to handle the round little stones found around perth trails what tires does anyone recommend. new to area and its like ballbearings on my current tires. any suggestions
Ah, the joys of pea gravel.
My current setup is Highroller 2.35 front, Larsen TT 2.10 rear.
This setup is so far working well for me, it is fast rolling and grips reasonably well.
One tip, steer clear of running a Larsen TT on the front if you are keen on grip...
If you intend on climbing, try running a Larsen Mimo on the rear in reverse.
Other tyres I have ridden and reccomend include:
Maxxis Minion.
Continental Explorer.
Specialized Chunder.
All depends on which trails you ride, the type of riding you do, riding style, preferred tyre widths etc.
All of the tyres mentioned in this thread are good options, best bet is to head to your LBS.
honestly larsens are hopeless, if any of you think they are good then you obviously have no idea or havent tried many tyres. the key to pea gravel is side lugs (larsens have none). whilst nothing will stop pea gravel being slippery, big side lugs will help. skinny tyres seem to dig in better too.
minions are good, nobby nics are good, high rollers ok, anything with bigger side lugs. good luck!
____________________________________________________________________________________________________
well rich, all i need are some tasty trails and some cool buds and ill be fine!
for me, the continental verticals work great and recommend them highly but in 2.3(and non ust) are a bit heavy. i agree about the sidelugs, makes a world of difference in the loose gravel at say Jarrahdale.
Waiting to wear them out so i can try some Crossmarks. They seem to get a good rap.
you have a larsen on the back because if it was on the front, you would forever be off the bike. when its on the back you can guarantee it will wash out before almost anything else on the front, so its safer. but its still not the best. fast rolling ill give you that.
____________________________________________________________________________________________________
well rich, all i need are some tasty trails and some cool buds and ill be fine!
I think you could run almost anything, even hookworms and still get the same result on pea gravel if it deep. Just give the bike a bit more steer weight and throw the foot out. If the gravel is deep its gona bite eventually. if scattered on hard pak i'd use Hutchos' barracuda, maxxis high roller or minion. Anything with a decent side tread and open, deap tread pattern I would agree with and should help. I'd choose experience over anything though.
don't knock on deaths door, ring the bell and run, its more fun.
I ride a Giant Anthem short-travelo duallie. It doesn't have much tyre clearance at the back so I have to keep the rear tyre pretty small (2.10 or under). All my tyres are UST (tubeless) on Mavic Crossmax Rims.
I started with Hutchinson Piranhas and Pythons but discarded them pretty quickly as they were very, very skatey on pea gravel (especially at the high pressures I used to run before I took the advice given and tried them at proper MTB pressures! - a legacy of putting 200psi into track tyres for years!!).
I tried the Specialized Fast Track 1.90 too but that was even worse.
For quite a long time I had Maxxis Crossmark 2.10 front and rear and they were fast in a straight line (on a fire trail) but as others have said, pretty loose on the corners. Not very good for pea gravel single tracks. I have also had several of the Crossmarks de-laminate and bubble on me. To be fair the Rep has replaced them free of charge, but I wouldn't risk it again.
I have a wheel with a Maxxis Larsen TT 2.00 that I run on the back when doing fire trails (like other people have said) and I really like it. I match it with a Crossmark on the front (i still have a couple of them).
But my choice for twisty pea gravel single track / muddy trails would be the Maxxis Ignitor 2.10 on the front and a Schwalbe Racing Ralph 2.10 on the front. I have been riding this combo for the past couple of months and reckon it suits me very well. Pretty grippy, clears the mud well but I probably dont "fang" the corners as much as some.
Hope that helps.
I find a lot of my control comes out of the front tire so thats why I run the skinny High Roller. As my Larsen is UST the back can be run a little softer and it gets a lot of grip.
It is meerly my opinion and I have heard sound arguments both ways - but they really just suit me..
It would be nice if we could run a pole on the kinds of qwestions. It makes it easier to see majority preferances
don't knock on deaths door, ring the bell and run, its more fun.
