Usually a medium
would suffice, I took the large only because the
two straps did not budge in part due to the ample
velcro. holding fast to my leg above and below my
kneecap, it left my knee free to move about when
riding and they almost felt as if they weren’t there.That is what makes these kneepads so great,
they don’t just adapt for specific leg size they
also cater for the blurred lines between. It also
highlights why it’s worth going through and trying