First ride on the Maxxis Chronicles - windy, cold & icy local route

Today was the first offroad ride on the Maxxis Chronicles. There was a vast mix of testing terrain from tarmac, sheet ice, mud, water, slippery leaves and gravel. It was only a short ride so this is only my first impressions of the tyre. The profile is defo more square shaped and they drag more on the hard packed gravel & tarmac, but it was a near gale force wind at times. The off chamber traction is alot better as is the traction from the rear when climbing in the saddle. I nearly lost the front end a couple of times so have not worked out its full grippyness yet. On the whole they are better grip in the wet brown stuff but will defo be swapping back to Knards come spring time next year for cruising along the hopefully dusty lines/trails I did a loop to the SE today as it has more shelter from the wind / wooded sections. It was hard work on the open parts in the head wind and still plenty of sheet ice patches on the exposed tarmac cycle tracks but the sun was shinning most of the time. The temperature was just hovering above the 1-2 degrees, it was the wind today that was the chiller. Below are a few photos, more soon -

backend did not spin out on the steppest climb of the ride

Fresh Goods Monday - Maxxis Chronicles Part 2 - fitting & comparison

Finally found a spare half hour to fit the Maxxis Chronicle's to the Krampgrease. First job strip off the Knards - no problem as they are not tight on the rims. I decided to dry fit the rear just to check there was enough clearance on the rear bridge on the Bergrease carbon frame as that is the tighest point for clearance. It was exactley the same as the knard so stripped it back off and spread some talcum powder the inside to stop the inner tube from sticking then lubed up the tyre beads. Pumped them up to seat the beads then deflated to correct pressure. The chronicle's are a much tighter fit on a Surly Rabbit Hole rim and you have to inflate them to a higher pressure to seat the beads compaired to fitting the knards. This might just be because its the first time they have been fitted or because they are not the 120tpi version like the knards but the knards do seat easier. There is a direction fitting arrow on the sidewall, i fitted the front in the direction of the arrow but fitted the rear in the opposite direction. It looks like i will get better traction in the more slippery conditions, I should have may be tried it out first in correct way but not had much luck with 45nrth rear tyres and swapped them around and grip/traction has changed massivley. There is no visible difference in height/rolling distance between the two and as you can see in the photos below there is also very little difference in the width either. The profile shape however is different, the chronicle is more square shape with higher sidewall knobs on the tread compaired ot the knard which is alot more rounded. By looking the knard it should roll better on smooth hard surface terrain but the chronicle should be better in muddy terrain. After a few rides i will compile a Part 3 - tested blog.  

Knard casing/sidewall width

Knard maximum tread with

Chronicle casing/sidewall width

Chronicle maximum tread width

Fitted, Chronicle logo only on one side of the tyre, so when you run the rear in the opposite direction to the front there is a logo on each side. Lets see how they perform out on the trails now.

Local blast along the old railway line on the Krampgrease

Back on the offroad cycling this week, todays ride was on the Krampgrease in a near gale force Artic wind. It was freezing cold and the old lines were frozen with just the sections in the sun starting to melt on the top. All the short sections of tarmac cycle lane like the one through Willington were just like a skating ring so i decided to ride along the grass verge to be on the safe side. It was a quick out and back and only stopped for a couple of quick pics as i would have froze to the spot.  