But my choice for twisty pea gravel single track / muddy trails would be the Maxxis Ignitor 2.10 on the front and a Schwalbe Racing Ralph 2.10 on the front.
My Hat goes off to you Bill, to ride a bike with 2 front tyres. And I thought 29ers were the latest craze ;)
He he!! I wondered what I was doing wrong last weekend at Turner Hill - someone must have gone around the course the day before and narrowed the gap between the trees I reckon.
I was actually getting in the spirit of all-things Olympic and "Beijingese".... With both an Ignitor and a Racing Ralph on the front I was obviously riding a 3 wheeled rickshaw taxi, (and i still beat some of you.....!)
For the sake of adding to the interest in this thread I am happy to advise the third wheel at the back had a 19mm Continental Olympic tubular tyre on it. And it gripped very well thankyou.
Really now, what is grey? Black with some white... or White with some black.
I get confused easilly. Now ducky, did you rap your tire with another tyre? Cause thats what it sound like.
don't knock on deaths door, ring the bell and run, its more fun.
I'm running a 2.5 diesel on the front on a deetrax wheel, and a 2.3 Flow on an 819 rim, Great Continentals, the diesel, hooks well and the Flow though low on tread, floats really well on the gravels, and hooks nicely when ur carving corners....
I used a few different tyres, but continental seem to do ok. on the pea gravel..
Rubber
Burn it
Shred it
Whip it
Just let the rubber take u somewhere...
I can't believe nobody has mentioned KEnda Nevegals yet. Awesome front tyres. I also love the WTB Weirwolf. They come in a bunch of sizes and can be used as a front or rear. I run the 2.3 as a rear on my 575 and have also used the 2.1 as a front tyre for XC racing. Awesome stuff, can't recommend it enough.
I'm riding a specialized Epic, and had been struggling with the fast track tyres that came with it. I had been lowsided numerous times and had no confidence in front end. Consequently I would always drop off the back on the fast sweeping sections as I couldn't keep the speed in the corners.
LBS suggested Nevegal on front and larsen for rear. I also went the Stans No Tubes option to convert to tubeless.
I have to say it's like riding a completely different bike. i can hold the wheel of my riding partner right through the fast sections out at jarrahdale and pushed us along to shave a few minutes off our average lap times (6 hour course). Braking with the Larsen is also much improved over original setup. seems to wash off more speed before locking up. front end just seems to stick in the corners. Not sure if it is all psychological and I'm justifying the expense :) but the timer doesn't lie, so I am going faster and enjoyed the ride much more, which i guess is all that matters. Also was pretty darn wet out there on the Saturday too.
Stans no tubes wasn't too painful to install. Although it does make getting the tyres on the rim a little difficult (I broke 2 tyre levers). i used an air compressor and they seated perfectly. I didn't really have too many leaks initially and after a couple hours of tyre shaking all seemed fine. they still seem to be holding air.
Pea gravel
High Rollers,Minions,Nevagals,Weirwolfs and to a lesser degree Larsen's.
I found all these work for me.
mmm gravel
These have been good for me.
maxxis - high rollers and crossmarks.
Specialized - the captain, roll-x, adrenaline
I didn't like the Larsens. I do like Hutchinsons pythons on the rear as they are quick tyres, but they are pretty drifty, not super grippy.
You should wait till summer when the gravel gets really loose.
Another vote for high
Another vote for high rollers, along with waiting until summer :D
Good luck
Ball bearings grip when put into a confined space. Minion's aren't bad but chuck out a leg out it's more fun.
Cheers Housey..........
Peel District Mountain Bike Club
www.pdmbc.com/
www.malagacycles.com.au/
www.mandurahsbikeman.com.au
MAXXIS and IRC's for me......
High Roller on the front and Larsen on the back...
The best since IRC Mythos XC's - I cant find them in UST!
In saying that - the Nevagal's look great!
