MTB advise please

[carl f]

Looking to replace tyres on my MTB
Doing MTB duathlon so guess i'll need to buy a good all round tyre
Also need some new shoes(on a budget) any advice please?
Cheers
Carl

[Sylv]

Are you doing the Iceman Carl end of Nov? I'll probably do it.


Tires: http://www.wiggle.co.uk/p/cycle/7/Conti ... 360039972/

(or go for the much lighter kevlar bead which I have but for more than twice the price). Fast rolling and good cornering which should be fine for off-road duathlon where the courses are I guess not too technical, and still fairly light in wire-bead


Shoes: good deal here http://www.wiggle.co.uk/p/cycle/7/Pearl ... 360035607/

OR - if you take a 42 I have a brand new pair of Pearl Izumi, a slighly better model than this one, in the back of a cupboard, that I could do you for £25? I think I have pictures somewhere.

[carl f]

Cheers sylv,will check tyres out
No i'm doing this
http://www.allabouttriathlons.co.uk/events_xtd.php

Only doing the sprint as iv'e no idea how i will do on the bike,never raced off road before........

But might do the iceman in nov,looks fun
Yes please to your pearl izumi shoes!
Cheers
Carl

[Sylv]

Ok i'll dig them out tonight, double check the size (slight feeling it might be a 41 now) and take a photo.

What about ballbuster?

[Dombo]

The Contis are good - had them on my mtb for a while - but they are quite soft and cut easily. Panaracer Fire XC Pros have a bit more tread and are great all-round tyres, good in the dry, wet, mud, sand, and reasonably tough. However their slightly squarer profile can make them a little more squirrely than the rounder Contis. But they are very popular, I have seen more XC Pros at Afan, Gorrick, enduros, and they're quite common around Leith Hill too.

[Andrew G]

The Panaracer's are the ones I got after consulting the forum gurus last year. Not on the new MTB as I left what was on it for now for MTBing until I destroy them. The Panaracer's come in 2 widths 2.1 and 1.8, I got the narrower 1.8s as I'll put them on for cyclo-cross.

[carl f]

Thanks sylv
size 41 might be ok depending how they size up
Not doing ballbuster, racing right up to end of oct,will need a break after that, maybe next spring.......

funny enough i read reviews about conti's on wiggle and one review said they are no use off road ?? but apart from that he really liked them
conti's suit my price range though as the bike only cost me 25 notes from andrew
But will have a look at panaracers too

[Sylv]

Well you mentioned they were for racing, and I know you are not a Sunday pootler! - and that's what they are called after all (Race King). They are not exactly all-condition tires but fast rolling (pump them up to 4 bar and you can ride on the road with little effort), fairly high volume (so can be ran at lower pressures ie around 2 bars for more comfort/grip) and should be fine for that type of off-road duathlon. I used the 2.0 for the Grand Raid and had no issues, no punctures yet in about 500km.

The shoes are indeed 41 (uk 7.5). I originally fitted some cleats just to try them on on the bike and must have done a mile with them before putting them aside for using them one day (which I never have yet - they do fit me, but I like the Sidis too much). You are welcome to try them for size.

[img]http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2594/3888273456_df24241e3f_b.jpg[/img]

[carl f]

I totally trust your judgment-sold on the conti's
p.m you re shoes
Thanks to all for your advice
Carl