PPP-(Paul's product punishment) Part One...
On my purpose designed ride today I decided the new tyres I put on were going to be the first product, I will put through the vigorous testing. I have a wide variety of single track that Mt. Beauty at my disposal and it contains all types of tracks.
On today's ride I thought up the segment PPP (Paul product punishment) for a purpose built testing part to the felt racing blog. Testing is something I have not done "officially" before but for those who know my riding style, they would know that every time I step onto the bike there is a certain degree of testing undertaken.
Today's ride was focusing on specifically the new Panaracer Razer xc tyres that Southcott cycles (Felt) have started importing this year. I have had these bad boys rolled up in there cool blue packaging since mid winter and due to many factors I have not broken the seals until today....
I seem to have started the review and I have not intended to before the vital stats, ride details and product details have been revealed. These things happen. I hope this is the first installment of many for PPP. Below is the format I will try to replicate (with slight variations) for products in the future.
Vital stats:
Rider-Paul van der Ploeg
Age-18 years
Current weight-around 85kg
Height-193cm roughly 6 foot 3
Riding style-Aggressive.
Years riding-3yrs serious and since I could walk casually.
Ride, Product and Test info:
Bike used: Felt virtue Team 21.5 inch (XL) with 130mm travel front and rear.
Test duration/type: First ride and first impressions
Location: Big Hill MTB Park Mt. Beauty.
Conditions- Dry and a little dusty.
Terrain covered in 1hr 5min ride- Mostly Easy with some intermediate trails.
Part on punishment- Panaracer Razer xc 2.1 tyres (weight 450grms) non tubeless.
Tread Pattern: Knob size-low to mid
Designed for- dry hard packed conditions
Rolling resistance-Low to very low
Time it took to blow off tyre-37min 40sec
Obstacle in charge of crime- A rock drop from the 2006 nationals course (height- 0ne of my size 48 Luis Garneau carbon shoes)
Summary of test:
So as you can see in the info above there is a bit of a story to tell and I was not expecting to have such an exciting one for the first impressions on my first ride with this product. Now lets start with the basics.
Instillation:
I have to start by saying that I sealed the tyres up tubeless to my wheels and they are not a tubeless tyre. Although this was an easy process it is not recommended. Lots of xc racers do this to save weight and can get away with it, but at my weight and on the virtue it was a risky move and it didn't pay off in this test. I sealed the tyres up and rode them pretty much straight away which is also a big no no. The bead needs to settle into the rim and get a proper seal. With the non tubeless tyres I have found that it takes a few rides or at least one solid ride to completely settle the tyre into the rim.
To seal the tyres you will need a compressor, a dash of tyre sealant, Paul's magic solution (commonly know as dish washing liquid and water) and POP the tyre should go up with little skill required.
Very first impressions:
As I rolled out of the shop the small stones flicked up into my down tube and it put a smile on my dial knowing that I had new rubber underneath my trusty steed.
This noise is common with new tyres and I found myself wondering what caused this small stone flicking. I put it down to the rubber bits that stick out of the tread. After this thought process was complete I found myself entering the single track network and the real testing was now starting.
Handling:
In the first few hard packed corners of wombats track the tyres were hooking up super well and I was ultra impressed. I was getting controlled drift and then was able to pull it back without having to put a foot out or face plant. I thought I would call this 'drift and kick' because the tyre kicked me back to a level of control after long drifts. This was a very cool sensation and I had not felt this with the tyres I had taken off the bike. I have had tyres in the past which when they started to go they never could be pulled back.
So in the hard packed dry conditions the Razer xc was eating it up. But on the gully track I hit a patch of sand and the front tyre slipped out from underneath me and luckily I soon found more hard pack. So a small crack in the solid preforming tyre was showing.
The next set of trails I started to fall in love with the tyre as I pushed it further then I have dared to go. It 'drift and kicked' me all the way down the fast flowing trail 'secret track' and the dart 4WD with no trouble at all. Then I climbed up to the 2006 national trails for a rougher and tougher test.
