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When I was last at BPW I was running the Rekons F&R. I started with 16f and 18r but it got soggy so I dropped some pressure out the front, no idea how much, and got a puncture soon after on the Bonneyville drop. Should've stuck with the pressure as it was.
Next time I'm sticking with 16/18
I've converted the stache back to 29+ (due to yet another upcoming chubby project!). I remember liking the Chronicles. Not ridden it 29+ for a year so be interesting. Certainly feels very different just riding up and down the lane. Had to move the dropouts all the way back so it ain't going to be so nimble.
It is quite monster truck feeling tho 🙂
[url= https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4284/34839790793_5a4c7d29bf_b.jp g" target="_blank">https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4284/34839790793_5a4c7d29bf_b.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/V5F31a ]Fat Stache[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/alexleigh/ ]Alex Leigh[/url], on Flickr
[url= https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4214/35261979390_c782192e67_b.jp g" target="_blank">https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4214/35261979390_c782192e67_b.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/VHYRXU ]Fat Stache[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/alexleigh/ ]Alex Leigh[/url], on Flickr
[url= https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4132/34839798573_f7b866d4f5_b.jp g" target="_blank">https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4132/34839798573_f7b866d4f5_b.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/V5F5ji ]Fat Stache[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/alexleigh/ ]Alex Leigh[/url], on Flickr
Jenson USA have the Magic Mary 2.8 listed now. Can't find them on the usual German sites or nextdaytyres yet (nextdaytyres have the 2.6 listed)
Hopefully won't be long until they appear in Europe.
[url= http://www.jensonusa.com/Bicycle-Tires/Schwalbe-Magic-Mary-275-Addix-Tire-1?cs=Black ]Magic Mary plus[/url]
Minor PSA for plus fans here - DHF 3C 2.8 and a Rekon 2.8 Rear for 129 Euro
Or Apex NNs for 85
Well I know that this is hardly scientific, but I took the chubby HIghTower out for an 18 mile Chiltern blast on Sunday and think it's safe to say that for me at least, it's faster than on the 29s...
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27.5X2.8 Minions coping happily with Alpe d'huez so far this week
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Great picture.
It is a great picture 🙂
Now I've just built up my solaris max with NN 2.8s on Ibis 41mm ext rims. What pressure are we running on HT? On the 29+ Stache I go with 13 and 11 on 3.0 tyres / 50mm rims. I run 16/16 on the FS on 42mm rims.
I'm thinking, bit more in back but don't go silly, maybe 18/16? I'm 77kg kitted up and have yet to roll a tyre off a rim 😉
I bought a digital gauge as I didn't believe my track pump, but I'm 77kgs kitted up and am running 14/15 on my Enve M60Plus (4mm internal) rims with 2.8 Minions on my FS bike
Ta. I started with 17/16 and ended up at about 15/13. Bit skittish at the start, maybe a bit roll-y at the end. More experimentation needed. The bike tho is blooming lovely 🙂
40mm internal that is!
Took the Solaris Max out again tonight. Felt very skittery over the roots and was locking up the back wheel so easily under braking. Dropped the pressures to 12/12 and that felt amazing. Really transformed the ride. Took a token out of the Yari as it was set up for 140mm. At 120mm it ramped up too quickly for me.
Not sure I'd run such low pressures where there are rocks, but in the Forest here it's fab. So much grip. Might drop the pressures on the Mojo3 now!
So anyone going to try the new 2.8s from Spesh as per FGF http://singletrackmag.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/fresh-goods-friday-355/ last week?
I prefer the Nobbly Nic 2.8 on the HT compared to the FS. Rode the FoD last week on the Rekon's (on my flaremax) in grotty conditions. Surprisingly grippy. Until they weren't and I hugged a tree/broke a brake lever. Not sure any tyre would have saved me tho!
Yep, definitely will give the butcher a go. Keep looking at the stock dates on hibike and it continually rolls on another few weeks. It was June/July back in April and now it's beginning of October.
