London Calling

Anonymous

Should be fine for the trails we do. I've got 130mm but I wouldn't bottom it out unless I do jumps and drops... and I don't do jumps and drops.

Full sus is not required. Comfy, yes.

Don't worry about fitness either. We're not fitness freaks (well, some might be , not me) or XC race snakes. Mostly just guys out on a weekend for a laugh, with plenty of stops. We do over do it though by doing most of the hills in one day, but usually the intention is to be out for a few hours on one hill, and it just goes from there. If you're knackered you'd be in good company .

popstar

I may qualify for advice as an ex-owner of rockhopper sl in expert guise, therefore Popstar agrees with Dubcat on the best upgrade possible aka Reba's. 

Reba's are - Cream'de'laCreme of 100mm travel, they are so good that even Popstar did buy a set and install them to his wife bike.

You sound more tech savvy than fashion conscious Cooldad, therefore it sounds as if you are long time ago ready not only for Surrey Hills puttle, but for some more techy trail centre adventure.

Good choice on ditching Darts into a bin, them nasty piece of work. 

thel33ter

popstar wrote:

I may qualify for advice as an ex-owner of rockhopper sl in expert guise, therefore Popstar agrees with Dubcat on the best upgrade possible aka Reba's. 

Reba's are - Cream'de'laCreme of 100mm travel, they are so good that even Popstar did buy a set and install them to his wife bike.

You sound more tech savvy than fashion conscious Cooldad, therefore it sounds as if you are long time ago ready not only for Surrey Hills puttle, but for some more techy trail centre adventure.

Good choice on ditching Darts into a bin, them nasty piece of work. 

That.

Rockhoppers are great little bikes, and Dart's are an insult to it, the Reba's are lighter, have a decent damper and look cool

supra-man

popstar wrote:

therefore Popstar agrees with Dubcat on the best upgrade possible aka Reba's. 

they are so good that even Popstar did buy a set and install them to his wife bike.

you always talk like napoleon or caesar , from which centuary are you?

milfredo

popstar wrote:

Keeping updates on November trip on Facebook in order not to litter these fine forums.

Can you send me a link to the page as I can't find it. London calling returns too many other pages.

popstar

With that flavour the concerns of given person are simply wiped out. No need to use tech or geeky explanations, they are so 2009. Ta.

dubcat

Feel much better about my purchase guys . Thanks a lot!

cooldad

supra-man wrote:

popstar wrote:

therefore Popstar agrees with Dubcat on the best upgrade possible aka Reba's. 

they are so good that even Popstar did buy a set and install them to his wife bike.

you always talk like napoleon or caesar , from which centuary are you?

Century? I often wonder what planet he's from.

popstar

Hope I was from HERE. IMO 3.05-3.15 is how I would like to ride.

supra-man

popstar wrote:

Hope I was from HERE. IMO 3.05-3.15 is how I would like to ride.

hmmm you know that means repeating the same jump or section over and over again.... like any respectable downhiller... not trail XC rider style..


And get your Hot babe helmet first lol

dubcat

I LOVE the way that guy comes round that corner at 3.15!!! The way he is just playing with his wheels tagging the ground with the front and the rear... i would LOVE to ride like that. Popstar you have good taste bro.

supra-man

popstar wrote:

Hope I was from HERE. IMO 3.05-3.15 is how I would like to ride.

Kona operator vid is nice. 8)

dubcat

Guys - I got caked in mud last weekend doing the Gatwick Evans ride. I realised I have totally the wrong tyres for winter. What are you recommending for my Rockhopper that will be good for Surrey Hills? If it's an all rounder tyre that will be ok for a bit of tarmac and other types of surfaces then all the better..
Thanks,
Dub

thel33ter

I used my Maxxis Ignitors all of last winter, they are really fast rolling, but grippy enough for all the wintery sludge. Otherwise a Ignitor at the back and a Highroller at the front.

Stan Leigh

Unless you are dealing with serious mud for miles , I wouldn't recomend dedicated mud tyres for general trail riding . Too much rolling resistance , too much rubber to wear way.

The old school like myself would all agree on Paneracer XC Pros are one of the best all round tyres available still.

Because of my impatience at them not being in stock that day, i was talked into Swalbe Smarts & well glad i was.

I'm running 2.10s , but rolling friction is so minimal , i'll go a size up next time .

Hope this helps , although i feel a deluge of contradicting opinions following ! 8)

Anonymous

Surrey Hills are a different kind of soil anyway and tend not to get too boggy. Whereas some of the surrounding areas (including North Downs) are clay and just soak it up. Swinley is similar and just turns into a bog.

