Yay..New Bike day… Downcountry/Uptrail/whatever…

@kryton57

As per Crossed – no issues with the ground control so far… I doubt they’d exel in mud, but the are pretty grippy with a decent profile..

Will be riding them (and this bike) at the Gorrick in a few weeks time..

DrP

I’m building mine up tomorrow. Very excited indeed!

I’ve always ridden with ground controls but the set on my comp are heavy at 900g each (they used to lighter in previous years) so I’ve ordered a mezcal/barzo combo to try and about 0.5kg lighter

mezcal/barzo combo

I’ve been doing a lot of tyre based research lately, and it would appear having 2 Barzos and 2 Mezcals in your armoury can’t really be beaten for value/performance/weight.   My only issues with them is when worn and the 4th softest layer is gone, but I’m not sure if I could tell.  My answer to that is that a worn Barzo becomes a mid conditions rear tyre.   I’m a confidence rider so I struggle to have mental faith in some of the lower knobbed offerings from Maxxis and Bontrager.

Anyway, I’ve been riding around on two Mk1 forecasters which I’ll use at Gorrick, alledgely a good damp conditions tyre so I thought I may as well use them considering the time of year and save the Vittoria’s  for next time.  

Looking forward to seeing Dr P’s bike TBH!

Patience my friend!!

So i’ve not really seen teh vittoria tyres – the mezcals look like geax saguro… fast rolling rear tyre.. the Barzos look good…not super different from the tyres on the epic already.
I think if it’s looking REALLY muddy, I may hunt around for perhaps a hillbilly or something else for the front!

DrP

I’ve put barzos on my Kona Hei Hei. They are fantastic on everything except wet tarmac and then they are lethal. Actually dangerous. I’m hoping it’s residue release agent or something and they’ll get grippier as they wear that top layer.

I’ve got Barzo front and rear on my Yeti ARC and it’s a flippin’ fast tyre but surprisingly grippy. I know some people stick a Mezcal on the rear for the summer but I haven’t felt the need! I’ve actually just bought a pair again in 2.6″ to replace my 2.25’s as it’s a hardtail and I like a bigger tyre. Will run them for a bit and then stick with one or the other, I’m hoping it won’t be noticeably slower.

@DrP

How are you getting on with the wheels after you got the new rim? Just seen that Hunt have a sale on and it’ll mean the Proven XC wheels are about £750 with the discount. I quite fancy a set for my Epic to upgrade from the current Hunt XC Wide alloy wheels. 

They seem fine tbh… No new issues.. Light and fast..

Have stuck a rimpact mk1 in the rear for a bit of protection!

DrP

Having just ordered one and in my haste forgetting to note that it doesn’t have a remote lockout, can anyone please comment on use of the climb / compression switches and what they offer and how the ride feel is in each position?

im hoping not to have to cancel my order becuase I can leave it in one mode for racing…..

Well, OP is currently racing his in Croatia so let’s see what he’s got to say once he catches his breath

4 islands epic..Croatia…DrP is a go-go..

personally, not a racer, but never use the lockouts.

I have the comp, so a different a shock, and don’t race. So I’m not sure that I can help much. I never bother with the lockout, but then I never have on any bike really. I don’t think it’s very bobby.

Thanks for the feedback.  Reading the detail in the reviews my new bike will come with a 3 mode Fox, with open and medium having a 1, 2 and 3 setting to make them gradually even firmer if needed.   So it sounds that – if indeed I need it at all – I can play with the medium setting and use that as. “Race “ mode.

The fork has the same without the micro adjustment so perhaps medium up front as well.

Nice bike choice!

Mine pulled me through the “4 islands epic” with no issues!

Re lockout… I generally leave the fork fully open on anything off-road, for front wheel control esp when climbing..

The rear – I only flip to lock out on smooth gravel climbs… Anything a bit rocky or rooty and the grip when you leave the shock open is worth any ‘efficiency’..

Obvs on a road climb you’d lock both out…

DrP