Retiredtester wrote: ↑Tue Dec 07, 2021 10:17 am
In common with quite a few of you, it seems, I like the simplicity of a fully rigid bike and am not keen on adding yet more procrastinated maintenence into my life, so maybe I'll leave the full suss for now. I'm planning on doing a lot of training on the sdw in the lead up to midsummer next year, so will have plenty of opportunities to experiment with tyre choice and pressure. And I'll keep an eye out for a reasonably priced set of forks. Thanks all.
Sounds like a good plan. Find what you can squeeze out of the Rooster, I'm sure it holds a few surprises.
Also getting the body conditioned to riding long days in the saddle will make the SDW more enjoyable.
I quite like the Vittoria Mezcals for easy offroad touring/everyday offroad use. I've ridden them in 2.25", 2.35" and 2.6", always on i30 mm rims and quite like the overall feel, hellish fast rolling yet not too weak under cornering for such a fast roller. TNT sidewall is a nice blend of weight and durability. Kind of a sweet spot for me and above use. Also used them to cycle twice across Iceland's interior (sharp lava rocks, sand etc.) with absolutely no issue. Hold air well, also when in everyday use (about 6 months before OKO sealant asks for 50 - 100 mL of water). 2.6 is true to size and has a lovely shape on a i30 mm rim.
I've just had (another) 3 months on a Maxxis Ikon Exo 2.6" on the rear and it's in pieces. I counted 13 punctures/cuts when I swapped it with a more winter capable tyre. Yet I keep coming back to Ikons... this for my short travel trail bike. Not quite true to size. And whilst fast too, not nearly as grippy under cornering like a Mezcal. About 50 g ligther but also way flimsier. Flint, SDW, 200 miles... I'd probably finish the ride with an Ikon filled with Maxalamis
When a bit muddy, greasy, grassy, some snow - Maxxis Forekaster. Fun tread, okay tyre construction (bit on the flimsy side for my likes).
Maxxis Minion DHF and DHR plus (29 x 3) are monsters. Best way to turn your Rooster into a dead slug. It'll really glue you to the ground. Last ages, super heavy and sturdy and MaxxTerra becomes super sub standard at anything colder than about 5 °C. Go with Dual Compound when you plan to ride Maxxis tyres in the cold.
Schwalbe has some beefy, but durable and dependable (sidewalls) plus tyres. Nothing really that's plus sized and fairly fast rolling. But if you need a grip monster without the chunk of a 29 x 3" Minion, check Magic Mary. It's indeed magic. And slow.
Vittoria Barzo 2.6" have a really stupid shape on i30 rims. No idea what happened to them (I tried a total of 4). Rideable, but shoulder knobs are tucked away in the sidewall. Like a pear. Might be better on i40 or wider rims.
And so on and so worth...