I’ve been getting my first real MTB rig together and was curious what the tire and pedal of choice was. Regarding tire choice, I’m going tubeless. I’ll be on a lot of singletrack (a lot of rocky, wet, etc.) but also on some cleaner trails and roads. I’m 170 lbs. (if that matters).
I’ve got egg beaters on my CX bike and like them okay, but curious if people prefer something else.
Thanks!!
I had egg beaters for two years - hated them. I kept waiting to get accustomed to the release move, but I never did. As a result, I had numerous frantic attempts to release in low speed technical rocky stuff that resulted in me falling into the rocks on my side instead. NOT a fan. Switched back to Shimano XT and am much happier now. Previous to the egg beaters experience, I was on Ritchey pedals, which released similarly to the Shimano’s. I so wanted the egg beaters to work because I liked the design, but ultimately they were just not for me.
My road bikes have been Look since I got my first pair of Look Sports in 1987.
I’ve been getting my first real MTB rig together and was curious what the tire and pedal of choice was. Regarding tire choice, I’m going tubeless. I’ll be on a lot of singletrack (a lot of rocky, wet, etc.) but also on some cleaner trails and roads. I’m 170 lbs. (if that matters).
I’ve got egg beaters on my CX bike and like them okay, but curious if people prefer something else.
Thanks!!
People are going to laugh, but I still use the Panaracer Smoke/Dart combo. Yeah, they were designed in the late '80s…but, there’s a reason they still make them…and it’s not nostalgia. They just flat out work (at least for me) 
I also use Geax latex MTB tubes. I’ve run tubeless (started out back before Stan’s even existed), but I find the latex tubes allow just as low of pressures without risk of pinch flats and are significantly less likely to puncture than butyl tubes. Using latex in MTB tires is also less finicky than road use, mostly because the pressures are so much lower. The reason I went away from tubeless w/sealant is that I tend to have stretches of time where I’m not consistently riding the MTB, if at all, and every time I’d go grab the MTB the sealant had dried up…plus, since I was getting 95% of the benefits of tubeless with latex tubes, it was a no brainier for me.
Just a suggestion 
Pedals? I’m currently using Eggbeaters, but in the past I’ve used some Wellgo SPD “clones”. The Eggbeaters are nice, but I miss being able to engage the pedal by just stepping straight down as opposed to the slight “hooking” motion you need for the Eggbeaters. That said, the Eggbeaters are much safer in muddy conditions…any small amount of mud on the old SPD style cleats would cause them to lock up and not disengage when needed. Not good for technical trail riding :-0
Thanks for the reply. I kind of feel the same way about the egg beaters. I don’t really see a lot of “serious” mtn bikers using them. I also have been on the Look pedals for road and like them a lot.
I also use Geax latex MTB tubes. I’ve run tubeless (started out back before Stan’s even existed), but I find the latex tubes allow just as low of pressures without risk of pinch flats and are significantly less likely to puncture than butyl tubes. Using latex in MTB tires is also less finicky than road use, mostly because the pressures are so much lower. The reason I went away from tubeless w/sealant is that I tend to have stretches of time where I’m not consistently riding the MTB, if at all, and every time I’d go grab the MTB the sealant had dried up…plus, since I was getting 95% of the benefits of tubeless with latex tubes, it was a no brainier for me.
I considered this, but everyone kept saying, “you’ve gotta go tubeless, blah, blah, blah,” so I just did what they said. I have a feeling latex is where I’ll be going sooner than later, as I expect I’ll be riding a lot more road than MTB. Thanks for the brand, as I wasn’t sure where to get them. I can’t even get road latex tubes at my LBS. 
I replaced my stock mtb tires last year and it was a mixed experience. I got a dual compound schwalbe Hans dampf for the front that flatted pretty easily on thorns but was otherwise outstanding. I have a feeling running it tubeless would reduce the flats a lot or getting the 75 dollar snake skin.
I put a kenda slant six on the rear and it was pretty good except for braking on loose downhills.
When I made the change they felt a bit faster than my stock tires. I think that mtb tires is certainly one of those decisions where you can’t “have it all” unless you pay.
I replaced my stock mtb tires last year and it was a mixed experience. I got a dual compound schwalbe Hans dampf for the front that flatted pretty easily on thorns but was otherwise outstanding. I have a feeling running it tubeless would reduce the flats a lot or getting the 75 dollar snake skin.
Are you referring to the schwalbe “racing ralph evo” w/ snakeskin thing. Or is that something else?
Yeah, schwalbe’s tires all come in “snakeskin” versions at usually, to me, ridiculous prices.
Crank Brothers Candy pedals
Currently on Racing Ralphs tubeless,
(specifically: Schwalbe Racing Ralph Tire, Evo HS425, TL-Ready)
I tried to run with tubes but at 17-19 psig I kept pinching them.
I also like the Kenda small block 8, much cheaper tire that works well.
jaretj
I tried to run with tubes but at 17-19 psig I kept pinching them.
You were using the wrong tube material See my post above about the Geax tubes.