Anyone else think the side knobs look an awful long way down the side on those Spesh 2.8's? May just be the angle of the photo, but looks like you'd need one hell of a lean angle to get those into play.
I bought a digital gauge as I didn't believe my track pump, but I'm 77kgs kitted up and am running 14/15 on my Enve M60Plus (4mm internal) rims with 2.8 Minions on my FS bike
I did too. Pleasantly it agrees with my track pump.
Yep, definitely will give the butcher a go. Keep looking at the stock dates on hibike and it continually rolls on another few weeks. It was June/July back in April and now it's beginning of October.
Same here, especially as the local shop is a Spesh dealer.
Anyone else think the side knobs look an awful long way down the side on those Spesh 2.8's? May just be the angle of the photo, but looks like you'd need one hell of a lean angle to get those into play.
It's worth bearing in mind how much the tyre will deform as you sit on the bike, and as you lean it over, and what shape that deformation will take. I suspect those side knobbles will 'sink' closer to the ground once a rider is on board.
Might be like the old Maxxis High Roller. Lean, slip, slip, slip, panic, grip.but looks like you'd need one hell of a lean angle to get those into play.
I bought a topeak digital gauge ages ago. Track pump is close but with scale to 120PSI, hard to tell diff between say 15 and 12. Which in chubby terms is the difference between compliance/grip and bouncy terror. The gauge on my compressor is at best a guide to the fact that there is air in the tyre.
I'm tempted to drop the pressure on the front tyre on the Solaris a bit more. Just to see what happens. It can't be any grippier, surely?
Oh and I REALLY want Schwalbe to make a magic mary in 2.8 for the sloppy season. Looks like we might have to be satisfied with a 2.6. One of those on the front and a hans damf on the back might be a good combo.
I bought a topeak digital gauge ages ago. Track pump is close but with scale to 120PSI, hard to tell diff between say 15 and 12. Which in chubby terms is the difference between compliance/grip and bouncy terror. The gauge on my compressor is at best a guide to the fact that there is air in the tyre.
Ah - yes. I've got the Topeak Mtn high volume / low pressure, which tops out at around 60psi. Makes the gauge that bit more accurate.
Oh and I REALLY want Schwalbe to make a magic mary in 2.8 for the sloppy season. Looks like we might have to be satisfied with a 2.6. One of those on the front and a hans damf on the back might be a good combo.
I suspect a little more clearance and a little less width won't be a bad thing... 😉
yeah I was thinking that too 🙂 Be fine on my Solaris I reckon and the Mojo (not that I'm taking it out in winter, it invalidates the Californian warranty!) but it'd drop the flaremax too much Cy reckons. I have some cheap 29er wheels to solve that problem.
It's one of the reasons I made The Project compatible with both; the idea of a 29er wheel, mud tyres and LOADS of clearance pleases me.
Any pics of this 'project' Neil?
Clearance wasn't the issue last night. Grip was. Rekon's were fine on the (very wet, it never stopped chucking it down all day and all through the ride) roots and the thin mud, but hitting a patch of thicker mud, they just filled, aquaplaned and went sideways. Instantly 😉
Not ridden in conditions like that for a bit, but definitely wouldn't want to be doing it often on that combo. Magic Mary and Hans Damf on the spare 29 wheels might be coming out a bit sooner than I expected.
Also have a DHF/DHRII WideTrail combo on another set of spare wheels as the Ibis won't take 29. Doubt I'll fit them tho as I can't bear to take that bike out when it's so horrible. Appears to have been designed so mud is directed into every bearing at maximum velocity!
No recent shots - am picking up mk2 frame in a week. Looking forward to it - the mk1 has been up with the builder to be used as a yard stick, so not had any hardtail fun for a while.
There will be some stuff on the usual social channels soon 🙂
marked
How are everyone's tyre holding up then?
