|   Muddy Races | Adel
Feb 15, 2002 10:33 AM | | Any recommendations for racing in the mud? I have 1.95 tires, but I'm thinking of swapping them out for my old 2.1's for Cool Mtn. I figure I'll have better traction.
Anything else I should try? |
| re: Muddy Races | free-agent
Feb 15, 2002 10:46 AM | | Depends on the tire-some run mud better when skinnier. Bring an extra water bottle or fill your hydration bladderfull in case you need to spray some crap from your derailleurs to improve shifting. I have also heard of people using non-stick cooking spray on their bikes to prevent mud bulid up. Get a front and rear fender for sure! View mud as friend and not foe!! |
| re: Muddy Races | KMan
Feb 15, 2002 11:18 AM | | Experiment with different tires. Ebay makes it very easy for this. You can buy tires for cheap & if you dont like them resell them, generally loosing just a few $$. I have been riding the Panaracer Trailblasters 2.1 front 1.95 rear and they seem to work out really well in the mud/softer conditions (are are pretty light to boot). I have a 1.80 Panaracer Fire Mud pro on the way I will try on the rear as well.
KMan |
| re: Muddy Races | RF
Feb 15, 2002 1:34 PM | | I raced there in 2000 and was using a Ritchey Alfa/Omega bite tire. Kinda old I know, but everything else I had was semi slicks. Definitely go with as much tread as you can. The mud sections are long, so you can't rely on momentum to carry you through, you'll have to pedal.
If I was going to that race again I would race a singlespeed with a ridid fork. The climbs aren't too gut wrenching and it isn't particularly rough. But it is a mess...
Liberal use of pam, wet condition brake pads, fenders. I also like the idea of rinsing the drivetrain with a water bottle
Good luck |
| re: Muddy Races | rpironcladracer (rich)
Feb 15, 2002 2:45 PM | | Go 8 speed (less clogging of cogs) and standard drive (big rings get less chainsuck) and hardtail (don't destroy your pivots), cover your fork with home-made boots if you have none (like SIDS have no boots). Just slit a waaaaay fat inner tube, slip it over and duct tape it at the seam. Stay in the middle ring as much as possible. Lower your tire pressure. Different mud needs different tires. If it's sloppy mud, use Pythons- you'll be happily surprised. If it's clay mud that is tacky, don't use tires with tall knobs that poke in deep- they will drag a lot. I like old Specialized Storm Control 2.2s on the rear at 35 pounds for severe conditions that require superb traction(I weigh 174). Panaracer Trailblaster 2.1 on front- a strong edging tire is needed- look for good side lugs. If I'm mainly trying to avoid mud buildup on the tires, Ritchey Mudracers or Mudmax, whatever, are the best for me. They are 1.7s and you gotta be careful to not pinchflat but they roll extremely well, never build up, but can't climb steep muddy slopes.
If conditions are heinous, go rigid singlespeed with a less than 2:1 ratio. Try 32:18. When everyone else has broken their shifters and chainsucked themselves into oblivion, you'll still be rolling along. |
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