Last summer we spent 5 weeks in BC, riding everything from epic XC (Comfortably Numb, Seven Summit Trail and Keystone-Standard Basin) to shuttle and lift stuff in Whistler, Silver Star, Nelson and the North Shore. This year we’re off again, for more of the same, but in a bigger group.
I run Stan’s Flow rims, and opted for 2.35 TR Bonty Jones ACXs. In the 1st week I tore the sidewalls twice. Once in Whistler Bikepark (I’d just given my spare tube to a stranded DHer high on Garbanzo), and one on Comfortably Numb the very next day (I managed to repair it with a patch and re-seated the tyre with a minipump in the middle of nowhere…)
After some nervous rides where I no longer trusted the Bontys, and after a Geax Lobo Mas Loco blowing off the rim whilst I rode across a carpark, I fitted some WTB Dissent DH tyres that my wife had won in Whistler. They’re quite Minion-esque, but with more blocks, but generally were OK. I ran them in Spain in October too.
Now I have Blue Groove Nevegal DH combo. 2.7 up front and 2.5 at the rear. I rode them at Nevis earlier in the week (with tubes in) and they were supper grippy, but the 2.7 is HUGE. I have a 2.5 Blue Groove too, so I’m not sure what to do. I have no issue with the Nevegal, as I think they’re fantastic.
It’s always a trade off between weight, grip, and puncture resistance. For BC riding I really think DH casings are the way to go, but is 2.7″ too big considering there’s about 1900m of climbing on the Seven Summits IIRC?
Any recommendations?