Bridger/Trail Boss 3.0 27.5+ on the Stache look like new. Not been ridden that much but definitely a good set of decent 3 season tyres at reasonable prices. 13R/11F
Rekon/Rekon 2.8 27.5+ on Mojo3 and FlareMax. Definitely the best plus tyre I've ridden. Still rubbish in mud tho. Apparently the 2.6 is better. I'm not risking £80+ to find out! 16 PSI F&R
Nobby Nic 2.8 27.5+ on the Solaris Max. I've been grudgingly impressed with these tyres. Running them with increasingly low pressures and they have fantastic grip and are nicely damped for the hardtail. Have definitely hit the rims a few times but they've survived and without any of that traditional Schwalbe 'knobs falling off the side. 12/12 and I wouldn't want to go any lower. At 15 tho, properly bouncy and noticeably less grip.
How's everyone else getting on?
What are you using to check pressures Alex?
My Top-Peak digital gauge https://www.topeak.com/global/en/products/pumps/351-smartgauge_d2
I probably should calibrate it with something else, but at least I know it's a fixed reference point for all the bikes...
Thanks.
Another £20 to spend then, hooray!
Worth it tho. Bought it originally for my (ex) fat bike. But use it on all the bikes now. It has a nice feature so you can release air to a defined pressure. Which is great as my compressor gauge is clearly not connected to the air line based on it's random positioning of the needle!
Ditto what Al says: really useful tool.
Running WTB Rangers (Tough rear, Light Grippy front) which I like in the dry, but am off to the Lakes shortly and want something with tougher sidewalls. Local shop has no idea when 2.8 Spesh tyres will be available as they're not even on the UK dealer intranet.
What else should I be looking at?
opportune thread. i've just last night aired up a set of rangers, same combo as above, on 45 scrapers, with wtb tape and joe's valves. a lot of reviews said they were difficult to fit, so i entered in to it with a bit of trepidation, but didn't find them too bad at all TBH. i was pretty slack about how i fitted the tape, so there wasn't much of a well for them to drop in to, but they went on ok with a little persuasion from a pedros tyre lever. the more awkward of the two was the light one - it's so flexible you try getting a bit more tough with one bit of it and the other bit just peels straight off. i found that if i held one side on, and just worked on the other side bit by bit with the lever, it was good.
they aired up with a regular track pump easy, though both leaked at a particular spot on the rim - where the joint is perhaps. the sealant fixed both though, and they're both holding air this morning.
pimp - what terrain/pressure are you riding?
alex - what sort of terrain are you riding?
i don't think i can go too low pressure with these, they're going to roll if i do.
got the Topeak gauge a while back. Very good. Better feel to it thgan the SKS ? one I also tried..
@PMJ: what you need is a Rekon. Or possibly a DHF. But I'd go Rekon. And possibly a bank loan to buy it 😉
@Del - bet they are a nice wide profile on 45s! I've had no issues with WTB tyres on WTB rims. It appears moving away from either of these causes all the problems. I had more issue getting a 29 2.3 MM to bead last week. That £99 compressor is the best thing I've bought in ages.
I've added a bit of sealant every month. Does seem to leak/dry up more in the chubbies. They all hold air dry well tho.
pimp - what terrain/pressure are you riding?
Southern singletrack. So lots of woodland trails and roots, not too many rocks. I've been steadily dropping pressures – was running 12F/14R the other day at Thetford forest, but was previously fairly set on 13F/15R at home on the lumpier Isle of Wight. WTB Scraper rims too, FTR.
what you need is a Rekon. Or possibly a DHF. But I'd go Rekon. And possibly a bank loan to buy it
Yay. 😐
you'll also need some kind of super google foo if you want a dhf 2.8 3c. i had one of those all picked out but don't seem to be able to find them anywhere now. the 80 quid was also a bit off putting, seeing as i could get both front and rear wtbs for the same as one maxxis. 😐
80 quid was also a bit off putting, seeing as i could get both front and rear wtbs for the same as one maxxis
That was my line of thinking when looking for some 27.5+ tyres for the Stache. Owning 4 rekons already felt as if I'd made a major investment in Maxxis futures 😉
Del - next day tyres have the minion DHF in 3C 2.8. It is ridiculously expensive though at £88. Reluctantly going to order one though as the rekon, although a great tyre, is rubbish when it gets muddy and I'm pretty sure if I leave it until the weather worsens they will be all sold out! Oh and dented the rear rim at 18psi rear, 40mm WTBs and I'm 100kg so going to have to up it a bit until the cushcore is released in plus this autumn.