I had Ignitors all last winter and they were fine.

popstar

Panarecers XC Pro are the real deal allrounders. Good enough for Bodge and grippy enough for aggro trail riding. I had Michelin Country Mud ... great for Winter bodge but not so for trail centers high precision riding.

Didn't test ride other makes winter time so can't comment, but if I was to change tyres would go for old fashioned panaracers xc. Really good tyre and impressed with those.

dubcat

Hmm I'm rather confused. I was thinking of mud x front and trailraker rear but I heard mud x side walls rip a lot. If I went for igniters what size front and rear should I get? I wil get the fire pros when the weather improves perhaps.

supra-man

this is some serious on board cam...: http://www.videobash.com/video_show/let ... 890?ref=nf

popstar

IMO front tyre has to grip well aka to have 4 rolling central rail like ridges. The cornering grip is most crucial for stability on trail with front wheel therefore it shouldn't slide or if it does it does so progressive, not in a snap moment like.
Back tyre is personal prefference of riders, sometimes people preffer slidy one aka continental race king, or if not confident and not into too sliding character of the bike then maxis highrollers. They don't grab in mud as well as Fire Pro xc but thats enough for my liking.

It works out as if front has to grip well on straight line - roots - rocks - corners in progressive like manner, and back tyre just for traction grip. Unless if you are into power slides then would have to factor inn those last side ridges to be present there. Wouldn't concetrate much on front tyre accelerating-braking grip characteristics really, rolling stability is important there.

I could be wrong on that info, but thats how I understand it.

Maxis Minions both front-rear.

or allrounders Panaracers with more mild characteristics but boy do they grip like tractor on moderate speed corners and slippy roots. Higher speed corners may hide crisper feeling sliding of Minions though. But here we talk 5% difference.


But then if you fancy something more XC easier rolling orientated then thats entirely different game. Think other Racing snakes could give you more input on that one.

cooldad

To hell with grip etc. Go for Panaracers, just because of the awesome red bits.

popstar

It's all about how you see yourself riding and what style you preffer. Panaracers offer those all rounders in different colours not only red.


They even have same concept design to Maxis Minion DH type developed with help of CG

Those CedricGracia developed ones are dual compound and do look like will roll like mad at speeds with all cornering stability grip provided, but back tyre would be a bit slidy ... and real bad in the mud.

Cooldad is attention whore, so it's allright to want the blingiest things on his bikes.

dubcat

You guys have got me all confused. It's not just you. I asked on another forum too and also got wildly differing answers there as well. So it sounds like I should go for either panaracer fire xc pro or maxxis ignitors... But what size on front and rear for each of these?

As i said before I was thinking of mudx front and trailraker but since no one has recommended those im put off them.

And yes I like the red wall of the fire's as it will match my reba forks which are black with red decals lol.

dubcat

Ok I have decided i will go for either bontrager mud-x 2.0 or specialized storm control 2.0. The bontrager is supposed to be more expensive than the spesh tyre but i found the bonty at a big discount so they are about the same price. However, I heard that the spesh tyre is a lot more hard wearing... anyone know?

njee20

The Bonty's are the best winter tyre out there IMO, softer = grippier, theyre better than Storms. The Trailraker is good in proper mud, but lacks grip on roots and rocks compared to the Mud X.

Fire XCs are good only for the bin, totally useless tyres. All IMO of course, you can ask 50 people and get 50 different answers, otherwise there wouldn't be so many tyres out there!

dubcat

njee - my only concern about the mud x is that i hear that the tyre wall is weak and is prone to tearing. Also, and cooldad will appreciate this, my bike is a specialised so having a specialised branded tyre will look cooler lol ok my primary concern is the weak tyre wall.

supra-man

njee20 wrote:

The Bonty's are the best winter tyre out there IMO, softer = grippier, theyre better than Storms. The Trailraker is good in proper mud, but lacks grip on roots and rocks compared to the Mud X.

Fire XCs are good only for the bin, totally useless tyres. All IMO of course, you can ask 50 people and get 50 different answers, otherwise there wouldn't be so many tyres out there!

Choose your tires and ride them, you cant go far wrongif you take dedicated tyres.
the best is to read reviews and see what matches your riding style.
I don't think there is a best tyre. there are very good ones depending on riding style.

popstar

Yep, all riders will tell different things but many of them don't tell their riding style. All depends on you and how you think yourself riding.

dubcat

Ok guys, I take your point. What I actually need is two bikes One for my monthly xc rides and one for out and out trail fun - i don't ride enough trails.. must try harder! Only been to surrey hills once and pooped my pants as it was my first time on a bike in many years

njee20

I've never torn a sidewall on a Mud X, in fact I've never punctured on one.

They're not the thickest, but they're far from flimsy, I've fitted them to many Specialized bikes over the years, they still work just fine! Work well at low pressures too.