Semi Slicks for MTB have you used them.

[Cpl nobby nobbs]

Hi All, just want to pick your collective brains, Probably a bit of a noob question.

Where I live there is fk all places to ride a MTB. OK there are a few bridleways but not exactly fun and I cant afford to by a road bike. The closest place is Harlestone Firs, the problem is this is 12 miles away on road so I will be doing a 24 mile road ride with maybe 4 or 5 miles off road. On a side note I've not actually decided if Harlestone Firs is worth a 24 mile ride yet, any one have an opinion on this ?

My bike currently has Maxxis Advantage 2.1's on it and whilst great off road, they are a bit of a tractor tyre on road. A mate of mine said just run a Semi Slick on the back as this is where most of the drag comes from and it will make a huge difference to how it rides on the road, whilst also keeping steering accuracy and grip off road.

Is this correct or would it make more sense to run Semi Slicks on both ends.

The next question, how good are they of road in woodland and on hard pack single track. Would they cope with Cannock Chase and the like.

Can you recommend any Semi Slicks that would fit the bill, taking into account I am tighter than a Ducks arse.

Thanks for any advice, or feel free to tell me to stop being a wimp and just ride the knobblies.

[TKF]

I put some Panaracer SS on my hard tail.

They were useless on muddy off road ground but it made it OK to ride on the road. But any MTB is compromised on the road so I got a proper road bike (or 2).

[Cpl nobby nobbs]

TKF said:

.
But any MTB is compromised on the road so I got a proper road bike (or 2).

I would love to get a road bike but funds.... ..... OK the wife, do not allow that at the moment.

I just have this nice bike sat there that unless I stick it on the car and drive to Woburn or Cannock its a bit boring. Also I am not as fit as I would like to think I am and by the time I have ridden 12 miles to the woods I will probably be to knackered to do anything

Thanks for the info though.

[otolith]

I put Schwalbe semi-slicks on the mountain bikes last year - made them much nicer on the road and still fine for the off-road use they get. They only get used on muddy paths and old gravelled railway cuttings, though, not serious off road stuff. And my new road bike is much, much nicer on the road.

[Cpl nobby nobbs]

For the riding I am looking at I still need the MTB as I like trails like FTD and the Monkey at Cannock.

The only reason I am considering Semi Slicks is the 24 miles I will have to ride on the road to get to Harlstone.
There really is sod all riding round here.



although I would like a road bike as well

[CoolC]

I have Bontrager XR2 tyres on my MTB (they came on the bike)



They have a small block design which is OK on road (I did coast to coast on them last year) and good enough for summer trails. If I'm going somewhere muddy I have to change them though.

[Steve vRS]

I put these on my hardtail in 2011.

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/?s=Continental+SportContac...

I lasted 12 months on them before getting a road bike.

Steve

[neilr]

I've got Schwable City Jets on my MTB and they do make a huge difference on the road (compared to regular MTB tyres). Totally usable (IMO) on gravel paths (canal paths and the like) and similar non challenging off road type stuff. Theyve lasted ages (lot of miles) and so far (knock on wood) no punctures either. Theyre also pretty cheap.

I pulled the trigger on a road bike a while back and wish I'd done it years ago. Save some pennies if funds are preventing a road bike, it really is worth it if you ride on the road.

[JQ]

I have these for commuting on my MTB :

http://www.decathlon.co.uk/26x15-randonneur-id_802...

They're regularly on offer at my local decathlon for £8.

[issey23]

neilr said:

I've got Schwable City Jets on my MTB and they do make a huge difference on the road (compared to regular MTB tyres). Totally usable (IMO) on gravel paths (canal paths and the like) and similar non challenging off road type stuff. Theyve lasted ages (lot of miles) and so far (knock on wood) no punctures either. Theyre also pretty cheap.

I've just fitted these to my daily, not had a chance to try them yet.. well not till tomorrow morning when I ride into work !

[P-Jay]

No, but I really want too.

I'm told, by people who really should know, that semi-slick mtb tyres like these:

http://www.mtbr.com/cat/tires-and-wheels/tire/maxx...

Are meant to be the fastest things on earth on trail centre type riding, when it's dry, not 'British Dry' but dusty dry.

[Bobley]

Up until last week I'd have said you're best sticking with what you've got. I ride into northampton down the back lanes and canal towpaths from silverstone way and then sometimes ride across the fields to Harlestone Firs to muck about after work. Last month when we went up there I was on Bonti mud Xs and my mates were on Nobby Nics and it was filthy but these tyres are just hard work on tarmac (get you fit though!). Now the weather is drying out you can get away with a smooter running compromise. My current setup is a Schwalbe Rocket Ron on the front and a Racing Ralph on the back. They grip very nicely and the rear has the centre raised blocks which allow it to roll well. I did try briefly running Rons on the back too but they disppear in no time!

Similar to racing ralph are Maxxis Cross Mark which are very good all round according to a colleague (who I gave mine to becasue the weren't UST and I got a puncture on my first ride).

[Cpl nobby nobbs]

Thanks for all the info, I will probably give it a go on the Maxxis that are on it, but think I will find that my opinion of my fitness is way above my actual level of fitness, so by the time I get there I will need oxygen and cardiac massage just to be able to ride home

[tonkaplonka]

I've got a set for my bike. I used to commute 14 miles a day and I would say having the slicks on easily cut about 5 mins of my journey time. Buy a decent pump and some levers and swapping them over shouldn't take long at all.