Official MTB / Mountain Biking Chit Chat

[rupps5]

Some low rolling resistance tires that are great for of road that come to mind are

Kenda small block 8
Maxxis icon
Racing Ralph

[OTHGbronco82]

I'd go with either the racing ralph's or the ikon's.

[ped453]

Originally Posted by rupps5

Some low rolling resistance tires that are great for of road that come to mind are

Kenda small block 8
Maxxis icon
Racing Ralph

Got excited yesterday and wen't out at lunch time to grab me some Maxxis icon and what a difference. I love it, except for the part that I wiped out and almost lost my nose.lol. I think I was too excited. Thanks for the advice rupps5

[Natedog]

Originally Posted by ped453

Nice bike hpiguy. Can you guys recommend me some good set of tires that are both good for pavement and bites good in the trails at the same time. The reason is I usually have to bike around 5 to 7 miles of pavement before I get to the trails. Same goes for when I go to work. I have to bike around 2 miles before I hit the trails. Right now I am running Kenda Nevegals 2.35 for the front and Conti mountain king 2.2 for the rear and it's slowing me down on the pavement, but great combo on the trails.

Kenda Nevegal have great traction but are sooo slow rolling and heavy...sold mine long time ago...never again.

Here's a great fast rolling all around trail tire combo imo and what I'm currently running, they have great traction even in the wet rocks.

I like Specialized Purgatory Control 2Bliss 29x2.3 front (really more like proper 2.2) looks slow roller, but it is quite fast for great tire!
Specialized Bicycle Components

and Captain Control 2Bliss rear 29x2.2
Specialized Bicycle Components

I've heard the Renegade is a good rear tire too, but have not tried it.

Specialized Fast Trak tires were on a bike I bought and really impressed me, they look so mild but really worked in most cross aggressive cross country riding. I avoid their S-Works tires because I've seen and heard of too many with cut open sidewalls and they are more expensive.

GEAX Saguaro 29x2.2 are great fast rollers with good volume and traction, the downside is that they are not great wet rock tires. I realize this, still ride them in wet rocky conditions, but don't push them as hard in these conditions. These tires are cheap at Find Bikes, Cycling Clothing, Bike Parts & Bike Shoes Or Your Local Bike Store at Performance., I pick them up usually for $35 per tire with folding beads, these are what I run on my SS rigid front and rear.

Wow Saguaro on closeout at $25 each!
http://www.performancebike.com/bikes...10_-1___000000

REI has them for $12.93 each with folding (aramid) bead....omg! lol

Couldn't find mfr...just found em, now owned by Vittoria tires.

[RiceBurner]

Specialized Renegades. Great rolling. I use 2.3's off road, great volume. And use 1.9-1.8's on gravel.

[OTHGbronco82]

Finally got the video done. It's only part of the ride and about half of the first downhill. Still fun as hell though.





And the strava ride to go with it:

https://www.strava.com/activities/424705358

[gdb85]

Cool video my man. After your run was over a couple videos popped up of the "newly opened" Lizard Trail, that looks like a badass trail.

[Stollenritter]

Hey Guys, wanted to share some pics of my recently built downhill bike.







Frame: LAST Herb 204
Fork: Marzocchi 380CR
Shock: Double Barrel Coil
Wheel (front/rear): 27,5" / 26"
Components: mostly Shimano Zee

Rides like a charm - the steeper the better

[mikl]

That bike is cool Like the name, if you aren't first, your Last!

[hpiguy]

First night ride of the season tonight, and first crash on the new bike. Damn leaves.

[OTHGbronco82]

Originally Posted by gdb85

Cool video my man. After your run was over a couple videos popped up of the "newly opened" Lizard Trail, that looks like a badass trail.

Haven't heard of it. Might just have to check it out.

[hpiguy]

The weather has been full of suck here since buying the new bike, even before that actually, my last three Pisgah trips have been rained out. So I got out for some gravel grinding yesterday, all up, and all down, not much in between. At first, I felt silly on a full squish bike for gravel grinding, until I hit some roads that were done in really large stone, like fist sized stone that rolled and shifted under you constantly. Being able to throw the suspension into trail mode kept the rear tire planted and hooked up, conforming to everything. It was a constant battle between the rear end shifting around under you while using your core muscles to balance and not spinning the rear tire, if you did, you were walking to the next water bar to start again. Still some cool scenery, still better than sitting on the couch, and a 45mph down hill run is always fun, even on gravel.









Climbing to the point you're looking out at the mountains rather than up at them is always cool also



End of the road, literally



Strava deets

[hpiguy]

Got out for some more today, and I have to say maybe gravel grinding is growing on me. I was out for about three hours, and barely saw anyone at all, sometimes that's nice actually.

That says bear sanctuary on it



Luckily, not for human powered vehicles it's not



It was damp and chilly today, so I brought along some human anti-freeze



The USFS has a lot of these stations in this area, not sure what they're for.



Looking out at the mountains once again, and not up at them



End of the road again as well, had some fun with some HDR shots





Strava deets

[rupps5]

Great weather for the iceman race this year. Busted a few personal power records and had a awesome race.

[hpiguy]

Hell yeah! Congrats rupps5

[OTHGbronco82]

Got out today. Was a little later than I was hoping and forgot my glasses, but it was still fun. Got to drive the truck today too. It's nice to have a legal truck now.


https://www.strava.com/activities/429278249

[Natedog]

HPIGuy, awesome pics especially the HDR shots! Love the scenery, great looking trails and wish we had more of that rain!

Rupps, congrats!

OTHGBronco82, nice ride!

[johnnyh66]

New personal best for both endurance/ride time/distance (all the road biking is paying off) AND made it up this mutha on the first try!

I had to get a pic.

[Natedog]

Hey Johnny, Sweet bike and pics! Yes roadbiking really helps the MTB, loving my fixed gear roadbike!

[johnnyh66]

Haha, yeah... I posted it on Facebook and someone thought i just got my front tire up there. I had to add that I rode "over" that rock... not just up it.

The road biking has been a blast.
Since quitting my job, I've rode to work with my gf most mornings.
It's only 10 miles roundtrip but fun way to start the day.