It's spring, and here at bikefix, we have a couple of new test bikes in the pipeline. Here's the first: Charlie will be rollin' like a pimp on Maverick's new 140mm travel Durance. Look reviews on the 2009 Fox 32 TALAS (we've been assured that it's much improved), Fulcrum (Campagnolo) Red Metal Zero wheelset, Hope CNC'd stem, Formula The ONE brakes and Schwalbe Racing Ralph tires. Word is, the thing weighs 26lb- not bad for a bike with 5.5in travel at either end. Look for reviews over the next several months...
Showing posts with label tires. Show all posts
Showing posts with label tires. Show all posts
25 May 2008
New Test Bike #1: Maverick Uber-Durance
It's spring, and here at bikefix, we have a couple of new test bikes in the pipeline. Here's the first: Charlie will be rollin' like a pimp on Maverick's new 140mm travel Durance. Look reviews on the 2009 Fox 32 TALAS (we've been assured that it's much improved), Fulcrum (Campagnolo) Red Metal Zero wheelset, Hope CNC'd stem, Formula The ONE brakes and Schwalbe Racing Ralph tires. Word is, the thing weighs 26lb- not bad for a bike with 5.5in travel at either end. Look for reviews over the next several months...
11 May 2008
bikefix Review Update: Specialized Eskar Control 2Bliss tire
When I first wrote about the Specialized's new Eskar, I expressed some concern over the thin sidewalls of the the company's Tubeless Ready format. Unlike UST standard tubeless tires, Tubeless Ready tires' casings lack a sealing rubber layer- relying instead on a sealant such as Stans' or Specialized's own AirLock liquid. While they certainly are lighter (at 700g) and quite possibly less expensive to make, I’m afraid to report that the thinner sidewalls have proved to be a bit of an Achilles heel. At lower pressures, they have been “burping” (releasing air at the bead:rim interface) quite often. On one recent ride, at 32psi, the front tire “burped” in a downhill corner and the unexpected deflation and threw me over the handlebars. There was no damage to the tire and fortunately, we were able to re-seat it using a hand pump and careful manipulation. For the record, I should note that Specialized lists 35psi as the minimum pressure for these tires. However, requiring high pressures defeats much of what makes tubeless great. Many of us have been riding below the manufacturer’s stated minimum psi. on all sorts of tires for quite a while now, and this will be the first time we have had a problem of this magnitude.
Besides all that, I have noticed more tire roll when cornering (at any speed), and when getting jostled about in rock gardens. Despite all of this there has not been any noticeable damage to the tires' cut-resistant "420/D1" sidewalls. Ultimately, though, I believe that this tire would be improved with the impermeable inner layer that seems to give UST tires more rigidity, albeit with more weight. It is a trade-off I am willing to make- especially in a 'trail' or 'all-mountain' tire. I will ride this tire until I find a comparable replacement to install and review- but will be riding it at 38-40psi. I will update this review again if I see anything else new.
06 May 2008
bikefix Exclusive Review: Maxxis Re-Fuse tires
I hate getting flats. Nothing has the potential to interrupt a good ride, on road or off, like the ffft-ffft-ffft-ffft of a punctured tire. At the least, it means a 5-10 minute repair. More often, though, it's a messy job performed with frustratingly insufficient little pumps, aged (and sometimes pre-punctured) tubes and (on really bad days) cold, driving rain. Before moving to the desert (and a city where roadside broken glass is endemic), I wasn't a big fan of sealant or puncture resistant tires. Oh how things change. Sure, puncture-resistant tires are heavier, more expensive and don't ride or corner as well as their softer counterparts. Sealant-filled tubes can be messy, heavy and fail as often as they work. That said, it doesn't matter how light or fast standard tubes and tires are if they aren't holding air. You can still win a race or get to work on time with heavy tires- not flat ones.Enter Maxxis' Re-Fuse. It's a folding bead tire with both a woven Kevlar belt and what Maxxis calls their "Silkworm" cap.
