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26" Tyres for BPW

CliveypCliveyp Posts: 173
edited November 2017 in MTB general
Hey all. I've recently committed myself to a trip to Bike Park Wales in January.....i'm quite looking forward to it!

Having a severe lack of experience in the off-road department (i'm generally a road rider but am desperate to find excuses to do more off-road), i'm guaranteed to be sticking myself to blue runs on my aging Cube Ltd hardtail and mastering as much as I can. Trouble is, with it's lack of use so far, the Cube is still sat on it's original Schwalbe Rapid Rob tyres which from experience aren't the grippiest on loose surfaces or claggy mud - or anything bar towpaths from what i've found!

I've been recommended the investment of some new rubber, probably looking towards Maxxis HRII or DHF/DHR2. Being a complete novice in this, i'd like to at least know that I have some grip under my wheels, so what can you recommend?
2015 Ridley Fenix 105
2012 Cube Ltd SL
2011 Trek 1.2 - Sold
2001 Giant Boulder - Sold

Posts

  • doomanicdoomanic Posts: 238
    Schwalbe Magic Mary front and rear.
  • Angus YoungAngus Young Posts: 3,063
    Cliveyp wrote:
    the Cube is still sat on it's original Schwalbe Rapid Rob tyres which from experience aren't the grippiest on loose surfaces or claggy mud

    Not too many loose surfaces and no claggy mud on the blues at BPW.
    All the gear, no idea and loving the smell of jealousy in the morning.
    Kona Process 134 viewtopic.php?f=10017&t=12994607
  • CliveypCliveyp Posts: 173
    Angus Young wrote:
    Cliveyp wrote:
    the Cube is still sat on it's original Schwalbe Rapid Rob tyres which from experience aren't the grippiest on loose surfaces or claggy mud

    Not too many loose surfaces and no claggy mud on the blues at BPW.

    Well no, but the Robs are pathetic on anything beyond grass or a towpath from what I’ve felt so far, so I’d prefer to start the day knowing that I’ve got something worthwhile under me - and also something that gives me a bit more confidence to use it more often anyway!
    2015 Ridley Fenix 105
    2012 Cube Ltd SL
    2011 Trek 1.2 - Sold
    2001 Giant Boulder - Sold
  • RockmonkeySCRockmonkeySC Posts: 15,247
    Anything is fine at bpw. It's nearly all hard packed surfaces so doesn't get muddy.
    Transition Patrol - viewtopic.php?f=10017&t=13070235
  • Long_Time_LurkerLong_Time_Lurker Posts: 1,068
    I have a Cube myself and despite what everyone says about BPW, you are right about those tyres - they are no good on anything except tarmac and deadly on anything slightly wet or grassy/mossy.
    I went with Racing Ralphs - an all-rounder if you are using it as a XC/off-road commuter. Fast rolling and grippy enough for blue runs.
    2007 Felt Q720 (the ratbike)
    2012 Cube Ltd SL (the hardtail XC 26er)
    2014 Lapierre Zesty TR 329 (the full-sus 29er)
  • Angus YoungAngus Young Posts: 3,063
    Cliveyp wrote:
    Angus Young wrote:
    Cliveyp wrote:
    the Cube is still sat on it's original Schwalbe Rapid Rob tyres which from experience aren't the grippiest on loose surfaces or claggy mud

    Not too many loose surfaces and no claggy mud on the blues at BPW.

    Well no, but the Robs are pathetic on anything beyond grass or a towpath from what I’ve felt so far, so I’d prefer to start the day knowing that I’ve got something worthwhile under me - and also something that gives me a bit more confidence to use it more often anyway!

    Sure, not saying you don't need a change of tyre, just that BPW is well built so it's not a swamp, even after a lot of rain.
    All the gear, no idea and loving the smell of jealousy in the morning.
    Kona Process 134 viewtopic.php?f=10017&t=12994607
  • CliveypCliveyp Posts: 173
    Angus Young wrote:
    Sure, not saying you don't need a change of tyre, just that BPW is well built so it's not a swamp, even after a lot of rain.

    So what can you recommend?
    2015 Ridley Fenix 105
    2012 Cube Ltd SL
    2011 Trek 1.2 - Sold
    2001 Giant Boulder - Sold
  • Angus YoungAngus Young Posts: 3,063
    Cliveyp wrote:
    Angus Young wrote:
    Sure, not saying you don't need a change of tyre, just that BPW is well built so it's not a swamp, even after a lot of rain.

    So what can you recommend?

    Well, I'm not sure I'm the right person to make recommendations, but I'm tubeless with a MAXXIS High Roller II at the front and a MAXXIS Ardent Race at the back. I ride the blues and reds at BPW and that combo seems to work well. While I've had plenty of full-on crashes it doesn't feel like any of them were the tyres letting go, it's always me being a bit rubbish.
    All the gear, no idea and loving the smell of jealousy in the morning.
    Kona Process 134 viewtopic.php?f=10017&t=12994607
  • The RookieThe Rookie Posts: 27,748
    Tread isn't that important due to the surface, you just need a grippy rubber, so Schwalbe Trailstar or Gatestar compound on almost any of the tread patterns would work well.
    10.1Kg FS Litespeed Niota Al
    retired 9.6kg Carrera Kraken
    The Carrera Hardtail combined thread - come on all you Carrera's!
    The Sons Scott Genius RC20 build
  • JBAJBA Posts: 2,710
    If your Rapid Robs are 'Performance' flavour then they will be awful in the wet, slippery stuff.