I had a choice on buying latex tubes or going tubeless. I figured I would be going tubeless anyway so I bypassed the latex.
Wondering if the latex would have made it pinching them 4 or 5 times an hour.
jaretj
I also use Geax latex MTB tubes. I’ve run tubeless (started out back before Stan’s even existed), but I find the latex tubes allow just as low of pressures without risk of pinch flats and are significantly less likely to puncture than butyl tubes. Using latex in MTB tires is also less finicky than road use, mostly because the pressures are so much lower. The reason I went away from tubeless w/sealant is that I tend to have stretches of time where I’m not consistently riding the MTB, if at all, and every time I’d go grab the MTB the sealant had dried up…plus, since I was getting 95% of the benefits of tubeless with latex tubes, it was a no brainier for me.
I considered this, but everyone kept saying, “you’ve gotta go tubeless, blah, blah, blah,” so I just did what they said. I have a feeling latex is where I’ll be going sooner than later, as I expect I’ll be riding a lot more road than MTB. Thanks for the brand, as I wasn’t sure where to get them. I can’t even get road latex tubes at my LBS.
Yeah, there’s a lot of “group think” as it relates to bicycles :-/
It’s funny about the latex MTB tubes in that it seems like they last forever. I’m still running the first 3 tubes I ever bought (Michelin at the time) in wheels (have never punctured or pinch flatted them), and when I just built myself a PT MTB wheel recently, I found the Geax models on a quick Amazon search and bought 3. I’m storing the 2 spares in a sealed bag in a dark, cool cabinet in the garage
We can probably thank the recent silliness of MTB tubulars for the continued existence of the MTB size latex tubes, since that’s what they use in them
I had a choice on buying latex tubes or going tubeless. I figured I would be going tubeless anyway so I bypassed the latex.
Wondering if the latex would have made it pinching them 4 or 5 times an hour.
jaretj
It’s very possible. I typically run 20-25psi off road and the local trails tend to be rocky and technical…and as I mentioned above, I’ve actually never ha to swap out a latex tube on the trail. Only when the tire wears out
Probably try them on the GF’s bike then. Not too rocky around here, it’s just the occasional sharp root that gets hit does it for me.
jaretj
I can’t stand eggbeaters. I really wanted to like them but they’re just not for me. I like pedals with really solid feedback for clipping in and out. With eggbeaters, I could never tell when I clipped in unless I pulled up on the pedal to check. Clipping out had no feedback whatsoever. I found the low spring tension unsettling when on the limit or standing up. I just never had confidence that I wouldn’t accidentally unclip.
They’re not sexy but I recently moved to XT SPDs and am really, really happy. Just enough float and great feedback from the pedals. I also like that I can adjust the release tension, I’ve found that this is a requirement for me. For whatever reason I like the release tension adjusted pretty tight.
Racing ralphs and egg beaters…
I might try some Hans Dampf’s this year if I feel my ralphs are worn, they are just a tad chunkier than Ralphs but might be worth the extra grip
I’m a classic SPD guy. I tried egg beaters for CX, and didn’t like them - the unclipping thing as mentioned earlier. SPD’s have always worked well for me. I have Kenda 8 blocks on the MTB. They are great for hard pack, slickrock and pavement but pick up and hold mud when it’s wet.
the time atac pedals are great. get the heaviest tires you can if you are not racing. conti mud tires?
just had to respond here, to all that say latex or whatever tubes are better than tubeless. You must not be doing it right. Mountain biking for years, went tubeless 4 years ago, would never go back. Dont want to step on any toes here but this needs to be clear to new mountain bikers.
Stans notubes arch rims, continental x-king protection 2.2 front and rear is what I like to run, there are many combinations that work, find out what suits your needs.
been racing the pro/senior category, or whatever they call it it these days for a while so its my opinion FWIW.
Just to confirm, no-one here in the PNW rides with tubes, not xc racers, not downhillers, no-one that I ride with uses tubes and if you are looking to get into mountain biking just go straight to tubeless. If you are concerned about getting the tires seated on the rims, ask your local bike shop to show you how they do it. I just use a regular floor pump here and stans slime.
Once I tore the sidewall out at a race and then used a tube and a dollar bill as a sidewall patch to finish the race(12 hour mtb race) other than that, never had a flat, not once. You will need to check your pressure before you leave for your ride as sometimes they will loose pressure over time if you do not have them sealed correctly. Always carry a spare tube incase you have a problem, my tubes usually go bad from vibration before I have a chance to use them. Experiment with what pressure works for you, personally I run 19psi front and rear during the winter, sometimes I bump it us to 25 if its really flowy and fast. I am by far an expert, not a great mechanic but would never use a tube set-up anymore. My wife also uses tubeless and loves it.
I have had many times where riding a few hours through blackberry trails, or goathead filled trails and when I stop there are thorns covering the tire. I pluck them all out, the holes seal up and off you go. You can’t beat it.
hope this helps.
the time atac pedals are great. get the heaviest tires you can if you are not racing. conti mud tires?
I assume you’re referring to the atac xc?
http://www.time-sport.com/pedales/atac-xc_15.aspx