[Closed] Rock razor alternative?

Is the problem drag or weight, or both?  Yes, the magic Mary will be very draggy.

Rock Razor is a semi slick. Unless you are running silly low pressure then you are the problem . . 👍

Minion SS is very similar in style to the Rock Razor.

Its a two wheeled bike, so half the weight of the bike is on the front.

Balance the tyres so both suit conditions.  Try different pressures.

Mary is a semi spike, for summer get something with more ramped edges like a Minion - or closer spaced tread.

Its a two wheeled bike, so half the weight of the bike is on the front.

ummm...what?

[img] ?w=1000&h=[/img]

I reckon this thread should actually be titled 'Magic Mary Alternative' - the Rock Razor is ridiculously fast rolling, so unless you're running stupid low pressures, your issues's with the front tyre generally and potentially with the compound if you're running something that's very sticky.

I run Rock Razors out back with a Minion DHF up front and it's decently fast rolling and still grippy. If you want something Schwalbe-ish, maybe try a Nobby Nic up front? I think it's true as a generalisation that you get more drag running a slow rear tyre, but a slow-rolling front will still weigh you down.

Or you may just be horribly unfit. But the Rock Razor isn't likely to be the problem ime.

I run Mary supergravity front, spesh  slaughter grid rear  (basically a rock razor but tougher) all year round, don't feel it particularly draggy, what speed the Mary takes on tarmac, it gives back on greasy, manky corners. A trade off I'm more than happy with!. I run 22 front 28 rear, slightly more on rear for lakes.

I'm going with pressures or fitness.

I'll take the MM off now it's dried up a little  and see what difference it makes. <span style="font-size: 0.8rem;">Maybe I am just mega unfit. I was blowing out my ar*e yesterday. </span>

Ive tried the same combo and the magic mary trail star is very very slow

Try a hans dampf in a faster compound

I wouldnt use the nobby nic unless you are an amazing rider as they can be very unpredictable for some and outright dangerous for me

Or for the front the High roller 2 2.3 3c is suprisingly fast (the 2.3 has smaller knobs) however id suggest replacing the rear to the minion ss to match otherwise you will be making the rear of your bike higher

Ive tried the same combo and the magic mary trail star is very very slow

Try a hans dampf in a faster compound

Entirely trail surface dependant, Mary on my local stuff is way quicker due to grip than any HD will ever be.

I run the same combo. Speed grip on the back and soft on the front. They don’t feel too draggy to me, but I’ve come from a fat bike with a surly bud on the front. I’ve contemplated putting a nic on the front but I love the way the Mary grips. I don’t race and slightly lower rolling resistance won’t be much consolation if I’m laying on the trail nursing a broken arm.

I've found DHR2 3C to be a good "decent conditions" front tyre- faster than the spikies and a bit more compound grip too. But some people hate it. For sure it's better than the Hans Dampf though!

The magic mary may be faster round corners but i think we are talking about rolling resistance right?

ive just got from a HD to mary trailstar in the front. its much slower on tarmac

The magic mary may be faster round corners but i think we are talking about rolling resistance right?

It's all relevant, I always feel when I'm riding well, ie quicker, it's mainly down to how much speed I can carry out the bends. Dependant on the trails your riding, if they're not like my local stuff and are hardpack and straighter, then I wouldn't use a Mary for sure.

ive just got from a HD to mary trailstar in the front. its much slower on tarmac

Which is pretty irrelevant, you wouldn't really use a tyre because it's better on tarmac, would you? even if you had 10 miles on tarmac to get to the trails, it's only gonna be a few minutes slower at worst, and a bit of resistance training added in for good measure! 🙂

Ultracrepidarian - Out of curiosity, when on the bike in a normal riding position, what weight did you get on the scales ?

When I ride I imagine I'm central front/rear, so reckon my weight is pretty even.  But I've not actually tried using two scales to prove it.

I wouldnt use the nobby nic unless you are an amazing rider as they can be very unpredictable for some and outright dangerous for me

In 2014 this was true, not so much now

When I ride I imagine I’m central front/rear, so reckon my weight is pretty even.  But I’ve not actually tried using two scales to prove it.

And then the trail goes up or down and it all changes... in the real world I'm not sure how much use static front / rear weight distribution is and that's before you throw in suspension movement, changes in position on the bikes, braking and acceleration forces etc.

Yea, i was just using it as a direct comparison that the mary is a slower rolling tire on the front and its noticeable.

2.5WT Minion on the front and a 2.4 Ardent on the rear here, front feels noticeably heavier than the 2.3 it replaced but the 2.4 is a good roller for the size. Decent pairing for me..

Right thinking of ditching the MM for a Minion. How do Maxxis tyres size up nowa days? especially the 2.5 Minion? Ive not ran maxxis tyres for a fair few years and i know from past they were pretty small for their given size.

They will be fitted to some LB 38 wide rims (31.6 internal) rims.

Thanks

“When I ride I imagine I’m central front/rear, so reckon my weight is pretty even. But I’ve not actually tried using two scales to prove it.”

You might imagine it but you’re not. If you have all your weight on your pedals (which is pretty default with then pushing and pulling on the bars) then the weight distribution is about 40F/60R. When you’re on the saddle, even with a very steep seat angle the weight distribution is shifted further rearwards.

In a sketchy flat turn where you’re foot out and the back is drifting but front going where you want you might have about 90% of your weight on the front. But that’s an extreme example and only momentary.

The Minion DHF WT 2.5 is 62mm wide on a 25.5mm Flow EX rim - just measured it!

"In 2014 this was true, not so much now"

Yup, Nobby Nic has risen from "shit" to "uncompetitive" If you are for instance a sponsored schwalbe rider it can be a sensible choice.