Ah, the joys of pea
Ah, the joys of pea gravel.
My current setup is Highroller 2.35 front, Larsen TT 2.10 rear.
This setup is so far working well for me, it is fast rolling and grips reasonably well.
One tip, steer clear of running a Larsen TT on the front if you are keen on grip...
If you intend on climbing, try running a Larsen Mimo on the rear in reverse.
Other tyres I have ridden and reccomend include:
Maxxis Minion.
Continental Explorer.
Specialized Chunder.
All depends on which trails you ride, the type of riding you do, riding style, preferred tyre widths etc.
All of the tyres mentioned in this thread are good options, best bet is to head to your LBS.
Nobby Nics
Schwalbe Nobby Nics in 2.35 for trail riding on long travel (over 5 inch) all mtn bike.
Hook up good on corners.
honestly larsens are
honestly larsens are hopeless, if any of you think they are good then you obviously have no idea or havent tried many tyres. the key to pea gravel is side lugs (larsens have none). whilst nothing will stop pea gravel being slippery, big side lugs will help. skinny tyres seem to dig in better too.
minions are good, nobby nics are good, high rollers ok, anything with bigger side lugs. good luck!
____________________________________________________________________________________________________
well rich, all i need are some tasty trails and some cool buds and ill be fine!
weapon of choice
for me, the continental verticals work great and recommend them highly but in 2.3(and non ust) are a bit heavy. i agree about the sidelugs, makes a world of difference in the loose gravel at say Jarrahdale.
Waiting to wear them out so i can try some Crossmarks. They seem to get a good rap.
No idea!!
Honestly....
What works for some may not work for others..
But then, what would I know?
you have a larsen on the
you have a larsen on the back because if it was on the front, you would forever be off the bike. when its on the back you can guarantee it will wash out before almost anything else on the front, so its safer. but its still not the best. fast rolling ill give you that.
____________________________________________________________________________________________________
well rich, all i need are some tasty trails and some cool buds and ill be fine!
Ball bearings
I think you could run almost anything, even hookworms and still get the same result on pea gravel if it deep. Just give the bike a bit more steer weight and throw the foot out. If the gravel is deep its gona bite eventually. if scattered on hard pak i'd use Hutchos' barracuda, maxxis high roller or minion. Anything with a decent side tread and open, deap tread pattern I would agree with and should help. I'd choose experience over anything though.
don't knock on deaths door, ring the bell and run, its more fun.
Tyres
I ride a Giant Anthem short-travelo duallie. It doesn't have much tyre clearance at the back so I have to keep the rear tyre pretty small (2.10 or under). All my tyres are UST (tubeless) on Mavic Crossmax Rims.
I started with Hutchinson Piranhas and Pythons but discarded them pretty quickly as they were very, very skatey on pea gravel (especially at the high pressures I used to run before I took the advice given and tried them at proper MTB pressures! - a legacy of putting 200psi into track tyres for years!!).
I tried the Specialized Fast Track 1.90 too but that was even worse.
For quite a long time I had Maxxis Crossmark 2.10 front and rear and they were fast in a straight line (on a fire trail) but as others have said, pretty loose on the corners. Not very good for pea gravel single tracks. I have also had several of the Crossmarks de-laminate and bubble on me. To be fair the Rep has replaced them free of charge, but I wouldn't risk it again.
I have a wheel with a Maxxis Larsen TT 2.00 that I run on the back when doing fire trails (like other people have said) and I really like it. I match it with a Crossmark on the front (i still have a couple of them).
But my choice for twisty pea gravel single track / muddy trails would be the Maxxis Ignitor 2.10 on the front and a Schwalbe Racing Ralph 2.10 on the front. I have been riding this combo for the past couple of months and reckon it suits me very well. Pretty grippy, clears the mud well but I probably dont "fang" the corners as much as some.
Hope that helps.
Larsen's
Larsen's on the back - hence my first post...