Details are sketchy, but it's a material that's claimed to increase puncture resistance, cut resistance and rolling efficiency. It has a knurled tread, is intended to be the company's most bombproof training tire and comes in at a reasonable 245g (700x23c). Pricing is a very reasonable $31.For a while, I believed that these were the bees knees. They ride well enough and can be ridden fearlessly through all manner of road debris. Despite using them on two commuting bikes (fixed and geared) 3-4 days/week for past two years, I have zero flats. None. Once, while a bike was in the stand, I noticed a cut in the tire with something in it. I used a dental pick to fish out a piece of glass that had installed itself between the casing and tread rubber. Looking harder, I found three or four others. Still, no flats. That's pretty darn badass. Compared with other puncture-resistant tires, the Re-Fuse ride pretty darn well and aren't nearly as scary in corners. Several years back, working as a messenger, I laid a bike out and slid across traffic and in front of an oncoming limo. I still place blame (at least in part) on a pair of "puncture-proof" tires' stiff casing and their hard rubber tread hard rubber. It wasn't fun and is something I'd like very much to avoid repeating. Compared to the competition, the Re-Fuses are very confidence inspiring, both in wet and dry conditions.
Recently, though, I've started to see problems with the Re-Fuses I'm riding and have recommended to others. Nobody's complaining about the puncture resistance, but Maxxis seem to be having trouble getting the rubber to stick to the casing.
A co-worker recently pointed out a 3in x 1/4in section of the tire with no tread- it had come completely away and he was riding on the woven casing. No flats, but that shouldn't happen- an exposed section of rubber-free casing can mean (at best) unpredictable cornering. Of course, taking photos of my tires for this review, I found a similar section on my commuter. After about 700 miles, my tire had to go in the bin. That's far too soon, in my opinion, regardless of a tire's price. The mating tire had a number of wrinkles where the rubber looks to be decomposing (see second photo). Again, no flats, but it doesn't speak well for the tires' lifespan.It's a shame- my first set or two of the Re-Fuse had none of these problems. Hopefully, Maxxis has just had a bit of a production hiccup and already remedied the problem. I will be trying to get mine warrantied, but am not holding my breath (tire warranties are a hard thing). If they can get the rubber to stick to what has proved to be a bombproof casing, they'll have one of the best tires available for folks in thorn, glass or goathead infested areas.
marc
www.maxxis.com
24 April 2008
bikefix Initial Review: Maxxis Courchevel tire
Tire choice is amazingly important part of how any bike rides. With different weights and rubber types, tires can make a bike feel slow and clumsy or fast and efficient, or, in the case of the Maxxis' Courchevel- smooth and “gripy." The Courchevel is a three compound tire with a puncture-resistant Kevlar belt, a thread count of 120, and a respectable weight of 205g. The “Triple Compound” construction enhances cornering grip without compromising straight-line speed or durability. The center strip of rubber is a hard, durable rubber, with the mid-shoulder strip being slightly softer and more tacky, and the high-shoulder strip being very tacky for maximum traction. For the tech-heads the rubber durometers are 62a/58a/50a respectively. These tires have no tread and are smooth.I replaced a pair of Maxxis Re-Fuse tires (a heavier, but bombproof model) on my commuter bike with the 700x23 Courchevels (the same size as the Re-Fuses) and I was astonished at how smooth they made the bike ride. Bumps that used to make my wrists hurt were transformed into little jolts that didn’t bother me at all, and even bigger bumps like curbs or riding on a gravel road became completely acceptable. Of course, it's twice the price of the Re-Fuse and 50g lighter, so that's not a huge surprise. Regardless, it was a fantastic change and the Courchavel rides very well for a puncture-resistant tire.
The funny thing is that the Courchevels don’t really seem faster that the Re-Fuse’s. They ride better and they grip much better, but they don’t seem much faster. I have no data to back this up- it is just how it feels. They are a bit lighter so they probably wind up a bit quicker, but they have more grip- so maybe it‘s a wash. Anyway, if I don’t get many flats (none so far) it will be a very worthwhile change. The ride is that much better. They are available in gray/black or (for fashionable types) orange/black. They retail for $60.00.
charlie
www.maxxis.com
02 April 2008
bikefix Initial Review: Specialized Eskar Control 2Bliss tire
Specialized has, for a few years now, made some of the best mountain bike tires in the business. However, before I get into tire specifics, it important to note a major change with Specialized 2Bliss tires for 2008. Spez has decided that since everyone uses liquid sealant with tubeless tires- there is no point adding a impermeable rubber layer to the inside of the tire and therefore increasing the tire’s weight. I have not made up my mind yet on this “tubeless ready” format- but my initial reaction was negative. There are two reasons why I am concerned: The first is that although sidewall blowouts were very rare for me on the double layered tubeless tires, it does happen and is a real concern. This new version now has less sidewall material and that could be bad. The second is that the thicker sidewalls of the previous format had more structural rigidity and therefore less tire-roll when cornering. This is important for tubeless tires because they can be run at such low pressures. A heavy guy like me can really feel them moving around in the corners. These are just concerns mind you- only time and miles will tell.For 2008 Specialized have also discontinued many of my old favorites and replaced them with new designs. The Eskar Control 2Bliss is the replacement for the old Resolution D2 2Bliss and is their versatile trailbike/light all-mountain tire. It comes in only one size: 2.3. As intended, I put it on my long-travel trailbike- hoping they would be as good as the Resolutions they replaced.
