Sooo...what tires to run on waxed tiles?

[THRILLSEEKA]

Heehee! Yeah, that's actually a serious question! I got accepted to run the Redbull Ride the Sky in two weeks(yikes) and the surface will consist of slippery tiled hallways, carpet and steps. Hopefully a little air in there as well, but I don't really want the tires to grab anything at that point.
The choices in my basement are
(1)2.5 Nevegal Stick-E, (1)2.5 Blue groove Stick-E, (1)2.3 Nevegal Stick-E,
2.5/2.3 Specialized Chunders w/Umma Gumma rubber
2.5/2.3 Michelin Comp 24s
2.4 Holy Rollers(pair)
2.2 Maxxis Wetscreams(pair), aka Pizza Cutters

NOT really considering the Holy Rollers at all, they wash out on concrete and I'll be on 90* corners on slippery tile.
I'm not digging the Michy's cuz they're brand new with nips and a fugging MUTHER to mount/dismount.
The Chunders roll like sh!t and I think you can actually see a gooey trail behind them. Super sticky, BUT I don't think it will matter on tile?
Soooo I'm leaning toward the Kenda 2.5 BG front and 2.3 Nevegal rear and POSSIBLY treating the outside lugs with a traction agent. And if the vote is on the Kendas, BG or another Nev in front?

[blue]

Waxed tile is like slightly less slippery ice (at least in my experience on it with some hard compound Maxxis CX tires)...High volume sticky compound would be my suggestion.

I'd go with the 2.5 Nevegals...don't you have some entryways or a mall you can try them out in?

[THRILLSEEKA]

I've been screwing around in my basement on painted concrete, which is about as close as I can get, and NOTHING sticks! Not to mention 6' circles isn't quite the same as pinned and adrenalined...!

[bdamschen]

Hookworms maybe?

Or just duct tape up that inside foot....
http://www.amsoil.com/testimonials/beland/images/1_225px.jpg

[V-Dub GTI]

get real big tires and run low psi, thats about all i can recomend.

[blue]

Hookworms would be horrible. Definently want knobs.

Studs would do the trick. :D

Oh yeah, if that crap gets even the SLIGHTEST bit wet, expect to go down...

[THRILLSEEKA]

Studs...hmmm....
I suppose that wouldn't be very nice of me, would it!?
Knowing Redbull, they'll prob have the floors waxed the hour before the race starts!
I've been thinking that maybe I can just overshoot the corners, slam the far wall and crank out of it...
Can't really run low PSI... sounds like a ton of stairs to bomb down. That's actually where I'm the most concerned. I haven't seen the course, but i've got this vision of a stairwell with the 180 degree turns that are all slippery tile. Wish I had those crazy street skills, just bust those sick wall-to-wall wallrides all the way down!

[elRey]

i dont think knobs are gonna help you at all. i would reccomend the closest thing you have to a street/ park tire.

[joelsman]

short knobs would be good or a semi slick?

[jrfor0]

check out the michelin DH 15 or a 24

[rigidhack]

Seems to me it is all about the contact patch on tile. Knobs cant bite in, neither could studded (ice) tires. Street tire might be the call.

[THRILLSEEKA]

If you've ever swapped street/park tires for a semi slick or a fast rolling knobby, you'll love the lugs.
Ever tried riding on painted concrete? It's death.

[Pat...]

Where is this race and can anyone sign up? It sounds really fun.

[THRILLSEEKA]

Lugs fold and hold. And you can't really get a super tacky slick. And I don't really want to run a slick while I'm turning on stairs, either. it'll be nice to have some lugs on there. The stairs sound tight, and I'll lose time trying to run down them straight, and turning on the tiles, which it doiesn't sound like there's room for anyway.

[Pip3r]

rock some arrow launch tires, they roll super fast, have a round profile for cornering, and you can get them in a soft durometer. i'm always riding in dusty skateparks with them and they hold up

[THRILLSEEKA]

Where is this race and can anyone sign up? It sounds really fun.

It's in the Skyway system above the streets of Minneapolis, Minnesota. Entry is already filled and they stopped taking apps on Tuesday. Only 50 riders were selected.

I thought about the arrows, but I'm not going to buy any new tires for the race, and those still don't have the side lugs I'd prefer to run. Prob doesn't matter anyway, slippery is slippery!

[HRDTLBRO]

So you aren't buying new tires for the race, but you want a recommendation between your selection of tires, none of which work? Holy Rollers at low pressure with holy hell heavy DH tubes...that'd be my guess. The time you may or may not lose in the corners with slicks you can probably make up with lower rolling reistance.

