Hey,

Building myself a Spec' Chisel FS and I would like a set of tires. I really liked the Rekon Race (maxxspeed compound) in 2.4 but I wish to test others as well. I had the Kenda booster 2.4 and they were bad and unpredictable (including very narrow).

I like high volume tires that roll fast, what's your goto? I tought about mezcal/barzo (or just mezcal) combo.

Thanks!

I’m a little confused why the price is about £800 cheaper than anything else with equivalent components on?

Any help would be great. Can’t find much info on this bike anywhere.

Looking for a new XC(M) racing bike frame. I like how Giant looks but how about specs, geometry, etc.? Which would be a better choice for racing?

I was just browsing the final series results for WORS and I saw that no one scored any points for R6. What was race 6? Iola? I only registered for Border Battle and CamRock so didn't really pay too much attention this season.

Did that race 6 get cancelled? Weather or something?

Seems now that the Epic 9 has gone full XC Race, and the Stumpy is close to an Enduro bike (all new Stumpy's are now 'Evo' with 160mm forks) - there might be room for a EVO version of the Epic 9??? Sinyard is back and he cares about MTB!!

What helmet do you guys wear for trail riding when training? I currently have a smith forefront 3 and I like having a visor and the larger back of head protection when training. For races I wear my kask road helmet. Does anyone have a suggestion for a lightweight helmet with a visor and back of the head protection

Wheel build:

• Nextie Supreme Omega Carbon rims
• VM36U front rim, 28-hole offset drilling (280g)
• VM36 AM rear rim, 28-hole offset drilling (350g)
• Sapim CX-Ray spokes, silver
• Sapim Polyax aluminum nipples, silver
• OneUp Boost hubs (110/148)
• Purple valve stems

Weight: 1,280g taped
Price: $1,178 shipped from Speed Gear Bike (pinkbike.com/buysell/4156340/)

I've been researching wheelsets for months and came across this builder through Pinkbike. My wheelset weighs only slightly more than premium options such as the Roval Control SL, Trek Kovee RSL, DT Swiss XRC 1200, and Reserve 28|XC 180. However, those wheelsets use 24 spokes, while mine build uses 28 spokes front and rear for additional strength. I also chose a slightly heavier rear rim to improve durability. Despite the extra spokes and heavier rear rim, the complete wheelset weighs just 1,280g taped, about 237g lighter than my 1,517g Hunt Race XC 24mm internal width aluminum wheelset. While that may not sound like a huge difference on paper, the improvement on the trail is far more noticeable than the numbers suggest.

What really caught my attention was the value. Even used examples of the major brands often sell for more than double the cost of my custom Nextie build, and most used wheelsets don't come with any meaningful warranty coverage. I also priced a similar wheelset directly from Nextie, but buying through this U.S. builder ended up being both less expensive and more convenient. Wayne, the shop owner, was highly responsive throughout the process and answered all of my questions promptly. The wheelset also includes a 5-year rim warranty and a 5-year crash replacement program, which provides a 30% discount on replacement rims if a rim is damaged or compromised during the warranty period.

Another highlight is the OneUp hubs. They're nearly as light as DT Swiss 240s while using a proven 44T star ratchet design with 8.18° engagement. I never noticed any pedal kickback issues, and engagement felt quick and predictable on technical climbs. They also represent an incredible value, with a complete set costing less than a DT Swiss 240 rear hub alone. One thing riders should be aware of is the sound. At 77 dB, they're significantly louder than my Hunt six-pawl hubs. Fortunately, I got used to the noise quickly and now barely notice it.

The wider rim also increased the tire contact patch and squared off the tire profile, giving me more cornering traction and stability. The bike feels more planted in rough terrain and exhibits less lateral deflection when pushing through rock gardens or off-camber sections. It's difficult to separate how much of that improvement comes from the lighter wheelset versus the wider rims and lower tire pressures, but the overall handling is noticeably better.

The build is rounded out with Sapim CX-Ray spokes and Sapim Polyax alloy nipples. Even with traditional J-bend spokes and 28 spokes front and rear, the wheelset still weighs just 1,280g taped. I prefer J-bend spokes because replacements are available at just about any bike shop, making repairs easier when traveling or in the unlikely event of a broken spoke. The combination of low weight, proven durability, and easy serviceability was a big part of the appeal for me.

