Off to sunny Spain

Off to sunny Spain for some riding with Ciclo Montana in a few weeks 🙂

Am wondering whether the dual ply Minion DHF ST/High Roller combo are going to be much to drag around, especially on the climbs. Also wondering whether to attempt to run them tubeless to avoid thorn punctures, or stick with tubes.

Existing tyres are both wire bead on a 26″ SS AMX wheel-set.

What are the thoughts of those who have ridden the Sierra Nevada area, especially those who have been with Ciclo?

Muchas gracias

Last week there were three of us plus Mark. I had two punctures (fixed with a quick sticky worm each) that I think were caused by rock slices in my sidewalls and elliptic had what I think was a snakebite in a rear. As far as I know we all had reasonably robust tyres but nothing dual ply. I would certainly recommend tubeless, the terrain is rocky and at times quite steep.

I wouldn’t worry about draggy, most of the riding is downhill (apart from the ups)

BTW have fun and try not to fall off as much as I did 🙂

Cheers RB, trust you had a good time? Are you seasoned veterans or fist timers to the area?

I tempted to try tubeless even though neither tyres or rims are tubeless specific…what’s the worst that can happen?

Steep and rocky, two things that aren’t common to riding in the Chilterns…could be a learning experience that might involve more falling off than I’m comfortable with. 😐

Was there last month, no one had dual plys, everyone tubeless, I had one puncture on the last day and can’t recall anyone else having one all week. We had just about every other mechanical going, wrecked free hubs, cracked frames…..

Brilliant riding, but on our first day we had 700m of climbing to get to morning coffee. Fark doing that on big bugger tyres.

Been there twice, had to miss this years trip but would recommend tubeless, pumped up harder than you would at home with plenty of spaff in them, choose a nice big carcass, eg 2.35, all the climbs when doing them are quite long, but you won’t notice how long they are really, too much to take in whilst your riding

I had a very good time and would recommend Ciclo without hesitation. I seriously need to up my skills before I go back but if I had the opportunity to go back next week I still would 🙂

The other two had been a couple of times before (think they may be friends of Candodavid up there) but I was a virgin there on my lonesome. They were gentle with me 🙂

Thanks for the relies so far.

Any recommendations on tyres…the more bargaintastic the better!

I think my skills might be found to be lacking, but I’m sure I’ll have a blast!

Try Ghetto tubeless option from Youtube. I rode out there with Switch-backs.com. No punctures last time. You are generally ok unless they have been trimming the thorn bushes, then only tubeless with lots of latex liquid seems to stop many punctures.

I run the same pressures as in the UK. Pumped up tyres would be a nightmare on the descents. Lots of grip is what you need.

Been three times now (but first time doesn’t count because it was only for a weekend).

Tubeless is a must. I’d not ride with tubes there. First time was a thornfest. Was using Conti Mountain Kings which were pretty good, but I was trying to swap over a Kenda Honey Badger on the last day, just to see if it offered the tiniest bit more traction in the loose stuff. I hate loose stuff. The HB weighs over a kilo, but the Contis are around the same weight. The combo you’re suggesting should work as well as any, if not better. Marco (the guide) seems to prefer high volume tyres with closely spaced knobs. I think he’s running a WTB Breakout and rates it quite highly. His riding is on a different level to us mortals though.

I’m still walking some of the switchbacks, but it gets better every year. You’ll love it! Nothing like that place to gauge progression in your riding.

I used a Minion on the front and an Ardent on the rear last year.
Both tubeless.
I’ll be using a less knobbly rear tyre when we return this year.

Great place to ride with fun not to techy trails.
Shame we missed the Swedish ladies netball team last year.
They were there the week before us.
I don’t know how they do it for the money.

Unless anyone suggests a bargaintastic set of alternatives, I’m going to use the dual ply tyres I have. The climbs will be a pain but they’re not a race.

Will try converting to tubeless with some Superstar tape and sealant.

I’m expecting the riding to be very challenging, don’t get much technical riding in the Chilterns, but looking forward to improving over the trip.

Given how many groups just miss the Swedish netball team I think the odds of them being there when I am must be pretty good, fingers crossed!

You don’t need to convert to tubeless to avoid punctures since you have dual ply tyres already.

Don’t forget your shin armour too

Are the thorns not likely to puncture the dual ply? That’s my main concern phncture wise, I haven’t manage to pinch flat them despite a few trips to the Alps so know they are strong.

I already have knee pads, are there any separate shin protectors?

You don’t need to convert to tubeless to avoid punctures since you have dual ply tyres already.

Are the thorns not likely to puncture the dual ply?

IME thorns are the main issue at Ciclo, dual ply won’t make any difference to them. I used slime tubes one year, they were better than just tubes but tubeless is the best bet if you can do it.

I took dual ply super tacky high rollers to switchbacks in the same valley.

The

Climbs

Were

Hell

I’d get something a bit lighter, and tubeless ready, I’d probaby stick my Specialized Eskars on for another trip.

The Maxxis dual plies were an absolute pain in the arse to get set up tubeless. But they’re so good it’s almost cheating coming back down and didn’t puncture once.

Given how many groups just miss the Swedish netball team I think the odds of them being there when I am must be pretty good, fingers crossed!

Nah.
They’ll be there the week we’re there this year. 😉
Though we might just be the best group there the week we’re there.

SSS given netball team are always there the week before we should have planned trips for consecutive weeks…it would be a certainty then!

The standard of my riding means we might struggle to be the best group of the week

The standard of my riding means we might struggle to be the best group of the week

The best group there that week was specialy reserved for us I think. 🙄
Still not sure how they do it for the money though.