[Closed] Schwalbe Super Gravity for XC?

Well you know the trails already so you can probably say better than us, however I certainly wouldn't put one on the front. Snakeskin carcass front is fine for me in the Lake District, Highlands etc.

Get a Rock Razor and ride it a bit to see what you think about the rear, they are quite nippy.

I think you'd be mad to do it with a super gravity. as far as I'm concerned they are a tyre for lift assisted days only.  but impressive if you do!

Haha. Good question.

I use Deore 2 x 10 in mountain goat set up. Front 24+34 , rear 11...42.

(24 / 42 = factor 0.57 which is GREAT for uphill)

This is - for me - much more important than weight...

I use SuperGravity HansDampf TrailStar SnakeSkin on the front. Very difficult to get onto the rim. If you have a puncture bit of pain to get the tyre on and off. I like the TrailStar grip. But the fairly soft studs won't last for ever. Means great grip and sturdy - but the studs wear down. They wear a bit faster than what I was hoping for.

But uphill: no suffering. The HansDampf Super Gravity is a monster - but there is no special pain connected to these tyres when going uphill.

Totally different tyre - which doesn't has the grip: Continental Mountain King Protection. Not as heavy. Harder. Lasts long. Excellent puncture resistance.

But with these tyres I miss the grip - but used them for long holiday tours with backpack. Used these tyres and tubes and filled around 100 ml sealant into the tubes. This setup: NO FLAT !!!

But when I bike more technically demanding trails, wet, mud, fast downhill and stuff like this: prefer the HansDampf. Mountain King Protection on the back maybe.

For me, most important so: the drive train set up in "mountain goat" - this is just perfect. With this 0.57 setup I go hours and hours uphill with no pain....

I've run SG tyres all year round, but i'm not one for climbing really, and that's on a 170mm travel bike that I wouldn't even consider doing 165km on.

I don't have a problem running a a rock razor in the alps, as long as it's dry. When it got wet and steep in Les Arc it was out of its depth (but i survived). I did puncture twice out there though, even on SG but that was on stuff that would have holed any carcass I think.

SG rock razor is my standard rear. I wanted to try the RR but all the advice I read on the net suggested the standard was prone to puncturing even on tubeless so went with the SG. Been fine so far, I feel the slight weight penalty is worth it. Have a (non SG) HD on the front normally, swap for a MM if it’s very muddy or steep!

OP that looks a fantastic event! I want in!

Cool. Looks like an interesting set of opinions so far! I haven't even built the Kingdom yet so I guess I'll get out on the trails near me (not Alps) and see how the Nobby Nics are. I guess I could even buy a set of SGs near the date and keep them in packaging to see how it goes on the first day. Pretty sure I'm going to be utterly sh@gged whatever tyres I use 😀 !

I saw the start of the Transmaurienne three years ago, properly impressive. World class athletes (names forgotten) on the staggered start literally flying up the mountain. I did the same loop next day as the tape was still out. Took about 45 mins to get to the top (they did two loops) with my heart rate averaging 185 and touching 205. The descents are what you make of them. They can easily be minced but run any pace and it gets bumpy.

Having looked at the website you'd be mad to run SG tyres in that thing...

If people are lining up on the start line in lycra then you dont need those tyres!

As for climbing, the X2 is one-by only, so it's a 30T plus Eagleage!

I had a similar dilemma on a hardtail, didn't want to have to back off on rocky descents but wanted a fast rolling tyre.

I went for Procore in the end - it adds a bit of weight but doesn't slow the rolling, and it's coped well - when I did cut a tyre on a sharp rock descending a munro I was able to ride home without reinflating it, which is a bonus. (FWIW, my mates on full sus were riding slower and got punctures that they had to stop and repair)

I run SG mary front and hans rear on my Kona process 153. Definitely heavy tyres but they grip well and are sturdy which is great for real mud and steep stuff. Never take them off cos I'm lazy so they get dragged round cwmcarn as well.

"I went for Procore in the end "

I'd recommend the same.
Have Procore and Supergravity on the back of my bikes, inc P7 for "XC" duties.
Yes, I could probably get away with a thinner carcase but reluctant to sacrifice the durability. Had very few failures with this config, almost exclusively down to sidewall damage alone now.

At the minute I’m using a SG Dirty Dan on the front on my 301. I’m sure I don’t need the SG casing but it was cheap, so....

I’ll probably put a Shorty back on once it’s not so wet around here.

@scaled, they might not need them but I weigh at least 20 kg more! They'll be busting it on the climbs, whilst I twiddle my way up. My advantage is on the way down (though they're probably still much faster than me at that too). To put this in perspective, the Aussois section's ascent is mostly fire roads to get altitude then twiddly singletrack with lovely views you daren't look at, but the descent incorporates WC series DH trails.

I run SG tyres front and rear on my Rocket and I use that for (slow up, slightly faster down) XC riding, among other things. They're heavy, yeah, but not insanely so, and I don't think I've ever actually managed to properly puncture them even on uplift days at rocky spots like Antur Stiniog, a few enduros, or slogging round big mountain loops in the Highlands and Lakes, etc. I'm never going to worry the top (or middle) of any real results table, so I don't think the marginal gain of risking it with lighter tyres is worth it, I'd rather have the confidence that I can bang ineptly into a few pointy rocks and still get down the hill without stopping at the cost of a few hundred extra grams.

I like your style mintimperial!

@gaidong: for 4 days not sooo much stuff is needed - but do you have to carry this in a backpack or do they transport it. Sleeping back and stuff?

One thing you might consider to reduce fatigue: I really like the Cane Creek Thudbuster LT. I use this thing on my hardtail and put a bit harder elastomer in than recommended from Cane Creek.

Great idea to pick the hardtail for the 6500 m climb - maybe check if you find some reviews of the Thudbuster LT. It's and old design, excellent quality. Really reduces fatigue on you.

The whole 4 day thing sound like fun!

Hi Andreas,

Transmaurienne isn't a camping jobby, I'll be in a proper bed each night! I have a 27.2 mm Thudbuster LT on my wife's bike (plus a shim in preparation for a tandem build!) but think I'll stick with my carbon post for this one.

Chars,

Gaidong

Hi Gaidong,

great. 6500 m with backpack would have been "too much"... - and a proper bed each night is great.

These Thudbuster LT's are nice designs - but you are right - those would add even a bit more weight.

All set then! Neat!

Have fun and good luck!

Cheers