Cannot really see in the photo but the line is white and crispy with frost

DCC have tarmaced the ramps now

Sunny at the turning point, quick drink/pic and im off again

Fresh Goods Sunday - Maxxis Chronicle 29"+ x 3" tyres

 This is the second 29"+ tyre to hit the uk market. I am using the Surly Knard 120tpi on the Krampgrease and they have performed without fault apart from in deep or slippery mud. Most of my riding is along the old railway lines, gravel tracks, farmers back lanes etc so only see mud on singletrack sections through woods etc. When the Maxxis Chronicle first landed in the UK a month ago it was going to be the mud version of the Knard. I waited to see what riders comments / feedback was as the tread/knobs did not look much bigger than the Knard so held off buying them. The rrp £60 was also a factor and decided to wait until the Surly Dirt Wizard 29"+ was sorted and imported into the UK. The 120tpi evo version did not land in the uk either which is heavier and more expensive but has sidewall protection. Then i came across them on High on Bikes website reduced and a further 10% off during Black Friday weekend, a pair was £89.91 inc 48hr delivery instead of £120. They landed the following Tuesday morning in a huge bag. I have not had time to fit them yet but did pop them on the scales to compair them with the Knards. Not far away from the manufacturers claimed weight. I will report back / update this blog when i fit and test them.  
Here is the manufacturers blurb -
"The Maxxis Chronicle is ready for adventure. Show more from after-work trail rides to bike-packing expeditions, the Chronicle can be called into duty. The tread design offers grip at any angle and the 3.00-inch casing provides a comfortable ride. 60 or 120 TPI casing options are available."

Specifications


Size ETRTO TPI Bead Weight (g) Compound Max PSI Tech Color

29X3.0 78-622 60 FOLDABLE 1,040 DUAL 30 Black

29X3.0 78-622 120 FOLDABLE 1,050 DUAL 30 EXO/TR Black

29X3.0 78-622 120 FOLDABLE 1,055 DUAL 30 EXO Black 

Last week day local road ride on the Litespeed

The Litespeed was still dirty from this weeks riding so had another spin out on it today. Again a very cold strong wind blowing but no ice today. The countys roads are starting to break up nicely now and pot holes appearing all over. Last ride on the winter road bike then a good wash & clean up over the weekend to clean off all the road salt etc. Enjoyed the road riding this week and only got skimmed once by an Arriva bus yet again coming over the brow of hill from Ushaw Moor down towards the Stonebridge. Some photos from todays ride below, as you can see it was mainly overcast but the sun did eventually burn through near the end of ride and was lovely and sunny by the time was finished.
Busy all weekend working (but not at work) so cannot join in on GFBD, shame as im sure i missed it last year as well. I will make up for it next week hopefully, drag the Krampgrease & Beargrease out for some offroad fun. 

The camera could not make its mind up if it needed the flash on or off

Plenty of 3m reflective shine in the flash

Global Fat Bike Day Sat 6th Dec



Nothing in the NE England but a Big BAsh is planned in the NW @ Ghyllside Cycles





Check out the back end on this moonlander ready for Saturday



Icy road ride in the lovely winter sun

This is more like it, hard overnight frost followed by some lovely winter sun and no strong wind. It was -2 degrees going to work and the forecast was for sun nearly all day so time for another ride on the winter Litespeed. The forecast was right what a lovely day for a ride, the main roads were gritted but i mainly stick to back roads / country lanes which are not slated so took it steady on the corners and descents. Felt warmer today as they was no strong icy wind blowing. Could have rode another 30+ miles but ran out of time. Still nippy up Tow Law way but it always is up there but fantastic views on the tops instead of the recent fog. Hopefully we will have alot more days like today to get some more winter miles in.

the camera has not picked it up very well but its defo sunny

puddles etc frozen at the sides of the roads etc today

Back on the bike, nippy wind today

Nice to be back out again clocking a few cold miles under the tyres. Last week was dreadful, everytime i decided to go out it started raining, fog to the door, drizzle, wind or just plain awful weather so i could not be bothered. This week it looks like the temperature is finally dropping and some forst = periods of clear sunny spells. Today was a local road ride on the winter Litespeed. It was washed, oiled and was ready for action. Set off and the garmin was reading 2 degrees and i had a strong head wind nearly all the way out. At Cornsay it dropped to minus 1 degrees but the sun was out. The return leg was fast with a lovley tail wind. Plenty layers on to try and keep the icy wind out, hot on the climbs and cool on the descents. The only problem it takes longer to get all the extra kit on at this time of year - hat, helmet, glasses, base layer, garmin strap, long sleeved top, pertex, leggings, socks, shoes, overshoes. When you get back you have one big pile of steaming stinky cycling kit to sort out!