The benefit of the company's new casing is the lighter weight of these tires. I was curious to see if I could feel the weight difference when riding because it was quite apparent when I held them in my hands. They definitely seemed a little more lively than my old tires which could be the weight or maybe a bit less rolling resistance. Either way they felt a bit faster. After a long ride out at Cedro peak (my 3rd ride on these tires), I have to say that I like the tread better than my Resolutions- the Eskar grips just as well but is a fair bit faster than the Resolutions were. The tread was more predictable when cornering than the Resolution too (the Resolution’s only criticism). The Eskar’s are a dual compound tire which means they put a tacky rubber on the shoulders and a harder rubber in the center for durability and less rolling resistance (this is one of the reasons I like Spez tires so much). This concept works great and I wish more manufacturers would do it. Since installing the Eskars, I have been riding them at about 36 psi because of my sidewall concerns. I plan to head back out next week and ride with them at my usual 32-33 psi and then we will see about the cornering. As far as the toughness of the sidewalls goes- I haven’t yet had a problem and Specialized claims that the new 420/D1 casing is more cut and puncture resistant than the previous version, so I'll give them the benefit of the doubt for now, but it feels awfully thin between my fingers.
Despite my initial concerns, the Eskar is a great riding tire and will be my first choice for my long-travel trailbike if the thin sidewalls don’t cause me trouble. The Eskar has an MSRP of $50.00 but I see it for less all the time.
We will update this review after we put more miles on them.
charlie
www.specialized.com
01 April 2008
bikefix Initial Review: Specialized Eskar Control 2Bliss tire
Specialized has, for a few years now, made some of the best mountain bike tires in the business. However, before I get into tire specifics, it important to note a major change with Specialized 2Bliss tires for 2008. Spez has decided that since everyone uses liquid sealant with tubeless tires- there is no point adding a impermeable rubber layer to the inside of the tire and therefore increasing the tire’s weight. I have not made up my mind yet on this “tubeless ready” format- but my initial reaction was negative. There are two reasons why I am concerned: The first is that although sidewall blowouts were very rare for me on the double layered tubeless tires, it does happen and is a real concern. This new version now has less sidewall material and that could be bad. The second is that the thicker sidewalls of the previous format had more structural rigidity and therefore less tire-roll when cornering. This is important for tubeless tires because they can be run at such low pressures. A heavy guy like me can really feel them moving around in the corners. These are just concerns mind you- only time and miles will tell.
For 2008 Specialized have also discontinued many of my old favorites and replaced them with new designs. The Eskar Control 2Bliss is the replacement for the old Resolution D2 2Bliss and is their versatile trailbike/light all-mountain tire. It comes in only one size: 2.3. As intended, I put it on my long-travel trailbike- hoping they would be as good as the Resolutions they replaced.
The benefit of the company's new casing is the lighter weight of these tires. I was curious to see if I could feel the weight difference when riding because it was quite apparent when I held them in my hands. They definitely seemed a little more lively than my old tires which could be the weight or maybe a bit less rolling resistance. Either way they felt a bit faster. After a long ride out at Cedro peak (my 3rd ride on these tires), I have to say that I like the tread better than my Resolutions- the Eskar grips just as well but is a fair bit faster than the Resolutions were. The tread was more predictable when cornering than the Resolution too (the Resolution’s only criticism). The Eskar’s are a dual compound tire which means they put a tacky rubber on the shoulders and a harder rubber in the center for durability and less rolling resistance (this is one of the reasons I like Spez tires so much). This concept works great and I wish more manufacturers would do it. Since installing the Eskars, I have been riding them at about 36 psi because of my sidewall concerns. I plan to head back out next week and ride with them at my usual 32-33 psi and then we will see about the cornering. As far as the toughness of the sidewalls goes- I haven’t yet had a problem and Specialized claims that the new 420/D1 casing is more cut and puncture resistant than the previous version, so I'll give them the benefit of the doubt for now, but it feels awfully thin between my fingers.
