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What’s it like - is it a slip fest or does it drain well etc? Speccing a new bike for a mate and wondering what tyres to stick on it. He likes climbing so I don’t want boat anchors - the equivalent of Exo / grid etc is strong enough as he’s light / doesn’t ride crazy stuff.
Probably on 30mm internal width rims.
2.4 Wild Enduros any good as an all year round kind of option?
Dhr2 in 2.3 exo is a decent rear tyre (I run it on a 30mm rim fine) but then what for the front? DHF 2.5”or Assegai? Maybe the latter is a bit heavy?
Depends on the hill - some drain really well, some don't - I've done rides there where some trails were just basically all puddles (with submerged sniper roots), and then rode BKB which was basically bone dry!
Generally it doesn't get that muddy, as it's quite sandy and you'll either get standing water, or nothing.
The Box Hill side can be a proper muddy / chalky slip fest. The Leith Hill to Peaslake side is sandier and generally better drained, wet roots become a bit more of an issue than mud on that side.
For comparison I use 2.3 Nobby Nics all year round on a hardtail and I find it’s ok for most eventualities; going from muddy XC to a steep chalky, descent for example. Haven’t tried the other tyres you mention though.
Yeah the Box Hill Ridge is actually the same Ridge that is north of Maidstone, and I can confirm it's a slippy, muddy, chalky HELL during winter. You know the DH world Cup the other week? It's like that after a light drizzle. Sort of.
Pitch hill/Leith Hill etc are on a different sandy ridge which is totally different and very sandy.
Box Hill is on the North Downs, a chalk based ridgeline. Pitch/Leith/Holmbury are on the Greensand ridge, which is sandstone based.
Sounds like it doesn’t need a big mud tyre then so that’s good.
Maybe just go dhf / dhr2 or butcher / purgatory then.
Maybe the Wild Enduro is a bit too much tyre.
I think he broadly rides around Pitch Hill so far - only lived over that way a couple of months. I’m planning to go riding over there early November unless we / they get locked down before then.
Yeah, prioritise wet root and loose grip over mud I'd say. Some bits can get muddy but not overly so, if we've had a lot of rain the ground will just get saturated and the water will sit on top, hence the puddles.
Which is fun in it's own way, finding yourself sideways when going through a 2ft deep puddle...
And embrace the sound of sandy grinding as your drivetrain melts..... Was up peaslake today and my gears hate me!!
A Front Shorty and a Rear Dhr2 both 3C WT EXO are perfect for the Surrey Hills, then swap the front for a DHF around April.
I use a Purgatory on the back and a Butcher on the front.
Seems to suit me for the Surrey Hills.
Maybe the Wild Enduro is a bit too much tyre.
I run Wild Endros for riding in surrey. I travel a fair bit for riding (pre covid) but I find the biggest plus of the WE is how predictable they are, no matter the surface they seem to behave the same. I wouldn't run anything if i could get a wild gravel tyre for my gravel bike i would.
Sounds like the following options probably a good shout then:
2.4” Wild Enduro f & r
DHF / DHR2
Butcher / Purgatory
Shorty is surely a full on mud tyre - even more so than the 2.6” Hillbilly I’m running at the moment.
I like the Magic Mary as an allrounder - but I don’t think they make a decent back tyre for all round. Sounds like Hans Dampf is a bit underwhelming / Nobby Nic isn’t very sturdy / Big Betty is heavy. So I’m going to rule out Schwalbe.
I guess Wtb Vigilante is a decent front tyre - what rear to go with it? The Trailboss seems quite summery from the tread on it (I’ve got one in tough / fast for Antur Stiniog / Rocky stuff).
soft magic mary up front and rock razor for the back works for me round here
Yeah the Box Hill Ridge is actually the same Ridge that is north of Maidstone, and I can confirm it’s a slippy, muddy, chalky HELL during winter.
My aching ribs can attest to the chalk path coming off Michelham Down is already slippery as on Mountain Kings, so don't buy those
Will be changing my routes to the gear grinding Greensand ridge...
No danger of me buying
Continental tyres for this bike....
No danger of me buying
Continental tyres
Good choice 🙂 I'll be buying a pair of Nobby Nics (soft front) to replace the stock tyres.
The Surrey North Downs are my local manor, but can confirm I have my 'winter routes' starting around now. Even when heading further afield to Leith and Holmbury, you need to avoid certain sections to have an enjoyable experience.