I've got a 2.8 trailblazer and a 2.8 vee Trax fatty that's surplus to requirements now.
alexhayes1981 at gmail .com
Apologies for minor hijack.
Hey Guys
I've got WTB 2.8 trailblazer's on My Charge Cooker which is 2 months old and just had my first puncture on the front.
I had hell of a job getting the tyre off and then back on again with my Specialized EMT MTB tyre levers which when used on my 2.2 29er tyres are a piece of cake to get off.
What do you guys use??
My 2.8 Nobby nic just arrived. It's a fair bit bigger than a trailblazer IMO. Here are some pics mounted tubeless on an i35 in a 2012-ish revelation. It is pretty marginal, and if it stretches it will definitely rub. The side knobs are slightly higher than the narrowest point of the fork. I can stick it in a pike if anyone is interested. Looks a decent tyre, but I think it is going to be too big...
[url= https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5793/23242113449_84ce2352d8_z.jp g" target="_blank">https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5793/23242113449_84ce2352d8_z.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/BpPUzX ]Untitled[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/sophandian/ ]Soph and Ian[/url], on Flickr
[url= https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5762/23610012305_06e3be1e39_z.jp g" target="_blank">https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5762/23610012305_06e3be1e39_z.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/BYku6F ]Untitled[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/sophandian/ ]Soph and Ian[/url], on Flickr
Here it is in comparison to a trailblazer on an i29:
[url= https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5661/23583944506_83fb60aedf_z.jp g" target="_blank">https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5661/23583944506_83fb60aedf_z.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/BW2T3S ]Untitled[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/sophandian/ ]Soph and Ian[/url], on Flickr
Tyres measures, bead to bead laid flat:
Panaracer FBN, 3.5" (used and stretched) = 190mm
N Nic 2.8 (new, unstretched) = 168mm
N Nic comes up bigger than TB, but fits the Rev forks better than the FBN (on 45mm rim)
N Nic went up easily tubeless too, unlike the Panaracer.
N Nic comes up bigger than TB
[url= https://farm1.staticflickr.com/754/23532054741_e81bab07c7_k.jp g" target="_blank">https://farm1.staticflickr.com/754/23532054741_e81bab07c7_k.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/BRrW2K ]Nobby Nic 2.8[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/stu-b/ ]multispeedstu[/url], on Flickr
[url= https://farm1.staticflickr.com/396/20122664671_f362594f77_k.jp g" target="_blank">https://farm1.staticflickr.com/396/20122664671_f362594f77_k.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/wEaV9k ]69mm.[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/stu-b/ ]multispeedstu[/url], on Flickr
Both mounted on a Scraper.
TB has now stretched to 71mm so I'd say they're pretty much the same size as each other on a 45mm rim.
OK, but I was referring to tread width. The bit that gives the contact patch. Volume/height are very similar.
Volume/height are very similar.
Agreed.
Just finished my 650b+ build- Zealous Division Mk2 with i35s on ProIIs with WTB TB tyres. This setup up has masses of mud clearance at the back. The revelation has plenty of clearance too.
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Out on mine tonight
I reckon the FatBNimbles aren't quite up to handling the current level of slop.
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Ordered a NN 2.8 last week from www.bike-components.de
Emailed today to say no stock until well into next year.
Anywhere else got stock of NN 2.8?
looking good Cokie.
Bad luck Variflex. My 2.8 Nic (ordered 3rd) has shipped. I'll report clearance on Pike and Yelli Screamy when I get it.
Slam69 had some posted on their FB page
Super thanks BigH - Slam69 came up trumps 🙂
I didn't feel the love for plus in the current conditions. I'll try again in the spring but I've reverted back to 29" for now.
Liking the zealous division, but I'm not sold on the trailblazer as a front tyre
Late to the thread so apologies if this has been done already but someone on MTBR has done a Fattie conversion on a 2015 Spesh Enduro
http://forums.mtbr.com/specialized/official-specialized-enduro-thread-776419-68.html#post12307536
I didn't feel the love for plus in the current conditions. I'll try again in the spring but I've reverted back to 29" for now.
I was in a similar position a week ago. I loved the B+ setup on my Solaris when I first tried it a few months back, but recently in the winter slop I've just not been enjoying it and had reverted back to my Smuggler 29er.
