I'm a weight weenie !

[numbnuts]

I can't believe it but after my Sunday ride  i am going to become something I have always scorned. I rolled out my Evo on Sunday, fully loaded with a new XT/rhinolite wheelset, Avid mechs front & rear to replace the rim brakes, a new [heavier] seat and a set of shiny red DX shimano pedals that a friend gave me for free. She looked totally pimpin' , but " holy S*$t " the first hill nearly killed me. It didn't help that I was on the tail end of a nasty flu and the temp was 90" in the shade, but that extra 2lbs sucks. I think  i'll try and lose 2lbs off my ass to compensate! Anyway  i want some new tyres that don't add anymore wt----any suggestions ? I am using mutanoraptors 2.4 which are fine so long as theres no mud around, and I don't want to go smaller so I am thinking conti verts or nokian NSB [2.3 ?] anyone using those? I think they all weigh around 650-700gm.

[dmc]

I had conti vert pros and they where a good tyre, I changed to a Maxxis HiRoller & BlingBling and haven't really noticed that much of extra weight but I haven't had a puncture since, I'd would prefer a few more grams if it makes it more bullitproof, but then I never like the climb up so it doesn't matter how heavy it is. dmc

[Carbon_Angus]

you may want to consider going to a Stan's no-tube set up.

or get some lite inner tubes if you aren't too tough on your wheels, stay away from Performance Ultra-lites though (IMO)

you're gonna have to adapt,plain and simple but wait 'till you're over the flu and a cooler day....that would psyche anybody out [smiley=laughing.gif]

and don't laugh...ride a road bike if you can and build up your Vo2 threshold that way..it WILL make your climbing easier

my 2 cents
[smiley=beer.gif]

[numbnuts]

thanks for the advice,

dmc,  I'll look into those maxxis, always liked their stuff. Also like the panaracer fr 2.3 but i think  i'm going to try the Nokian.



I will probably try Stan's when  i get the new tyres, a riding buddy has been using with good results. I am rough on my wheels, hence the rhyno lites, I borrowed a friends 517's while my wheels were down and managed to kink the sidewall and throw the front out of true, i only rode em twice and was being careful!!

My flu is better but the only way  i can beat the heat is to ride a whole lot earlier. As for road riding, jees next you'll be telling me to wear spandex

I don't have a road bike but have an ongoing project to get my HT back on the trails/road and will probably use for road training mainly, I am just waiting for the paint job to be completed.

[Carbon_Angus]

 jees next you'll be telling me to wear spandex

i am begging you! [smiley=laughing.gif]
[smiley=beer.gif]

[Dennis]

go ahead, road ride with spandex. it makes a HUGE difference when you go off road riding. It has made an amazing huge difference in my riding.
spandex ain't so bad once you get used to it. of course, I still wear baggies off road.
[smiley=groucho.gif]

[Gordo]

A buddy of mine has used the Nokian NBX 2.3 on the rear and had ready good results with it. I am using a Michelin Wildgripper Hot S 2.1 also with good results in the rear. Up front I have a WTB Weirwolf 2.5 that grips well but is a bit heavy.

Stay far away from the spandex.  

[numbnuts]

I forgot to mention, riding road in Jamaica is like riding gnarly double track in the UK or USA, and given the extreme homophobic tendencies of 99% of the population, it's not a good idea to wear anything skin tight and shiny in public  

Gordo, I am going to try those NBX 2.3 if I can find some at a decent price.

[proflexGB]

OK, I have tried to resist, but......

Why do you save the odd Ounce here and there on mid to high end components and a quality frame only to chuck over 4lbs of tyres on there??

And it's the most important area to be careful about weight (unsprung driven mass).

Over two and a half inches of tread, you are mad, caught up in the world of chair lifts and MX Bikes with the engines removed. The tyre manufacturers must be laughing all the way to the bank, grip, puncture resistance, and contour hugging maximum threads per inch cost money when their designers are trying to keep the weight down.

Run a 2.1" front and 1.95" rear with latex tubes and carefully choose a quality lightweight Tyre with the right tread for your conditions.

[Matno]

Sorry, but I'm gonna have to agree. I have ridden some pretty gnarly stuff, and I can't imagine a 2.4" tire being worth the extra weight. I won't go so far as to recommend a 1.95" for the rear (although the difference isn't astounding), but 2.1's are fine for 99% of the riding most serious bikers do. The only exception I can think of is a rigid bike which needs the extra tire size to compensate for a lack of suspension...

I'm perfectly happy with my 2.1" Panaracer Fire XC Pros. Conti Vertical Pro 2.3's would be fine too (they're not any bigger than a 2.1, somehow Conti manages to advertise them as bigger than they really are). They're a great tire for all around conditions.

The only people who need bigger tires are those who only ride downhill. You'll really notice the weight savings of a lighter tire/wheel combo on any other type of ride.

There. I said it.

Matt

PS
Where's the "lite" in Rhynolite?

[numbnuts]

some good points there from GB and Matno, but I do like the ride with the bigger tyres. I used to ride the same trails with a xc hard tail and 1.9's and I could get down them but I am enjoying it more with my Evo set up as it is. I still have to ride up and yes it does hurt a bit more but like dmc, i put more emphasis on the downhills. Due to time constraints most of my rides are less than 3hrs, if I was doing longer, more XC type stuff then I would definately go with a lighter rig. The mutanoraptors are a good compromise, they don't weigh 4 lbs but are also not as durable as a true DH tyre, i already destroyed one. The design is good as they roll real well on hardpack/roads etc so don't feel v heavy, but I do like the ride better than when i was using my IRC mythos 2.1's [great tyres!]
For 90% of the rides i do now i think my Evo is dialled in, but I will be setting up my HT with lighter, more xc orientated parts and will have the option of switching stuff around to make the Evo lighter, which should be interesting.
matno, there ain't one thing lite about those rhyno's! But I destoyed my previous rims so I'm giving them a try.
Yesterdays ride was much better than last weeks disaster, got over my flu, rode earlier=less heat, took my time going up and hauled ass [and kicked ass!] going down [smiley=nod.gif]