Getting Over confident:
The 2006 nationals decent has got a few sizable ruts in it and steeper shoots. I dropped in and popped over the first log, I have burped many a tyre on this obstacle in the past, but the paneracer easily held its own. On the next small shoot I laid into the corner and the loose surface and over confidence in traction, caused the tyre to glide out of control and into a fallen log while I found myself 'turtle sliding' on my chest thinking, "I don't think these tyres like the loose dirt/sand". I picked up my bike and straightened my bars which were at a 75 Degree angle. I then checked the TP (tyre pressure) and surprisingly no air was lost. I then continued to bomb down the run with astonishment.
The drop is not big but has a rutted out landing that has claimed a few riders and I knew that burping on this section was a possibility. As I rolled over I lent back, then upon landing the tyre didn't burp but blew straight off the rim. BANG! As I rolled to a stop I was not to happy about the last 10 seconds of riding. I fixed the flat and finished off the trail.
With the tube in the front the weight was noticeably heavier, but it gave the tyre a more solid feel and there was no risk of blowing the tyre off the rim. The rest of the ride was fairly un-eventful.
Conclusion:
On my first ride I think the panaracer razer xc (non tubeless) is a fantastic race tyre for dry condition cross country racing and it held up respectively to the punishment I dished out to it. The only real drama is that, if you plan on sealing them up as tubeless you need to ride with a little bit of caution on your first few rides because the bead is not designed to be sealed without a tube and takes a little bit to settle into place. So don't drop off rock faces or do road gaps with these tyres to start with because that's not what they are designed for.
The tyre blowing off the rim didn't change my thoughts on how good this tyre is. I haven't been able to keep a tyre that weighed under 500 grams on the rim in my cycling career, so i almost expected this to happen (maybe not so soon, but I was taking the tyre out on a 130mm travel trail bike and hitting the track as hard as I could go). I do love the handling and control that the tyre delivers in the dry and HP (hard packed) dirt. I want some rain to see if it holds its own with a bit of moisture, but I cant see this happening any time soon.
After some random period of time I will do a full report on these tyres, so check back for a more accurate and informed report then, on the panaracer razer xc tyres. Coming soon to a store near you.
On today's ride I thought up the segment PPP (Paul product punishment) for a purpose built testing part to the felt racing blog. Testing is something I have not done "officially" before but for those who know my riding style, they would know that every time I step onto the bike there is a certain degree of testing undertaken.
Today's ride was focusing on specifically the new Panaracer Razer xc tyres that Southcott cycles (Felt) have started importing this year. I have had these bad boys rolled up in there cool blue packaging since mid winter and due to many factors I have not broken the seals until today....
I seem to have started the review and I have not intended to before the vital stats, ride details and product details have been revealed. These things happen. I hope this is the first installment of many for PPP. Below is the format I will try to replicate (with slight variations) for products in the future.
Vital stats:
Rider-Paul van der Ploeg
Age-18 years
Current weight-around 85kg
Height-193cm roughly 6 foot 3
Riding style-Aggressive.
Years riding-3yrs serious and since I could walk casually.
Ride, Product and Test info:
Bike used: Felt virtue Team 21.5 inch (XL) with 130mm travel front and rear.
Test duration/type: First ride and first impressions
Location: Big Hill MTB Park Mt. Beauty.
Conditions- Dry and a little dusty.
Terrain covered in 1hr 5min ride- Mostly Easy with some intermediate trails.
Part on punishment- Panaracer Razer xc 2.1 tyres (weight 450grms) non tubeless.
Tread Pattern: Knob size-low to mid
Designed for- dry hard packed conditions
Rolling resistance-Low to very low
Time it took to blow off tyre-37min 40sec
Obstacle in charge of crime- A rock drop from the 2006 nationals course (height- 0ne of my size 48 Luis Garneau carbon shoes)
Summary of test:
So as you can see in the info above there is a bit of a story to tell and I was not expecting to have such an exciting one for the first impressions on my first ride with this product. Now lets start with the basics.
