so, if you were to race the xterra race in Maui, what kind of tires/tubes would be some of the best choices (flat prevention is what I’m thinking of as my number one concern). I’m new to mtb racing, so I’m not up on all the best options out there.
thanks,
Cheryl
I raced Maui in '04 and '05, choice of tires isn’t nearly as important as having tubeless tires with Stans. The terrain is mostly loose silty sand with loose jagged lava rocks, kinda like biking on a trail littered with golfballs and baseballs. I used Hutchinson pythons one year and Continental vertical pro’s the next, both were fine and no flats in training or race.
I agree, Tubeless and Stan’s is your best chance for success (read: no flats). Once you have those in place, look for a tire good in loose/sandy terrain.
ok, so I know nothing about tubeless and stans. Is this something I need to buy new wheels for? Or can I ride tubeless & stans on my current wheels?
ok, so I know nothing about tubeless and stans. Is this something I need to buy new wheels for? Or can I ride tubeless & stans on my current wheels?
Stans rim strips and sealant are designed so that you can use any rim and make it tubeless: http://www.notubes.com/ With that setup you can run lower air pressure to decrease rolling resistance and make the tire more puncture proof.
Regarding the course at Maui I hear the Kenda Nevegal is really good for that soil.
thank you!!! I have so much to learn.
No worries… and a good source of information here on Xterra Maui is Jim Vance so you might give him a PM.
I raced Maui last year, and used (with success) Michelin Extrem tubeless tires, they are a bit heavier but they have reinforced sidewalls (you’ll see a lot of sidewall punctures in Maui).
Make sure you put new tires on before the race, the lava rocks just eats tires like there’s no tomorrow!
Cheryl, check out the forum at www.racergirl.com it’s Mel McQuaid’s site and she reveals what ryres she uses at Maui. Since she’s won there for the last three years it’s good advice!
What everyone else has said is so true. Last year i used Stan’s and Python’s with no flats or punctures. Everyone has opinions on tires, but new tires with reinforced sidewalls are the way to go and to stay on course.
Start training your descending skills as time is to be had on the plunge vs. just trying to survive and stay upright. Find the fastest rockiest downhill you can and practise, practise, practise.
Congrats on your race and the Maui spot.
Rick.
Cheryl, check out the forum at www.racergirl.com it’s Mel McQuaid’s site and she reveals what ryres she uses at Maui. Since she’s won there for the last three years it’s good advice!
I’d caution going with pro’s tire selections, though, because their superior bike handling skills often have them using less grippy tires which would be all but unrideable by mere mortals but are fast under their control.
Having said that, however, Melanie used Larsen TT’s which are excellent loose-soil tires. I talked with her a bit about Maui when I met her in Whistler last summer and she said what another poster mentioned that sidewall thickness is most important because of the lava rocks. As she said: “you can’t win if you don’t finish!” Recalling that you might also look into the Nevegals (somewhat similar to the Larsen’s) I recommended, but with the SWS… Kenda’s new sidewall protection enhancement that does not add weight to the tires.