27.5 Hardtail to park bike… Tyres & forks help!

[TSP]

it’s time to get out on a bike again, I’ve not been out since a car accident left me with a crooked neck but my little lad is coming up for four and now is the time to head to the pump track.

I’ve got a Ragley Marley which is great fun, chuckable and great for my local trails but I can’t see me hitting them any time soon so I thought I’d make it more suitable for what I need.

It’s got the sloooooowest rolling 2.8 tyres on it which are great for rough ground but anything smoothish is torture. Could anyone recommend me a pair of semi-slicks (?) that could be used on very light trails and tarmac? I’d like a very light tread pattern on the centres with a decent shoulder for looks rather than anything else. I went into my local shop and he just said “About £200 a pair” while fettling a swanky looking e-bike. I guess I wasn’t likely to be a big spender that day.

While I’m at it I’d love to put on some lightish rigid forks. The geometry is nice on the Marley so I wouldn’t want to loose that too much but the forks fitted are heavy and if I’m not using it as intended they’re pointless really. Any ideas?

Thanks for the help guys… it’ll be great to get out again!

 

[ishaw]

I was looking for some 27.5 tyres for a build the other day. Gutted as I don't think my frame will take anything over 2.5 so I couldn't take advantage of most of what's on offer here:

https://www.bananaindustries.co.uk/collections/tyres?filter.p.m.custom.tyre_size=27.5"

As for rigid forks, exotic carbon forks are good for the money.

I might have a set dut I'd need to check if they are for 27.5 wheels. What steerer tube and axle type do you need?

 

[TSP]

Thanks for the link! I’ll take a look, the Pirelli Scorpions look decent. I’m not sure how narrow you can go on the rims I have. I’m guessing 2.5?

The forks are tapered with a thru axle (12mm?) I better look, I didn’t think to check that!

 

[2manyoranges]

it’s time to get out on a bike again, I’ve not been out since a car accident left me with a crooked neck but my little lad is coming up for four and now is the time to head to the pump track.

I’ve got a Ragley Marley which is great fun, chuckable and great for my local trails but I can’t see me hitting them any time soon so I thought I’d make it more suitable for what I need.

It’s got the sloooooowest rolling 2.8 tyres on it which are great for rough ground but anything smoothish is torture. Could anyone recommend me a pair of semi-slicks (?) that could be used on very light trails and tarmac? I’d like a very light tread pattern on the centres with a decent shoulder for looks rather than anything else. I went into my local shop and he just said “About £200 a pair” while fettling a swanky looking e-bike. I guess I wasn’t likely to be a big spender that day.

While I’m at it I’d love to put on some lightish rigid forks. The geometry is nice on the Marley so I wouldn’t want to loose that too much but the forks fitted are heavy and if I’m not using it as intended they’re pointless really. Any ideas?

Thanks for the help guys… it’ll be great to get out again!

If you have 2.8s I assume you have the latest Marley (CC final sale).

It's a good question, and it's really a question of thinking about tread pattern It's amazing how some tyres can be SO draggy. It's also surprising how you CAN get a tyre with good grip off road and decent low drag performance. What you want is a tyre with a simple centre pattern to give low drag, and decent side paddles so that you can LEEEEEAN the bike and get grip. But you want that transition to be progressive, so you avoid a no grip, no grip LOADS OF GRIP problem, which can be very offputting.

Schwalbe Smart Sams are good at this. A central line of lugs then spaced lugs on the side.
MAXXIS Pace is the same sort of design
MAXXIS Ardent also has central arrangement of lugs and is a bit more grippy when leant but I am not a fan
Vittoria Mexcal has a nice continuous line of lugs
Personally I think the G One bite is a good thing, but not much hard off road capability but may be what you want

Something extreme for the weekend Sir?

https://www.merlincycles.com/schwal...g&utm_term=Cyclocross/Gravel+Tyres&ucpo=45643

want a scientific analysis.....

https://www.bicyclerollingresistance.com/mtb-reviews

 

[brocklanders023]

Schwalbe Racing Ralph's are what I have on the back of my XC bike. Fast rolling but a bit grippier than slicks.