[gemini2k]

I thought about the arrows, but I'm not going to buy any new tires for the race,

WTFBBQ?!?! You're gonna be on local news dood!!! Spring for whatever tires u need, don't wanna be on the news sliding out yo!

[muddy beast]

The time you may or may not lose in the corners with slicks you can probably make up with lower rolling reistance.


Amen.

[THRILLSEEKA]

Never said they don't work, said I don't KNOW which ones will work. Sounds like everyone else is just running whatever is on their bike at the moment. Just looking for some input.
I DO know that I'm gonna be sliding out no matter what. The one place I don't want that is on the stairs!
So, I need a tacky, fastrolling tire that can take sharp edged hits and stick to ice. Wait...not ice... WAX!
Haha! This is gonna be fun! Sounds like the finish line is a big ol stairgap...in a lobby!

[HRDTLBRO]

Never said they don't work, said I don't KNOW which ones will work. Sounds like everyone else is just running whatever is on their bike at the moment. Just looking for some input.
I DO know that I'm gonna be sliding out no matter what. The one place I don't want that is on the stairs!
So, I need a tacky, fastrolling tire that can take sharp edged hits and stick to ice. Wait...not ice... WAX!
Haha! This is gonna be fun! Sounds like the finish line is a big ol stairgap...in a lobby!

Will this be in conjunction with Frostbike this year? It sounds like loads of fun...but i'm not going to Frostbike this year. :disgust:

edit: Saw that it was in two weeks. Good luck anyway dude.

[THRILLSEEKA]

Amen.


The entire course is on a slight downhill grade. Carrying speed will be an easy task. Managing it will be a difficult one. Did I mention that it's not ONLY tiles, but carpet too? Not sure how Holy Rollers grab carpet.... and I have hardwood floors...

[THRILLSEEKA]

Will this be in conjunction with Frostbike this year? It sounds like loads of fun...but i'm not going to Frostbike this year. :disgust:


No, never even heard of it. This a Redbull sanctioned deal...

[HRDTLBRO]

Frostbike is a QBP tradeshow (QBP is a major bike shop distributor), kinda like interbike, held in Minneapolis every year. Anything sanctioned by Red Bull will be loads of fun.:cheers:

[kona-ryder]

Id say 2.5 Nevegal on back, 2.5 Specalized on front. If the Specialized are a sticky as I have heard, then it would be better to have it one front, to prevent nose-washouts. The Nevegal will still hook up, but if you want style points you can always do a little drifting.
Ohh yeah, go poach a mall. Most mall cops are to fat to run for more than 30seconds, so you should be good.

[THRILLSEEKA]

Ha! We don't have mall cops, but I'm 34 years old, I live in a town of 13,000 people and there's 3(literally THREE) mtn bikers. Let's just say we're known... Hell, I'm sure if I checked a pedigree I'm related to all the malls employees! That's sad...
And yeah, I was kinda spacing off the Chunders... I yanked them off the bike because they were IMPOSSIBLE to ride any urban with. Geez, even the ride to the truck on the road from the end of a local trail is a chore...DOWNHILL!
Might mount them up and give 'em a spin...

Could also just run both of the Chunders, maybe just 20psi in the front and like 40-50 in the rear...

[gonefirefightin]

naw bro, I was just talking about this exact same race with a buddy of mine. we both run the intense Zero fros in the urban races. they stick like mad and keep you rolling fast on course since there is no tread in the middle to slow you down. and when you brake man they stop you quick. perfect tire for the ride the sky, wish i could go, i am hung up with a race in oregon.

http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i171/gonefirefighting/IFD3.jpg

[elRey]

naw bro, I was just talking about this exact same race with a buddy of mine. we both run the intense Zero fros in the urban races. they stick like mad and keep you rolling fast on course since there is no tread in the middle to slow you down. and when you brake man they stop you quick. perfect tire for the ride the sky, wish i could go, i am hung up with a race in oregon.

http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i171/gonefirefighting/IFD3.jpg

a race in oregon???

what is this "race" u speak of.

[kidwoo]

Run some low grit sandpaper over your holy rollers to rough them up and give them some conformity on smooth surfaces.

They will roll fast and still grip where you need them to.

[hungryleprican]

Run some low grit sandpaper over your holy rollers to rough them up and give them some conformity on smooth surfaces.

They will roll fast and still grip where you need them to.

