Sunday Funky Monkey ride...

Tyres are a bit of a nightmare for cycling.
That is to say there are far too many to choose from for mountain bikes. Forums are always full of `what tyre?` threads. Thing is they are all ok or not ok in certain conditions and for different styles of riding by individual riders.

Take my 29er Karate Monkey with its wider than normal 47mm `semi fat` rims. I have been looking for tyres  that are:
Ok in mud and clear quickly,
Ok on sandy xc trails,
Not too draggy on tarmac,
Quite `balloonie` in size when spread on the 47mm Kris Holm rims to give a more comfy ride.
Available with a wire bead as they have thicker side walls for my 14+ stone weight and riding style so have less chance of rolling a tyre off the rim at the 20 psi pressures i can run on the wide rims.
Wire beads are usually more affordable priced at £20  - £30 each, folding 29ers can be twice this.

A tall order to find a tyre to do all these conditions well.

I have used 2.55" WTB Werewolf`s that were ok on sandy stuff and the road but clogged with mud and became even more heavy, which they were to begin with already. Also 2.25 Maxxis Ardents which do not give braking grip on grassy slopes. and have had some scary moments trying to stop on big hills.


I have found these tyres which are perfect for my requirements; Italian made GEAX GATO 29er ...

£18 each from  our pal Charlie the Bikemonger these come up big for their 2.3" width, as you can see there is still loads of tyre clearance on the Karate Monkey even with these fitted...

With the Surly `Monkey Nuts` fitted in the rear horizontal drop outs there is loads of front mech and chain clearance on the 2 x 9 drive train...

Out for an hour early Sunday morning to try out these tyres. The sky  overcast but still that harvest gold scenery i love to see in East Lothian at this time of year...

A mile of tarmac over a hill takes me to Hailes castle and a great bit of single track trail alongside the river Tyne from Hailes to East Linton village...

With a road ride, a few muddy sections and sandy trails it was a good wee quick test of these tyres and at 20 psi they give a comfy ride while not dragging much and cleared their tread quickly...

A wet harvest this year, but no worries for xc cycling with these tyres now.
I do not ride this superb bike enough...

You may remember me saying how my Karate Monkey 29er semi fat bike is more fun than the Pugsley fatbike on the right trails where your out the saddle and motoring a bit?,  well this trail is a good example, made even better with these GEAX GATO 29"tyres fitted. Some Go Pro chest cam of the Hailes - East Linton trail...

Song is `Super Nova` (extended by myself) by PICO