MTB tyres, pedals and lights advice please

[R1gtr]

Hi guys, slowly getting in to MTB riding after the last 2 years on the road bike. In our wisdom me and a couple of mates have decided to enter the Strathpuffer 24hr race (held in January in the Scottish Highlands).

We have been out on the course a few times over the last few days and it is a mix of forrest roads, singletrack, slippy rock sections, little rises, few steep descents on loose gravelly soil and slippy rock.

I am running Schwalbe Racing Ralph tyres at 45 psi and was finding that on ANY climb I was spinning the rear up resulting in dabs of the foot, losing all momentum. Are these tyres rubbish? what would be a good all round tyre for the rear?or is it that my pressures are too high?

Also do you think clipped is a better option? I am just using the cheapo flat pedals that came with the bike and a pair of Salomon trainers, should I go clipped or will flats be better for safety etc?

I am running 26"s and found I was struggling on lots of the steep drops/gnarly descent sections compared to my mates on 29"s, should I just get a new bike?

Finally the race will be 17 hours of darkness and I figure we will be doing about 5 laps each in the dark and need lights that will last for at least 5 hours and be very bright, is anything cheap up to the job? I am happy to change batteries overif necessary but would like something light/cheap/powerful that can at least last 2 laps which will be just over 2 hours?

Thanks in advance, all experience/ advice welcome

Edited by R1gtr on Sunday 19th July 19:53

[gazza285]

I run Racing Ralphs 2.2s on my 29er, I run between 25 and 30 psi, try dropping your pressures and see how you go, should be a lot less skitish.

Clipped in every time for me, using Shimano PD-M540 pedals.

I'll be using cheapo Chinese lights for my Strathpuffer attempt.


Edited to say, of course you need a new bike.

Edited by gazza285 on Sunday 19th July 21:55

[richardxjr]

Defo get tubeless and sub 25psi. And another wheelset with ice spike tyres ;

[Herman Toothrot]

Go tubeless for sure and run 28-30 psi, tyre I like are limited to High rollers and Nobbly Nics, good tyres are few and far between if you want the to do it all all year round.

I'm firmly flats for MTB, I have run spds and would if all I did was tame Xc but tame Xc is a very limited part of my riding.

Lights Lyzene rears are great as so easy to swap between bikes and Cree eBay / Amazon special fronts (was a thread discussing them before on here) are amazing value £20, I got two and forced the battery packs into a water bottle and siliconed the lid up. Get the smaller ones linked not larger as the larger ones heavy so rotates on the bars, two set up like I've done one the bars and two battery packs in the water bottle you can run with one on then when it fades just turn the other on.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/HawksTech-4200Lm-Bicycle-H...

Edited by Herman Toothrot on Monday 20th July 08:51

Edited by Herman Toothrot on Monday 20th July 08:53

[R1gtr]

Thanks for all the advice so far guys, I have never run tubeless before but will give it a go and see how I get on

[R1gtr]

Any pics of your light set up Herman?

[Herman Toothrot]

R1gtr said:

Any pics of your light set up Herman?

Bought 2x of the one on Amazon I linked to, I had a roll of double sided Velcro and I use that to route the cables, bottle solution is def the way to go for the battery as hard to hold secure on the bike otherwise.

[daddy cool]

I have Racing Ralphs on my XC Hardtail - love them! But even brand new they have very little tread, and my rears have worn very quickly. I think for Scotland in January you'll want something a bit more knobbly.
As for pressure, i run mine (650b, with innertubes) c.25psi. Tried raising it to 30+psi and found traction was impossible and the bike bounced around like crazy. there does seem to be a narrow window of excellent grip between under & over inflation.