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Anyone got any recommendations? Of for the Sunday leg of the PDS and cant see much variety in champery - is it worth camping elsewhere and driving in?
Also thinking of what tyres? Maxxis High Rollers seem to be the choice, single ply still ok? or would dual ply be sensible. Gonna be an orange five with 130mm travel so very much trail bike not freeride. at all.
Any other nuggets of info much appreciated!
Cheers all
Under no circumstances should you use single ply tyres unless you're going to pootling along or are happy to stop every ten minutes to fix a pinch flat puncture.
While the riding on the PPDS is never more difficult than a typical UK trail centre, is it substantially more rocky and in many places considerably faster. Single Plys will never last - I've even had punctures using dual ply tyres with DH tubes.
2.35 - 2.5 High Rollers in a 60 durometer rubber are a good choice. There is quite a lot of pedalilng involved so the harder rubber is a better compromise than Super Tacky rubber.
Cheers,
Dual ply it is then! Was looking at the super tacky compound to give confidence on the rocks, but as you say a harder compound should be easier going after hours in the saddle. How about super tacky up front and a 60a on the back?
I dont tend to shred tyres, I use nobby nic/racing ralph 2.35 combo at the mo and dont get too many flats, despite wafer thin walls.
TBH I've used Super Tacky compound tyres each time i've ridden the PPDS (three times now) and each time I think the next time I should really use 60 durometer. If it's bone dry, then the harder comound tyres will probably be faster anyway, both along, down and up. If it's wet then either a combination or both ST might be the way to go. BTW there will be sections that are still wet even if it's fine on the day.
The course is really not that technical - the best sections are the run down into Chatel from the Les Lindarets valley and the run into the Lindarets valley from Champery (top of the Mossettes lift, which will be your first run if you start from Champery). They are characteristically fast, open, loose and rocky. There's very little in the way of tight, rooty or really steep sections.
Definitely use an on the fly adjustable seat post if you have one and a chain device with dual ring.
The biggest problem regarding tyres and punctures are the long open fire road sections. These are quite rocky, very loose and super fast - like warp speed fast, if you let off the brakes. TBH, these are the sections that scare the pants off me. They are where you're most likely to get really hurt if you crash and where you're most likely to pinch flat.
Oh and a full face helmet is probably obligatory and a spine guard would be a good idea. I saw at least one person helicoptered off the route last year after they hit a jump at warp speed without anticipating it.
Blimey, spine protector and full face? The most I was planning are some lightweight knee pads.. Might need to add a few things to the shopping list!
Ta for the info!
Anyone else got ideas on camping in the champery area?
There are plenty of people riding in Euro lycra, no pads, regular lids etc. But given that you're spending the vast majority of the day going downhill, it's worth putting on a bit more protection and worrying less about having a stack.