Last year I ran Race Kings 2.2. This year I have pre-road a fair amount on Dub’s Rapid Race 2.4 in front and 2.2 in rear. I switched the 2.2 rear to a 2.4 a couple weeks ago and have decided to stick with the Dub Rapid Race in 2.4 both front and rear. Very happy with them and they don’t feel any slower than my race kings from last year. I thought about running the 2.2 rear for a little less weight and possibly better rolling resistance but I do like the 2.4’s over the 2.2’s.
Rick 2.4 F/R.
Ran racing ray 2.35 and burt 2.25 last time and that was fine.
Debating about no rear insert, rear tubolight, or rear rimpact XC.
I’m running dub 2.4’s after running race king 2.2’s the last couple years. I’ve done a few pre-rides on them and happy with how they perform. Still dialing in pressure. I ran 18/17 psi yesterday and still feel like I could go lower, but not sure how much I want to push my luck. They really roll smooth over the chunk (like the sugarloaf descent) and I know there is more speed there if I push it, but I have zero interest in banging a rim and risking a flat.
I’m surprised to hear the comments on traction (particularly in the rain). If anything, I find the leadville course to have much better grip with some water on it. It’s really a course you can get away with almost no tread for most of it. For what it’s worth, the Aspen ST was a very popular choice for the fast folks doing the stage race last weekend.
Yeah, I’ve run aspens before without issue. Trouble is, they’re slow, or are they 
What’s a long walk? A mile, 2….500yds…my wife wants to know
I’ve run aspens at Leadville in the past, but not the aspen ST’s (a totally different tire). Basically zero tread in the middle and small knobs on the side. Pretty fragile tire from what I understand in the 170tpi version, but have tested fast in some of the testing I’ve seen. I personally like a little more tire at leadville, but my top priorities are not wrecking and not flatting.
My wife’s guestimate is over a few hundred yards, but less than a mile. But she also got there early and said it backed up much further after she arrived. She wasn’t sure if it was over a mile, basically just said it’s too far to carry anything heavy (and she’s better at carrying heavy stuff than most dudes, certainly this dude).
I’ve settled on the 2.4 Dubnitals too. I don’t think they’re giving anything up to the Race King subjectively. I have a brand new set of those and I’m not feeling like I have any reason to change back. Traction has been fine too, have been trying to take some loose over hard corners on pipeline at a fast pace, and have a couple fast-ish runs through the Singletrack too.
I run inserts, so I’ve been playing around with pressures down to 14/16 at 174# and a 23# Bike (Before all my spares, water, kitting up, etc…) So far, I like the lower pressure, but have to get a run down Powerline and Columbine before I commit to going that low.
With that said, if I wasn’t running the Dub - I’d be running the Race Kings without Reservation.
No you don’t - you’d just flat which is way slower…
It seems to me that the 170s “fragility” is kind of lore created by Maxxis to portrait them as race only tires. Been running the 170s for months, sometimes in rocky high Alpine trails without issues. BRR also tested them and they performed better than the normal 120 casing in the puncture resistance test
i settled down to 13/15 with inserts on my dubs on course which was my sweet spot
Training/Tapering question for you guys. I’m considering doing a local mountain bike race on Monday (5 days before Leadville). It will be a roughly 1 hour effort, essentially all out. Granted I could ride it a little bit easier if that would be best. Is this a good idea? Or too much, too close to the big day. I’ve been loosely following a medium volume trainerroad plan all year. Swapping in group rides or hard mountain bike rides instead of interval workouts at times and adding in more/longer Z2 endurance rides when time allows.
Can I ask why you want to do this?
If it impacts Leadville will it bother you?
You can do it… but should you?
I wouldn’t, not only for the unneeded stimulus but the potential for crashing, breaking the bike etc…
Agree with this. Unnecessary risk and stimulus when you should be tapering.
Personally, an all out effort (even if only for an hour) can take the pop out of me for a solid week. And why risk a crash that could cause body or bike issues?
I’m assuming Leadville is your A race. I’d advise against.
I’ll go opposed to everyone else: if this is normal for you prior to a big event and something you typically do during or before a taper, go for it. If not, then it depends on your taper length, some people need two weeks or longer, some a couple of days. It’s all dependent on YOU and how you prep for big days historically and your overall plan.
I am posting this here in addition to the XC Bike thread. If you want a more aero hand position.
Not sure if this would be helpful and I am a newbie to 3d printing but I created way to hold 2 blips on 1 piece bars for those of you who want to have an additional place to hold the bars in longer events.
Fellow 3D printer. I’ve been meaning to start a 3D printing thread to gather useful files.
I have the level stealth levers and I currently have them wrapped with grippy bartape. I created little humps to fit my forearms for puppy paws. I ended up shifting the humps further out than the picture below, but this is the general idea. Coincidentally, you can see my Bambu Labs P1S in the background 
This is true, I use some 170mm flasks and do a semi custom mix..
5 regular Gu
1 Liquid gu
Pick your flavors wisely. Lemon mixes with almost all the fruit flavors.
That makes it thin enough to flow, but as @Dvisschedyk said, you need to practice using them or unwanted overflow can ruin your day. Riding with sticky fingers for many hours is just not enjoyable.
Thank everyone for the input.
@Jolyzara
I want to do this because racing MTB is fun.
If it will negatively impact Leadville I don’t plant to do it. I just don’t know if it will actually impact Leadville in a negative way.
@Greenswim
I typically need about a 1 week taper before events. But I’m on a 2 week taper for Leadville, and am considering throwing this event in to the middle of that longer 2 week taper. I don’t have the experience to know exactly how it will affect me.
Right now I’m leaning towards doing the local race for the social aspect, but taking it easy and riding in the middle/towards the back of the pack.