Hi everyone, just want to share my experience with the Bontrager Race X Lite tires. I'm not comparing to other tires because the type of riding, riders weight and riding surfaces make a difference in one experience. So, here is the set up and specifics first so you can get a feel for the conditions I used the tire under and what my opinions are based on.
The Bike: The tires came with my Trek OCLV 110 Madone 5.9 and Bontrager Aero Wheels. The bike is the red and carbon US Postal Office team bike. 52cm.
Me: I'm 5'7 and weight 142 lbs. I train with a HR monitor. I don't race criteriums cause I don't want an inevitablle crash. I will do Centuries or doubles. I am however, doing mountain bike races on a not so good at all hardtail and really, really, bad at downhill but more than make up for it on the uphills. Mnt. bike races seem to be more abundant locally.
Type of Rides: I ride hard and fast (20 to 21 mph). Mostly I like climbing hills and mountains. I climb Mnt. Wilson in California about every Saturday, it's about 6000 ft. of climbing and 26 miles to the top from my drive way, so a 52 mile round trip. Downhill speeds up to about 40 to 45mph. All my rides are timed so I can improve my time and speeds.
My experience with the tire: First, I pump the Race X Lites up to 120PSI as I don't mind a harsher ride. I wipe down the tread with a rag and inspect the tires after everyride with a flash lite. The flash light makes any bits of glass that may be imbedded in the rubber sparkle, so their easier to see to get them out. I check for cracks or cuts that may look unsafe. I did get cuts in the rear early on (about 500 miles) that measured about 4 or 5 cm which made me wonder if I should replace it but I left it on with no problems. I have pulled out slivers of glass that might have caused a flat for sure if I let them work their way in. A couple of these slivers left a small whole that with my flash light, I can see a tiny bit of thread. I did not get any flats through the 2,000 miles and yes I rode over glass, pot holes, small rocks at high speed, and other pieces of metal. One time I also locked the rear into a skid to slow to a red light from a very fast downhill. My rear tire has lasted 2,000 miles while the front still looks like it could go a least another 2,000 miles. The rear might go another 2-300 miles but I am quite satisfied with what I have gotten out of them. I don't rotate my tires. The rubber seems soft and very grippy in the turns. I did have confidence flying through turns at high speed. I've only ridden in wet road conditions from heavy fog, but didn't really put them to the test as I prefer to be careful. Besides about 4 to 5 cuts on the rear the only thing I noticed at about 500 miles was that the original oval shape of the rear tire lost it's shape to a more flat shape. The tires always felt fast and even after the rear lost it's shape, I thought it might make me slower, but my times never reflected this. Probably just a mental thing.
Overall, I'm happy and pleasantly surprised that the tire worked so well and held up, especially the rear. I would definetly ride the Race X Lite again. I am open to trying new things so I have already purchased a set of the new Continental 4000's and anxious to see how they work since I keep hearing and reading good things about them and I think Continental makes Bontrager but not sure. I'm hoping they will make me faster but I'll have to refer to my previous times and rides to see if there is any noticable difference.
I hope my personal experience on these tires and detail is helpful to everyone.
The Bike: The tires came with my Trek OCLV 110 Madone 5.9 and Bontrager Aero Wheels. The bike is the red and carbon US Postal Office team bike. 52cm.
Me: I'm 5'7 and weight 142 lbs. I train with a HR monitor. I don't race criteriums cause I don't want an inevitablle crash. I will do Centuries or doubles. I am however, doing mountain bike races on a not so good at all hardtail and really, really, bad at downhill but more than make up for it on the uphills. Mnt. bike races seem to be more abundant locally.
Type of Rides: I ride hard and fast (20 to 21 mph). Mostly I like climbing hills and mountains. I climb Mnt. Wilson in California about every Saturday, it's about 6000 ft. of climbing and 26 miles to the top from my drive way, so a 52 mile round trip. Downhill speeds up to about 40 to 45mph. All my rides are timed so I can improve my time and speeds.
My experience with the tire: First, I pump the Race X Lites up to 120PSI as I don't mind a harsher ride. I wipe down the tread with a rag and inspect the tires after everyride with a flash lite. The flash light makes any bits of glass that may be imbedded in the rubber sparkle, so their easier to see to get them out. I check for cracks or cuts that may look unsafe. I did get cuts in the rear early on (about 500 miles) that measured about 4 or 5 cm which made me wonder if I should replace it but I left it on with no problems. I have pulled out slivers of glass that might have caused a flat for sure if I let them work their way in. A couple of these slivers left a small whole that with my flash light, I can see a tiny bit of thread. I did not get any flats through the 2,000 miles and yes I rode over glass, pot holes, small rocks at high speed, and other pieces of metal. One time I also locked the rear into a skid to slow to a red light from a very fast downhill. My rear tire has lasted 2,000 miles while the front still looks like it could go a least another 2,000 miles. The rear might go another 2-300 miles but I am quite satisfied with what I have gotten out of them. I don't rotate my tires. The rubber seems soft and very grippy in the turns. I did have confidence flying through turns at high speed. I've only ridden in wet road conditions from heavy fog, but didn't really put them to the test as I prefer to be careful. Besides about 4 to 5 cuts on the rear the only thing I noticed at about 500 miles was that the original oval shape of the rear tire lost it's shape to a more flat shape. The tires always felt fast and even after the rear lost it's shape, I thought it might make me slower, but my times never reflected this. Probably just a mental thing.
Overall, I'm happy and pleasantly surprised that the tire worked so well and held up, especially the rear. I would definetly ride the Race X Lite again. I am open to trying new things so I have already purchased a set of the new Continental 4000's and anxious to see how they work since I keep hearing and reading good things about them and I think Continental makes Bontrager but not sure. I'm hoping they will make me faster but I'll have to refer to my previous times and rides to see if there is any noticable difference.
I hope my personal experience on these tires and detail is helpful to everyone.