I like that idea

[gonefirefightin]

a race in oregon???

what is this "race" u speak of.


shhhh. just dont tell anyone I wear girl pants on the timed rides, it might hurt my image as i get out of my grand vitara. gotta stay in shape somehow

http://www.bbcbike.com/bbc.cfm/fa/bbc.showpage/pid/15

[mshred]

instead of studs put little suction cups on your tires:p

[TenaciousT]

Kenda 2.3 Small Block 8's

[THRILLSEEKA]

I've been wondering how those Small Blaocks would do... But I can't buy tires. Hell, not even sure how I'm getting there yet! It's 6 hours away, I'm broke, and I've got a deal in a town 5 hours away in the opposite direction this weekend, and another event in the same town 2 weeks after the Redbull race! And that's not including the 6-7 motel rooms needed for all of them...
That's why I'm gonna have to run wut I brung...

[gonefirefightin]

whew.......for a minute there I thought this post was a waste of time.

[BKQuill]

Which ever tire you actually do decide to run with, here is a tip. About 30/45 minutes before your run, run your tires in Coke several times. As in Coca-Cola, it will help with traction on slippery surfaces. We use to this back in the early 80's on our BMX bikes for those indoor races that had wooden jumps, flat turns, and were on gym floors or concrete or other slippery surfaces.

[CKxx]

Which ever tire you actually do decide to run with, here is a tip. About 30/45 minutes before your run, run your tires in Coke several times. As in Coca-Cola, it will help with traction on slippery surfaces. We use to this back in the early 80's on our BMX bikes for those indoor races that had wooden jumps, flat turns, and were on gym floors or concrete or other slippery surfaces.

I went to see some indoor motocross stunt show, or whatever you wnt to call it, and they were out about 50min before showtime mopping the floor with cola. They were able to pop power wheelies on smooth concrete with the sticky soda residue, so I would bet it works pretty well.

[jdschall]

I'm not sure if this would work or not but might be worth a try at home first. Depending on the tire compound you might be able to degrade the rubber and make it more sticky using alcohol or some other solvent. You'd probably just end up ruining a perfectly good set of tires though... Just a thought. I've never actually tried it.

[skatetokil]

just do some cutting like back in the day

take all the center knobs off one of your old 2.5 sticky tires and you're good to go.

[kidwoo]

I like that idea

I don't understand all these reccomendations for tires with knobs. They'll slow you down, even slick tires grip carpet, and are your only contact points for traction on a hard surface. They're made for dirt. You're not riding dirt.

[gonefirefightin]

I don't understand all these reccomendations for tires with knobs. They'll slow you down, even slick tires grip carpet, and are your only contact points for traction on a hard surface. They're made for dirt. You're not riding dirt.

thank god someone sees the light, my brother you are healed.

this thread has been cleansed.

dude, the tires i reccomended work awsome as they are without soda or a razor blade. been there done that. I actually use them, they are fast and sticky. but since you are going to not even buy tires or possibly go to the sky race why am i blabbering on and on and..............

[Bicyclist]

I don't understand all these reccomendations for tires with knobs. They'll slow you down, even slick tires grip carpet, and are your only contact points for traction on a hard surface. They're made for dirt. You're not riding dirt.

Exactly. Trim knobs or buy slicks.

[blue]

I don't understand all these reccomendations for tires with knobs. They'll slow you down, even slick tires grip carpet, and are your only contact points for traction on a hard surface. They're made for dirt. You're not riding dirt.

Except the only tires made with a sticky compound are big knobbies...

Perhaps trim the Chundahs?

A straight up hard compound slick (like holyrollers or hookworms) will kill you on waxed tile. I've hit the deck more than a few times because of it.

[Bicyclist]

I'm gonna have to disagree. The skatepark I ride is wood with wax over it for skaters. I've ridden there on lots of tires, like K-rads, Holy Rollers, and High Rollers. The High Rollers were really really sketchy compared to the street tires.

[MinorThreat]

Low-profile tires - maybe even Hookworms. Your best friend in this situation is going to be a wood rasp and a spray-bottle of bleach. Trust me. It was the formula we used for the polished concrete at the Seattle Coliseum and it works:

http://www.aimcomm.com/users/dminor/images/seattle_col_70_web.jpg

[kidwoo]

^awesome


Hence my sandpaper on the holy rollers comment.

Arrow makes a sticky version of the launch tires, Kenda makes a sticky version of the short tracker.

There's no reason to run dh knobbies. All they do is slow you down.........a lot.

[Pat...]

I want to try coke on my hookworm sometime. Anyone selling one, I need another?

[Bicyclist]

I want to try coke on my hookworm sometime.

hahahaha

[Cant Climb]

Not sure if anyone said Semislick Highrollers yet....the band of knobs on the side might give you some traction by pulling against the tile, and the center of the tire with the tiny triangle bumps might give some grip too...........and i would go 50 duro, the stickier the better.....

i have some very lightly used 2.35s......if you interested.....

