So not long now before Flyingmonkeycorps and I get cracking on our C2C ride...
Doing the PEDALNORTH ROUTE
but probably avoiding most of the Grizedale/Dalby trailcentre stuff, planning on taking our time, doing it in 7 days, camping along the way. I am taking the Titus Fireline with bikepacking bags.
This is the inevitable what tyres question. What balance can I strike between draggy but tough and fast but fragile? Being a relative newcomer to 29ers I have the following;
Specialized Purgatory 2.3 - really like it as a back tyre, but ripped a hole in the side last time I was in the lakes, so a little hesitant about putting another one on..
Specialized Butcher 2.3 - on the front, but will it survive Lakes rocks?
Brand new Chunky Monkey 2.4. Boy is it Chunky though...
2 x Smorgasbords 2.25
Kenda SB8 2.2 been on the back of the bike all summer, nice and quick
Conti X king 2.2 never used
Planning on running tubeless.
Any thoughts greatly appreciated!
Cheers !
Living in the Lakes, the Purgatory has become my all rounder. Just picked up some 27.5x3" versions too.
I used Purg front, Ground Control rear, tubeless obviously. No issues. There were about 10 in our group, the only ones with tyre issues were the two running tubes.
Really Purgatory on the front?- last one I had got it's sidewall slashed in the lakes (this isn't a grid one..) was I just unlucky?
Bump for the morning-
ATM I'm thinking Butcher front, Purgatory rear, and tiptoe through the rock gardens...
I’m thinking Butcher front, Purgatory rear
Not 29" cos I'm 26" For Life™, but I've got that combination and have had for the last 4 years. They've done everything, in all weathers, including Ard Rock, 10UTB, GT7, a week in La Gomera, local bimbly singletrack, local rocky "enduro" stuff, gravel paths and roads. They just work and I can count on the fingers of one hand the number of punctures in that time. I'm not known for my careful route choices either. Not the lightest tyres but they get my vote.
I've got Smorgasbords on my on my other bike and they're fine for general singletrack duties but they're much flimsier than the Spesh tyres.
Cheers Mr Ox!
Good plan