Despite my initial concerns, the Eskar is a great riding tire and will be my first choice for my long-travel trailbike if the thin sidewalls don’t cause me trouble. The Eskar has an MSRP of $50.00 but I see it for less all the time.
We will update this review after we put more miles on them.
charlie
www.specialized.com
02 March 2008
bikefix Exclusive Review: Specialized Fast Trak Control 29x2.0 tires
Control. It's all about control. It doesn't matter how fast a tire rolls if you can't carry the speed you've gained into, and through, the corners. This point became particularly clear to me after moving from New England to the desert. There, there are trees and bushes to penalize riders for overshooting corners. Here: prickly pears. As I've mentioned in the past, my 29er (a single speed) is a bike for going fast. I'm not particularly predisposed to 100km dirt road SS epics. When I grab the 29er, it's usually with a small bag for a couple of hours' blast within riding distance of the house. Those trails are pretty fast and flowy and the SS has only one speed: Go.
So, as my year-old Geax Saguaro and two year old WTB ExiWolf tires started to loose their grip, I began shopping for a replacement set. While Schwalbe's new Racing Ralphs looked good (fast and light with lots of volume), they were spendy ($65 apiece) and apparently impossible to get a hold of. Specialized's Fast Trak, available in Low Knob (LK) and more aggressive (Control) versions, is a 600g (Control) tire that is fairly common in these parts. Our local Specialized dealer sends out $15 off $50 coupons to their e-mail list fairly regularly (IBDs take note- these really get folks in the door), which meant that two of Specialized's $37 Fast Trak Control tires came to a very reasonable $59. Sold.
Running these tires, as I do, on narrow (19mm) Sun ME14A rims, cornering knobs are important. The LKs save much of their weight on the cornering knobs, which scared me a bit. Besides, at 200g less than the ExiWolf and 40g less than the Saguaro, the set was already saving me 1/2lb- I didn't really feel the need to compromise cornering or casing thickness at that point. Mounted on my skinny-ass rims, the Fast Traks were noticeably narrower than the Saguaro or ExiWolf- easily a full 1/4in narrower than the latter, I was worried about pinch flatting, particularly in rocky terrain. The casing was also noticeably softer. Thinking I had slow leaks, I checked both to find my usual 30PSI. The front I left as-is, but I upped the rear to 35, which took care of a bit of a vague feeling in corners.
While they lacked the margin of error and comfort that a larger tire seems to grant a rider, I don't feel like the Fast Traks give up anything to my favorite ExiWolves. They seem to roll a bit faster than the Saguaro, though not as fast as Kenda's Small Block 8s. The payoff, though, is that they seem to corner far better than either, for more control and faster speeds overall. I had the misfortune of doing some muddy riding recently (Boo!) and there they can't compare with Bontrager's ACX 29 or Schwalbe's Little Albert 29- though they're really not meant to. They are passable for short muddy sections and seem to give up more cornering control than straight ahead traction- so just it's possible shift your weight back, power down and get through it.
The Fast Traks tend to slip predictably and the rear breaks loose first (if just barely). This provides some oversteer, though a bit less than I'd like. Still, it's far better than understeer- the defining handling characteristic of my '86 Ford Taurus wagon in the snow and something I'd like to leave as just a memory. My other complaint is that the casings on both tires (the last two at the dealer) were slightly wonky. Despite my best efforts (air compressor and Armor-All when mounting), the casings never ran true. The dealer mentioned an unconditional satisfaction guarantee (I don't know if that's theirs or Specialized's), so I'm waiting on replacements to come in. They've been fine for 200mi, but I'd rather not tempt fate- at least I'm running tubes (with Stans inside), and a decent tire shouldn't be all wonky out of the box.
My previous experience with (first generation) Fast Traks was cut short by a sharp rock cutting half way through the sidewall. The Control version uses a (new for 2008) cut-reistant casing that should help. For really rocky conditions or heavier riders, though, a 2.2 tire might be a bit more appropriate and comfortable (the 26in Fast Trak is available in a 2.2). For loamy or loose-over-hard conditions, though, the Fast Trak are a great tire: light, fast, grippy and reasonably priced.
marc
www.specialized.com
So, as my year-old Geax Saguaro and two year old WTB ExiWolf tires started to loose their grip, I began shopping for a replacement set. While Schwalbe's new Racing Ralphs looked good (fast and light with lots of volume), they were spendy ($65 apiece) and apparently impossible to get a hold of. Specialized's Fast Trak, available in Low Knob (LK) and more aggressive (Control) versions, is a 600g (Control) tire that is fairly common in these parts. Our local Specialized dealer sends out $15 off $50 coupons to their e-mail list fairly regularly (IBDs take note- these really get folks in the door), which meant that two of Specialized's $37 Fast Trak Control tires came to a very reasonable $59. Sold.
