So, after 5 months on the Racing Ray/Ralph I decided to give the Aspens another go, this time the 170tpi Team Spec version. Did the same XC route twice this week, 20,76km long, 410m of gain, takes me a little under 1h to complete. Both times similar temperature around 0°c, ground mostly frozen but with some mud pits where the ice puddles are broken. Little slimy over hard where I know the Aspens struggle. Both rides with the same AVG HR of 152bpm. No power meter on this bike.
Result… Aspen run was 1min22s faster. Obviously, this is far from scientific, but felt all the great things about the Aspens that I remember. More comfort, calmer bike, more traction over roots, more climbing traction, better mud clearing.
Think I’m going to settle with these until someone releases a true 2.5 (or maybe even 2.6) with an open thread that tests faster than the Aspens (on puncture resistance as well).
I am not surprised.
You ran Aspens Team Spec F and R?
Some people report these aspens are prone to flats. Not to jinx you but I’d advise making sure you have a solid plan B, just in case.
I’ll be replacing my r ralph with an aspen pretty soon. I was hoping for the Pirelli XC RC I ordered to make it on time but a patched cut on the ralph isn’t holding.
With how expensive races are these days a flat can ruin a good day. Considering the cost of a flat I’d err on the side of more protection and getting to the finish.
Not only that but it could cost you a better placing in a championship if you’re racing in a series. A few watts and grams savings just isn’t worth it IMO.
I ran the Aspen Team Spec 170tpi (Not the ST, normal Aspen thread) for a MTB stage race in Italy last september. 6 days and 400km on often rocky trails without issue.
And I saw some people with the Pirelli XC RC and Vittoria Mezcals on the side of the road with flats.
Purely anecdotal ofcourse, but I don’t mind running the 170 tpi for any race.
Yep thats my thought too specialy doing some ultra mtb races up to 10h or so.
I miss the time I used on my 26er the Maxis Larsen TT from 24h races up to stages races never had a puncture or tear that the liquid didnt solve without me needing to stop. But thse days with realy tubless tires are gone tubless ready tires are more light to compensate in weight the bigger size on the 29er and more now with the tendency going from 2.0 to 2.4 or more.
Im using the scorpions but not the light version. My 2.2 wheights more that what you had on those 2.4 but so far with over 1500km havent had a problem. Before I had the maxxis ardent race 2.4 and almost had to drop an ultra mtb race half way but after some time the liquid finally took care of it but that eas the end of it. I know luck also has a huge part on having less or more flats but if the flat protection is better you have better odds on having luck
Just considering other options because of the weight of the scorpions 2.2 im using because id like to go back to 2.4 but not getting extra weight.
Kenda are around 690, Maxxis around 680 and the Hutchinson around 615.
The Kenda Rush Pro 2.4 in TR version are about as light as the Hutchinson but are only suitable for lightweight riders, that’s why I prefer the SCT with my 83kg weight.
Is 64kg at the moment (racing wheigh usually goes down to 61/62) light enough for the TR version? What is different besides weight comparing to the SCT version?
TR casing, at least on the booster pro 2.6, is really thin. Like super thin. Sct feels more like a “regular tire”. Having said that…TR here in Florida on our “pine needles over sand”, TR is fine even at 85kg.
So typical of Schwalbe. I’ve never seen any of their tyres reach advertised widths. My so called 2.4 Rick are still 2.3"/58 mm on 30mm rims, even after many miles of hard use
I’m admittedly not overly familiar with the design and industrialization processes of bike tires, but this sounds like such a weird problem to have from Schwalbe. One could understand this happening maybe back in 2017 when the tires could end up in rims from 20 to 35mm wide, but this is not the case today.
If I wanted a 2.25 tire I’d get one marked as such, so I’m not buying anything from them still they sort this
but so far with over 1500km havent had a problem. Before I had the maxxis ardent race 2.4 and almost had to drop an ultra mtb race half way but after some time the liquid finally took care of it but that eas the end of it. I know luck also has a huge part on having less or more flats but if the flat protection is better you have better odds on having luck 
