Iron Cross 2012, Setup

I am trying various combinations of tires/bikes.  At Hilly Billy 2012 I used the Continental Cyclocross Plus because I wanted a bomb-proof tire and was more focused on finishing the longest/hardest race that I had ever attempted.  Well they were definitely bomb proof but the 800 grams of tire is a bit sluggish and probably over kill.  Time to optimize!

Here is the chat to Master mountain bike jedi Danny Atkins:
me:  oh man.  put a cx tire (front) and touring tire (back) on my SS mtb because i'm going to ride the iron cross course the next 2 days

tried it out on my home cx course at ccbc.

that was just fun.

might never ride my cx bike off road again

 Dan:  oh awesome!

haha

curious why a touring tire?

 me:  for real, why!

i'll tell u why

because the only way to get a puncture resistant, low rolling resistant, 29'r or 700 sized tire that isn't too fat.... get a touring a tire.  i got the shwalbe mondial.

the only killer... they aren't so hot at going tubeless

i'm hoping they still have air when i get home today

tested them last night

 Dan:  that's an interesting choice

how did it do?

 me:  but they are about 250 grams lighter than the tires i rode at hilly billy.  so that is the big advantage.  yet they are still very puncture resistant.

it went great

as long as they are still holding air tubeless today

check out my little g+ post:

dear cyclocross bike, sorry but I found something else. Oh, it's name? single speed ultra cross Mountain bike.

 

and iron cross is more fast rolling roads than hilly billy

so it is a faster tire

struggling to come up with a solution for the front tire tho

mondial's don't have enough tread i feel like to be a front tire

just used a 700x35 cx tire.

which feels great

but now i've lost the puncture resistance in the front

 Sent at 8:07 AM on Friday

 Dan:  why not go with another one of those contis?

 me:  800 grams

trying to go like 550 grams

mondial is 580 but the tread aint good enough

 Dan:  i see

 me:  so maybe even 650 in the front

just not 800!

and the tread life is horrible on the conti cx plus

the mondial should last forever

 Sent at 8:11 AM on Friday

 me:  if the mondial does well in my test rides today and tomorrow. i may go with it as a front tire too.

 Sent at 8:13 AM on Friday

 me:  actually, ya that is the plan.  mondial for the front too if it can survive tubeless in the back this weekend.

 Sent at 8:17 AM on Friday

 Dan:  what pressure will you run them at

 me:  i did 55psi at hilly billy.  but will probably try to go 45ish today/tomorrow on the mondial

what do u think?

 Dan:  no idea

ha, i really dont know...touring tires aren't my thing

 me:  ya, me neither.  the mondial is THE road/off road touring tire

used to be called something else. marathon extreme or something.  anyway.. i'm a little extreme

 Dan:  oh yeah the marathon is ringing some bells

 Sent at 8:21 AM on Friday

 

So let the test begin!