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MountainBikeReview.com's Forum Archives - Save some Weight
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How do the Fast Freds wear? Are they real, high volume... (18 posts)
|  How do the Fast Freds wear? Are they real, high volume... | AZ X-Racer
Nov 1, 2001 12:10 PM | | 2.0s like the Huchinson Pythons and Mosquitos, or are they like some other ultra-light "2.0" tires that really measure in at 1.9 or 1.85? |
| And how do they grip in... | AZ X-Racer
Nov 1, 2001 12:11 PM | | ...sand and loose gravel over hardpack--front or rear...? |
| And how do they grip in... | Jan Gerrit
Nov 1, 2001 1:10 PM | | They are truely 2.0", not narrow at all. I was kinda impressed when I mounted mine, I never ride that wide.
I never rode them seriousy on loose stuff, and not at low pressures, but I do know that they grip a whole lot better than other semi's. I was used to 1.7" Z-Max WCS,a nd the Fast Fred gave me good confidence. First race : only up front, and din't think about it during the race. That was a hardpack/grass track.
Ok, I crossed a few sandtraps with them, but it was neither impressive or scary. Don't expect a 1mm profiled tire to behave like pupose-designed tires on their respective ideal conditions.
A friend of mine edid a (flat) mud race on them recently, and din't complain at all, he liked the low rolling resistance and neutral behaviour.
Basicly, if you would like IRC Mythos slicks, these are just 200g lighter, roll better and grip better. Not really a hard choice...
My LBS was the first in the hood to have them, I got mine then. After that they got raving reviews and they became inpossible to come by, everyone started ordering them. And not without good reason.
Can't say anthing about wear, didn't do very long distances. I have the qualifier compound, seems to hold out ok.
Sceptical about the 2.0? Wait 3 months and get your 2.35" set. I expect those to blow away all other race-specific XC tires. I for one am not going to wait and see the competition score podiums on them, I'm trying them out asap! |
| 2.35 for XC Racing | DIRT BOY
Nov 1, 2001 1:54 PM | | Don't you guys think 2.35 to too big for XC Racing. I am running tubeless now and don't care for tire sizing yet. I use to run 2.0F & 1.85-1.95R but stuck with Hutch at only 2.0. I might try the fastfreds soon as South Florida dries out. Right now the best tire that I founf down here is the Mosquitos, but 2.0 too big. I prefer a faster rolling tire without so much width. |
| About the wear. | chobao
Nov 1, 2001 2:27 PM | | I had mine for 200+ miles on them the front is fine about 80% left on the center thread, 50% thread left on the rear. I'm 150lbs I run them at 43psi in the back if I go lower than that it's easy to get pinch flat.
Alex |
| So they are race specific...? | AZ X-Racer
Nov 1, 2001 3:21 PM | | That sounds like a pretty short time to have only 50% tread... I was expecting them to have weak sidewalls or something, but was hoping that they might last a bit longer than that. What type of terrain?
Is anyone running the light version using Stan's system in rocky/gravelly conditions? |
| I won't say they are race specific... | chobao
Nov 1, 2001 5:56 PM | | Ok, maybe 50% is a little bit exaggerated, since the knobs are pretty short from the start. To be fair it's about 65% left. The tire are really 355g. I weight two of them one is 358g and the other is 355g. For such low weight that can last for 500miles and offer reasonable grip in hardpack to loose over hardpack trail is really not too bad. I ride mostly Nor Cal single track, hardpack, loose over hard pack, some rocky trail. I use Maxxis Flyweight with them. I have no problem with the front but on the back if I go lower than 43psi. I'll get pinch flat in rocky trail. There always going to be a trade off between light and wear. ^_^ Give Panaracer Trailblaster 1.85 a look that should last longer and weigh around 400g.
Good luck
Alex |
| Thanks for the info, Alex... | AZ X-Racer
Nov 1, 2001 6:36 PM | | I'm going to be using them on a full suspension bike in Southern Arizona. We have a mix or hardpack, sand, sand over hardpack, flat rocks, sharp rocks and loose gravel over hardpack. Some parts at higher elevation have actual dry soil in forests and--occaisionally in the winter--MUD! Imagine that! I have to admit, I will almost never encounter any mud--it dries up very quickly here...
I love the feel of my Pythons because they allow me to float over sand due to the high air volume. I'll be using a Manitou Mars-1 up front and my frame is a Giant NRS Air. I may be upgrading to a Black Elite Air if the weight trade off isn't too costly because Arizona is the king of rapid bumps and I need the stiffness. Not sure if the 2.3 Fast Freds will get good clearance in my frame and fork--but it would be great to get a pair of tires that could cut 1/2 pound of my bike! I'll still be using Stan's system, so that will help.