Running these tires, as I do, on narrow (19mm) Sun ME14A rims, cornering knobs are important. The LKs save much of their weight on the cornering knobs, which scared me a bit. Besides, at 200g less than the ExiWolf and 40g less than the Saguaro, the set was already saving me 1/2lb- I didn't really feel the need to compromise cornering or casing thickness at that point. Mounted on my skinny-ass rims, the Fast Traks were noticeably narrower than the Saguaro or ExiWolf- easily a full 1/4in narrower than the latter, I was worried about pinch flatting, particularly in rocky terrain. The casing was also noticeably softer. Thinking I had slow leaks, I checked both to find my usual 30PSI. The front I left as-is, but I upped the rear to 35, which took care of a bit of a vague feeling in corners.
While they lacked the margin of error and comfort that a larger tire seems to grant a rider, I don't feel like the Fast Traks give up anything to my favorite ExiWolves. They seem to roll a bit faster than the Saguaro, though not as fast as Kenda's Small Block 8s. The payoff, though, is that they seem to corner far better than either, for more control and faster speeds overall. I had the misfortune of doing some muddy riding recently (Boo!) and there they can't compare with Bontrager's ACX 29 or Schwalbe's Little Albert 29- though they're really not meant to. They are passable for short muddy sections and seem to give up more cornering control than straight ahead traction- so just it's possible shift your weight back, power down and get through it.
The Fast Traks tend to slip predictably and the rear breaks loose first (if just barely). This provides some oversteer, though a bit less than I'd like. Still, it's far better than understeer- the defining handling characteristic of my '86 Ford Taurus wagon in the snow and something I'd like to leave as just a memory. My other complaint is that the casings on both tires (the last two at the dealer) were slightly wonky. Despite my best efforts (air compressor and Armor-All when mounting), the casings never ran true. The dealer mentioned an unconditional satisfaction guarantee (I don't know if that's theirs or Specialized's), so I'm waiting on replacements to come in. They've been fine for 200mi, but I'd rather not tempt fate- at least I'm running tubes (with Stans inside), and a decent tire shouldn't be all wonky out of the box.My previous experience with (first generation) Fast Traks was cut short by a sharp rock cutting half way through the sidewall. The Control version uses a (new for 2008) cut-reistant casing that should help. For really rocky conditions or heavier riders, though, a 2.2 tire might be a bit more appropriate and comfortable (the 26in Fast Trak is available in a 2.2). For loamy or loose-over-hard conditions, though, the Fast Trak are a great tire: light, fast, grippy and reasonably priced.
marc
www.specialized.com
06 February 2008
bikefix Exclusive Review: Kenda Small Block 8 29x2.1 tire
Its been quite a while since I was one for 'race' tires. Living in an area with plenty of sharp, angry rocks and not really racing much will cure one of the need to run the fastest, lightest tires possible. Of course, as my commitment to an upcoming 24-hour race becomes much more real and frightening by the day, I'm looking for anything that might help lessen the pain. Talking to the Dans down at the local biketorium, I learned that Danny had a slightly used Kenda Small Block 8 29er tire that he hadn't had time to build a bike around, and he was gracious enough to let me borrow it for a few rides.Kenda's Small Block 8 is part of John Tomac's signature series of tires. We're not sure how much input he had in their development, but he's signed off on all of them, which was nice of him. An accomplished all-around rider, Tomac has certainly done his share of racing over the years- some of it on pretty odd gear- and been very successful. His range of tires for Kenda has been well-received, and it seems like the Nevegal is everywhere. It turns out that, in sand and hardpack, having lots of small knobs can be a good thing. Actually, I'm guessing that it's lots of edges that make the difference, but you can't really have one without the other. And the Small Block 8 has loads. Interestingly, they're smaller knobs than on the 26in Small Blocks, and look a little scary for those of us who like to turn corners. On the (narrow-ish) rim, the Small Block 8 didn't have quite as much volume as the Geax Saguaro it replaced- it seems a bit smaller than Specialized's 29x2.0 Fast Trak. That's hardly the end of the world- 1/8in isn't going to make a huge difference to most pinch flats anyways. With a light casing, folding bead and minimal tread, the Small Block 8 weighs a (quoted) 584g- reasonable for a 26in tire, let alone a 29er. With the specter of pre-dawn laps in my head, I threw them on the back of my 29er single speed and headed out.
