Conference noted::bicycle

    
    I ride in New England.  A typical 50 mile ride will encounter just
    about everything, mud, hardpack, rocks, flat rock, sand, loose gravel 
    and logs.  What we need here is a good all around tire.
    
    Through lots of expirementation here are my favorites.
    
    Onza Porcupine 1.95:
    		   A little heavy but a good all around tire.  I use this 
    		   on the rear only.  Sheds the crud real well.  Has
    		   excellent traction in all directions.  
    
    Specialized Hardpack 2.2:
    		   I use this only on the front.  I like a larger tire on
                   the front for shock absorbtion and flotation through
    		   sand and mud.  Could have a little better traction but
    		   it's the best out there for a big tire.  
    
    Specialized Ground Control S 1.95:
    		   I give this an honorable mention for a rear tire.  The
    		   traction is a little less than the Porcupine.
    
    Fischer Fat Trax 2.02:
    		   This is my favorite winter tire.  The large square lugs
    		   are perfect for shoving a stud through.  They also float
    		   on the snow real well, especially with 20-25 lbs.
    
    
    Provided that the tires are properly inflated and there is a reasonably
    skilled rider aboard New England is not rough on tires.  Weighing 150
    pounds I run my tires at 35lbs. rear and 30lbs. front.  I can usually
    get about 1000 miles on a rear tire.  I very rarely ride on asphalt.
      Pinch flats are the biggest cause of flats, usually due to slamming a
    rock.  Second would be ripping a side wall on a rock.  I know by saying
    this I will get a flat on my next ride but I have not flatted in two
    years and a few thousand miles.  It's uncommon to see someone get a
    flat here.
    
    							Norm
    
    
    

    Florida.  Lots of mud, sand tree roots and the like.  Very little "rock
    work" unless you go to construction sites.  Single track trails through
    the "swamps" are usually hardpack.  
    
    75% offroad 25% onroad.  I've found the best compromise tire to be the
    GROUND CONTROL with rear 35/front 30 (rider is 175lb).  Not the greatest 
    in the sand unless you run about 20-25 lbs.  Good in the loose Florida 
    mud as it slings the buildup well.  On road with 60-70 lbs is also good,
    don't corner too fast in the water though.  Mileage on the last two pair 
    has been about 1000 before the lugs were worn.
    
    I am interested in trying a set of 2.2 GROUND CONTROL EXTREAMS and the
    2.1 PANARACER SMOKE.  Both were rated quite high by Mtn Bike Action. 
    Wonder if these 2.2 GCE's will fit my CR-7?
    
    bob

    Eastern Missouri.  Typically clay-ish mud topped with sharp rock chips
    on the single-track.  Also jeep roads with loose gravel.  
    
    Lately gave an Onza Porcupine a try after the good review in MBA (rear
    only).  I'd say it's an improvement over the Ritchey Megabite
    Overdrive, most noticeably climbing and braking traction.  Too early to 
    comment on wear.  I'm using 40-45 lbs of pressure.  I weigh 175.
    The Ritchey wasn't bad--seemed like a good springtime tire for damp
    conditions.  Not as good on loose stuff as the Porcupine.
    
    Prior experience on Panaracer Timbuk something-or-others.  Don't
    bother.  (Got two of them for $10 so I figured why not)
    
    Also put about 500 miles on a set of Specialized Hardpack 2.2's when I 
    first started riding off-road.  Struck me as a good all-purpose tire,
    especially with the soft ride you get from that size.  
    
    BTW, Nashbar has the Porcupines for $10.95, but they've been running
    out of stock.  Performance also has them and will match that price.
    
     
    

    
    I'm just curious why the Porcupine wouldn't be good for the front also
    Is it because it clears mud so well that you would be eatting it all
    day long?????
    
    
    Joe

    Yeah, they should come with a front fender kit.  No seriously, it has
    such a squared-off tread pattern, with no real tread knobs extending
    around the sidewall, that it seems like it would wash right out when
    you leaned over.  
    
    But who knows, right?  Maybe I should give it a try and report back.

    
      There is a neat pair of MTB fenders in either the Performance
    or the Nashbar catalog.  They look more like Dirt bike fenders then
    bicycle fenders.  I thought they were pretty neat.
    
     John C.
    

    
    RE: 4
    
    I'm sure the porcupine would do fine in the front.  I just like a
    larger volume tire for shock absorbtion and flotation.
    
    						Norm
    
    
    

    I have new sneakers for the CR7.
    
    I have switched to a set of PANARACER SMOKES in 2.1 inch.  Before this
    I was a sworn Ground Control 1.95 "true believer".  Price from BIKE-PRO
    was $38 (inc tax & shipping to Fla).
    
    Fit is very similar (on RM20's) with a smidge more width on the SMOKES. 
    These tires are directional and marked accordingly.  30 front/35 rear
    gives a very comfortable ride with very good traction on hardpak and
    "squirmy" gravel.  Stopping and climbing traction are very good.  These
    babies are mud slingers!
    