Instillation:
I have to start by saying that I sealed the tyres up tubeless to my wheels and they are not a tubeless tyre. Although this was an easy process it is not recommended. Lots of xc racers do this to save weight and can get away with it, but at my weight and on the virtue it was a risky move and it didn't pay off in this test. I sealed the tyres up and rode them pretty much straight away which is also a big no no. The bead needs to settle into the rim and get a proper seal. With the non tubeless tyres I have found that it takes a few rides or at least one solid ride to completely settle the tyre into the rim.
To seal the tyres you will need a compressor, a dash of tyre sealant, Paul's magic solution (commonly know as dish washing liquid and water) and POP the tyre should go up with little skill required.
Very first impressions:
As I rolled out of the shop the small stones flicked up into my down tube and it put a smile on my dial knowing that I had new rubber underneath my trusty steed.
This noise is common with new tyres and I found myself wondering what caused this small stone flicking. I put it down to the rubber bits that stick out of the tread. After this thought process was complete I found myself entering the single track network and the real testing was now starting.
Handling:
In the first few hard packed corners of wombats track the tyres were hooking up super well and I was ultra impressed. I was getting controlled drift and then was able to pull it back without having to put a foot out or face plant. I thought I would call this 'drift and kick' because the tyre kicked me back to a level of control after long drifts. This was a very cool sensation and I had not felt this with the tyres I had taken off the bike. I have had tyres in the past which when they started to go they never could be pulled back.
So in the hard packed dry conditions the Razer xc was eating it up. But on the gully track I hit a patch of sand and the front tyre slipped out from underneath me and luckily I soon found more hard pack. So a small crack in the solid preforming tyre was showing.
The next set of trails I started to fall in love with the tyre as I pushed it further then I have dared to go. It 'drift and kicked' me all the way down the fast flowing trail 'secret track' and the dart 4WD with no trouble at all. Then I climbed up to the 2006 national trails for a rougher and tougher test.
Getting Over confident:
The 2006 nationals decent has got a few sizable ruts in it and steeper shoots. I dropped in and popped over the first log, I have burped many a tyre on this obstacle in the past, but the paneracer easily held its own. On the next small shoot I laid into the corner and the loose surface and over confidence in traction, caused the tyre to glide out of control and into a fallen log while I found myself 'turtle sliding' on my chest thinking, "I don't think these tyres like the loose dirt/sand". I picked up my bike and straightened my bars which were at a 75 Degree angle. I then checked the TP (tyre pressure) and surprisingly no air was lost. I then continued to bomb down the run with astonishment.
The drop is not big but has a rutted out landing that has claimed a few riders and I knew that burping on this section was a possibility. As I rolled over I lent back, then upon landing the tyre didn't burp but blew straight off the rim. BANG! As I rolled to a stop I was not to happy about the last 10 seconds of riding. I fixed the flat and finished off the trail.
With the tube in the front the weight was noticeably heavier, but it gave the tyre a more solid feel and there was no risk of blowing the tyre off the rim. The rest of the ride was fairly un-eventful.
Conclusion:
On my first ride I think the panaracer razer xc (non tubeless) is a fantastic race tyre for dry condition cross country racing and it held up respectively to the punishment I dished out to it. The only real drama is that, if you plan on sealing them up as tubeless you need to ride with a little bit of caution on your first few rides because the bead is not designed to be sealed without a tube and takes a little bit to settle into place. So don't drop off rock faces or do road gaps with these tyres to start with because that's not what they are designed for.
The tyre blowing off the rim didn't change my thoughts on how good this tyre is. I haven't been able to keep a tyre that weighed under 500 grams on the rim in my cycling career, so i almost expected this to happen (maybe not so soon, but I was taking the tyre out on a 130mm travel trail bike and hitting the track as hard as I could go). I do love the handling and control that the tyre delivers in the dry and HP (hard packed) dirt. I want some rain to see if it holds its own with a bit of moisture, but I cant see this happening any time soon.
After some random period of time I will do a full report on these tyres, so check back for a more accurate and informed report then, on the panaracer razer xc tyres. Coming soon to a store near you.
posted by Unknown at 5:22 pm
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