At this point, I've got about 9 hours' riding on the Small Block 8 as a rear tire, and I must say that I'm impressed. First and foremost, it rolls fast and carries noticeably more speed than the Saguaro.
On an early-morning suffer-fest with frozen trails and superhero traction, it was fantastic, providing as much forward and turning traction as I could take advantage of. A week later and several degrees warmer, the same trails were a mess. Thanks, though, to the knobs' low height (and despite their close spacing), they never packed up with mud while providing more traction than a semi-slick. Cornering was still OK, given the slipperiness. Ride three was more representative of my normal rides. Not particularly wet and not frozen, the trails felt much like they do all year- mostly hardpack with no more than 1/8in of coarse sand on the surface. Next to the Saguaro, the Small Block 8 gave up a bit of forward traction and broke loose a hair earlier- probably 9/10 in both cases. It was never a surprise to feel the tire break loose, and it did so in a pretty controlled fashion. While slightly faster than each the Saguaro and WTB ExiWolf, its hard to know if that speed is lost again in corners or on climbs.All in all, I was pleasantly surprised by the Small Block 8. Because 24 hour races involve a fair amount of fatigue, though, I'm not sure I want to give up control for speed- I come close enough to the cacti as it is. Maybe a 29x2.3 (a 2.3 is available for 26in wheels) would be a bit more forgiving? For shorter or less-technical events (I'm remembering many NORBA courses here), you're riding the Great Divide, or if you have a fair amount of pavement on the way to the trailhead, it could be a winner.
kendabike.com
marc
19 January 2008
bikefix Exclusive Review: WTB ExiWolf 29x2.3 tire
Anyone who has read any of our tire reviews in the past knows that I, for one, value predictability above nearly all else in a tire. Why? If you can't trust a tire and know its limits, you can't push it to those limits. Of course, tires are very subjective and region- and riding style-specific, but WTB's ExiWolf has to be my favorite 29er tire, hands down. Here in the desert southwest, we have lots of sand, plenty of big rocks, and not a whole lot of either roots or mud. Most of my local (single speed friendly) trails are fairly hard packed with a nice layer of gravel-y sand over the top. It took ages after moving from New England to trust the bike and let it drift a bit in corners. Unlike on the roots on which I learned to ride, a bit of lateral movement on the local isn't a big deal, and allowing it (to a point) can actually help you carry speed through the corners.The first thing that folks notice about the ExiWolf is that its big. Even mounted on a narrow road rim (19mm wide Sun ME14A), it does a good job filling the arch of a RockShox Reba fork. This volume can help to protect the rim from rocks, allowing lower pressures and/or higher speeds (I'm running this tire at 25psi front/30psi rear). Mounted on a narrow-ish rim, the tread of the ExiWolf continues a fair distance down the side of the tire, aiding in cornering and helping to prevent sidewall cuts (see second picture). The small, low-profile knobs are nice and stout (with wider bases than tops) and closely spaced, so roll without much resistance.
As a rear tire, the ExiWolf works very well. It has plenty of traction to run on a single speed race bike and allows me to charge into rocky descents without worrying (too much) about pinch flatting or destroying a not-designed-for-29er road racing rim. Durability, as with the Geax Saguaro, has been excellent, with about 18 months and acceptable wear (about 6 months on the rear, 12 on the front).
The sidewalls are in excellent shape and certainly sturdier than those on the Specialized FasTrak, which were a bit less robust than I'd have liked. The multitude of small knobs provide fantastic cornering- grippy with a reliable break-away point. They would much rather be leaned than turned into corners. All of this adds up to a very flattering tire that can give you the confidence to ride quickly and aggressively (in their native environment).
All sunshine and flowers? The number and size of the clouds would depend on your perspective. The downside to all that rubber and casing is weight- the ExiWolf runs about 825g- some 150-200g heaver than its (admittedly narrower) competitors. It's also not inexpensive- similar tires from Geax and Specialized run around $35- the folding bead ExiWolf runs around $50 in shops (though it is available online for a fair bit less). Still, given its durability, an extra $10 or $15 may be worth it.
marc
wtb.com
As a rear tire, the ExiWolf works very well. It has plenty of traction to run on a single speed race bike and allows me to charge into rocky descents without worrying (too much) about pinch flatting or destroying a not-designed-for-29er road racing rim. Durability, as with the Geax Saguaro, has been excellent, with about 18 months and acceptable wear (about 6 months on the rear, 12 on the front).