    Poor hiway performance with 60 front/60 rear.  It is a heavier tire
    then the Ground Control and the deep tread is not too stable over 15 
    mph.  Milage is an unknown at this point.
    
    I will be riding in Colo Springs and Durango during the next two weeks and
    should get a chance to really wring these tires out. 
    
    bob

    The nastier the terrain, the better these tires seem to work.  The
    original symptoms of squirrely hiway ride did not go away.
    
    Air preasure 28 front/30 rear at 5500-8500 ft elevation:
    ------------------------------------------------------------------
    Hiway     		Heavy tire plus low air preasure.  What do you
    			think?
    
    Gravel/washboard	Good ride.  Fair control in curves with a tendancy
    			to UNDERSTEER in curves (unnerving).  Braking Very
    			Good.
    
    Hardpack/		Good control.  Tire did understeer a bit (low air?)
    easy singltrack	but very predictable.  Braking very Good.
    
    Technical 		VERY GOOD traction.  Almost impossible to "spin"
    singletrack-Up	the tire in granny gear climbing.  Weigh transfer
    			skill a necessity!
    Technical 
    singletrack-Dwn	VERY GOOD traction.  Allowed much later brake
    			application at switchbacks.  Understeer not
    			noticed.
    
    Gnarly downhill	Even w/ low air no snakebite was detected.  Tended	
    (rocks/logs/mud)	to slip on "drain logs" placed accross trails.
    			Easy to control when bouncing down a steep trail.
    			Apparent strong sidewalls.
    
    
    Braking with these tires is impressive.  A strong operator hand grip 
    and good pads are required to take advantage of this factor.
    
    Riding was done at: Rampart Range-Colo Springs, Phantom Canyon-Victor,
    Strand Hill-Crested Butte, and Colo Trail-Durango.
    
    Actual Mileage may vary.... 

	I've been using Specialized Ground Control Extreme 2.5's for a month 
now and really like them. Most of my riding is on a VERY rocky dry 
singletarck, but I also ran these in Durango Colorado on the world course.

	This is a heavy tire and large, both higher and wider than most. It 
requires a bit more strength on the hills, but I didn't notice any extra 
effort elswhere.  I've been told that this tire will not fit on a lot of 
bikes. It fits my Specialized with about a 0.15" clearance. I could not put it 
on a Nishiki; hit the rack lug on the seatstay spreader. So, check the fit 
before you buy them. 

	These tires are superb for mud/sand. They have excellent flotation and 
traction.

	On hardpack and technical single track they have excellent traction 
and good shock absorbtion. ON hill climbs, I had to alter my riding style 
somewhat, because of the extra traction. I have to balance my weight further 
forward to keep the front wheel on the ground. 

	The cornering is good, not as good as a ground control K4 though.

	The braking exceeds anything that I have used. Their especially nice 
on fast downhills. They'll absorb a lot of shock and the rear tire has a lot 
more breaking force than other tires I've used. This is especially nice if 
your riding somewhere where erosion is a problem; no need to "drag" the rear 
wheel down a steep hill.

-Eric

    .10
    
    What do you think about using the 2.5 on the back only, and a lighter/
    smaller tire on the front?  In Italy, using different tires front/back
    was very popular, with tri-cross-style in front, Farmer John or Ground
    Control in the back.
    
    MATT

re .11    
>>    What do you think about using the 2.5 on the back only, and a lighter/
>>    smaller tire on the front?  

    MATT,

	I started using the 2.5 ground control extreme on the back and a 
1.95 ground control K4 on the front. It works very well on the dryer surfaces, 
but when I was riding in a lot of mud I found that the front tire "dug in a 
lot", so I switched to 2.5 on the front also.  When I raced the downhill 
course at Purgatory (part of the world course track), my times were much 
better with a 2.5 on the front and back than with any other combination. 
That was probably due to the greater breaking traction and shock absorbing 
characteristics of the 2.5 GC extremes. I've also seen some very good 
riders use a more agressive tire on the front. They explained that they rode 
with their weight forward and liked the better control of the fat tire on the 
front.
	I think the best combination is probably peculiar to the rider's style 
and the surface characteristics where they ride.

    
 Greetings,
 
  Does anyone have any recommendations for a MTB tire that will give good
 on and off-road performance?

  My SO and myself will be getting 2 Cannondale M700's next month and we
 are trying to decide what tire will meet our needs. The bikes come 
 standard with Ritchey Z-Max 2.1, skinwall.

  These tires look great, but may be a little too aggressive for the type
 of riding she plans on doing. We are looking for something that will roll
 a little better on smooth pavement, yet still give some moderate performance
 off-road.
  
  Any Ideas?

  Steve

    Stick with the Richeys... The only difference you would notice
    (as far as rolling resistance goes) is the humming noise.  If
    your SO ever gets run off the pavement into the sandy shoulder,
    she'll never complain about knobbies again!
    
    mud-man mark

Avocet Cross Ks (they have inverted treads) are a good compromise.