Grippy MTB shoes for muddy trails?

[Duncan Smith]

Some say, the Rockhopper comes without the necessary boots to handle
the dirt and grime <<http://www.mbuk.com/biketestdetails.asp?id=680>>
Keen to avoid another disaster - can anyone recommend a decent tyre-
set for muddy trials. Something like the equivalent of Michelin
Ironmans for the road?

Many thanks,

Duncan.

 

[Doki]

"Duncan Smith" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> Some say, the Rockhopper comes without the necessary boots to handle
> the dirt and grime <<http://www.mbuk.com/biketestdetails.asp?id=680>>
> Keen to avoid another disaster - can anyone recommend a decent tyre-
> set for muddy trials. Something like the equivalent of Michelin
> Ironmans for the road?

What sort of width are you looking for?

 

[Duncan Smith]

On May 27, 10:49 pm, "Doki" <[email protected]> wrote:
> "Duncan Smith" <[email protected]> wrote in message
>
> news:[email protected]...
>
> > Some say, the Rockhopper comes without the necessary boots to handle
> > the dirt and grime <<http://www.mbuk.com/biketestdetails.asp?id=680>>
> > Keen to avoid another disaster - can anyone recommend a decent tyre-
> > set for muddy trials. Something like the equivalent of Michelin
> > Ironmans for the road?
>
> What sort of width are you looking for?

That's a fine question, I think it comes with 26" x 2" Specialized
Fasttrack. I'm not sure whether it's the width or just the Fasttrack
properties (less knobly?) that make it unsuitable for muddy tracks (or
more suitable for roads/dry tracks).

Not having a great deal of MTB know-how I was really wondering what
others would recommend/use for an off-road race, am expecting a few
inches of mud around tight corners, wet roots, etc.

Many thanks,

Duncan.

 

[Doki]

"Duncan Smith" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> On May 27, 10:49 pm, "Doki" <[email protected]> wrote:
>> "Duncan Smith" <[email protected]> wrote in message
>>
>> news:[email protected]...
>>
>> > Some say, the Rockhopper comes without the necessary boots to handle
>> > the dirt and grime <<http://www.mbuk.com/biketestdetails.asp?id=680>>
>> > Keen to avoid another disaster - can anyone recommend a decent tyre-
>> > set for muddy trials. Something like the equivalent of Michelin
>> > Ironmans for the road?
>>
>> What sort of width are you looking for?
>
> That's a fine question, I think it comes with 26" x 2" Specialized
> Fasttrack. I'm not sure whether it's the width or just the Fasttrack
> properties (less knobly?) that make it unsuitable for muddy tracks (or
> more suitable for roads/dry tracks).
>
> Not having a great deal of MTB know-how I was really wondering what
> others would recommend/use for an off-road race, am expecting a few
> inches of mud around tight corners, wet roots, etc.

I used to use Tioga Factory XC 2.1"s, but I'm by no means a racer, they just
grip pretty well in mud and cost a tenner an end. You'll be wanting
something kevlar beaded, and with as little tread as you can get away with
for XC racing, and if it's seriously deep mud, narrow - 1.5" or so. Narrow
is good anyway for racing, until you reach the boundaries of grip...

 

[squeaker]

> I used to use Tioga Factory XC 2.1"s, but I'm by no means a racer, they just
> grip pretty well in mud and cost a tenner an end. You'll be wanting
> something kevlar beaded, and with as little tread as you can get away with
> for XC racing, and if it's seriously deep mud, narrow - 1.5" or so. Narrow
> is good anyway for racing, until you reach the boundaries of grip...
Yes, Factory XC's were a good budget tyre for general off-road work,
but as Doki says, you'll be looking at something lighter for racing -
why not take a look at www.bikemagic.com for some ideas? Based on the
MBUK review I'd suggest going for something for wet / mud conditions
and being prepared to make a swap depending upon the weather on the
day.....

