We layed up this tree to make it a bit easier.
I’ve been on a roll the last couple of weeks. In my last two mountain bike rides I’ve had to push my bike out of the woods because of flat tires. The first one was a 5 mile push caused by a tire that came apart, the second one was a flat on my Bandersnatch and I’d forgot to bring a wrench to take off the back wheel which bolts on. It was only a 2 mile walk.
Yesterday I managed to actually complete a mountain bike ride without a flat, though the tire went flat overnight. I actually bought an almost brand new “Racing Ralph” take off tire from Dan’s Comp when Shauna and I went to Evansville recently. I mounted this tire tubeless with Stans on the Bandersnatch and it performed really well yesterday. The Racing Ralph tire seems to have a really supple ride even with 35 pounds of pressure.
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Having a good time.
Sadly when I looked at my tire several hours after the ride it was almost flat and has a slight cut in the sidewall, of course the trail we rode is pretty harsh on equipment. We rode a trail called “The Ruby” it’s one of the best trails in the Shawnee. It has a mix of very technical rocks, switchbacks, and some climbing, along with some fast, fun, flowy sections. It’s very rocky and tough on the bike and rider. I don’t think the tire is ruined but it may need some patching inside to hold air.
The Bandersnatch is by far the best bike I’ve ever ridden for the technical trails. It’s so stable and it seems like you can push it through anything. The Shimano Alfine 8 speed rear hub is still performing flawlessly with zero maintenance since I bought it used. It’s a fantastic system once you get everything set up right. The only thing better would be for me to quit being a wuss and actually go single speed.
Joe on a Switchback
One of the guys with us is an awesome road rider, but doesn’t get on the trail all that often. He did very well, his biggest problem was the real technical stuff where pedal control is very important. A section of trail that goofed him had a rocky step up that he didn’t make. I approached the section and tried to pay attention to what I was doing, see if I could get an idea what I was doing different. As I approached the rocky ledgey step up without thinking I set my pedals nearly horizontal and a quarter second later yanked the front wheel up with a timed pedal stroke that bashed against the top of the step a bit but propelled the rest of me up and over the ledge with a thump. Now a good rider would have unweighted the back wheel and lifted the front even higher to seemingly float the back wheel up and over the ledge, but I’m a basher.
Drew may be having second thoughts here.
Dave and Joe
The trails have finally dried out and the horses are starting to pack in in the dirt. Temperatures are going down and the foliage is starting to thin out a bit. Mountain Biking is starting to get good.
Barn Door Cycling 
I love the Ruby when it is dry. The last 10 times I have been there it was a mud bog. I need to get there before the rainy season gets here. Schwalbe tires….. They grip like crazy, roll fast as heck and cut easier than a rare filet steak. I have ridden several of them (including the snakeskin version that was supposed to be cut resistant). They all died a very early death due to sidewall cuts or slices through the tread casing. I truly believe the Conti X-king 2.4″ Protection is the best all around tire that I have ridden around here. Get you a set of them, set them up tubeless and forget about your tire problems. Others have their opinions too, but the conti protections in 2.4″ have been great for me.
The Ruby was dry, less mud on the bike after the ride then before. It was horse hole’d up in places but next weekend it will probably be smoothed out.
Yeah I got this tire for half price, but I don’t think it can withstand the punishment the Shawnee deals out. I’ve had excellent luck with the X-king protection on the front of my other bike, its tubeless for a year with zero problems. Wish I’d just got a set of them.
I may have a partially used x-king you could have. I’ll look through my stock.
Right, the last thing you want after or, more critically, during a ride is a flat tire. Especially if you’re a long way out. But at least your Bandersnatch rides were eventful.
And I agree, MTB is about to become better, thanks to the change in the season.