The sidewalls are in excellent shape and certainly sturdier than those on the Specialized FasTrak, which were a bit less robust than I'd have liked. The multitude of small knobs provide fantastic cornering- grippy with a reliable break-away point. They would much rather be leaned than turned into corners. All of this adds up to a very flattering tire that can give you the confidence to ride quickly and aggressively (in their native environment).All sunshine and flowers? The number and size of the clouds would depend on your perspective. The downside to all that rubber and casing is weight- the ExiWolf runs about 825g- some 150-200g heaver than its (admittedly narrower) competitors. It's also not inexpensive- similar tires from Geax and Specialized run around $35- the folding bead ExiWolf runs around $50 in shops (though it is available online for a fair bit less). Still, given its durability, an extra $10 or $15 may be worth it.
marc
wtb.com
31 December 2007
bikefix Exclusive Review: Geax Saguaro 29x2.2 tire
Tires, as the primary [ideally only] contact point between the rider and the trail have the ability to change the ride of a mountain bike like little else. On road bikes, things aren't nearly as dramatic, but given mountain bikes' wide range of terrain, riding styles and the nearly infinite number of possible knob, rubber and casing configurations, there are loads of options. Of course where you ride, and how, will largely determine which tires work for you and which don't.Here in the (largely) dry high desert of New Mexico, our local trails are largely loose-over-hard, with a healthy helping of sand. When it rains, traction largely tends to improve. With gravel and sand coating our hard packed trails, it's not so much if a tire will break loose in cornering, but when. Tires that don't break loose readily are good. Tires that break loose predictably and consistently are great. After cutting a fast and light Specialized Fast Trak, I took a racer's suggestion and picked up a Geax Saguaro. Costing only $37 for the 640g folding bead 29x2.20, it was an easy sell. Heck, it's even become one of a 29er-specific website's Top 10 Favorite 29er Products of 2007.
My first experience with the Saguaro was on a practice lap of Tucson's 24 Hours in the Old Pueblo course. Mounted on my (admittedly narrow) rim, the 2.2 width seemed a bit optimistic- it seems more like a generous 2.0, and nowhere as large as some of the fatter 29er tires that have become available over the past year. On the front wheel (paired with a WTB ExiWolf), the Saguaro was clearly fast but suffered excessive understeer, plowing towards the outside of corners- making things interesting and the bike a bit difficult to control. Knowing that the ExiWolf worked well as a front tire, I headed back to camp and swapped things around: much better. It turns out that a tire that causes understeer on the front of the bike can be great for creating oversteer on the rear.
And that's where it's stayed. Nearly 11 months later, the Saguaro is still on my single speed. Plenty of forward traction, even for a single speed, and very predictable handling. While it breaks loose earlier than some tires, it's far more predictable than other 29er tires I've used, such as the Maxxis Ignitor, Schwalbe Little Albert or Hutchinson Python. It's as fast or nearly as fast as the Fast Trak and Python while being sturdier than the first and much more communicative than the second. As an added bonus, this 11 month old tire, with hundreds of (maybe even a thousand) miles on it looks almost new. That's right- no wear to speak of. We've used tires that look worse after two or three rides. No cuts, either, despite our sharp rocks and my sometimes awful line choices. Unfortunately, it's currently Geax's only 29er tire, so anyone looking for a bit more grip or cushion will have to look elsewhere. Shame, too, as the Arrojo looks promising.
geax.com
marc
My first experience with the Saguaro was on a practice lap of Tucson's 24 Hours in the Old Pueblo course. Mounted on my (admittedly narrow) rim, the 2.2 width seemed a bit optimistic- it seems more like a generous 2.0, and nowhere as large as some of the fatter 29er tires that have become available over the past year. On the front wheel (paired with a WTB ExiWolf), the Saguaro was clearly fast but suffered excessive understeer, plowing towards the outside of corners- making things interesting and the bike a bit difficult to control. Knowing that the ExiWolf worked well as a front tire, I headed back to camp and swapped things around: much better. It turns out that a tire that causes understeer on the front of the bike can be great for creating oversteer on the rear.And that's where it's stayed. Nearly 11 months later, the Saguaro is still on my single speed. Plenty of forward traction, even for a single speed, and very predictable handling. While it breaks loose earlier than some tires, it's far more predictable than other 29er tires I've used, such as the Maxxis Ignitor, Schwalbe Little Albert or Hutchinson Python. It's as fast or nearly as fast as the Fast Trak and Python while being sturdier than the first and much more communicative than the second. As an added bonus, this 11 month old tire, with hundreds of (maybe even a thousand) miles on it looks almost new. That's right- no wear to speak of. We've used tires that look worse after two or three rides. No cuts, either, despite our sharp rocks and my sometimes awful line choices. Unfortunately, it's currently Geax's only 29er tire, so anyone looking for a bit more grip or cushion will have to look elsewhere. Shame, too, as the Arrojo looks promising.