[THRILLSEEKA]

OK...it's not that I don't WANT to buy tires, people. It's that I CAN'T! Geez, this wan't exactly a planned event and like I said, I already had two pretty big trips planned before and after this one that I can't get out of. I'M TAPPED. I even had the bike I'll be racing sold and had to cut out of the deal after trying to sell it for months!
IMO, corners are where the race is won or lost. Seems to work for Hill. It also sounds like the place most will be getting injured. The entire course is only like a mile long or so, so it's already a sprinters race. The course is NOT carpet, just has carpet on it. Don't know where.
I like how this thread is a "waste of time" just because I don't drop the subject and fully devote myself to one opinion. Too funny.

[THRILLSEEKA]

can't climb... PM me with a price.

[drt_jumper]

Run whatever tire you are comfortable with most. But I would do one of two things about 30-50min before the race...either do the soda idea, or go to a local hobby store and buy traction compound for RC car tires, this stuff makes rubber sticky as all hell. I would only put the coke or traction compound on the outer edge of the tire where you are cornering, other wise you may just end up picking up dust and stuff while riding straight....that is assuming they didnt mop/dust the tiles.

[kidwoo]

I've seen clips of this race.....or at least something very similar.

How do the guys on road bikes place vs the guys on big travel bikes?

[DHS]

rock some arrow launch tires, they roll super fast, have a round profile for cornering, and you can get them in a soft durometer. i'm always riding in dusty skateparks with them and they hold up

yup, another vote for these

[heikkihall]

Knobs WILL NOT grip on a solid surface. All they will do is fold over and wash out. Your best bet is the Holy Rollers.

Just remember brake early for the turn and DO NOT touch your brake in the corners and they will be awesome.

[Nick]

well ... I'm in too. We'll have to get together for a beer afterwards. :thumb:

I'm glad you started this thread because tire choice has been on my mind too. I do know it won't be a knobby.

Shoot me a PM when you can. It'll be like Team Ridemonkey.

[Nick]

I've seen clips of this race.....or at least something very similar.

How do the guys on road bikes place vs the guys on big travel bikes?


I don't know about a road bike.

From what I understand the course drops 300' in .98 mile. Aside from actual elevation change from start to finish, the rest is in staircases. I would think rolling a few dozen stairs on a road bike would be super sketchy. PLUS I believe we are to expect several man made jumps scattered in the mix.

[heikkihall]

I would run a mtnx/ ds type of hardtail with slick commuter tires and a stiff fork.

[CRoss]

I would give the r/c car traction compound a try. It makes the rubber softer and more sticky. The coke might work for the first few corners but I see it wearing off towards the end of the race.

[sbabuser]

How many of you guys recommending knobby tires/ low pressure spend much time in a skate park? Or even at a bmx track for that matter? There's a reason guys who ride vert/ park run smooth tires and high pressure.
Denver public sk8pk is super slick concrete, covered in a layer of dust. I'd say that's probably pretty close to how much traction you'll get on tile, and I'm pretty happy with my holy rollers there. Ditto what the others said about roughing them up, and at the very least, clean 'em with isopropyl alcohol.

[kidwoo]

I don't know about a road bike.

From what I understand the course drops 300' in .98 mile. Aside from actual elevation change from start to finish, the rest is in staircases. I would think rolling a few dozen stairs on a road bike would be super sketchy. PLUS I believe we are to expect several man made jumps scattered in the mix.

I'm just thinking about the race RedBull did that I saw footage of. I don't know if the 'rules' have changed but there were no jumps and they made the riders walk/carry their bikes down the stairs.

The footage I saw had guys on everything from road to dh bikes. The guys on dh bikes were slow.

But if there are jumps, then yeah.....I'd go with a hardtail or what heiki suggested. There's no reason, even with stairs that a dh bike, much less big dh tires would be appropriate.

Either way, it sounds like a cool event. Nice to see some guys here doing it.

[MinorThreat]

If you don't want to buy tires for the event (and I can't blame you), select the lowest-profile tire you have (probably your Holy Rollers) sipe the knobs with your razor blade. Wood-rasp especially the outside edges. Spray your bleach on right before your run.

DON'T use any traction compounds that make the tires sticky to where they'll pick up dirt and crud; you'll lose all the value of the tackiness in the first 100'. All you want to do is make the rubber as soft and grippy as you can.

Good luck!

[THRILLSEEKA]

If you don't want to buy tires for the event (and I can't blame you), select the lowest-profile tire you have (probably your Holy Rollers) sipe the knobs with your razor blade. Wood-rasp especially the outside edges. Spray your bleach on right before your run.

DON'T use any traction compounds that make the tires sticky to where they'll pick up dirt and crud; you'll lose all the value of the tackiness in the first 100'. All you want to do is make the rubber as soft and grippy as you can.

