Cazadero, Snoqualmie Pass comparisons?

[Adam]

Hello all,

I've been comparing the Cazadero 42s to the RH Snoqualmie Pass ELs (thanks to a group member who sold me some well-used ones for cheap)

I wanted to see other folks' experiences with these two pretty different tires?

I'm using these on some new (to me) routes that combine sections of rough gravel, singletrack, and road through Philly.

In an earlier thread, I'd been complaining about the slowness of the Cazaderos--thinking it might be the heavy MTB wheels on that bike, but people suggested a tire change and they were correct. With the Snoqualmie passes I get great acceleration and climbing in addition to the plushness.

Now that I've done some of the same routes on both I've noticed that the range of mixed terrain is way more fun on The Snoqualmie pass, with the only real issue being a fair amount more sliding on dirt and roots. Mud is also much more of a thing than on the cazadero. Another negative, I did get two flats in a short ride yesterday. Maybe still working out the pressure. There's also an insane amount of broken glass on these routes.

The Cazaderos feel much tougher, slide less on singletrack, and are more confidence inspiring. They are also way slower, even off road, and make the road sections more meh. They are far less cushy, really noticeable on rough gravel.

I was concerned about the potential for less fender clearance under the VO 52s. So far, the Snoqualmie pass are actually a bit smaller than the Cazaderos. I'm not sure how much more they'll stretch, it's only been a week or so and they're around 40mm, I think.

Anyway, I wanted to hear other folks' thoughts on these two. It seems like the comparable size RH knobby might be the best of both, but I'm going to work with this pair until I wear them out. . .

---Adam

[Bones]

Adam, I came to pretty much the same conclusion. I started with Barlows, and quickly moved to Snoqualmie EL's on the Hillborne. Not much more width but definitely more volume and a cushier ride. I put some 42mm Cazaderos on there for a brief period but I too found them sluggish by comparison (I think the 50mm Cazadero tubeless is where it's at). I've also used 42mm Hurricane Ridges on there (endurance casing), which definitely felt really good on the road. I just spent most of my miles on the road so I couldn't justify keeping them on all the time. In the end I built a second wheelset so I could have one with slicks and one with knobbies. With respect to flats I'm very lucky there. I've been commuting into work every day for years (including one whole year on Snoqualmies) and only had one flat.. after running my single speed into a snow bank during a blizzard.

Bones

[David Baldi]

+1 for RH knobbies. I build two wheelsets for my Sam, one with 44 Snoq and other with 48 Oracle Ridge. I just switched back to the knobs and it feels so good. You don't get exactly that same acceleration feeling on the road as you do with the slicks, but they still are quiet and fast. IMO, what you gain in the dirt is much more than what you loose on the road. The 42 HRs look great on Rivs too—I think I recently saw them on another sam on this list.

david