Comments on: Trek World 2009: Bontrager News and Rumors

By: Guitar Ted

Guitar Ted — Mon, 01 Sep 2008 20:33:49 +0000

JK: Well, they are doing a 29″er version of the Race King, which Twenty Nine Inches is scheduled to have for testing soon. Stay tuned!

By: JK

JK — Mon, 01 Sep 2008 17:08:38 +0000

Cloxx, you forgot a tire in your shootout lineup, that will outperform all off them on dry course. The 26″ version does…

http://www.conti-tyres.co.uk/conticycle/ti%20raceking.shtml

Who’s gonna tell them they should make a supersonic version?

By: Cloxxki

Cloxxki — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 22:29:12 +0000

No, I said that if you make an offroad tire both fast rolling and decently gripping, chances are, you’ve got yourself a light tire.

By: Spiff

Spiff — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 20:42:26 +0000

Fat Cyclist is getting his hands on a Superfly SS! I’m so jealous!

By: Vandal

Vandal — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 15:04:02 +0000

He said that a tire with good traction is rarely fast rolling. “Fast rolling” and “Grippy” are at opposite ends of the spectrum. The grippier the tire, the slower it will roll. The holy grail of tire performance is to have a light, grippy, fast-rolling tire. It’s like building a cheap, light and strong bike frame. Can’t be done. Ironically, the Bontrager mantra is “Cheap, light and strong: Pick two.”

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Mon, 18 Aug 2008 23:06:58 +0000

What the heck did ^^^he^^^ just say!!!???

By: Cloxxki

Cloxxki — Mon, 18 Aug 2008 06:55:35 +0000

All new tires= line-up??
Stock up on XR’s while you can! At least if you live in sand pits like I do. I would be happily surprised to find a better sand front tire before 2015.

Bontrager tires, although bashed my me on each occasion I saw, are IMO excellent specialists. They just don’t cover all disciplines. XR for sand, AcX for gravel and dust, XR Dry somewhere in between.
Looking forward to see what the XR1 has to improve over the Small Block8, which didn’t really impress me. Where the factory racers are so much into tire weight, you almost got to see them on Bontrager Racelight 23mm tires in MTB races, I rather see rolling resistance as prio#1, weight usually follows. Less rubber means less to deform, rarely is a heavier tire with still suffficient grip still fast rolling, right?

Soon : tire shootouts, Stans Crow and their announced 2nd generation tires vs. Schwalbe Furious Freds + Racing Ralph vs. Bontrager XR1!

By: Oderus

Oderus — Sun, 17 Aug 2008 19:28:21 +0000

Ooops, I meant the XXX Lite. I’m still giddy over everything that I saw.

By: Guitar Ted

Guitar Ted — Sun, 17 Aug 2008 18:04:45 +0000

Oderus: Thanks for that added info. This is good news for those who still prefer the shorter offset handling.

You mention the Rhythm “carbon” wheel? I did not know of this, or are you referring to the Race XXX Lite that I have pictured here?

I should also mention that the carbon rim on the Race XXX Lite is compatible with the Race X Lite Tubeless Ready rim strip and can be used tubeless with any Bontrager Tubeless Ready tire.

By: Oderus

Oderus — Sun, 17 Aug 2008 17:13:37 +0000

Follow up info. I was at the show on Wednesday and found out that the Switchblades will be offered in both G2 and their original geometries! The G2 versions as you mentioned should hit testing by spring. I also heard they are expected to be in store by next summer. Oh, the carbon Rhythm Wheels are DOPE!