Good luck!

Ha! Yeah, I was thinking of this today...Coke seems like a great idea...until I get to the carpet! think rubber is slick, what would it be like on big fuzzy doughnuts??? The image makes me happy :)
OK, for one thing, I think I'm taking this all WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA AAAAY too seriously! Geez, it's not like I've been out riding urban and went around any piles of dirt cuz I had street tires on. Or been cruising around after a race and avoided sidewalks cuz I had lugz on. Right? I'm sitting here analizing every possible catastrophe and which tire might work the best in a given situation, and I've come up with this: They don't design any tires specific to waxed tile floors and carpet! So why sweat it?? I'm going to decide between the 2.5/2.3Kenda Nevegals and the Holy Rollers. I DO like the siping idea for the Holys. GOOD CALL. That might actually do the trick. And my theory on the lugged tires, and it's always been like this, is that a lug will flex a little and maybe hang on just a little longer than a harder compound, shorter lugged tire will, as it'll break loose sooner, or atleast more suddenly and permanently. Can always hope that after a big lug pops loose, it'll catch again later. Hope, I said!
I would feel more confident on the Kendas cuz they're what I know. I've ridden them in parks, on street, mud and dirt and they don't wash out on me HALF as much as the Holys do. BUT...I'm also normally running a good 60psi in the Holys... Sounds like a day of garage floor sessioning is in order. WEEEE!

[THRILLSEEKA]

I'm just thinking about the race RedBull did that I saw footage of. I don't know if the 'rules' have changed but there were no jumps and they made the riders walk/carry their bikes down the stairs.

The footage I saw had guys on everything from road to dh bikes. The guys on dh bikes were slow.

But if there are jumps, then yeah.....I'd go with a hardtail or what heiki suggested. There's no reason, even with stairs that a dh bike, much less big dh tires would be appropriate.

Either way, it sounds like a cool event. Nice to see some guys here doing it.

Completely different race this year, man. Last year's was just a feeler. Here's the interesting thing: Even though it was UPHILL last year and riders had to dismount and carry up down the stairs, 19 PEOPLE were seriously injured! I blame it on cleats, spandex(eeeew gross) and steps, but I don't actually know.
THIS YEAR, steps are on the menu, the finish line is apparently a 12' stair gap, and it sounds like we can expect jumps, berms(maybe in every corner and then this thread would be moot), and downhill speed. Yummy. In the last 4-5 weeks we've seen a high of 17 degrees, and as soon as it got that warm, it dumped another foot of snow on us! Love the Midwest!:monkeydance:

[offtheedge]

hookworms..as mentioned contact patch is key, knobs would be pointless on hard, slick surfaces.

[THRILLSEEKA]

As far as the bike itself is concerned, I also have the choice between my 06 Enduro SX with an Avy and a 66, or my Black Market Riot hardtail. I'm pretty sure I'm running the big, sloppy fully for several reasons. I JUST got the Riot and don't know it well at all. I've never jumped a hardtail and it's a tiny little thing on top of that. I'm going to bring both bikes just incase I have a change of heart on the way up. Also, the Riot is set up with a 65mm travel fork. Not my ideal choice for stair gaps and I wanna supersize the finish line gap. Thinking a little nac-nac tribute to Redbull rider Shaums March? Just hopefully not the busted leg...

[Pat...]

An sx would be perfect. Red Bull needs to do one of these in California.

[THRILLSEEKA]

All it takes is one guy with an idea. Contact your states Redbull Rep. I've been working with mine now for a month and we've got some KILLER ideas. Might be a decent summer for South Dakota!

[SylentK]

I'm actually going too. Gonna ride my Superlight and some old Maxxis Crossmarks. Now where can I get some lungs and legs? And don't say the liqour store...

[THRILLSEEKA]

I dunno...lookin at your sig i'd say you like the liquor store!

[In8Racing]

Go with the Intense Zero's...

[THRILLSEEKA]

Talked to a few guys who ran Hookworms last year and said they were "OK" on the tile, but washed out badly on the carpeted sections.
Thinking I might just sipe the outer two rows on the Holy Rollers as that will be helpful elswhere's as well.

[atb]

kenda small block 8

[Mattoid]

Kenda Small Block 8?

[THRILLSEEKA]

Hey! How about a Kenda Small Black 8???

[kidwoo]

Hey! How about a Kenda Small Black 8???

How bout your fvcking holy rollers!!!!!!!!!!!













:biggrin: :biggrin: :biggrin: :biggrin: :biggrin: :biggrin: :biggrin: :biggrin: :biggrin:

[THRILLSEEKA]

Yeah, I'm runnin the Rollers. But ONLY because street tires on a fully is cool. Kinda supermoto...
I think what I'll do is avoid the Coke or tire treatrments, and go for the Arabian Drifting technique. It'll get the job done...