With this information in mind, should I stick with the Pythons and Mosquitos? |
| Look at WTB too. | chobao
Nov 2, 2001 10:13 AM | | You can't beat Pythons for air volume, I have Pythons Air Lite on my wift's bike. List as 2.0 like the FastFred but they look a lot bigger but also a lot heavier (~500g). FastFred 2.0 is definetly not for MUD. It should work fine in most of the condition (with a little care in riding style) you listed except sharp rock.
Pythons and Mosquitos are nice tires but not light. Take a look at WTB Nanoraptor 1.85 and Trailblaster 1.8 from Panaracer. They both are around 420g and with more agressive thread than FastFred. Nano should have same high air volume feature like Pythons.
I guess you should be able to fit 2.3 FastFred in the Black Elite Air. If you look at the 2.0 FastFred they looks more like 1.85. Try out the 2.3(F)/2.0(R) FastFred combo if you want more thread on the back switch to Nano 1.85.
Good luck.
Alex |
| Not as big as a Python | shiggy
Nov 1, 2001 3:21 PM | | The Python/Mosquito are about the only tires that measure as wide (casing width) as claimed. The FF is more in line with other companies' sizing.
I would not trust the FF 2.0 on gravel and may not use it at all on the front. It is little more than a wide*, heavily-treaded* road tire (*compared to a road slick). The 2.35 may be better for this. |
| The normal compound FF will last much longer... | Jan Gerrit
Nov 2, 2001 4:03 AM | | , but will probably perform less than the lighter and grippier qualifier compound. It´s a choice which one to buy, do you want performance or durability?
The black 2.35" wire bead Fast Freds are 640g, which seems very neat for such a large ire with steed bead. I weighed one yesterday at the LBS, it came stock on a new Cube bike. Could be a cool tire for commuting, very fast, comfy and secure in traffic. Also recommended for beach racing, thanx to the rounded knobs. At least, Schwalbe claims it to work well on the beach. |
| Anyone using these with Stan's system? | AZ X-Racer
Nov 2, 2001 4:53 AM | | |
| I believe Nino´s done it, right Nino? nm | Jan Gerrit
Nov 2, 2001 5:43 AM | | |
| Anyone using these with Stan's system? | MOTOMATT
Nov 2, 2001 6:06 AM | | I USED FF WITH STANS FOR 2 RACES 40LBS, THEY INFLATED VERY NICE.
I AM 134 LBS. |
| this setup makes you fly... | nino
Nov 2, 2001 6:25 AM | | I mounted them myself and on my wifes bike.both time in the rear only as i prefer secure grip in the front.they inflate easily,no problem.this is by far the fastest combo there is!you will feel as fast as on road clinchers with these...
my racing buddies mount the FF if it`s dry.in the loose and in gravel NOT good though.there you will have to try the larger 2.35" version. |
| As others have stated... | pedalinbob
Nov 2, 2001 8:07 AM | | they are close to a 2.0, maybe like a 1.95. they are not high volume like the pythons. (the pythons are my favorite "fast" all around tire)
the FF are incredibly fast: i knocked off almost 2 full minutes on a 14 mile training loop. i was floored, because i wasnt really trying to ride fast.
the front might not be great on really loose stuff/gravel, and was ok in sand.
it is a very supple tire, and i felt it had more grip than would be expected. you do have to exercise caution, because i think they might not be very forgiving when they slide--could be wrong, though.
i love high volume tires, and will probably get a set of 2.35's when they become available...
later,
Bob |
| re: 8 Races on Fast Freds. | Steve A
Nov 2, 2001 9:44 AM | | When the conditions are correct they fly. We had a dry summer and fall here in New England. Th courses are from hard pack to lose. They fly, The thing that surprised me the most was the traction on the climbs, even a little lose they hooked up.? Looking at them you would not think it.
The one thing i did notice was once they break lose there gone there is no warning. and they do not work on gravel period.I used them (7) times 6 first place 1 second place. The tires helped!!!!!! They are worth the investment. |
| Thanks for all the info, people. For me they'll be... | AZ X-Racer
Nov 2, 2001 11:05 AM | | ...a RACE tire. I'm going to stick to the Hutchinson air lite tires for now because I need that traction and volume in the areas where I train. I might get the Freds if I feel up to racing again early next year... |
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