Totally agree. I did the 100 last year and would venture to say I saw more folks with flats than I did at UnBound. I was lucky to escape without any tire issues. I ran Terravail Cannonballs in 650x47 with the durable casing.
Can’t agree on this though. I found the event and course quite boring and definitely not worth the time and expense of a travel trip for me. I didn’t even consider signing up again as I have that “been there, done that” feeling about it. Perhaps it’s because it was a first year event and hasn’t had time to build up the magic or mystique of other events that I’d go back to in a heart beat.
I haven’t tried to fit them yet. My U.P. does double duty and right now I have it set up in road mode with 700x32 Michelin Power Road TLR (will be switching to the new GP500S TR in 700x32 when they come in). I’ll definitely have them on by the second week of May - there’s a local gravel 100 miler I’m signed up for then and I intend to try them out there.
Sorry to hear that. I think for me I was pretty blown away how cool Bentonville in general was with all the amazing mountain bike trails as well as the great restaurants. I actually brought my Supercaliber along and road a few easy trails the day before as openers. I hadn’t been there before but it’s a pretty cool town.
Compared the Leadville, the vibe was definitely “smaller”. . I haven’t done Unbound but I’m sure there is way more going on there. I did like the post ride food, especially the pasta. Some of the better post ride food I’ve had. It was also fun sitting with some of the folks who did the shorter Lil Sugar event and hearing their stories.
I didn’t indulge in any drinking, but having a bar out on the course where you could go in and use your drink tickets mid-ride seemed pretty novel. Pete Stetina ended up doing that after he had fallen out of contention after multiple flats…
Bumping this thread again…Big Sugar is next on my list and kinda stumped on tire options. I had planned on my trusty Goodyear Connector Ultimates in a 40, but I am now concerned that won’t be enough meat.
Was looking at the Rene Herse Hurricane Ridge, but dunno how those will roll on other surfaces.
I know the organizers are pushing the Pirelli CIntuarto M in a 45…but that is also a sponsored deal, so…
I “think” I am going to use the Pirelli Cinturato M 40c. A 40c is the largest I can put on my bike so going larger isn’t an option. I did ride parts of the course a few weeks ago with some 38c pathfinders and didn’t have any issues. The Allied guys who know the course well, did recommend a more puncture protected tire, which is why I am leaning to the 40c Cinturato M.
I finally got around to putting the Hurricane Ridge tires on my U.P. I used the endurance casing and have Campagnolo Shamal Carbon Disc wheels with an inner width of 21mm. The left/right clearance is fine at both the chainstays and the seatstays, however the clearance between the center of the tread and the backside of the seattube is rather tight (~3mm). I went for a ride with them yesterday with no issue and only picked up some minor surface scratches on the back of the seattube from small pebbles getting stuck in the tread. I think these are too tight and will most likely be replacing them with the Steilacoom’s. Too bad though - they’re pretty sweet tires with tons of grip, hopefully the Steilacoom’s are similar with a little less weight/width.
I did the Rule of 3 race in Bentonville this past May with Pirelli Cinturato Gravel M 40mm and will probably use them for Big Sugar. I did lose pressure towards the end of the race, but I was able to air up the tires with no drama. I think the pressure loss came from a combo of hitting rim which burped some air out and a small puncture when taking an exceptionally crappy line to pass people on the course.
My preferred tire for gravel is the Goodyear Connector Ultimate (700x40), but there are a lot of comments that a 42-45 tire is a better choice for Big Sugar.
Was considering the Hurrican Ridge in a 42, but damn they are $$…the Maxxis Ramblers are similar in tread to the Goodyear’s, but available in a 45.
I’m thinking I’ll run Pathfinders in 42, but never been there so just a shot in the dark mostly. I’m 160 pounds and mostly race/ride mountain bikes so hopefully I can take care of them and be light when I need to.
I havent ridden the Big sugar, BUT i did ride the lil sugar route (the 2nd half of the big one) earlier this year and 38 pathfinders (on 25 mm rims was all i needed.) I was doing sweetspot intervals on the route (which was the first time ive ridden there) and had no issues. Maybe the part i didnt ride was tech? But what i did ride wasnt a big deal. I live in Appalachia, so im use to sketchy gravel, and I did see anything bad.
I have 38 pathfinders on my bike currently. Does anyone have thoughts on running 38 pathfinders for this course? I was going to get some 40c Pirelli Cinturato M tires but @BillyWaldman is giving me some confidence that I can run the pathfinders. I would consider myself a decent bike handler.
I had posted earlier about running the Hurricane Ridge’s last year at Big Sugar and found them to be a good option.
I would think the Pathfinder’s would also be a great choice with them being quite tough but also fast rolling. The course is not super technical by any means coming from an XC background, but there are a few fast corners that can catch you off guard, so appreciated having a little more rubber in these spots. Perhaps some benefit in terms of flat protection with a bigger tire as well. That being said, I don’t think running a Pathfinder Pro in 38 is “unreasonable” for the course and I’m sure would get you around it just fine.
I just got a set of Schwalbe G One RS’s in 40 delivered. The feedback from the limited riders who had them at Unbound was very good including Betsy Welch who ran them for the XL and did not flat. I’ve been riding the G One R’s most of this year without any flats, so tempted to give the G One RS’s a go at Big Sugar. It would seem to be a pretty similar tire to a Pathfinder Pro, but perhaps a little less robust. I am planning to ride inserts this year with Silca Sealant. Last year I didn’t run inserts and ran Stan’s Race Sealant.
SO was just gonna run my favorite Goodyear Connector Ultimates in 40 since they don’t do anything between 40 & 50…had the new 40’s mounted up a few weeks ago. Was out for a trail ride on Sunday and picked up a nail that went through the top of tire and then out the sidewall…
Was never 100% comfortable with the 40 decision, so got a set of Maxxis Ramblers in 45’s and put them on today…but damn they are NOT light!!
First ride is tomorrow, but they certainly look the part for Big Sugar.
Ramblers are my wife’s tire of choice. She rode Rule of Three on them and rides the gravel around here (we live in Bentonville) all the time and she’s been happy with them. Good grip and she’s never flatted.
The gravel is pretty chunky here, at least compared to where we used to ride in Texas, so you can’t really go wrong with a wider tire, IMO.
for Saturday…low of 61*, high of 79* and sunny.