To you mountain bikers

[priapism]

Just picked up a Trek 3900 alpha for the girl to ride.

I have a Kona Dawg Deluxe and I don't really do the hardcore drops / jumps and whatnot that this thing is made for. I was thinking about going to a less aggressive tire so it's a bit better on the fire roads I do most of my riding on and the street. Any recommendations?

I actually picked up some Bontranger tires today but I still have the receipt so I'm glad I read this thread.

[rxp rider]

Kenda small block 8, I run it as a rear and love it. Low resistance short knobs, light weight.

[priapism]

^ everyone seems to complain about punctures with those tires.

http://www.mtbr.com/cat/tires-and-wheels/tire/kenda/small-block-eight/PRD_413220_151crx.aspx

[rxp rider]

I run a little bit of slime and I havent had any problems, even without it I rarely would get any.

[clarkkey594]

I run a little bit of slime and I havent had any problems, even without it I rarely would get any.

Probably just depends on what pressure you are running and how cautious of lines you pick on the trails when it comes to obstacles.

[quikveedb2]

^ everyone seems to complain about punctures with those tires.

Kendas do have thin sidewalls, A ran a small block 8 on the back of my dirt jumper & didn't have many problems though. The Nevegal is a great ire for around here too,

I run a little bit of slime and I haven't had any problems, even without it I rarely would get any.

Technically running a sealant like that voids Kenda's warranty, it corrodes the rubber on the inside or something. I think if your sidewalls wear out from sealant before you kill the tread of the tire, you're not riding enough.

[clarkkey594]

I think if your sidewalls wear out from sealant before you kill the tread of the tire, you're not riding enough.

Amen to that.

[rxp rider]

I have a confession...I use tubes. :(

[Cloudbase]

Dudes get a Captain. All the rolling resistance of the small block with more grip than the Nevangal. I had a sponsorship deal with Kenda for a while and ran a set of Nevangals and Smallblocks and a combination of both. The nevengal failed on my full suspension bike at 24 hours of Moab, but I was running stans. I doubt it was related. The bigger sizing of the Specailzed suits a hardtail better.

I've always shunned the theory of narrow low reistance tires for larger, bigger tread tires. The inertial mass of a 29er easily makes up for rolling resistance and the improved footprint and grib allow speed through technical sections that the low rollers don't. I've used this to great advantage in races. My tech skills are above average, but nothing exceptional. Setting the bike up to compliment this has alway worked from short distance Winter Park races to long distance to 24 Hour events. If you don't race it means less work, less dismounting, and more fun.

Slime is heavy man. I would go tubeless with stans. The new formula isn't corrosive and the Kenda disclaimer is a liability thing. Everyone who runs tubeless runs something, they are just covering their asses. I can help you set it up. The stans kit is like $40.

[blefevre]

Got around to riding. I didn't really care for the rockhopper expert. It rode a lot like a commuter bike. I didn't feel like I had control.

I rode a few others and ended up liking the stumpjumper comp 29'er the most. I am not sure if I want to spend that much so I am still doing some thinking.

The RH did have two spacers for the handle bar, I was thinking if I take those out it might help fix the commuter feel. The sales lady was saying it was the geometry between the two that was giving me the more control on the stumpy.

They were going to price match a store in golden to take off $100 and I was in line to buy but the manager said they could only do it via phone (they were closed) and not the website. I ended up leaving. I am surprised they didn't want to make a $1800 sale right there.

[Cloudbase]

Got around to riding. I didn't really care for the rockhopper expert. It rode a lot like a commuter bike. I didn't feel like I had control.

I rode a few others and ended up liking the stumpjumper comp 29'er the most. I am not sure if I want to spend that much so I am still doing some thinking.

The RH did have two spacers for the handle bar, I was thinking if I take those out it might help fix the commuter feel. The sales lady was saying it was the geometry between the two that was giving me the more control on the stumpy.

They were going to price match a store in golden to take off $100 and I was in line to buy but the manager said they could only do it via phone (they were closed) and not the website. I ended up leaving. I am surprised they didn't want to make a $1800 sale right there.

Dude that sucks, I can't believe they wouldn't do that to make the sale. You should call U bikes or Boulder Cycle Sport to see if they will match. I used to get a deal at BCS, but not anymore.

Either way the Stumpjumper is the bike for you.

[blefevre]

Well of course the shop in Golden caught on to the price increase that specialized sent out. No $100 off for me :( I think I will still get the stumpy, I just cant decide on the color I want. I have seen both in person and they both have their ups and downs.

The pictures are misleading. The green/black is a gloss finish while the silver/red is a matte finish.

[Roland H]

nom nom nom.

go for the gloss.

matte can get boring quickly.

[priapism]

^ everyone seems to complain about punctures with those tires.

http://www.mtbr.com/cat/tires-and-wh...20_151crx.aspx

Put the Small Block 8 on, got a flat on my first ride. 55psi.

[Cloudbase]

I would go for the white over the black. It will age less as the newer models come out. Went out and fought the wind today. So slow right now.