Mountain Biking - I need to eat some crow now.

A year or so ago, I had mentioned that I wasn't fond of the kenda nevegal/blue groove, which I had the Nevegal up front and the Blue Groove on the back, and the bike felt off. It was pointed out that I had the combo backwards, didn't really believe it, but finally decided to try the tire combination again. This time Blue Groove up front, Nevegal in the back. After a couple of rides on them I was wrong, I am impressed. The combo rides and handles extremely well. So please excuse me while I eat some crow.

crow tastes like, well...you know.

Cool?

http://users.tpg.com.au/roch_k/wow-thats-really-interesting.jpg

I've seen more than one reference to that tire combo from several reliable sources. What kind of riding and trails is that geared towards?

How does the Nevegal / Blue Groove setup compare to Panaracer Fire XC on front and back? I love the way the Fires grip but they're not exactly as fast as I like.

They own the Fire XC hard.

i hated the fire xc's. i would love some navegals, but they are so soft, that i would fear replacing them too aften

What does anyone not like about the FireXC's? My biggest complaint is they are a bit slow compared to other tires.

the 2.1s are really 1.9, i got 3 holes in it and 15 holes in the tube?

On a biking trip i was one of three people to try a just built trail on killington, a counselor, and another camper also tried, all three of us fell and all three of u had fire xc pros (it was obviously the tires!);)

I still have an old pair of Fires in my garage - I haven't bothered to throw them out because that'd be way more than they deserve.

Sloppy mud with roots and loose rocks, as well as embedded rocks.
Slickrock.
Dry loose trails.
Buff tacky singletrack.
Rocky technical singletrack.

No slickrock here but a lot of the other descriptions sound a lot like the trails here.

When you mean loose, are you referring to loose like sandy loose or rocky loose? We hardly have any sand here but some of our trails have loose shale.

Hmmm, I have been thinking of trying different tires so that I could expand my experience base. Maybe I'll get a set of these.

the 2.1s are really 1.9...

Never read that before. Maybe worth measuring mine.


They are wee little pinner tires.

Are 2.1's too narrow for your preference or just not like the tread?

Sandy loose, rocky loose, gravelly loose, muddy loose, leafy loose and weird Aunt Jean loose.

Loose.

Giddyup! Time to add some tires to my current order with Larry.

Are these Kendas narrower than their stated size?

Also, are the sidewalls made of Kleenex or are they okay? I see they have an armoured sidewall version of the tires.

Blue Groove 2.5" up front has been working well for me. The sticky rubber lasts longer up there as well, and that's where it feels like I'm getting the most benefit from the sticky stuff. I've not tried the Nevegal.

Good for tires for a bit: 4 front/4 rear Kenda Kinetics 2.6" picked up at $5 each a little bit ago will last me decently. :) They aren't quite as nice as the BG, but at $5 each, I'm fine with that. They've been rocking tires for the sutff out in CT so far.

Panaracer Fire FR 2.4", IRC Trailbear 2.5", Tioga Team DH 2.3" I like as well. Cheap, long lasting, and they've worked well for me in all sorts of conditions. Got a Specialized 2.3" and 2.6" something, some Kujo 2.35" and 2.65 2.65", and a 2.6" Bontrager that get into the tire rotation sometimes.

Some experimentation is due to see what works better for me now that I'm riding very different trail surfaces out east than I was in Colorado.

i hated the fire xc's. i would love some navegals, but they are so soft, that i would fear replacing them too aften


I tear up soft compounds when as a rear tire, both tires in my case are the DTC.

Are these Kendas narrower than their stated size?

Also, are the sidewalls made of Kleenex or are they okay? I see they have an armoured sidewall version of the tires.

They're just fine. Had had a few good strikes on the sidewalls and haven't torn them, unlike the specializeds that I was running.

...... and weird Aunt Jean loose.

Loose.

Now that would require a 3.0 to get ample traction.

While we are on tires, here is a rant on the Kenda Karma DTC's. I took down my weight weenie hardtail for a gravel road ride through the flint hills. These tires are new less than 15 miles on them, Went three miles and cut one on the side. Put in a power gel wrapper as a tire boot, stuck in a tube, ( I run tubeless ) and off I go.

Two more miles, and a thorn through the same tire stops me again. This is when I realize that this tire is like a balloon with a small amount of reinforcement. I mean it's thin! maybe a little thicker than a self adhesive tire patch. Well I patch it, turn around and head for the truck. Ride over.

Well, I learned my lesson. this race tire is way too thin and light for everyday riding, I'm a light rider and still wouldn't give these tires another chance. I'm going to a heavier tire with some flat protectin and cut resistance. It's ok to point and laugh!

Also, are the sidewalls made of Kleenex or are they okay? I see they have an armoured sidewall version of the tires.

Tell me about it. I run Nevegals, and the sidewalls seem shockinglythin!

Touch wood theyre okay though.
I should start taking banknotes/gels with me to act as boots in case :P