[_bp]

Have you ever seen a bmx bike running knobbies on a slick concrete park or skatelite? Have you ever seen a formula one car running knobbies? If you can find no reference point with mountain bikes look elsewhere.

Friction is the only thing that matters in traction. Sure the 2mm contact patch a soft knob probably creates more friction than a 2mm patch of harder rubber. But two inches of contact point on a slick tire will be the clear winner. It shouldn't even be up for debate. And knobbies are going to be all kinds of slow in a straight line versus a slick.

And as far as hardtail vs full suspension. Full suspension = off the back on a road course. Trust me your hardtail will hold up just fine on the stair gap.

[THRILLSEEKA]

I don't get it... do peeps like you just read the first post then dive for the reply button? I hate it when people do that! If you're too lazy to read the thread, atleast be too lazy to reply to it.

Ok...incase you missed the last...like....10 posts or something, tires have been chosen. But thanks. And I'm running the fully. Christ, I KNOW the Riot will hold up...it's why I bought a Riot! That wasn't even an issue or a concern or was it even mentioned that I was worried about the HT failing??
This is also POSSIBLY the last ride for the SX... I got a call tonight and I think it's sold. :(
Me and my silly love for newer, shinier toys...

[THRILLSEEKA]

And just for a comparison... so far it sounds like 80% of the racers will be running whatever in the hell is on their mtn bikes right now. Everything from 2.7 Mobsters front and rear to a guy even running 2.5 Wetscreams, which I think will actually stick quite well! And for straight line running?? It's in hallways, there will be like thirty 20' long straights! If there's one main reason I'm running the Holy's it's because they're the only single plys I own and it dropped my SX down to a lithe 37 pounds! :)

[ZHendo]

ride the holy rollers, i have ridden carpet on them and they stuck better than my friend's minions. waxed tiles could be rough, but wet skateparks would probably be the same and lots of guys ride holy rollers in those conditions and it seems to be ok. just keep the bike rolling the corners and brake early so you can have the best possible traction.

[SteezyWeezy]

this race sounds rediculous:biggrin:, any pics of the past years?

[_bp]

I don't get it... do peeps like you just read the first post then dive for the reply button? I hate it when people do that! If you're too lazy to read the thread, atleast be too lazy to reply to it.

Ok...incase you missed the last...like....10 posts or something, tires have been chosen.

Dang homey. I was just offering some input. And I started typing my message before yo posted your response, which by the way was the first one you actually commited to a tire in.

[hungryleprican]

this race sounds rediculous:biggrin:, any pics of the past years?

haha yeah I wanna see pics or even videos too

[giantrider89]

when is the race? even though I missed the entry for it....I still really want to see this race!!!! and where in minneapolis is it?

sorry if I missed it earlier in the thread, just too lazy to read the whole thing....

[corey_freerider]

i dont think there can be spectators, correct me if im wrong. i think thrillseeka is wearin the helmet cam all the way down though.

[THRILLSEEKA]

Geez, been without friggin internet access since friday and I bout exploded!
Last year the race was just a tester, it was uphill and riders had to carry their bikes down the stairs(bag that), this year, it's downhill, on hard surface, which I just found out is mostly POLISHED MARBLE, as well as waxed tile!!!! And the stairs are carpeted, so that took away one of my biggest concerns about the holy rollers!
I gotta check with redbull on rights and stuff, but I'll have helmet cam footy and remote, as well as pics, I hope. I'll post them up when/if I can!

[S.K.C.]

Polished marble?!?!

...that sounds like good times...:shocked:

I bet it'll do wonders for the marble finish - I hope none of the business owners whine about tire marks on the marble.

Go to jegs.com or summitracing.com and get some pro-stock traction compound for your rubber...

EDIT: actually just go here: http://www.neosyntheticoil.com/neotac.htm

with polished marble on the course, go for every advantage you can get.:biggrin:

[gemini2k]

btw, one of the racer organizers said the turns are gonna have grip tape ;) http://teamsally.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=48&start=15

[THRILLSEEKA]

Thanks dood, Buckster never told me that! I'm LITERALLY standing over my Holy Rollers with a Dremel and a toothed cutting bit getting ready to "sipe" 'em! They should disperse water very well when I'm done...
Screw it, the wash out too much on pavement anyway, they be gettin cut! Actually, i'm a nazi gram hater and I'm cutting all the tread off to shave weight... Shaving all body hair and riding neked as well... Might leave the brows... I look kinda silly when I'm neked and have no brows...

[MinorThreat]

I look kinda silly when I'm neked and have no brows...I hear that brows are the new 'stache.