    Maxxis DHF / DHR are very good tyres but get the 3C compound.

    If you can find them on offer Specialized Purgatory front and Ground Control rear, both in Grid compound if you're running tubeless or Control if using tubes, is a good combination.
    “Life has been unfaithful
    And it all promised so so much”

    Giant Trance 2 27.5 2016 ¦ Sonder Broken Road 2021¦ Bird Zero Mk1 ¦ Giant Revolt Advanced 2 2019 ¦ Giant Anthem 3 2015 ¦ Specialized Myka Comp FSR 2009
  • CliveypCliveyp Posts: 173
    Cheers all, i'm liking the suggestions.

    Although the thought of having the perfect tyre underneath me is there, the thought of spending the best part of £90 for a pair of DHF/DHR2's is mildly concerning. The Magic Mary's in 26" flavour are slightly cheaper (as long as i'm getting the right compound), but the Purgatory/Ground Control combination above is much much cheaper.

    Is it really a case of getting what you pay for, or am i looking at diminishing returns if I go much more than this? Consider the bike, but current lack of skills (although willingness to 'want' to do better) and therefore speed, would I find the Spesh combination good enough, or is it really better to throw the extra £10 at MM's (or significantly more on the Maxxis combo)?
    2015 Ridley Fenix 105
    2012 Cube Ltd SL
    2011 Trek 1.2 - Sold
    2001 Giant Boulder - Sold
  • Angus YoungAngus Young Posts: 3,063
    Cliveyp wrote:
    Cheers all, i'm liking the suggestions.

    Although the thought of having the perfect tyre underneath me is there, the thought of spending the best part of £90 for a pair of DHF/DHR2's is mildly concerning. The Magic Mary's in 26" flavour are slightly cheaper (as long as i'm getting the right compound), but the Purgatory/Ground Control combination above is much much cheaper.

    Is it really a case of getting what you pay for, or am i looking at diminishing returns if I go much more than this? Consider the bike, but current lack of skills (although willingness to 'want' to do better) and therefore speed, would I find the Spesh combination good enough, or is it really better to throw the extra £10 at MM's (or significantly more on the Maxxis combo)?

    Well, it's your only point of contact with the ground, and a small one at that, so I decided that would be a place I wouldn't skimp. I have the same philosophy with cars, I don't buy tyres on price.
    All the gear, no idea and loving the smell of jealousy in the morning.
    Kona Process 134 viewtopic.php?f=10017&t=12994607
  • CliveypCliveyp Posts: 173
    Angus Young wrote:
    Well, it's your only point of contact with the ground, and a small one at that, so I decided that would be a place I wouldn't skimp. I have the same philosophy with cars, I don't buy tyres on price.

    I wouldn't be surprised if it turns out NOT to be my only point of contact with that ground over that day.... :lol:
    2015 Ridley Fenix 105
    2012 Cube Ltd SL
    2011 Trek 1.2 - Sold
    2001 Giant Boulder - Sold
  • The RookieThe Rookie Posts: 27,748
    As you don't need tread, scan ebay for some used tyres in the right compounds from whichever manufacturer you like.

    I recently picked up a pair of Nobyy Nic Gatesar for next to nothing, quite roughed up but perfectly useable.
    10.1Kg FS Litespeed Niota Al
    retired 9.6kg Carrera Kraken
    The Carrera Hardtail combined thread - come on all you Carrera's!
    The Sons Scott Genius RC20 build
  • Angus YoungAngus Young Posts: 3,063
    Cliveyp wrote:
    Angus Young wrote:
    Well, it's your only point of contact with the ground, and a small one at that, so I decided that would be a place I wouldn't skimp. I have the same philosophy with cars, I don't buy tyres on price.

    I wouldn't be surprised if it turns out NOT to be my only point of contact with that ground over that day.... :lol:

    :)
    All the gear, no idea and loving the smell of jealousy in the morning.
    Kona Process 134 viewtopic.php?f=10017&t=12994607
  • CliveypCliveyp Posts: 173
    The Rookie wrote:
    As you don't need tread, scan ebay for some used tyres in the right compounds from whichever manufacturer you like.

    I recently picked up a pair of Nobyy Nic Gatesar for next to nothing, quite roughed up but perfectly useable.

    The eBay route has thrown up a few used Magic Mary's in various compounds. There is a single Vertstar, but also a few 'Bike Park' ones. Are the Bike Parks' worth avoiding, or could I get away with that on the rear with the Vertstar on the front? I'm assuming the Vertstar is the softer compound so would be better up front.....
    2015 Ridley Fenix 105
    2012 Cube Ltd SL
    2011 Trek 1.2 - Sold
    2001 Giant Boulder - Sold
  • The RookieThe Rookie Posts: 27,748
    The Bikepark is the performance compound, avoid!
    10.1Kg FS Litespeed Niota Al
    retired 9.6kg Carrera Kraken
    The Carrera Hardtail combined thread - come on all you Carrera's!
    The Sons Scott Genius RC20 build
  • CliveypCliveyp Posts: 173
    The Rookie wrote:
    The Bikepark is the performance compound, avoid!

    Avoided, cheers. Will keep an eye on the other one though.
    2015 Ridley Fenix 105
    2012 Cube Ltd SL
    2011 Trek 1.2 - Sold
    2001 Giant Boulder - Sold
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