I went into my shed to get my bike for today’s ride, and the mud x rear on my FTMc had developed a leak around the tubeless valve, so with a heavy heart I picked up my AM rigged Heckler.
Not looking forward to the expected mudfest, with my Alps combo of a chunky monkey and a smorgasbord, both tubeless. Yes, they were draggy on the climbs, and my Marz55 were pogo-ing on the climbs, but I was amazed at both the grip, and mud clearing of both. There is one particular technical climb on my route today, with a slow speed step-up over a big smooth tree root. I often struggle with traction on the rear tyre to get up it. The Smorgasbord (at 22psi which the mudX can’t handle) bit, and gripped nicely, cleaning the section.
I had previously thought of the Smorgasbord as a 3 season tyre, but in a mix of deep mud, claggy clay, wet leaves and wet roots, it didn’t miss a beat.
I’m currently building up a Fireline Evo29er, and I will be buying Smorgasbords for both ends.