Not Groov'in today

dstepper

(R.I.P.) Over the hill
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Kenda Blue Groove 2.5 that is.

I know I have been warned about these tires...but with that sticky thread grip so good. Could be the best front tire I have used....EXCEPT!

This slash happened on Old Emerald in Laguna Wilderness Park, which those of you that know that trail know it is not a very rocky trail...we all ride much worse on a regular basis. I am surprized it slashed that easy. Appearantly my tube has more integrity than a Blue Groove sidewall. Tube held the rest of the ride home.

I have not givin up on these tires and will use them around OC. They will not be going with me to Arizona they would not hold up.

Question: What have you guys use to patch the sidewalls. All I carry with me are those small self adhesive tube patchs.

And no Stans for me I slash tires as often as I pinch flat and I am always changing tires.
 

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Dean,
The best thing I found that worked real good was the stuff they use to patch rafts with. You know like a Kodiak raft. It held up on two different tires for me. One with a 2" gash. I found it works best if you can tear the tire enough to expose some of the thread too. Good luck. I'm staying with the Stans.
 
dean - what pressure you running BG's at? and tube size? I have 2.35 up front and never had similar issue (including 5 days of riding in Sedona earlier this year). u running these on your rigid or fully...maybe that contrib as well??? tread on pic looks good not too many miles on tires, right?
 
Dean you are suppose to ride up and over the rocks, not around them. [-X
I've been using Blue Grooves up front on different bikes this year and Maxxis Minions the past 2 years and have never slashed a tire. I think it has to do more with your riding style than the tire not performing.
 
Bummer about the tire D. I'm the king of slashed tires. I patch with an glue-on automotive tire patch. You can get them at Pep Boys, etc.

I ride Blue Grooves at Bootleg Canyon in Vegas and in Phoenix and never had a issue. Trabuco - that's another story.

C
 
2nd on the automotive tire patches. They work good, just make sure you abrade the inside of the tire around the tear enough for them to stick. Then apply rubber cement to both the patch and the tire and let it tack up before mating them. a tire patch wheel (also called a stitcher) is helpful for getting all of the air pockets out here is a picture of one:
00029.jpg
 
It is a 2.5 that I run about 28-30 lbs presure in. Yes, yery low miles well under a hundred. It is on the front of my 5-Spot with a way plush Zoke Z1 Light. Richey light tube.

Thanks for the patch advise guys I want to get some more miles out of that tire.

Oh yeh! Thanks Frank, I can always count on you for support.
 
Kenda Blue Groove 2.5 that is.


Question: What have you guys use to patch the sidewalls. All I carry with me are those small self adhesive tube patchs.

I've learned from trial and error and desperation to get back to the car, that a folded up dollar (or if you're loaded any bill will do) works great for a temporary fix if you slash a tire while out riding. It's saved me twice...
 
I've sliced 4 Kenda tires, 2 through the sidewalls and 2 right through the tread. I'm not saying they aren't grippy tires, and I haven't completely given up on them but I'm slowly converting over to Big Betty's on my "bigger" bikes as I've found they grip just as well if not better than Blue Grooves/Nevegals and they roll MUCH better. They are heavier, but the sidewalls are noticeably thicker also.
 
At Dale Cerro I ripped litterally half of the knobs on the right side (on my Blue Groove) where they meet the side wall rounding a rocky right hander on slalom. Luckily I had STANS and they sealed for the rest of the ride (happened towards end of ride). It does grip pretty well and feels stable, but after seeing how many of us have ripped/cut/torn those things I'm going to stick with MAXXIS rubber for awhile.
 
I haven't completely given up on them but I'm slowly converting over to Big Betty's quote]

Rob, I am think Betty is in my future and they have some over at the Path. It is just that my front porch is starting to look like I recycle tires for a living. I need to wear some of these tires out or sell them at the parts swap meet we should have.
 
dstepper said:
I need to wear some of these tires out or sell them at the parts swap meet we should have.

Got any good 2.5 Neve's or BG ya wanna sell?
 
Got any good 2.5 Neve's or BG ya wanna sell?

Nope those are the tires I am running right now.
I have:
IRC 2.5 Trailbear
WTB 2.5 Timberwolf
WTB 2.55 LT Freeride Weirwolf
WTB 2.5 Wierwolf Race.

Then a couple of WTB 29 inch Kevlar Exi's
 
Dean, do you remember how much The Path is charging for the Big Betty's?
 
Nope those are the tires I am running right now.
I have:
IRC 2.5 Trailbear
WTB 2.5 Timberwolf
WTB 2.55 LT Freeride Weirwolf
WTB 2.5 Wierwolf Race.

Then a couple of WTB 29 inch Kevlar Exi's

dood I'll take the Wierwolf Race tiers. and have u got your new 29er shoes? I heard u was supposed to get some new rubber!!:-k

Dean, do you remember how much The Path is charging for the Big Betty's?


ha haaa Love the pimp SHOT!! BLAAZZZINN HHAAAZZZENN muhahahahaha!!:lol: dood what type of time petals do u have? what should I get for a SSer 29er?:?:
 
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dood I'll take the Wierwolf Race tiers. and have u got your new 29er shoes? I heard u was supposed to get some new rubber!!:-k

We can work something out.

Yes new Rampages on the Niner.

Dean, do you remember how much The Path is charging for the Big Betty's?


Nam saw them there last week, I think he said $52.
 
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If I start thinking about the cost of my bike habit all I have to do is think about some of the other habits I have had...this one is cheap...and I'am not in jail.

Anyway, so far as climbing traction the Rampage is mucho better than the Exi, and why not, it actualy has knobs. The Rampage close to same weight as Exi. The only area the Exi wins is in cush...the Rampage just feels harsher. Still waiting on the rigid carbon fork...should be here soon.
 
Anyway, so far as climbing traction the Rampage is mucho better than the Exi, and why not, it actualy has knobs. The Rampage close to same weight as Exi. The only area the Exi wins is in cush...the Rampage just feels harsher. Still waiting on the rigid carbon fork...should be here soon.

I'm liking the Rampage a lot better than the exi (cush wise I think they are pretty close), i have been steadily dropping the pressure on the rampage, and it's been getting even better. I've only tried it up front though. I should have one of those spec resolution d2 for the front of my salsa in a couple of days, should be a little lighter, as are the nevegals I think (both around ~700g?). Still liking the spec fast trak out back a lot.
 

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