Then, last week, it really was too grotty for me to want to take the Smuggler out on a night ride, so I grabbed the Solaris from the shed. I hadn't touched it for a while and the tyres had obviously lost some air. Checking it when I got back I was actually running around 7psi. But it felt really good in the slop at that pressure. Right up until I tried to loft the front over a pothole and felt the rear rim slam into the edge of the hole! I had to back off a bit after that, which runined the fun a bit, but I wonder if there is some magic pressure that would work in the current conditions.
Ultimately though, I'm thinking that procore might be a better solution for me. The B+ wheels are heavier than my 29er wheels so 29er plus procore shouldn't be any heavier than B+. You can still run the low pressures but without the risk of damaging the rim and a 29er with a decent width rim would still give plenty of volume I guess. Plus, of course, you've got a full range of tyres to play with.
I'll be interested to see how the trailblazers cope with the snow (which can't be far off now) though.
Given my experience with fatbikes I reckon Plus will be fine once we get the right tyres. We need a 3" Nate.
I am building a set of 29er wheels for my Pact too though.
Im no expert as Im very new to the whole thing, but I feel you just cut your cloth accordingly.
I ride in the FoD which has it's fair share of mud to say the least. So what if my tyres aren't optimum for slop, the moments when I get superb rollability on the good bits more than make up. Plus it gives me a good excuse to ride like a girl down steep stuff that should be better left for dryer conditions 🙂
I just love the way you can ride off piste over stuff that leave others struggling. Anyhow, im running purgatorys front and rear and they're good enough for me..ehem..until maxxis release the rekon
Why on earth anyone would run the trailblazer as a front tyre for anything other than a bike packing style bike is beyond me. Look at the tread pattern on it?! That Zealous, although it looks nice, seems a bit pointless if the bike is ridden as it was designed. A higher volume tyre doesn't suddenly defy all previously known grip levels. I'm going to guess that a tyre with a properly meaty loose condition tread pattern and carcass would weigh a 'kin ton. Think there was someone on mtbr saying the dirt wizard, which appears to be the most aggressive at the moment as far as I can see, comes in at 1300g. Looking forward to getting the chubby nics on my hardtail but they're not going to be holy grail of grip in all conditions.
I'd proved to myself that for the type of riding I use my ht for, it's quicker as a 29". It feels more lively and it digs into slop.
That said I always thought i was having more fun on the 27.5+!
I've just moved the wide rimmed wheels onto the bike I use for uplift/fun days out, so I still have the option to go back to this set up in the spring.
@alex
Same here, as much as I like my codeine in plus size format it is an awful lot of bike for the majority of riding that I do and coupled with the fact that the wheels are in a frame not specifically designed for them, and for that reason I'm going to put them in a frame better suited to them a long low slack steel hardtail!!
Given my experience with fatbikes I reckon Plus will be fine once we get the right tyres. We need a 3" Nate.
Just received a 3" Nobby Nic from Merlin and its not far off! I think these merlin tyres must be an early batch as quite a few of the centre threads on mine are a little under-formed (small depressions in the centre or edge).
Just need to decide which bike to run 27+ on, the fat bike, or the 29er. Not sure the 29er will clear 3" tyres 😕
[quote=STATO ]Given my experience with fatbikes I reckon Plus will be fine once we get the right tyres. We need a 3" Nate.
Just received a 3" Nobby Nic from Merlin and its not far off! Cool! It was likely to be that or a Purgatory
Agreed. Received mine today and it looks like it could be just the ticket. All I need now are some wheels to mount it on 😕
^^ got wheels need tyres!
@gotama
Superstar components are doing a special on tesla/ryde trace enduro wheel builds today 29mm id rims for £235
Thanks but I have some i35 on hope coming from just riding along. I'm also waiting on the forks from Loco so in honest I'm short of more than just wheels 🙂 Once I get the wheels though i will probably stick them in my Prime for a giggle. That said I'm missing a 2.8 Nic as well 😉
Lol just checked your profile e-mail 😉 It should be with you today or Monday I reckon ,let me know if there's any problems. Hopefully will be picking up my new bigwig frame tonight will post some pics if I get time over the weekend.
No worries, I was only joking. Bigwig should be a lot of fun.
My 2.8 NN is a world away from the trailblazer I had before. It's big but doesn't rub in my revelation, and is far more confidence inspiring, I can actually lean the bike over again. The back with a trailblazer is still all over the place but that is ok.
Almost considering trying the wheelset in my full sus bike now - the trailblazer just did't have the grip to make it worthwhile, but the NN could be fun!
Not sure it would fit in the back of my Solaris but may try one in there, too.