[gemini2k]

Shaving all body hair and riding neked as well...


wow i'll definetley stop by this race

[Repack]

Don't know if it has been mentioned yet, it probably has, but why not cut all the nobs off of a sticky DH tire to make it a sticky slick tire?

[THRILLSEEKA]

Ya know...I'll have to check, but I know Buck(race coordinator) needed a BUNCH of volunteers... The only way to get into this thing is as Press, volunteer, athelete, or friend of athelete. I'll Call Buck and if he's down with it, all those interested in helping out have to do is email him and get their name on the list to work the race. He might be full by now, though...

[THRILLSEEKA]

Don't know if it has been mentioned yet, it probably has, but why not cut all the nobs off of a sticky DH tire to make it a sticky slick tire?

It's been mentioned. Don't think it's much of an issue now that some of the secrets are being released, such as FRIGGIN GRIP TAPE ON THE @$^#$#*(#$% CORNERS!!!! THAT would have been good to know! Geez.
My two biggest concerns were the corners on the marble/tile hallways and steps with those slick, steel edges on them. Turns out there's grip tape in the hallways and carpet on the stairs. Now I'm just aiming for lighter weight(atleast in the wheels) and less rolling resistance.
Not really the "Redbull Attitude" here, but I have no hopes of winning this thing. I'll be friggin STOKED to place in the top 25. Sounds retarded, but it's a sprinting course, sounds like the majority of the racers are 25 and under and all rockin hardtails. I'm running a fully for a reason and I HOPE my theory works out. I'm 34, NOT a racer boi, and haven't been on a bike in like 4 months. My "training" for this consisted of cutting the caffine and a bunch of sugar out of my diet and trying to make my wifes stationary bike explode. I've partially succeeded on that, by the way! What a pile!

[MinorThreat]

Good luck; sounds like a LOT of fun! Hope the siping works for ya.

[THRILLSEEKA]

Hey y'all! Raced last night... achieved my goal of placing in the top 25, got 22nd! Most of you prob scoff at that, but please note that for one, it WAS just for fun, no big cash payout, no sponsor ops, no scouts, etc... AND... there was only 19 seconds and 21 riders between my own time and 1st place! That's pretty tight! "Downhill" may not have been the best description of the course... but it didn't go UP, atleast! We got NO preruns, we only got to even see the course by walking backwards through it to the start line, then we got to keep the best of two runs.
My first run: PAIN. The Holy rollers were DEF the tire to have, but a 1.95 slick would have been even better! The marble and tile wasn't really slick at all! Stuck pretty well, I thought. But the carpet in there felt like a bog. Just sucked the juice right outta ya! Think freshly watered golf course...
There was a "funbox" that i'll post pics of in a few minutes. Not much speed available to get up into it. It was right out of a 90 degree corner onto marble, so had to just slide it in then crank at it. 1st time in I could have SWORN the box was a good 60 yards away from the corner. Came out of the corner looking down, grabbed some high gear, stood up to crank, looked up and there it was. Basically monster trucked up it to my embarrassment. BARELY got the gearing back down so I could get off the end without licking floor. So much for being the rockstar! Cruise through a few more hallways...which were HEATED, I was exhausted. Could barely friggin stand, knew the big stair gap was coming up, but could NOT remember where... some girl finally shouted "stairs!" And I let er rip! Every last ounce of energy... then booted about 10 inches too late, felt the rear tire roll down the top stair as I tried to lift, felt my back even pop a little...then smashed into the lower set of stairs and remember saying "WTF???" out loud in front of 20 cameras and 40 people because I NEVER get launched when I case stuff like that, but sure enough I was hauling ass through the air! Tucked under, saw my bike go over and was able to reach up and shove my hand into the rear wheel and brought it down right against the barricade. I knocked a VERY nice camera out of some poor photographers hands and hopefully didn't hit her as well! Jumped up, realized I didn't get hurt and scooted for the finish a mere 20 feet down the tight left hand turn that I ROLLED past. In the meantime, my helmet cam had come unplugged within 40 feet of the start line, and I busted the damn mount on the crash, so no cam for the next run! NO FOOTY! First run time: 3:25.
2nd run: No backpack, a really sore finger that must have been on my brake lever when my front end smashed into the stairs on my 1st run, the burning in my legs was fading, but memorable and feared. One of my buds got trashed on the stairgap, shattered right collarbone, broken left hand/finger, broken rib, and other annoyances. People are jittery, we're all stuffed into a tiny hallway at the start and everyone STINKS! I gave up trying to place and just wanted to have some FUN and to nail that stairgap that got me. I got a great start, KILLED the corners, skipped a berm and picked up a few seconds... then just oddly sat down, kicked up a gear and chilled. Wandered out of my way a bit to say "hey" to some pretty female onlookers, was able to remember the funbox and stuck it clean, gave my bud a highfive on the way through another glass hallway, and just kept cruisin. No leg pump, good pace, a HUGE smaile and then I saw the stairgap and pinned it. Stuck it PERFECTLY, if not even a little too far down. Threw a hand up in the air and next thing I know... I'm in the middle of the media crowd, 40 feet past my tight left turn! Get everyone to move a bit, get turned around, cruise to the finish. 2nd run: 2:50! If I hadn't missed that turn...who knows! But the last run made the 6 hour trip and all the free Redbull I could drink in 2 days totally worth it! ha!
Great time was had by all, I think. I know alot of people were out of their element on a few things. Some had issues with box, not a lot of people hit the stair gap(and had faster times, I'm sure!), and I just need a lot of leg strengthening! My ol heart murmur didn't even seem to be an issue, so now it's just down to the legs. Not to race, just to have more fun riding. My legs are always the first to quit.
Here's some vids, too! One's a hellcam of the course builder, Adam Buck. He crashed, too! BUT... he had to run that thing twice in a row because his buds hellcam quit too! And the guy WITH the cam? He was a competitor! Poor guy had to hit the course 4 TIMES! At 3 minutes each! And it was a LOT of damn work. Fun, but work.