Are you running Addix Nobby Nics Alex?
I live about 15 mins from Next Day Tyres. Always go in so I can have a mooch around the warehouse. It's a tyre fanciers dream.
I'm not running the Addix. These are the 'standard' 2.8s that came on my Mojo. I had a look at the Addix compounds last time I was at next days tyres and reckon the 2.6 magic mary might be a decent winter front. Cheaper than a DHF but a) not by that much and b) lacking chubbiness.
Ah, OK. Just doing some research. Seems they come with Apex walls, which is good, but no-one seems to want to publish weight.
Saying that, I haven't tried Next Day...
If you give Steve a ring, he'll probably be able to tell you
Del - next day tyres have the minion DHF in 3C 2.8. It is ridiculously expensive though at £88. Reluctantly going to order one though as the rekon, although a great tyre, is rubbish when it gets muddy and I'm pretty sure if I leave it until the weather worsens they will be all sold out!
I went through the same thoughts.
The tyre arrived yesterday and it looks a lot more substantial in the knob department that the Rekon.
Didn't seem to roll much slower on it's first ride out either.
I'm now trying not to buy a DHR for the rear...
Anyone know of any DHR 2 stock? I'm off to Rivierabike at the start of November and want something with a bit more bite than the current Rekon rear. My usual Nextdaytyres are out and google is letting me down. The other option is a High Roller 2 rear but I don't have particularly fond memories of my days on the original high roller, although this will be on the rear with a DHF on the front.
Also any views on plus and Finale trails would be helpful to someone who rides nothing but mud, loam and roots.
You'd probably be alright on the loamy trails, but the rockier ones would worry me on plus tyres.
Ask Ady though, he'll give you a straight answer I'm sure.
You'd probably be alright on the loamy trails, but the rockier ones would worry me on plus tyres.
Think Alex's maxxis coped alright in Spain and ir_bandito's did in Alp D'Huez.
Anyone know of any DHR 2 stock?
showing in stock in [url= https://www.bike-components.de/en/Maxxis/Minion-DHR-II-Dual-TR-EXO-27-5-Folding-Tyre-2017-Model-p52764/ ]Bike-components[/url]
Great, thanks Muggo, forgot about the Germans.
No problem.
I just got excited when I see the Magic Mary Evo ADDIX Soft SnakeSkin Apex listed, only for the crushing disappointment of 20 days or more for stock
Leaving a link here though so I can keep checking
[url= https://www.bike-components.de/en/Schwalbe/Magic-Mary-Evo-ADDIX-Soft-SnakeSkin-Apex-27-5-Folding-Tyre-p59101/ ]Magic Mary 27.5 x 2.8[/url]
Think Alex's maxxis coped alright in Spain and ir_bandito's did in Alp D'Huez.
Yet I've put a hole in one in Wigan.
I expect it depends how fast Gotama's gonna be riding. The trails at Finale & Molini are quite fast and there are some very rugged bits.
I just got excited when I see the Magic Mary Evo ADDIX Soft SnakeSkin Apex listed
Do report back if you try one. Do you know if "Soft" is similar to Trailstar or softer? I wouldn't wanna go softer myself.
I think the current crop of plus tyres are as tough (or flimsy) as their slimmer equivalents. Most of the tyre manufacturers have caught on to this now. People were putting holes in tyres long before plus was a thing, so it won't be going away.
