In the Budget on April 22^nd the Government announced plans to introduce a Car Scrappage scheme in the UK, starting from
May 18^th 2009.

Under the terms of the Scrappage scheme, the Government fund a discount of £2,000 off the purchase price of a new car or van for customers who trade in cars that they have owned for at least twelve months and are at least 10 years old.

Do the rich politicians actually know why people like myself own and drive around in 10 year old plus bangers bought for about £500? Not because we prefer driving one to a nice shiney new car, but because we can't afford to go and buy a new car. I'm sure many who drive round in old bangers like me, can't even afford to buy a car of £2000, let alone buy one for £10K with £2K knocked off if they have it scrapped at the same time. Does the government live in a dream world? Do these rich fat cats realise how much disposable income most of us DO NOT actually have? Clearly not.

What is more, in these days of recycling and the urge not to be wasteful of resources, surely it is better to try and keep using an object, that cost thousands of pounds to produce and countless irrreplacable resources to produce, for as long as possible. Not replace it with a brand new object that cost even more thousands and more of the planet's resources?

Am I right, or have I missed the point completely?

Guess RB1

When I came to research the Guess RB1 before purchasing it, I could find very little information about it on the web. Therefore I thought I would collate everything I know or can find in one place, so if anyone else wants to know about these wonderful little bikes they can hopefully find most of it here.
 

Background

Guess is SuperCycles of Nottingham’s own brand of bike. Up until December 2002 it was only available as a frame, however after that SuperCycles started to release it as a complete bike.

Awards

Cycling Plus gave it “Best-Of-Test” in a review.
The British Bicycle Awards gave it “Best Value Road Bike”

Frame

The Guess RB1 frame is constructed from 6061 Aluminium. The top tube, down tube and seat tube are wing-shaped for aerodynamics. The seat and chain stays are ovaloid, with the chain stays having dog legs for crank clearance. All of the tubes are fused together with big chunky welds, similar to my mountain bike. The frame has solid rear drop outs

The seat tube features quite a large cut out for the rear wheel, however, the tyre barely comes close the the tube. I don't understand why such a large cut out has been designed into the frame. Maybe it is to reduce drag of air over the rear wheel. Can anyone shed some light on this?

The head tube suitable for is 1 1/8" diameter steerer forks.

The frame comes in the following sizes: 25, 54, 56, 58 cm. Mine is the 58 cm Model. I’m 5’10 and it is comfortable to ride, but I think if I was to buy from new I’d choose a 56 or 54cm frame and have a longer seat post and a more aero dynamic position.

Forks

The forks are constructed of carbon with an aluminium alloy steerer tube. They are of a blade design for aero dynamics and feature a 5cm rake. The steerer tube is 1 1/8" with Ahead fitting. According to SuperCycles website these forks have received the Cycling Plus Gold Award for being truely aerodynamic.

Wheels

The wheels on my bike are not what originally came with the bike, these would have been Guess hubs tied to American Classic rims. According to the shop owner the original owner had upgraded from the original wheels to the Capagnolo Scirocco G3 wheels.

According to roadcyclinguk.com - The Scirocco G3 wheels were made to be exceptional value for money but provide top end technical features. 30mm black-satin rims. Oversized hubs and G3 spoking front and rear. Weight 790g front, 1040g rear  (Or 770g front, and 955g rear on the Capagnolo website) They retail at around £220.

Tyres

I'm not sure what tyre come on this bike from new, but the previous woner has equiped the bike with... tbc

Brakes

The brake Calipers are made by Guess, and look like a cross between Tektro and Shimano. If any one has any more information on the calipers, please provide. I am unsure what the brake blocks are, or who they are nade from. I haven't had to emergncy brake yet, or brake on a sustained down hill, so I cannot comment on their performance.

Brake Levers and Shifters

The eight speed shifters and brake levers are Shimano Sora.

Handles Bars

The handle bars are Guess's own aluminium creation. I currently have Outland aluminium clip-on Tri Bars fitted to them

Stem

The stem is Guess's own, made from an aluminium alloy.

Seat Post

The seat post is made of Aluminium Alloy by Guess.

Seat

The seat is Guess's own. It has hollow Chrome-Moly rails.

The Ride

I may not be the best person to review how the bike is to ride as for the last twenty years or so I have been riding mountain bikes only. To me the bike feels extremely light and responsive. Due to the weight, excelleration is a doddle, and I'm sure a fitter person than I would find it a pleasure to climb with. I haven't cornered hard with it yet, as I need to learn to trust the tyres, but the bike feels nimble and seems to return to an upright position easily.

Comments

Please feel free to comment. If you have any further information that you can add about this brilliant budget bike, please do. I would love to hear from fellow RB1 (Or RB2) owners, and hear of their experiences, good or bad.

Links

Full bike reviews
http://www.roadcyclinguk.com/forum/forummessages/mps/utn/106070/v/1/cp/1/
http://www.bikemagic.com/forum/forummessages/mps/dt/4/UTN/46381/srchdte/0/last/1/V/6/SP/328890336794364665472
http://forum.220magazine.com/tm.asp?m=29192
http://www.bikemagic.com/forum/forummessages/mps/dt/4/UTN/50389/

http://www.beginnertriathlete.com/gear/gear.asp?pid=311

Capagnolo Scirocco G3 Wheel Review:
http://www.roadcyclinguk.com/review/reviewProduct/mps/rpn/15470/prod/Campagnolo-Scirocco-/rcn/140/rgn/11/sp//v/1

Supplier of new RB1s:
SuperCycles - http://www.supercycles.co.uk/

Hill Work

As I didn't get a chance to get out on the Guess RB1 for my normal 8 mile ride before work this morning, I thought I ought to get out on it for a quick ride tonight. My 8 mile morning ride is pretty flat, so I thought I'd incorporate Lanehouse hill and New Road on Portland for a bit of hill work. Lanehouse wasn't too bad, I think I didn't go lower than second but New Road is always a bit of a killer, and wasn't looking forward to that.

The Flat Bar Bike Bloke

On my way accross the beach road as I passed the location of the old oil tanks I passed a chap on a flat bar bike. I didn't rally think much of it, as he seemed to be cruising. I carried on my way round Vicky Square and up the zig zag into Fortunes Well. As I reached the shops I could hear the sound of a deraileur change behind me. I could hear the cyclist behind was keeping right up behind me, so I kept my pace slight as high as I thought I could maintain.

Burned Off

Sadly it appeared it was too hight at first as I virtually died at the ninety right at the bottom of New Road, and had to rrsort to first and second. At this point the flat bar bike bloke stood up on the pedals and rode round me, pumping all the way up the hill, dropping me like I was stood still. What is more he was half way down the sprocket to boot! I didn't even attempt to keep up, my legs were shot. When I rounded the hairpin he was no where to be seen, neither was he when I reached the roundabout at Dowsett's old garage. one thing for sure his legs were a lot bigger than mine, but not suprising if he climbs like that every day!