 

[Roger Merriman]

Duncan Smith <[email protected]> wrote:

> On May 27, 10:49 pm, "Doki" <[email protected]> wrote:
> > "Duncan Smith" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> >
> > news:[email protected]...
> >
> > > Some say, the Rockhopper comes without the necessary boots to handle
> > > the dirt and grime <<http://www.mbuk.com/biketestdetails.asp?id=680>>
> > > Keen to avoid another disaster - can anyone recommend a decent tyre-
> > > set for muddy trials. Something like the equivalent of Michelin
> > > Ironmans for the road?
> >
> > What sort of width are you looking for?
>
> That's a fine question, I think it comes with 26" x 2" Specialized
> Fasttrack. I'm not sure whether it's the width or just the Fasttrack
> properties (less knobly?) that make it unsuitable for muddy tracks (or
> more suitable for roads/dry tracks).
>
most mud tires have very big and widely spaced knobs, they exel in mud
but tend to be medioca at best else where.

> Not having a great deal of MTB know-how I was really wondering what
> others would recommend/use for an off-road race, am expecting a few
> inches of mud around tight corners, wet roots, etc.
>
i use mud tires for riding, not raceing though, IRC Mudmad. stick like
you wouldn't belive though mud, or wet grass. but easy rolling isn't
something you use to describe mudtires. and they will offer terrible
grip on hard stuff.

> Many thanks,
>
> Duncan.

roger

 

[Simon Brooke]

in message <[email protected]>, squeaker
('[email protected]') wrote:

>
>> I used to use Tioga Factory XC 2.1"s, but I'm by no means a racer, they
>> just grip pretty well in mud and cost a tenner an end. You'll be wanting
>> something kevlar beaded, and with as little tread as you can get away
>> with for XC racing, and if it's seriously deep mud, narrow - 1.5" or so.
>> Narrow is good anyway for racing, until you reach the boundaries of
>> grip...
> Yes, Factory XC's were a good budget tyre for general off-road work,
> but as Doki says, you'll be looking at something lighter for racing -
> why not take a look at www.bikemagic.com for some ideas? Based on the
> MBUK review I'd suggest going for something for wet / mud conditions
> and being prepared to make a swap depending upon the weather on the
> day.....

There was a very good review of about fifty different brands of cross
country tyre in Singletrack magazine last year. Quick check - yes, it's
still available (but you have to pay for it), here:
http://www.singletrackworld.com/shop/acatalog/Product_Test_Features.html

Quick summary, though: lighter tyres puncture more easily, grippy tyres
wear faster. You pays your money and you takes your pick. The guys I know
who race cross country seriously use light, tubeless tyres with remarkably
little tread pattern, with slime in the tyres, and carry a gas cartridge
inflator. They also will use different tyres for different courses and for
rain.

--
[email protected] (Simon Brooke) http://www.jasmine.org.uk/~simon/

;; I'll have a proper rant later, when I get the time.

 

[Paul Boyd]

On 27/05/2007 22:44, Duncan Smith said,
> Some say, the Rockhopper comes without the necessary boots to handle
> the dirt and grime <<http://www.mbuk.com/biketestdetails.asp?id=680>>
> Keen to avoid another disaster - can anyone recommend a decent tyre-
> set for muddy trials. Something like the equivalent of Michelin
> Ironmans for the road?

Just looking through my tyre collection, and if it was really muddy then
the Panaracer Trailrakers would go on. I have 1.95", but I think they
come a bit bigger if you want. Not so muddy then the 2.1" Continental
Speed Kings would go on.

Having said that, last weekend I went out on a set of 1.5" Schwalbe
Speed Cruisers which are semi-slicks, and they just sliced straight
through a patch of really gloopy mud with no apparent loss of traction
or control. Wouldn't want to climb on them in mud though

--
Paul Boyd
http://www.paul-boyd.co.uk/

 

[Paul Boyd]

On 28/05/2007 10:48, I said,

> Having said that, last weekend I went out on a set of 1.5" Schwalbe
> Speed Cruisers which are semi-slicks, and they just sliced straight
> through a patch of really gloopy mud with no apparent loss of traction
> or control. Wouldn't want to climb on them in mud though

Can I retract that last bit? This morning I stopped dead in the middle
of a huge muddy puddle on a rough track. It's surprising how quickly
wet feet warm up again Not sure that mud tyres would have helped in
that particular instance though.

--
Paul Boyd
http://www.paul-boyd.co.uk/