You're not nuts for considering your hardtail. I've raced the BC Bike Race a few times and have seen a lot of people on everything from pure cross-country race hardtails, to fat bikes, to 160mm travel machines with massive tires that must have weighed well over thirty-five pounds. A lot of people are racing on whatever bike they happen to own, and while they're there to race and push themselves, they also know that they're probably not going to be winning. The ideal bike, at least in my mind, is a 120mm travel 29er with wide-ish tires and a dropper post that weighs 25lb or less, but that's a tall order for a lot of people. I believe that you should race on whatever bike you think that you'll have the most fun on, and it kinda sounds like you answered your own question when you talked about your ARC hardtail. This is especially true if you're comfortable riding it on some technical terrain. That said, the bike deserves a 4'' or 5'' travel dropper post and a set of 2.3'' wide tubeless tires - forget about the weight those two mods might add and thank me after you've finished the race. They are basically mandatory items in my mind, even if we all could get by without them. - Mike Levy |
You will probably enjoy an overall improvement in your Stumpjumper's technical handling, but it won't be a huge difference. Unless you run your spring pressure sky high, some of that extra ten millimeters of fork travel will be used up in sag. Calculated out, if you add ten millimeters to the fork's stroke, your head and seat angles will be a bit less than a half degree slacker and your bottom bracket will rise about 3.5 mm. Specialized is big on low bottom bracket heights (the specs say 335mm), so the new fork could be an improvement if you pedal over chunky terrain. Slackened by a half degree (67 to 66.5 theoretically), the head angle will calm the bike's handling slightly, but that sensation should disappear quickly. If you want to be picky, move your saddle forward five millimeters to correct for the change in the seat tube angle. All told, the additional travel will be the prominent handling benefit. - RC |
The Bontrager SE4 and the Maxxis DHR II are both great tires, but there are noticeable differences out on the trail. Their weights and rubber compounds are very similar, so picking the best one will depend on what type of conditions you'll be riding in. For drier, more hardpacked trails I'd go with the SE4. It's a little faster rolling than the DHR II, and has a slightly rounder profile that provides very predictable cornering performance. The SE4's grip does suffer a bit in really sloppy conditions, which is where Maxxis' DHR II comes in. The DHR II offers excellent traction for those sloppy winter rides, and is an ideal year-round choice for any location where wet and loose trails are the norm. - Mike Kazimer |
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My advice is that you get very comfortable riding on both flats and clipless (either or, don't mix and match), and pick which type you prefer.
The industry?
Yes.
The question you have to ask yourself is whether you want to be taken along on whatever wave happens to be approaching.
If you see youself as a consumer of the latest and greatest the industry deems fit to dangle infront of your nose, then go for it.
Yet for everyone of us that takes a bite of the carrot, there will he people who are perfectly happy with what we have.
My XC HT is a 26 and my Enduro Bike I'd 29
Its dumb opinions like that that are the reason the bike industry is bending us all over a barrel right now..
Just live and love the wheels, whatever size
Thanks!
I really love the way the DHF transfers smoothly from the center knobs to the side knobs. I find the turn in and corner holding ability very linear, and as you reach the limit it does not breakaway in a hurry. That being said, the DHF 3C Exo offers immense traction in comparison to the Hans Dampf stickies which came off.
I find that the DHRII digs well as a rear tire on the climb, and brakes really well on the steeps. It is very confidence inspiring in the corner, and digs hard in the berm at speed... But when it does breakaway, it does in a hurry.. That could spell disaster as a front tire.
Overall happy with the performance of each in their F and R designations.
I've always wondered if the F and R stood for flat and round.
almost eat shit hard a few times due to lack of transition in the middle. i can rail berms and straight line em threw ganrly rock gardens but mild off camber natural single tracks is sketchy as hell!
they suck as a soggy winter tire.
gonna give hans dampfs another try before snagging a dhf,dhr combo.
Not only that but the Maxxis were cheaper than the Dumpf's size for size, compound for compound.
The 3C compound DHF/DHRII combo gave enough of a traction gain that I could now use better brake pads, no more unnecessary lockups, way more traction under braking. Where in comparison on the pads I currently have, the Dampfs easily broke traction under heavy braking. I had the Trailstar Compound, which is known to be the stickiest.
If I had to buy new, Dampf vs DHF/DHRII... Maxxis hands down. More stick, less dollars.
Personally, for example, I can not detect any disadvantage whatsoever of a Magic Mary/Rock Razor combination, when compared to the Minion DHF/SS combi that you are planning.
new ride came with high roller2's. not a fan so far. they did fine in drier stuff but i find myself slipping and slidding way more often now that its cold and wet'ish
Step one: take it out of the box
Step two: throw away Revelation and put Pike in it
Step three: so help me God
But yeah... I'd say Mike is spot on. 120mm 29er.
had to warranty replace the first two due to developing a sag at the top but the third one has been great. I do check the air in it frequently, mainly due to the warm/cold weather temperature changes.
I do love riding with it, nice to drop that seat and get low and heavy on the pedals on rough downhills, it totally fits with the smuggler's geo.
?
Pike 160mm 650b : 552mm
13mm !!! and not 10
shameless plug>
Endless Biking also rents bikes for BCBR! We've been involved with the event for many years and we have 2 staff members on Bike Patrol. We know the event well and the bike requirements and we can set you up!
So, if you are on the fence about what bike to bring or don't have something suitable, just rent it and it will have the goodies for a great week!
/shameless plug>
DB@EB
Traction! Long lasting! Fast rolling!
Yeti SB6C