Hi Mel,

I just got new wheels and I am thinking about tires. I rode the Larsen last year and was thinking about switching to the crossmark or ADvantage. I plan on racing xterra in Jersey, Richmond, EX2 in MD and Charlotesville. Any thoughts?

Thanks

Post edited by: swimfast, at: 2007/01/23 00:55

OK,

The only race course I can comment on is the Richmond one since I have not ridden anywhere else. Having said that, I think Charlottesville and Alabama are both similar to Richmond so you might use the same tire for nearly all of those races under similar conditions.

I would say that if it is dry weather, the Crossmark would be a faster rolling tire than the Advantage so I would choose that one in dry conditions, or your Larson. However, if it is wet, the Maxxis Advantage might be a good choice for a front tire. If it is a total mess, like Milwaukee, the 1.8 Medusa is a good choice in slippery mud.

There is a difference in rubber between the Crossmark UST and the non-ust version... the non UST is much softer and better in slightly slick conditions. Using Stans will make that tire a good choice in wet conditions.

Hope that helps!

Melanie

Mel, I did a XC mtb race last weekend where the majority of the course was good for crossmarks as it had plenty of gravel climbs on sandstone _base_, lots of single track and exposed roots but there were sections of peaty soil that one gets in pine forests with thin spaghetti like roots which turned to a thick mud late in the race. When I rode the warm up lap I decided to go for the crossmarks over my Bonty mudX for the fast rolling and tighter spaced knobs for the roots.

Would a pair of ignitors be a good choice in those conditions? They seem to have a fairy good tread pattern for roots but also quite good blocks for mud particularly on the edges where my front wheel washed out on the crossmarks.

Thanks for an help you can give.

Julian

Melanie
I recently bought a new bike and it came stock with the UST Larsons. For Richmond would you recommend the Larsons or the Crossmark in dry conditions? I also have a few races that are fairly smooth in terrain and am new to the UST system. Can I use the Maxxlite 310 on a UST system and have you had any experience with this tire?

Thank you

Melanie
I recently bought a new bike and it came stock with the UST Larsons. For Richmond would you recommend the Larsons or the Crossmark in dry conditions? I also have a few races that are fairly smooth in terrain and am new to the UST system. Can I use the Maxxlite 310 on a UST system and have you had any experience with this tire?

Thank you

The Maxxlite is a very light tire with a very fast tread pattern. SUPER fast tire. The problem is the tire has relatively weak sidewalls so would not be very tear resistant in rocky terrain.

Richmond is a very high speed course and although there are not THAT many rocks, there are a few high speed corners into rocky sections where I have had flats in the past when I have torn a sidewall on a light tire at high speed.

Both the Larson and the Crossmark would be equally good in dry conditions in Richmond. I prefer the non-UST version of the Crossmark as it is a slightly softer rubber and thus a bit more grippy. Your choice though.

Ciao, Melanie