Junk Drawer

Product Reviews

MTB tires are a highly personal choice. A lot depends on the type of riding you do, the terrain you ride, and the time of year. They are meant to keep you connected to the ground when you need to be. If they don't at least do that, then what's the point? Except when conditions get extreme (big snow, lots of mud, etc.), I like to put on tires and forget about them. Not worry they are going to break loose when railing through a turn, not wondering if they have the traction to climb, don't want to think about the sidewalls folding over. Here on the local trails you get typical East Coast, USA rocks and roots and a little bit of everything else - hardpack, mud, sand, lots of stream crossings.

Tires are expensive, sometimes they cost as much or more as car tires so buying a tire and finding out it's no good for you sucks. So, maybe this info will help you decide if these tires are right (or wrong) for you before you lay out the cash. There are lots of choices, here are the ones I like for all around SSing.

• WTB Motoraptor Kevlar 2.4, 775 G
  I like to go fast - especially on single track. Last thing I want is my front tire washing out at this crucial time. Skinny tires don't cut it for me, I like a lot of meat on the front. I've tried a lot of tires and kept coming back to the WTB Velociraptor 2.1. When I needed a new SS front tire, I checked out the WTB Motoraptor 2.4. It's about 100 Grams heavier than the Velociraptor 2.1, but I still don't think it's that heavy - a 2.2 I had by the Big S came in a 1020 grams. I'm not a gram counter, but I don't want a brick on the front end either. This tire gives me all of the traction of the Velociraptor plus, the tread is a little lower profile which means it rolls faster. It's wider so it gives more cushion for my rigid fork. I don't run the tire pressure real low and it still rolls over everything in my way. Baby heads at speed feel like pebbles. No pinch flats yet (hope I didn't jinx myself). If it lasts as long as the Velociraptors then it is a deal to boot. Picked mine up for $33.

• Panaracer Smoke Clssic Kevlar 2.1, 560 G
  This one's been around for a long time and there is a good reason. It flat out works. A great all around rear specific tire. Digs into the dirt when you need it. It's not a semi-slick, but it rolls decent on the hard pack and will still let you clean that rooty, rock infested uphill. Hooks up in the corners. Plays well in the mud. Does it all for a decent price. I usually see them for around $30, but if you look around you can usually find them for less. I'll ride them as long as they keep making them.

Top Ten Reasons to Ride a Single Speed

10. Low maintenance.

9.  You can't have to many bikes.

8.  Sticks can't get caught in your derailluer.

7.  No chain slap.

6.  No missed shifts.

5.  No chain suck.

4.  If you have a geared bike you can lend that one out to a
    friend to introduce them to biking.

3.  Hills hurt more (yes, this is good).

2.  Passing geared riders makes you feel good.

1.  They are just damn fun to ride!

Press

Single Speeder Patrick Irwin won the Iditasport Extreme under brutal conditions and loaded down with gear, riding and pushing his way through Alaska. Hear what he has to say about it.

• Check out these links for direct interview access: Dragon Tongue Singlespeeds and Single Speeds Anonymous. These guys double teamed Pat in an interview. Nice job guys.
• Dug up another Pat Irwin/Iditarod interview from a posting over on the BikeForums.com message board. Read the interview here.

Single Speed coverage in the non-biking press. What's next, Shimano making SS specific parts?

• An article in the Sacremento Bee about single speeding.
• Another article in the Tromaville Times.