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Schwalbe
Racing Ralph UST 2008
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Submitted by
BubColorado
a Cross Country Rider
from Denver, CO, USA
Date Reviewed: October 7, 2009 | | Favorite Trail: | Buffalo Creek | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$70.00 | | Purchased At: | Online | | Strengths: | 2.25s are fat and fast. Good for dry, rocky and loose conditions, which is what we have here in Colorado. | | Weaknesses: | price and availability perhaps | | Similar Products Used: | Kenda Nevegal/Blue Groove | | Bike Setup: | Titus Racer-X, Mostly XTR, Rock Shox Revelation U-Turn Air Fork, XTR Hubs - Mavic 819 rims | | Bottom Line: | Having ridden a Kenda Nevegal(rear) - Blue Groove(front)(both 2.1s) set-up for a couple of years, I wanted something a bit faster rolling and lighter. The traction of the Kenda set up was great, but the Ralphs are noticeably faster and have a bit more volume. The Blue Groove inspired more confidence on downhill corners, but the Ralphs are better than I expected in that regard. I have had zero punctures since I put these on 6 months ago (knock on wood) and the tread is still fine. The Nevegals seemed to wear faster. Great tire for Colorado! | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
RMM
a Racer
from RMM
Date Reviewed: July 27, 2009 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Purchased At: | Complete Bike | | Strengths: | Good traction on dry surfaces (hardpack, slick rocks), low rolling resistance, confident cornering, moderately durable (no serious puncture issues)
| | Weaknesses: | Once conditions deteriorate...change tires, these are fair weather tires and will not get you over slick rocks, roots or through muddy sections ect. Also, while I have not had any unexpected punctures, the treads are wearing down fast. Cost, these are expensive! | | Bottom Line: | These tires definitely have a place in the arsenal. If you are looking for a fast tire to use on buffed out trails, this is your tire and you would be hardpressed to find a better tire for easy conditions. If your terrain is gnarly or slick, get something more aggressive.
I am 175lbs and do not puncture often, and when I do, the Stan's seals them without incident. I run low pressure (28psi in back and 25 in front) even in the roughest terrain.
The tread is wearing fast enough that the bean counters amongst us may want to reserve these as a race day only tire because of the wear issues in combination with the high cost.
| Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
mjsmeyer
a Cross Country Rider
from uk
Date Reviewed: July 15, 2009 | | Favorite Trail: | north downs | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$72.00 | | Strengths: | None | | Weaknesses: | Punctured and useless including rip in sidewall on second ride (200km). Not in least bit durable - seems the same with all Swalbe tyres | | Similar Products Used: | Usually use panaracer FireXCpro. Wanted to try a faster rolling summer tyre | | Bike Setup: | Snata cruz Blure classic. | | Bottom Line: | Expensive rubbish | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
cheesehead
a Cross Country Rider
from newbury park,ca. usa
Date Reviewed: January 8, 2009 | | Favorite Trail: | any that's not too wet | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Strengths: | fast rolling, grip, riding at low psi, braking, cornering. Everything related to socal riding, and handeling well in rocky areas. Resistance to punctures by cacti. | | Weaknesses: | you want it to last forever, but you know it won't. | | Similar Products Used: | maxxis, weirwolf | | Bike Setup: | epic s-work, cobalt blue wheeles,xo grip shifters, xtr cranks. | | Bottom Line: | I love tires, maxxis I loved them, weirwolfs I loved them. Where those (for me) left off the RR 2.10 front, and rear picked up. They corner soo well. Braking on a dime. I had the ignitors front, and rear, they slipped a bit in the front. The cornering is the first thing I noticed. I can take corners so tight, and fast, and be under control. I run front, and rear at 27psi, I am 190lbs with sealant. My riding has picked up to a new level that I cannot believe. I want to ride all the time. I can't wait to put them on my 29er, when I have that finished. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
DailyRider
a Cross Country Rider
from Salt Lake City, UT
Date Reviewed: October 23, 2008 | | Favorite Trail: | Crest, Dog Lake, & Shoreline | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$45.00 | | Purchased At: | UniversalCycles.com | | Strengths: | Smooth Rolling, very low resistance, true 2.25", great traction in hard, loose over hard, and hard w/rocks | | Weaknesses: | Maybe wear, but worth it! | | Similar Products Used: | Hutch Python, Michelin XCR Dry, Intense Tubeless, Conti Explorer UST, Maxxis Larsen TT & Ignitor | | Bike Setup: | Litespeed Niota Ti (in 4"), Fox Talas, full XO, DT Swiss 240 wheelset in UST | | Bottom Line: | I've been looking for a smooth, fast tire that handled my terrain. I've found them and at 2.25" they are the fattest fastest tire out there. The rear might rear quickley (notice difference between rear and front after 2 weeks of daily riding), but well worth the ride. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Marius.Venter
a Downhiller
from Meyerton, South Africa
Date Reviewed: July 21, 2008 | | Favorite Trail: | Knysna Forest | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Strengths: | Fast Rolling, Awesome tyre in forgivving terrain. | | Weaknesses: | 3 punctures in 40km easy terrain | | Similar Products Used: | None yet | | Bike Setup: | Merrida Mission 3000 | | Bottom Line: | I got these tyres with my Merida. I took them to the Knysna Oyster Festival and rode in first of all dry terrain for 50km. No issues at all. A real WOW ride.
I then did the Petzl Adventure Night Bike a couple of days later. This was a 15km Mud Bath. I could not really test the tyres as everyone pushed most of the way. We were in knee deep mud as we had floods the day before. Whenwe were riding it was slow and with not much control.
Took them out this past weekend into the South African bush. 40km trail with the first 20km being "deep" sand. I had to deflate my tyres to 2bar just to ride this stuff. Just looking at a rock just on 15km into the ride I got the dreded snakebite. I punctured another 2 times within the next 20km. I finished 7th in the race.
Conclusion: This tyre is great as long as you can keep air in the tyre. This tyre will cost you time as soon as you come close to any type of rock or thorn.
Would not buy them again. Fast rolling is not worth the 15min I spend repairing punctures. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
juan
a Cross Country Rider
from Cologne, Germany
Date Reviewed: June 1, 2008 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$50.00 | | Purchased At: | r2-bike | | Strengths: | Light, low rolling resistance, good grip. | | Weaknesses: | Casing durability/strength | | Similar Products Used: | IRC Mibro, Schwalbe Nobby Nick | | Bike Setup: | Scott Scale | | Bottom Line: | Definetively a step forward in XC racing tyres. Extremely light (2.10), very low rolling resistance and quite good grip on dry terrain. Downside is durability. After only 70 km (most of it racing), my rear tyre splitted in the tread area. While negociating a rocky section the tyre blew due to a 4 cm cut. Never had this problem before with any tyre. I still give 4 chllis due to its great performance. But use it only for racing in purpose built trails. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Dominic
a
from Bay Area
Date Reviewed: March 12, 2008 | | Favorite Trail: | Braille @ Demo Forest | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$50.00 | | Purchased At: | Chad @ Red Barn Cycles | | Strengths: | Hello Schwalbe! These are the new Nevegals with better traction, less rolling resistence and lighter. The new design is incredible. It makes the tire fast, fast, fast! It corners great with the new U-turn tech. Everything is pointing to these being the best allaround tire available. | | Weaknesses: | Price! Got around that with Chad's help. The fact that the 2.25 is more like a 2.10. They weren't out sooner. | | Similar Products Used: | Maxxis, WTB, Kenda | | Bike Setup: | Ti MotoLite | | Bottom Line: | A great tire even for the $80 but the "best" rubber if you pay $50! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
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