geax.com
marc
09 November 2007
bikefix Exclusive Review: Specialized Roll X Pro D2 2Bliss Tire
After about a year without a tire I could really get behind, I got aggressive in asking local riders what they rated for local conditions. It's largely dry around here, with plenty of sharp rocks and a fair amount of sand. I loved Continental's (UST) Vertical, but got sick of cutting new or near-new tires. Geax's BarroMarathon (UST) had promising volume, but wore alarmingly quickly and didn't corner as well as it could have. WTB's ExiWolf 2.3 has been great on my 29er, but isn't available in a tubeless version. Schwalbe's Albert was nice but I wanted something between the narrow-ish 2.1 and massive 2.25, besides, they were pricey.A number of locals whose opinion I trust recommended Specialized's Roll X. Reasonably fast-rolling, fairly sturdy (but not DH heavy), and (in the Pro tubeless version), a helluva deal at $36.95 at the shop down the road. I threw them on the scale and seem to remember them weighing in at a reasonable 770g.
I picked up a 2.2 (for the front) and an older 2.0 (almost as big as the 2.2) before a big trip during the first week of August. While we had several beautiful days, we also had a fair amount of rain, and I was pleasantly surprised. There was plenty of traction for climbing, and descending grip wasn't jaw-dropping, but more importantly it was predictable.There's little worse, in my opinion, than an unpredictable tire. Personally, I will happily trade a very grippy tire that lets go abruptly for a moderately grippy one that breaks free progressively, allowing me to make corrections before being dumped on my ass. In most conditions, the Roll X is a very predictable tire. It performs well in loamy, rocky, and wet conditions, due no doubt in part to the soft 60 (shore A) durometer cornering knobs (combined with a 70 shore A centers). The only place where it falls a bit short is in 1in or so deep sand. Less and it's fine, much more and nothing works particularly well. Seeing as no tire is perfect, that's fine by me.
My only complaint is that the cornering knobs are wearing a bit too quickly. Much like the triple-compound Schwalbe Racing Ralphs, I'm finding that the grippy cornering knobs rear faster than the rest of the tread, and quickly become the weakest link. Have a look at the photo to the right. The cornering knobs on the rear tire are pretty severely undermined after only three months of regular riding. Better than some, worse than I'd like. I could happily wring some more life out of the tire if the cornering knobs weren't so hammered (see comments about unpredictable tires, above). Today's ride was probably the last on the rear, though the front is still in good shape and will be shifted aft. Thanks to a $25-off-$75-purchase coupon at the aforementioned shop, I now have a Resolution front and spare Roll X waiting to be ridden.These were run with about 1/4 cup of Stan's NoTubes sealant (thanks to the cactus and goatheads that litter our local trails) and between 25 and 30psi (less than Specialized's recommended 35psi min). No flats, no sidewall cuts, no knobs rotting from the inside and falling off.
marc
specialized.com
edit: Talked to the local Spez dealer yesterday, and the Roll X has been discontinued for 2008. Replaced, according to them, by the Sauserwind, which is available in... 26x1.8 That doesn't sound quite right- does anyone have any more info?
07 November 2007
TwentyNineInches review a monster 29er tire
WTB's WeirWolf LT 29er tire is massive, in every direction. With a 2.55in casing, with a trimmed-down version of their WeirWolf tread pattern, it has caught our attention at bike shops here in town- looks like just the thing to go fast and avoid pinch flats on our 29ers. Sure, it's heavy, but if its as rocky where you are as it is here, or you're a purist sporting a rigid fork, the WeirWolf may be just the ticket.
TwentyNineInches recon it's "perfect summer for mountain biking here in the Mid-West," though they seem to prefer it as a front, paired with a NanoRaptor in the rear. We can't help but wonder what it would be like paired with a 2.4 NanoRaptor, which we love in a 26 for it's great traction (plenty for rear SS use) and cushion, not to mention fast rolling. If only it was available in that width for 29ers...
TwentyNineInches.com
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