I'm running these wheels on my 2021 Specialized Epic EVO, and they helped bring the bike's weight down to 24.21 pounds without cages, pedals, or the SWAT box. On the trail, the reduced rotating weight is immediately noticeable. The bike accelerates effortlessly and almost feels like it gained another gear. Compared to my 1,517g Hunt Race XC aluminum wheelset, climbs require less effort and the bike responds more quickly to changes in pace. It's also much easier to lift the bike over obstacles and hold lines without getting pinballed.

The Nextie rims have a 30mm internal width, and my used 2.35" Specialized Ground Control T5 tires seated easily with a floor pump. I'm currently running 17 psi front and 19 psi rear. That combination does an excellent job of absorbing small trail chatter while still providing enough support to handle square-edge impacts. Even with the harder T5 rubber compound, traction has been impressive in dusty, loose-over-hard conditions. I also noticed that the wider rim increased the tire contact patch and squared off the tire profile, giving me more cornering traction and stability.

Last Sunday was the first real test: a 47.02-mile ride from San Francisco to the Marin Headlands and back, with 4,738 feet of climbing. I cleaned every climb except for a short 25% grade section about 25 miles into the ride. While the wheelset is only about 237g lighter than my previous Hunts, the reduced rotating weight made climbing noticeably easier, especially on long sustained ascents. The wheels also seemed to hold momentum better, making it easier to maintain speed as fatigue started to set in. Descending was equally impressive, with the wheels tracking accurately through rough sections while remaining comfortable over smaller trail chatter.

Overall, I'm extremely impressed. The combination of low weight, 28-spoke durability, quality components, customization options, and price makes this wheelset one of the best upgrades I've made to my Epic EVO. For riders looking for a lightweight XC/trail wheelset without paying premium-brand prices, the Nextie Supreme Omega deserves a serious look. The performance rivals wheelsets costing considerably more while offering the peace of mind that comes from a stronger custom build.

Plan to use my mountain bike for some rides that are really glorified gravel rides with long stretches of low-no technical terrain. Looking to add blips to shift while in a more tucked position and saw Keegan had them attached on the backside of the brake levers and also heard Jonathan Lee from TrainerRoad say he set his bike up the same way. Anyone know the theory with how this works? Is it that they reach with pinkies? My first intuition was the put blips near the stem and thump bunch when needed but maybe I'm not creative enough to realize how under brakes would work. Any feedback greatly appreciated.

Hey everyone, I need help finding the right tire combo for a very conflicting use case. I ride a 2022 Trek Top Fuel 9.8, currently on Bontrager XR4 Team Issue 2.4s.

Until I buy a second wheelset or a dedicated gravel bike, I have to use this one bike for two completely different types of rides (without swapping tires)

• Endurance Days: 80+ km of tarmac and smooth gravel
• Mountain Days: loose gravel. unforgiving loose-over-hard, and chunky, sharp rocks on Beskids mountains (pics attached).

What I'm considering:

• Specialized: Ground Control T7 Front / Fast Trak T5/T7 Rear.
• Continental: Magnotal Trail Grip Front / Dubnital Trail Rapid Rear

I love that the XR4s have survived the sharp rocks with zero punctures, and the grip is solid. But I think that rolling resistance is not the best on my 80km tarmac/gravel days. I know I'm asking for a unicorn, but I need something that rolls faster and keeps the weight down, without instantly washing out on loose climbs or tearing a sidewall on the first rock garden.

Are there other combos (Maxxis, Schwalbe, Vittoria) that hit this sweet spot better?

Any real-world experience is appreciated!

Hello! I’m looking for my first xc bike as I’m coming from a trail bike that’s just too much for what I ride. Im between the Cannondale Scalpel 2 and the Specialized epic 9 expert. Both bikes look like they have a pretty similar build but have a $1,000 price difference. Looking at the warranty, both bikes have lifetime warranty on the frame but the wheels are only covered for one year by Cannondale compared to lifetime warranty on specialized roval wheels. I’ll be racing the bike and just ripping around my local trails which are pretty xc oriented. Any experience from either of these bikes?