Helmet cam of Buck
http://www.wcco.com/video/?id=24608@wcco.dayport.com

Some side veiw shots while they filmed the helmet cam run above and my 15 minutes of fame... yay. Listen to what they say about me! Too funny!
http://wcco.com/video/?id=24591@wcco.dayport.com

[THRILLSEEKA]

the stairgap
http://img254.imageshack.us/img254/3306/redbullstairgapsg2.png (http://imageshack.us)
The Funbox
http://img254.imageshack.us/img254/1158/redbullfunboxct4.png (http://imageshack.us)
The small ones are a foot across!
http://img254.imageshack.us/img254/752/redbullawardsfx8.png (http://imageshack.us)
My number plate...lucky 13
http://img254.imageshack.us/img254/926/redbullnumberplatezp4.png (http://imageshack.us)

[gemini2k]

looks like it was a lot of fun, nice style points.

[corey_freerider]

was pretty bummed that i didnt get to see more of the stairgap. was still fun helpin work the course. check out this pain... ouch! http://www.morcmtb.org/forums/showthread.php?t=19771&page=27&highlight=ride+sky (scroll down toward the bottom of the page.)

[skatetokil]

dood. the stairgap ragdoll looked brutal.

[THRILLSEEKA]

Can I dare to say it was....almost fun??!! Not a BIG gap by any means, but actually very tech. They actually set it up to try to prevent gapping, but you know us damn bikers... ignorance prevails! The course took you way to the right side, then you had to duck back in hard to the left, right against the wall, and due to a big pillar on the left hand side past the landing, you actually had to shoot kiddycorner down to the right hand side of the stairwell. Worked fine after you had a practice run! Def one of the hardest hits I've taken in quite awhile!

[sbabuser]

So who was it got busted up? SylentK?

[THRILLSEEKA]

Nope, a new bud of mine, Rich Omdahl. Got pretty scrubbed. Coupla' weeks out and he'll be all pretty again, then I think we're going to head back up there in like 2 months and destroy St Paul street style. Geez, friggin place looks like Gotham City... I was waiting to catch Batman cruisin by with three hot topless sluts... but I musta missed him.

[bullcrew]

Man that videos harsh.

[SteezyWeezy]

haha, that sh*t looks sooo sick! the course is suuuper long, a dh bike would have been a bitch

[SylentK]

So who was it got busted up? SylentK?

Who me crash? Never....:rolleyes:

The race was good times fo sho! Although I must admit I couldn't fall asleep until after 3am. Too much adrenaline, thoughts, emotions, memories and Red Bull....

I took my Superlight and managed to do decently. The course was super duper pedally. Mad props to the riders who did the stair gap! That's awesome! It was a well run event with great people all the way around - just like it should be! Thanks Buck, and thanks Red Bull for putting this on!

[4xBoy]

Bummer that the bar closed at 11:30 had to escape back to my secret, beer drinking facility.

[dante]

how much elevation change was that? it looked mostly flat on the helmet cam, but know that that can be tricky...

[SylentK]

how much elevation change was that? it looked mostly flat on the helmet cam, but know that that can be tricky...

Yeah it was mostly flat. Some of the skyway bits were downhill-ish but other than that stairs was where the elevation was lost. I think I read somewhere that it was less than 300' elevation loss.