Single track tires?

[rydeon]

I'm riding an 05 cannondale CX optimo on dirt roads and single track.The bike though not stock,weighs19.4 lbs. with pedals,computer, tool bag (no tools) and water bottle rack. I have a 32mm specialized Houffalitz on the front (a super tire in every aspect) and a panaracer 31mm cross blaster on the rear. The cross blaster wears fast but is very good when fresh. Problem is..here in new england the serious single track has wet rocks and roots, mud and ascents. The bike is incredible (better the me) but I find I get hammered on the rocky descents and lose rear(only) traction on the steeper slippery climbs, especially as it wears. Need more tire!!

It appears that a 35 or a 37mm rear tire is as big as I can go due to chainstay width. Any one have any specific brand/model tire experience in conditions such as this? Iwould like to keep the weight down as much as possible (don't we all) as that seems to be the secret to a 700c wheel bike in the rough terrain imho. No CX racing yet but if I could dismount, remount and run with the bike better I definitely would try it!! I can't believe how fast these bikes are in the woods!

Thanks in advance!!!
Gary

[RKR]

The most popular tire we see in the NW is the Michelin Mud and we certainly see plenty of wet slimy mud. I've been using a set of Schwalbe Racing Ralphs for about a year and they seem to hook up on wet off camber grass better than the Muds did. The only place I can find the Racing Ralphs is Cyclocrossworld.com for $50 while the muds can be found for around $30 all over the net and the shops around where I live sell them for around $40. They're labled at different widths but they both seem to be about a 35.

You can also try a lower pressure, that should give you more traction and let you float over obsticles better but you have to watch how hard you hit stuff, pinch flatting isn't much fun. I weigh 170 and I typically run between 40-45 in the front and 50-55 in the rear.

Half the fun of cross is getting off the bike to run up those steep slippery climbs, you're missing out by trying to ride them...

[rydeon]

Thanks for the insight RKR. I've gradually reduced pressure from 85 to 75 and now 65 which seems the best but will reduce it more,especially in the front. BTW I found the schwalbe rr at bikeman.com as well. They don't list a weight for the tire but it looks like a great one!
Thanks,Gary

[RKR]

My racing ralphs weigh 310 a tire.