My 2.8 NN is here. I aim to get it mounted (i35 rim) and tried in a Pike tomorrow. I'll try it in the back of my Yelli too. Watch this space ...
2.8 NN on a Scraper has a fair bit of clearance in a Pike 29.
2.8 NN on an i35 has almost enough clearance* in the back of a MK2 Yelli.
*Could be a bit better but might work in the right kind of mud.
Not sure it would fit in the back of my Solaris but may try one in there, too.
Just put a NN 2.8 on a 35mm rim in the back of mine. Clearance less than TB 2.8, but looks fine for the non muddy trails round the Lakes. Will test tomorrow (once it's stretched overnight...) and report back.
Yup confirmed as above, a 2.8 NN on scraper rims fits comfortably in a 29er pike with enough clearance for a mucky nutz mini face fender 🙂
Went out this morning on the smuggler with TB on the back, NN on the front expecting it to be a handful in the slop thats around these parts, but I was pleasantly surprised. More grip than expected at the front with the TB struggling for traction a bit in the deep stuff, but thats to be expected given its tread. Despite the TB it was still a good combo and worked well.
Was far more predictable and stable through the 2-3inch greasy slop than my mates std 650b lapierre with 2.2NN's all round. Managed some great wall rides along high banks.
Really impressed so will leave the wheelset on for a while. The NN is definitely an improvement compared with Trax Fatty. Still waiting for the rekon+ though. Once that comes through will put NN on the back. That should then be a really good winter combo. Doesnt sound like we will see the rekon+ anytime soon so may have to wait for next winter for that combo.
How do you find the BB height? It's pretty low on the Smuggler with 29er wheels and by my calculations it drops something like another 7mm with B+ wheels which sounds like pedal strike city.
smuggler bb height is reduced and pedal strikes are a bit more common but not a problem. plenty of ruts and stumps today but no strikes
Thanks. You've got the Mk1 Smuggler right? The newer one has a 5mm higher BB so if it works for you it should be fine for me. I did try sticking my TB wheels in the Smuggler just to see how they fit and looked, but I've not tried it on the trail yet. I might give it a go when the snow comes though. It looked fine 🙂
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nice 🙂 yes mk1. wouldn't recommend a TB on the front though unless Super dry.
I've had them on my Solaris, but I agree that they are much more suited to the dry than the current slop. They might work on powdery snow, but only time will tell.
Couple of hours today on the Mk1 Solaris with 2.8" N Nics. Riding around Braithwaite/Whinlatter on tarmac, mud, snow, ice and rock (and combinations of all of them). With higher pressure they felt fine up the tarmac of the Pass. Dropped pressures once off road. More grip than any 29" tyre I've used (2.3 Purgatory, 2.35 Hans Dampf etc), in fact as much grip as my power up and skills/bottle down could use. Slid out once on a big greasy root and once on icy snow. Not much wider than a 29" HDampf, but can be run at lower pressure without knackering rims on the frequent rocks round here. None of that sticky mud that some of you have to suffer, but surely a 2" 29er mud tyre's what's needed there.
I've lost the only reservations I had of B+ now - grippy, reasonably light and tough tyres that are easy to set up tubeless. I'll go back to TBlazer on the rear for dry summer and will stick 29er wheels on occasionally, but otherwise these are keepers.
Mk1 Solaris, RS Rev forks, 45mm Dually front rim and 35mm Arc rear, 2x10 speed with 180mm cranks (and no pedal strikes).
🙂
Nice one. Just need to find a S/H Solaris frame now
Firet ride today on the Tarn since putting a 29+ front wheel on it (650+ rear). Much prefer it to 2x 650+ mostly as it raises the BB closer to 300mm. Was too low on 650+ ft/rr. Loved it. At -3C today the sloppy conditions had firmed up enough for +tyres. When it warms up I'll be back on the Zealous with 29er Barons or High Latitude with Beaver/Shorty.
So i managed to get the BigWig built up for a quick blast this morning ,absolutely bloody mental thing it is. [img][url= https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5660/23430513980_a61b89142b_k.jp g" target="_blank">https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5660/23430513980_a61b89142b_k.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/BGtvuY ]DSC_0928[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/136996011@N06/ ]RYAN KENT[/url], on Flickr[/img][img][url= https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5753/23358267549_092f1bef7a_k.jp g" target="_blank">
https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5753/23358267549_092f1bef7a_k.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/BA6e9R ]DSC_0935[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/136996011@N06/ ]RYAN KENT[/url], on Flickr[/img]
That BigWig looks fun!