Do you know if "Soft" is similar to Trailstar or softer?
I assume soft is the new trailstar. There is an ultra soft compound in the 2.35 version.
We're of the same opinion here I think Muggo.
If "exo" carcass normal tyres do you for bike holidays then it'll probably be OK, if you need a tougher carcass then proceed with caution.
It's pretty rocky on the trails Ciclo ride... I stuck at WTB Ranger tough carcass on the back and it was beaten up at the end of the week but didn't tear or deflate. Rekon on the front the same. Friends I was riding with had some issues with 27.5 tyres on narrower rims.
I've really had no issues with plus tyres (other than in mud and even I survived three days of that on the trans-cambrian). Maybe you have to ride them harder than I am....
Yep, I have usually been ok with the Exo carcass in the past but I run reasonably high pressures.
We ride reasonably quickly and aggressively but its not like we're going to be doing big jumps into rocky sections. Still, its going to be mounted to the back of a tallboy with a 140mm fox 36 dealing with the front end and 100kg on board so whatever happens i'll be able to give a reasonable reflection on durability when we get back!
Edit double post
I agree that we agree Chakaping 🙂
I'm not sure if we'll ever see Double down or super gravity type tyres in anything bigger than a 2.6, but I reckon a 2.6 schwalbe probably wouldn't be that far off a 2.8 maxxis anyway.
2.6 schwalbe probably wouldn't be that far off a 2.8 maxxis
Fair bit lower in sidewall height based on the bit I read on mtbr. Half an inch was stated. A 2.6 Schwalbe with a DH casing did cross my mind but think it will drop the BB too much in my case.
I'm not sure if we'll ever see Double down or super gravity type tyres in anything bigger than a 2.6
WTB Bridger, Ranger and Trailblazer are all now available in the 'Tough' carcass which is basically the same as SuperGravity. They aren't doing a full range of compounds in each yet, but you could do a sticky, tough Bridger front and fast tough Ranger/Trailblazer rear for instance. Not suggesting these are idea tyres for every situation, but there is life beyond Schwalbe and Maxxis...
The Ranger Tough is tempting for the rear given it's £37 in 2.8, even if its just used for my trip.
@gotama. I'd go for it. It's a beast of a tyre. Not light but takes a proper beating. If you're anywhere near the FoD, you can have my part worn one.
Let us know how it goes out there anyway.
FWIW it was a Ranger Tough/Fast I put a hole in on the first or second ride.
Maybe just bad luck, but I don't think it's quite the same thickness of carcass as the 2.25in tough Trail Boss (never holed one of these, touch wood).
Maybe you have to ride them harder than I am....
You're clearly riding them just right Alex.
I posted in a different thread yesterday about plus tyres, I think they're amazing on normal woodsy singletrack with roots and the odd rock. And great for trail centres.
Just not quite up to full-speed efforts on rocky trails. But that's OK, most riders aren't doing that anyway.
If you're anywhere near the FoD, you can have my part worn one.
Appreciate the offer but i'll sort a new one. Will be interesting to see how it compares to the Maxxis casing.
I recently did a week in the alps at the White Room and rode a lot of very rocky trails. The Minion Plus's were amazing and apart from quite a few visible scratches on the stickers, they came away intact and without any punctures.
I did run them slightly higher than normal at 15/17 psi
Just ordered a + bike with Nobby Nick/Rocket Ron combo in 2.8 so I've read this thread with interest. I'll see how I get in with them for a few weeks.
I think the current crop of plus tyres are as tough (or flimsy) as their slimmer equivalents. Most of the tyre manufacturers have caught on to this now. People were putting holes in tyres long before plus was a thing, so it won't be going away.
I think the issue is more that if you run plus tyres at the sweet spot between traction and comfort, the combination of relatively low pressure and high air volume means they work like a high volume suspension chamber and effectively blow through their 'travel' without the ramping up you get with lower volume tyres.
