Slicks for Muddy Onion

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Jason Gonzalez

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Apr 13, 2023, 12:52:23 PM4/13/23
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Thinking about running my Challenge Strada Biancha tires for the Muddy Onion. They are all slicks. I've run these in Kansas in the Flint hills, on the Danvers Rail Trail all the way up to it's end north of Topsfield.

I have WTB Byways and Challenge Gravel Grinder tires both of which have small knobs on the sides, and have ridden both only on the Danvers Rail trail. Multiple reviews on both say they both suck on not slipping on steep loose over road gravel climbs and also if there is a lot of mud.

The Strada Biancha have great reviews but nothing about mud.

You guys have done the Muddy Onion multiple times. I have done it only once.

Is it typically muddy? Yeah I know the title of the race but in your experience do you think I'll have no traction most of the ride unless I ride something other than slicks? 

David Alden-St.Pierre

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Apr 13, 2023, 11:01:18 PM4/13/23
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I’ve been lucky as every time I’ve done the onion (3 or 4) it’s been pretty damn good conditions. The only year it was wet was the year it started POURING right after I finished (people coming in after me looked pretty miserable). I’ve used something with knobbies every time, either cyclocross tires or less aggressive MTB tires and have never wished for something more slick. I’ve seen every tire type used over the years, high-psi road tires to 8-psi fat tires, but again it’s always been decent conditions. As a mountain biker, I always feel more comfortable with knobby tires and have decent intuition as to how fast I can go in different conditions and still have traction. All that being said, even with deep lugged tires, there’s a point in which if they’re full of mud, you’ve got no traction. It *sounds* like they’ve got some muddy conditions this year so it will be interesting…



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David Alden-St.Pierre, MS, PA-C
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Jeff Soderman

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Apr 14, 2023, 5:44:24 AM4/14/23
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So who’s going? It sounds like Jason G, David and myself. Anyone else?

Jeff

Sent from my iPhone

On Apr 13, 2023, at 23:01, David Alden-St.Pierre <davidalde...@gmail.com> wrote:



Jason Fitzgerald

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Apr 14, 2023, 6:45:53 AM4/14/23
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Jammed up working that weekend.

Jason Gonzalez

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Apr 14, 2023, 8:58:25 AM4/14/23
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Thanks for the info. 

After alot of waffling, I've decided to go with my 700x50mm American Classic Kimberlites. I'm running single speed for this (I am selling the Pugsley for parts, but kept the frame and turned into a SS bike I use for commuting, gravel, rail trail, long distance solo road rides. I was trying to put a tire on which would/will serve for pretty much all the aforementioned needs, since I don't have to worry about keeping in a paceline with a roadie group (I have a custom build Surly Cross Check for that now).

I'll be going single speed for the Onion.

David Alden-St.Pierre

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Apr 14, 2023, 9:03:05 AM4/14/23
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SS! Bold move!
What gearing?

Jason Gonzalez

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Apr 14, 2023, 9:06:54 AM4/14/23
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32 front ring 17 rear cog

David Alden-St.Pierre

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Apr 14, 2023, 10:42:29 AM4/14/23
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Bold gearing! 


David Alden-St.Pierre

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Apr 14, 2023, 10:56:42 AM4/14/23
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BTW, sadly I’ve got to withdraw from the Onion this year.  I really had an over ambitious schedule and between work/work/travel/travel/travel/travel/travel/travel/work/work/work/drive to VT for Onion/work/work it such doesn’t make sense.

Jason Gonzalez

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Apr 14, 2023, 5:12:29 PM4/14/23
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Sorry to hear that! We'll miss you on the ride.

Best regards,
Jason Gonzalez
From: rac...@googlegroups.com <rac...@googlegroups.com> on behalf of David Alden-St.Pierre <davidalde...@gmail.com>
Sent: Friday, April 14, 2023 10:56 AM
To: rac...@googlegroups.com <rac...@googlegroups.com>
Subject: Re: Slicks for Muddy Onion
 
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