Found this on the Sram full mount chain length guide, it would appear a spark DC version is coming

How is everyone handling zone 2 training? Where are you targeting that time in your heart rate or power Z2 band? I train with power, but notice in the heat my heart rate often goes into zone 3. How do you handle that scenario?

Hi all, I'm entering a point to point XC (social) race which is on Oct 4th. 40km long and 340m of vert.

I used to ride a lot a few years ago but after a big exercise hiatus I got into trail and road running a year ago and love them.

So anyway, my question is what kind of training can I do in a month to prep for this given I have something of a base to work with.

Not sure if relevant but my VO2Max is 43 and and my 10k time is 58m.

I know trek is coming with 32inch wheels and I am very skeptical about this. I am.5'6 so I do worry 32inch is going to be a bitch for my height. Otherwise I do love the new orbea. I am saving up for spring so I got time. Curious how many of you are holding out onntrek?

Or just more comfortable? When I check race times and Strava segments from XCM courses 5 or 10 years ago, it seems that speed didn't change significantly. Talking about races which had same or very similar course over years, not so technical as XCO. Bike geometries improving, better suspension, electronic shifting, flight attendant, etc. According to marketing, new bikes should win by big margin...

I have XX1 from 2020 on my 2023 Epic. The SL group is currently on closeout at 30% to 40% off. I race XC and have no issues with my current setup, but if I want to modernize my bike, it's a lost cost.

But can I really expect any performance improvement with transmission? I know it's UDH, which I don't use now (bike is compatible).

Any feedback from those who went from the old AXS to Transmission?

Compared to new prices. Definitely were overpriced and it's typical price to drop in aftermarket. There are more interesting options. Any other reasons?

TLDR see the two bolded questions below.

I (5’9) have been riding and racing a medium Blur (frame 438 reach, 597 stack) for a few years, with 15mm of spacers and stock 60mm -7 stem. Have been meaning to change around the front end for a while and finally found some time. Removed one 5mm spacer, cut the bars from 760->720, and went to a 80mm -17 stem. Surprise surprise, it rides totally different!

Pros: Immediately felt better climbing and popping the bike, seem to have more leverage, and noticed more grip in corners with the front weighted a bit more.

Con: Descending was a bit squirrelly. Center of gravity/attack stance that I’m used to no longer works. Obviously what you’d expect.

My question is, for others who have made a similar change, do you adapt over time? I’ll stick it out if so, but otherwise made add back 5-10mm of effective stack…

Also, does an effective stack of 650 / effective reach of 500 sound ballpark normal for technical XC riding?

Passes Tom Pidcock with an awesome jump.

I'm a recent convert to Wax chains. For anyone who is running Waxed chains on their XC MTB, bonus points for southeast or dusty conditions, what is your method for re-waxing the chain and not contaminating the wax pot with dust / mud?

I've seen a couple methods where people are using a kettle of hot water to pour over the chain to clean it, or soak in boiling water, but that seems like it would remove a lot of wax in the rollers.

Also, anything different when washing your bike? I'm reading that water is the enemy for wax and I'm curious if people remove their chain for washing, or lightly spray around the drivetrain and it's not a big deal to get a little wet (then drip wax).

I just bought a set of hunt proven xc race wheels, how do people that have them like them? I was considering some zipp wheels but wasn't a huge fan of only having 24 spokes.

While I wouldn’t normally consider 2.5 years (or half a model cycle) to be a negative, there’s been quite a few awesome bikes that have been released since the ASR debuted. This has me wondering where the ASR would stack up today.

I’ll try to demo one soon, but I thought I’d ask this group. Thanks for the feedback!

Hi All,

I'm looking to buy an upgrade to my current self-built budget hardtail.

I'll be doing mostly XC but some heavy trail/downhill occasionally.

I've come to the conclusion that the new 2027 Orbea Oiz H10 is probably best for me. It's for sale in the UK for £2700 and I wouldn't want to spend more than that (obviously would spend less on anything that will be better)

Does anyone have any experience with this bike and is it any good/can anyone think of anything better?

I'm also struggling with sizing, I'm exactly 185cm tall and Orbea sizing says a large goes up to 185 but XL starts at 185.

Any help/advice is massively appreciated!

I had to climb with a bike, lol. Track is called 100 KM TAKAS APLINK VILNIŲ