REVIEWS DEALS BIKESHOPS TRAILS

Moab and my Sultan...

2312 Views 45 Replies 21 Participants Last post by joshuagore, Feb 17, 2011

joshuagore

Discussion Starter · Feb 11, 2011

In a little under a week I am heading to moab for a few days and we decided to drive so the Sultan is taking the trip. I ride only in the midwest, so how should I prepare the bike? I am thinking picking up some more aggressive tires(nevegal?), to replace my bontrager 29-3 tires. I am also considering picking up a dropper post and slackening up with a little less sag(I intentionally run more sag than I need to for the tight switchback climbs).

This is the bike currently:
Fluid 135
Spinergy Xyclone
X0 1X9/MRP 1.x

Any suggestions?
Josh

p.s. Pics will come starting next Sunday assuming the hotel has wifi

See less See more

1 - 20 of 46 Posts

flipnidaho

· #2 · Feb 11, 2011

Yep- dropper post and big, fat, worn out, tubeless tires

SSINGA

· #3 · Feb 11, 2011

The Nev works well in Moab but expect to throw it away after the trip. Go tubeless!

Where do you plan to ride?

inkpad

· #4 · Feb 11, 2011

Like others have mentioned, go big as you can with tires, tubeless preferred, plus a seat dropper would be ideal, but definitely tires. My buddy ran a 2.1 Crossmark on the rear on our last trip, riding a new Specy Enduro w/ Lyrik. By the end of the Whole Enchilada ride he changed 6 flats :madman:

2.35 minimum IMO.

lanruss

· #5 · Feb 11, 2011

How do you like the Fluid 135? Did you ever run it with a 120mm fork? Comparisions?

MK_

· #6 · Feb 11, 2011

Make sure your tires aren't too bald as there's sand (and likely mud right now) there. Take advantage of the off season and ride Porcupine Rim from the bottom; it's a super fun climb! Continental Black Chili compound has proven to hold up really good to the Moab "sandpaper" rocks.

_MK

Cucucachu

· #7 · Feb 11, 2011

One more vote for big 2bliss tires!

When I ran tubes - I used to flat at least once each time down Porc Rim. Tubeless fixed that.

Also bring water. Lots-o-water! I normally empty a water bottle and 70oz Camelbak before the end.

If yer from the flat lands - get a shuttle to the corner of LaSalle Road & Sand Flats Road (Kokopelli sign) and start there. The trail above it, Hazard County, is probably snowed in right now. Bombing the fire road along the rim from this point is great!

rr

· #8 · Feb 11, 2011

Last time I was there I ran the Ardent 2.4's tubeless and they were perfect, zero issues on Amasa back/Jacksons and the Whole enchilada ride, as well as others.

Good luck with the weather, I imagine even the lookout at Porc has snow right now, might have to stay low

joshuagore

Discussion Starter · #9 · Feb 11, 2011

Awesome! This is the feedback I was looking for. I am tubless right now, but my tire volume and sidewall is weak so thats where I will make improvements.

Josh

xcguy

· #10 · Feb 11, 2011

MK_ said:
Make sure your tires aren't too bald as there's sand (and likely mud right now) there. Take advantage of the off season and ride Porcupine Rim from the bottom; it's a super fun climb! Continental Black Chili compound has proven to hold up really good to the Moab "sandpaper" rocks.

_MK

I second MK's idea of climbing UP Porc from 128. Just keep climbing till the snow gets too deep then turn around. Best of both worlds.

dirtbag

· #11 · Feb 11, 2011

Ditto on the Ardents. I would go for the 2.4 EXOs and run them tubless.

cutthroat

· #12 · Feb 11, 2011

The Spec. Purgatory 2.4 is also a really nice, durable tire that runs great tubeless. Don't forget all the great new ST out at Sovereign - tons of play options out there and it will be drier than higher up.

mtbmitch2

· #13 · Feb 11, 2011

start out the trip with lots of brake pad material
I liked my Ardent on the front in Moab last fall

have fun

joshuagore

Discussion Starter · #14 · Feb 11, 2011

mtbmitch2 said:
start out the trip with lots of brake pad material
I liked my Ardent on the front in Moab last fall

have fun

I am considering ditching the elixers as I have been looking for an excuse.
Josh

joshuagore

Discussion Starter · #15 · Feb 11, 2011

Ohh the WTB Dissent is looking good maybe a tad chunky.
Josh

rr

· #16 · Feb 12, 2011

You'll save a pound at each wheel with the Ardent, that's huge, ever pedal a DH tire on a long trail ride? it sux!

cuttthroat- I wanted to try a Purgatory then a buddy told me he has ripped the sidewall twice on a 26" version of the tire in 2bliss, don't think I'm gonna bother now as one of our riding spots is hard on sidewalls.

joshuagore

Discussion Starter · #17 · Feb 12, 2011

I went with Conti Mountain Kings. I may pickup an ardent for up front depending on if I can find it in time.
Josh

flipnidaho

· #18 · Feb 12, 2011

Big Betty works well also. Nice thick sidewalls...

miles e

· #19 · Feb 12, 2011

joshuagore said:
I went with Conti Mountain Kings. I may pickup an ardent for up front depending on if I can find it in time.
Josh

Not the best choice IMO. Those big sharp knobs can get pretty squirmy on rock faces (especially on the non-Black Chili 29" version), and they don't have near the volume that their nominal size would suggest. The sidewalls are "okay", otherwise they don't have much at all going for them as a Moab tire.

WHALENARD

· #20 · Feb 12, 2011

As others have said the bigger tires the better either tubeless or big thick dh tubes. The more aggressive you can set up your bike for moab the better. Also more sag=slacker geo not vice versa

1 - 20 of 46 Posts

This is an older thread, you may not receive a response, and could be reviving an old thread. Please consider creating a new thread.