I find a lot of my control comes out of the front tire so thats why I run the skinny High Roller. As my Larsen is UST the back can be run a little softer and it gets a lot of grip.
It is meerly my opinion and I have heard sound arguments both ways - but they really just suit me..
Different strokes for different folks!
built for pea gravel:
hutchinson FTMFW!
Why cant we?
It would be nice if we could run a pole on the kinds of qwestions. It makes it easier to see majority preferances
don't knock on deaths door, ring the bell and run, its more fun.
Passion
I've never seen such passion on a thread involving people's OPINIONS regarding tyres.
wow what tallent
But my choice for twisty pea gravel single track / muddy trails would be the Maxxis Ignitor 2.10 on the front and a Schwalbe Racing Ralph 2.10 on the front.
My Hat goes off to you Bill, to ride a bike with 2 front tyres. And I thought 29ers were the latest craze ;)
Rickshaw Racing
He he!! I wondered what I was doing wrong last weekend at Turner Hill - someone must have gone around the course the day before and narrowed the gap between the trees I reckon.
I was actually getting in the spirit of all-things Olympic and "Beijingese".... With both an Ignitor and a Racing Ralph on the front I was obviously riding a 3 wheeled rickshaw taxi, (and i still beat some of you.....!)
For the sake of adding to the interest in this thread I am happy to advise the third wheel at the back had a 19mm Continental Olympic tubular tyre on it. And it gripped very well thankyou.
Grey?
Really now, what is grey? Black with some white... or White with some black.
I get confused easilly. Now ducky, did you rap your tire with another tyre? Cause thats what it sound like.
don't knock on deaths door, ring the bell and run, its more fun.
My Choice
I'm running a 2.5 diesel on the front on a deetrax wheel, and a 2.3 Flow on an 819 rim, Great Continentals, the diesel, hooks well and the Flow though low on tread, floats really well on the gravels, and hooks nicely when ur carving corners....
I used a few different tyres, but continental seem to do ok. on the pea gravel..
Rubber
Burn it
Shred it
Whip it
Just let the rubber take u somewhere...
I can't believe nobody has
I can't believe nobody has mentioned KEnda Nevegals yet. Awesome front tyres. I also love the WTB Weirwolf. They come in a bunch of sizes and can be used as a front or rear. I run the 2.3 as a rear on my 575 and have also used the 2.1 as a front tyre for XC racing. Awesome stuff, can't recommend it enough.
Dan
Kenda Surprise
You never no when you're going to fall on your head....
Cheers Housey..........
Peel District Mountain Bike Club
www.pdmbc.com/
www.malagacycles.com.au/
www.mandurahsbikeman.com.au
Nevegals
Second post Okie!
I'm riding a specialized
I'm riding a specialized Epic, and had been struggling with the fast track tyres that came with it. I had been lowsided numerous times and had no confidence in front end. Consequently I would always drop off the back on the fast sweeping sections as I couldn't keep the speed in the corners.
LBS suggested Nevegal on front and larsen for rear. I also went the Stans No Tubes option to convert to tubeless.
I have to say it's like riding a completely different bike. i can hold the wheel of my riding partner right through the fast sections out at jarrahdale and pushed us along to shave a few minutes off our average lap times (6 hour course). Braking with the Larsen is also much improved over original setup. seems to wash off more speed before locking up. front end just seems to stick in the corners. Not sure if it is all psychological and I'm justifying the expense :) but the timer doesn't lie, so I am going faster and enjoyed the ride much more, which i guess is all that matters. Also was pretty darn wet out there on the Saturday too.
Stans no tubes wasn't too painful to install. Although it does make getting the tyres on the rim a little difficult (I broke 2 tyre levers). i used an air compressor and they seated perfectly. I didn't really have too many leaks initially and after a couple hours of tyre shaking all seemed fine. they still seem to be holding air.
Clint
...Ahhhh Pea Gravel...
I would advise maxxis swampthing i no most people will think me mad but they've done the job for me..