There is always worse. I grew up in the Netherlands below sea level :D.
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Congrats to everyone who got in and good luck with training! Did LT100 the last two years but will be watching from the sidelines this year. No big race plans this year besides staying in shape and dropping in on some races with my kids.
I was already in thanks to my coin. 
ill be at leadville and unbound.
Good luck to those that got in! I wasn’t as lucky to get drawn 2 years in a row. But I did manage to snag a spot in the Stage Race before it sold out.
Nice. This will be my 3rd year doing the Unbound/Leadville double. It’s pretty ideal from a training/timing perspective. ~10 weeks between the events is enough to take a proper break after UB and then do another mini-peak for Leadville. I almost feel like my hard training for the year is all done by early May and the rest of the year is just tuning/maintaining and tapering for events.
In some ways, I think the Stage Race is a better event. And it’s gotten so popular that it wouldn’t surprise me if they eventually need to go to a lottery for registration. It doesn’t have the “big race” buzz that the 100 has, but that also means it’s a little more laid back and people aren’t so serious. And good or bad, you aren’t near as likely to go into that dark place questioning your life decisions. Later starts and short stages, a lot less suffering.
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It is absolutely more fun. The later starts mean skipping that first 15 minutes of freezing your butt off on the big race day and you get to actually ride hard.
I pulled together a table with tires that I’ll consider for Leadville (all except regular Aspen, but added to the table for comparison purposes).
Thanks to @jkarrasch for the real-world rolling resistances data - much appreciated.
The two times I’ve ridden Leadville, I rode on the Continental Race Kings. This was back in 2017 and 2019 before there was much data available on tire rolling resistance. I chose them because those were the tires Dave Wiens recommended.
We’ve since learned that the Race Kings are among the fastest tires out there. And I see no reason not to ride the Dubnitals this time around. The only question I have remaining is whether to go with the Race or Trail casing. Race is a bit faster, but the Trails have a protection strip that covers more of the tread - so give that little bit more protection against punctures.
Does anyone have experience, or seen reviews/articles that compare the two casings?
My next decision will be whether or not to run an insert. If I do, it will be the Vittoria Airliner Light. That’ll probably be a closer-to-the-day decision after riding on the Dubnitals and seeing how they hold up on descents. I ride with an insert normally (I like to ride fast on the downhills!) but for Leadville, I’ll likely dial it back on the descents a bit, and not risk a flat. So may not need an insert.
Yeah - I know - it’s still 7+ months away, but it’s been 2 months since I last rode my MTB so I’m looking for reasons to think/talk about MTB!
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Yep, I haven’t even looked at my MTB in a couple months (and probably won’t until June), but Leadville is in my head this week.
I’ve run Race King 2.2’s a few times and Dub RR 2.4’s last year. Current plan is to run the Dub’s again this year. I ran a rear insert a few years ago, but haven’t since switching to a 120/120 bike. No insert for the same reasons you stated, I don’t need anything encouraging me to push the descents. There is just too much to lose and not enough upside to smashing the descents (for me).
I don’t think there is any big risk of flats at Leadville besides banging a rim while descending, so I personally wouldn’t run the trail casing (famous last words). I’ve ridden thousands of miles on that course and have flatted 2 times. Once in training and once in the race. Both while riding too aggressive descending powerline.
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I’ve run inserts 100% of the time for all training and riding since 2023. Vittoria Airliner and Tubolight Evo SL. I’m going to continue to do it because I think the benefits outweigh the cons.
I was on a ride this year that by all intents and purposes had no need for them, and felt a freak rock strike that I’m convinced would have caused me problems, but with the insert, no issue. (Pretty sharp / hard impact from a rock that got kicked out)
The downsides: A little extra weight, a little extra sealant, and it’s more of a rodeo if you have to put in a tube. But let’s be honest, that’s already a rodeo. Will not prevent or help with sidewall tears other than the benefit you get from running lower pressure. I’m 80KG and ran 14F/16R at Leadville with the Dubnital this year so that is nice.
Tires - Probably Dub 2.4 Race Rapid Again. But, I still do have at least 2 new sets of Race Kings. Rick is faster but sketchier and probably not as durable.
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I rode 2.4 Rick XCs last year and would do it again if I was racing the LT100 this year. They are fast with good enough grip.
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Wow. That’s low. I’m 75kg and ride my 2.6” Vittoria Agarros (measure 2.45”) generally at 18f and 20r. Most of my riding is mixed single track - some smooth, some very chunky technical stuff - and I routinely am pinging rims. Even with my rear insert I’m pinch-flatting. This past year I had probably a half dozen rides with pinch flats. Some of that is bad luck. Some also is Strava competition with friends - so taking questionable line choices for speed 
Maybe its just my anchor point for tire pressure is for these kinds of more technical trails - hence why 14/16 seems low.
I have plenty of time to experiment between now and August.
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The pressure doesn’t feel that low to be honest. Maybe that’s because you’re not railing any corners. I’m definitely not “Sending it” at Leadville, but at the same time not slow either. But, definitely not a “heavy” rider in terms of going through stuff if I can avoid it. Probably 25th Percentile down Powerline per Strava?
Another thing to remember - Pressure comes up a couple PSI over the course of the day, so you need to be high enough for Powerline Outbound, but you’ll be higher than that by Columbine and definitely by Sugarloaf Inbound.
And - lower pressure helps with flat / puncture avoidance if you can steer clear of rim strikes.
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Last year I ran the dubnitals year round (didnt do leadville) and liked it. I found a set of 2.2 racekings in a bikeshop and picked them up. For leadville im wondering if the 2.2 raceking with a FS bike is better then a 2.4 dub on the FS. Thoughts? Probably not too much in it.
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I think if I were doing Leadville I would use the Dub Trail/Rapid…roll pretty fast, lighter than most, and have a little puncture protection.
Anyone consider running Thunder Burts? I’ve never tried them and I’ve heard they aren’t that durable, but they certainly test fast. I mean Kate set the course record on them last year, so I can’t see what could go wrong for an old ~170 pound dude with craptacular technical skills…
I’ve considered trying a set for a couple gravel races coming up. I normally run race kings on my gravel bike, but I’m definitely Thunder Burt curious (for courses that aren’t prone to flats).
I’ve used them on my gravel bike and on the mtb for Chequamegon. I have not personally flatted them, but yeah I’d be slightly scared for LV. Then again, all tires scare me there just because I don’t want to deal with it. I spend all of the Powerline and Sugar Loaf descents basically praying for tire health. Burts are fast though for sure. On my local trails, both a burt or a race king feel noticeably faster to me than a Mezcal for example. I’ve only tried so many tires though.
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I have thought about running the 2.2 Race King because I’m on a 120/120 FS too. It tests mildly faster and I think better puncture protection. I want to say Keegan ran a 2.2” tire when he made the switch to FS where he ran 2.4’s on his hardtail?
Race King could be the better choice, but hard to say. Probably splitting hairs.
Yes these are exactly my thoughts, and what I understand Keegan did. Picked them up as an impulse buy, and now I got 9 month of splitting hairs to do, 