So yes, the carcass may be the same as smaller volume tyres, but it has a harder time of it. You can run more pressure to counteract this, but then you end up losing some of the, erm, pluses of plus. That could be utter rubbish of course, but it's how it seems to work for me.
The only tyre that's survived long term in the Peak for me is the Ranger Tough 2.8, though the Rekon + was better than the lighter WTB casings and Schwalbe's NN and Rocket Rons. The downside is that it's heavy as a heavy thing and doesn't use particularly grippy rubber.
One day I'll finally get round to fitting Pro Core at the rear, though I'm not entirely sure which tyre I'd stick it in, the Rocket Ron maybe,
Ooooo Magic Mary 2.8 showing as in stock in 2-7 days!
[url= https://www.bike-components.de/en/Schwalbe/Magic-Mary-Evo-ADDIX-Soft-SnakeSkin-Apex-27-5-Folding-Tyre-p59101/ ]Magic Mary[/url]
You'd probably be alright on the loamy trails, but the rockier ones would worry me on plus tyres.
Think Alex's maxxis coped alright in Spain and ir_bandito's did in Alp D'Huez.
2.8 Minions were horrid at the Ard Moors this weekend. Pure filthy mud. For once, wanted to go back to 29er wheels with sensible width tyres.
They were awesome in very soggy conditions in the Lakes last weekend though. Give me rock over mud any day.
I've seen a few videos and it looked really grim. Not ideal plus tyre conditions, but then again, probably going to be much the same on any wheel/tyre combo.
Magic Mary 2.8 🙂 If it's as grippy as the 2.3 it'll be absolutely brilliant.
I rode my 29er in Exmoor this weekend and did not miss the plus tyres. Wet, steep trails with lots of claggy mud. I'd have been walking down some of them with any of the plus bikes. If 'Ard moors was like that you have my sympathy!
Well my "Light" Ranger now has 2 anchovies in it after some Lakes action, and will be retired after it's first proper ride. The 3" Nobby Nic on the front was excellent. So now working out what to stick on the back...?
Another 3" Nobby Nic?
I reckon so! Would the Rocket Ron have any less sturdy sidewall protection?
I did like the lack of rolling resistance of the Ranger, but then again we're of to Zona Zero in Spain this October...
Why not a tough ranger?
You want something more knobbly?
Just ordered a 3" NNic pacestar apex. Hopefully that'll stand up to some abuse. Might also make marginal height gains for the Tarn's low BB...
The nice man from DPD just delivered a Minion DHF 2.8 which is now sat on the front end of my Transmitter. The Rekon 2.8 has gone on the back. And the Ranger Tough is having a holiday. Oddly it felt somewhat less reassuringly thick-walled when I took it off. Subjectively. Dunno what that's all about.
All looks reassuringly grippy and Maxxis'esque. That said, I thought the 2.8 NN I was using up front before was pretty good, given that I don't generally like Schwalbe's rubber compound on rocks. The plan is to see whether the Rekon+ survives in the Peak. If it flats too easily I'll stick Pro Core in it and take it from there.
The Ranger Tough does the job, but isn't the grippiest tyre in the world on softer stuff. Hello leaves, hello sky, hello autumn...
The plus size cushcore should be out soon which I think could be just the ticket for the rear.
Has anybody used the HR2 in 2.8?
I'm looking for a meatier front tyre for the winter and always got on with HRs.
Also, where are people getting the 2.8 WTB toughs for £38 from? Could do with one for the Sherpa and maybe let me get my bottom two gears into the bargain.... 🙄
I'm running a 2.8 HR2 on the rear of my Solaris Max. It's excellent as is the 2.8 DHF on the front. Both are really grippy.
Also, where are people getting the 2.8 WTB toughs for £38 from? Could do with one for the Sherpa and maybe let me get my bottom two gears into the bargain....
Google says Sigma Sport, but not in stock. They're 42 quid at CRC I think.
Ok, next question.... 😆
Dual or triple compound?
And why (basically)?