Rick front with TB rear could be a really fast combo that gets rid of some of the sketch of TB/TB front/rear.
Good to see there recommendations match up with what they were saying earlier this year about sticking with Super Race casing as the faster rolling option for XC Marathon despite the BRR suggesting Super Ground.
My first XC race of the year is this weekend. I typically use a Racing Ray front and Thunder Burt rear but with rain in the forecast, I decided to put a spare Ray on the back! I will chime in after and advise how it goes.
I might run that combo next weekend. I could not source a Super Race Rick though, so it would be Super Ground F/R Rick/Burt.
Rick is arriving tomorrow so will get the real world weight of them and post.
Norways largest online bike store currently have a 20% sale on all Conti MTB tires. Might be a sign …
I’m doing a 50 mile event in Bend at the end of September (Ring of Fire). Anyone ride in that area with some insight on the conditions and/or has strong opinions on tires? I have 2.4 Aspens on right now. Thanks!
Schwalbe Rick compared to Thunder Burt
Just mounted up tonight. Both are on 30mm IW Astral Serpentine rims. Rick on Front, Burt out back.
The 2.35" Burt is 25g lighter than the 2.4" Rick
Center knobs on Rick are larger and 0.6mm taller.
Rick has actual transition knobs between the center and side knobs. Burt just puts an extra row of knobs the same size as the center just to the outside of the center tread.
Both measured up at 59mm inflated with Vittoria Airliner Light XC and Orange Seal Regular.
Inflated to 40 PSI and will let them stretch overnight before mounting and taking them for a spin in the dirt.
Defiantly looks like Rick will be as @Kuttermax said “Less Sketch” on the front, but at what cost to rolling resistance, well we’ll see about that tomorrow too as I’ll bring the Burt/Burt set of wheels along to compare.
Bummed it’s not any wider.
Hopefully this will make the tire a lot less prone to punctures 
Okay it was only a 14 mile ride, but covered a bunch of MTB surface types. Rocks, loose over hard, smooth hardpack, roots, and loose in the corners.
The Rick 2.4 Speed Grip out of the box is a very good front tire. When it starts to loose traction it happens very predicatively. I didn’t push it hard enough to get it to misbehave, but I did PR some of the DH sections I was testing it on.
It is a little slower feeling than a 2.25 Burt, but I was a size up. I could run the 2.25 Burts on my 75 mile race, but I think the bigger Rick 2.4/Burt 2.35 (both measuring 59mm inflated) are a better choice for over the distance. If I was doing the 25 (2 laps) or 50 (4 laps) I’d be tempted to run the narrower rubber, but 6 laps will be dishing it out. Better to err on the side of comfort.
tks for the feedback… I have a speed on pre-order, supposed to come in the next few weeks. will keet my 2.35 burt in the rear
Circling back to this post, I just finished the XC race and the XC TT was on Saturday. Both events were in pouring rain on a slick, wet course with tons of tree stumps. The racing ray’s did awesome. They were very predictable and gave me plenty of grip to win each event.
Got 20 miles on the Rick XC 2.4 Super Ground front and rear today on my Epic Evo. Did some of my local roads and trails, many of which I rode yesterday on Race Kings. The Ricks feel similar on hardpack and pavement. The rear braking of the Rick is surprisingly good, significantly better than a Thunder Burt, but on sandy/decomposed granite, the Rick is left wanting a bit. There are a few sections that I can clear pretty easily seated on a knobbier tire(Wicked Will obviously, but even the Mezcal) that today I lost grip pretty early on in two sections and had to dismount. The front does drift quite a bit more than a Barzo or Racing Ray in this deep dg type stuff, but they do feel fine on firmer or even loose over hard stuff. Where I was pleasantly surprised was in some really rocky(baby head type chunk) sections. The volume made for a much more confident line choice, and the grip was much better than a Race King. On my pavement descent back down to the house they fly, with 52mph clocked, which is the same as I’ve hit on Race Kings and 1mph slower than Thunder Burts.
So, slightly mixed feelings for my specific terrain in Norcal, but I can definitely see a place for them.
do you feel like changing the tire pressure to suit the dominate surface type would change your assessment?
I actually lowered it mid ride, twice… lol. I carry the small Fumpa Gauge during my Ultra races, and took it with me on my ride yesterday. I started with both tires at 19.5 which is what I had on the Race Kings on the prior day, albeit on 27mm internal rims versus 32mm internal for the Ricks. As soon as I hit gravel I knew it was too much, so I dropped it to 18 front and rear. An hour in, and I went 17 up front. I could likely go much lower and still be fine, and perhaps it’ll increase rear traction, but my typical routes are a majority double track or gravel so I don’t often go as low as I do on singletrack specific rides.
Checking out the Wolftooth Tire Pressure Calculator. Nice to see they have a mobile app.
Specifically for Off road AND they have a setting for Inserts.
Haven’t tried them out in the dirt yet, but may do tomorrow to see if they’re in the ballpark or not.
For me the XC/trail recommendation is almost bang on what I like my tires at. I’m running 2.4 Aspens on my XC bike.
I played around with it for my MTB - it actually gets very close to what I use. I actually am going to consider its recommendation which is bump the front up .7 psi and drop the rear .4 psi from what I found in field testing.
I have been using the SRAM calculator and found a lot of success with it. Its always nice to try something else however
Just tried it and it was exactly what I run (19 f/ 22r).
same for me, their calculator seems pretty good!
Dang if that isn’t pretty close to what I’ve found to run.
