Sabie experience - tyres choice?

[lost frog]

Hi guys,

Will do the Sabie experience for the first time in december and was told we should expect extremely rainy/muddy conditions.

I actually ride with conti 2.2 mountain king front and 2.2 race king at the back, which worked fine at last rainy sani2C this year. I have also a spare mountain king that i was told I could put at the back for wet conditions, but is it necessary/efficient?

My riding partner rides with specialized captains.

Anybody has feedback on Sabie experience conditions and could give advice about these two tyres combos? will they do the job?

Thanks

[Zeps]

I have ridden with both Specialized Captain/Fastrack combo and just with Crossmarks (done SabieX 5 times). when it's really muddy there it probably doesn't matter what you have as long as it's not Kenda Karma's I suppose but I am sure many will tell you of the 'perfect' tyre .....

[jmaccelari]

I rode in the mud at the Sabie Experience with Maxxis Crossmarks. They're supposed to be for the dry, but I had not problems....

[HammerHed]

I rode Maxxis Monorail 2.1 UST in front and Conti Race King 2.2 UST at rear for this years very muddy Sani2C, the Monorail was great the Race king was terrible, rear continually washing out in the slippery stuff.

 

My partner rode Mountain Kings front and back and bad no washout issues at all.

 

The Race king is great for all other conditions but Crap (with a CAPITAL C) in mud.

[ianhoy]

if worried about conditions as you can go from bone dry to mud from hell in one day - so i run mud on front for grip and sand / dry on back

[GLuvsMtb]

If you are a top 10 rider, tyre choice is important. Otherwise you'll be stuck behind everyone else in the slipnslide on a wet day anyway. I ran GEAX Saguro's front and back last year. If you are in a position to take an extra wheelset (or even just an extra rear wheel) do so. Run your Conti mountain king front and race king back, and on the extra rear wheel put the 2.2 mountainking. Extra front wheel the 2.4 mountain king. I don't see you making up alot of ground or loosing ground for that matter with a dry setup, but at least you'll enjoy the singletrack sections a bit more.

 

This race will destroy your drivetrain if wet. So don't put your best casette and chain on, rather replace afterwards. Also book a service for your bike as you get back from Sabie to have all the bearings serviced and cables replaced.

 

Pack extra brake pads. You will easily go through a set of brake pads on a wet day in sabie.

 

Awesome race with good country vibe. I just wish that it wasn't in the monsoon season.

[kennyg]

I have done Sabie on Kenda Karma 1.8 and Specialized Fast trak Lk and Specialized captain mix and a pair of nobbly nics.

 

In the "drier side" the spec tyre combo worked well, but does not clean aas effectively, its also a little harder so is as grippy as the Nics.

 

My suggestion, Nics front and rear. But anything that can clear, self clean will work, be sure to put a mud guard on so you see on the decents.

[IdeJongh]

Doing this year on my Xmarks as well. Did the classic on them and they were fine.

[zaslinger]

Only done Sabie x once (2009) and the mud has traumatised me for life.

Hated the Maxxis crossmark on the front. scared the hell out of me on the downhill single track.

nearly killed myself against tree's on numerous occasions.

Damn thing just wouldn't turn. Crashed at least 3 times due to front slipping.

 

already decided on Mountain King 2.4 for the front (actually its not that big compared to other 2.4s)

Rear, will likely go with Mountain King 2.2 rear.

 

I recon they wont slow me down that much, but will stop me crashing as much as I did.

 

Mud guard is just a must!!!!! most important

[Goodbadugly]

If we get slop like we did on the second day in 2009, no tire will be perfect. Sloppy mud does not clog up the tread though. If it dries out a bit and the mud gets sticky, no tire will shed it a low speed. Not even a 1.8 Mud X. If it is dry, run Monorails, Mountain kings or whatever tickles your fancy. If/when it rains, Bontrager Mud X and take it easy unless you are going for the podium. READ what Morewoodmad said about the drivetrain and brake pads.

[JarradVZ]

I'm also doing this one. Is it always wet? That sucks.

[Zeps]

Tim, I did it 5 times and only once was it dry for all 4 days .......