| Refresh
Your Ride |
Word & Photos by Corey Anderson
The long sunny days have passed and like it or not, we are drifting into another wet and dark winter of riding. For many of our non-bike friends this is the time of year to catch up on sleep and crank up the couch sports, but for riders it's just one more thing to get excited about. The winter colours make your favourite trail that much better and crisp morning rides make you forget everything except the pals you are riding with and the bike that go you here.
Your trusty steed just got you through another stellar summer of rides and adventures, and while she's greasing at the gears to get out, she could probably use a little grooming. Here are a few items that will refresh your ride, getting you some serious bang for your buck for the dirty season.
Syncros Big Huckin' Tires
There was an LL Cool J song that once topped the charts, with the catchy line
"don't call it a come back, I've been here for years". You may remember
a component manufacturer that once had one of the most respected names in bike
parts, Syncros, its life
in the bike industry could not be described any better. Syncros is back from
a short break in the bike biz and has jumped in with both feet, resuming its
supremacy strengthened by an even larger product line. One of its most notable
new products is tires.
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The BHT stands for "Big Huckin' Tire". It's clear that the guys behind Syncros have been paying attention to what has been going on with bike tire technology. Syncros has done something with the BHT that no other tire manufacturer has done, providing front and rear specific tires with individual rubber compounds to combine optimal grip with even tire wear. The front tire features large, perforated lugs that wrap around slick roots and rocks like you were riding on sandpaper. The front tire is designed to provide optimal friction for steering in all conditions and predictable handing with a tacky 50 duro. The rear tire uses a slightly different tread pattern and as mentioned, a slightly firmer 55 duro compound. The |
 Ready to roll. Seconds before installation. |
The freeride tire (BHT-3) features a heavy-duty sidewall and wire bead with an insert for pinch flat protection. These are designed for heavy landings and abuse, with the challenges of the Shore in mind. The race tires (BHT-2) are for more specific use. They use a lighter sidewall and Kevlar bead with the intent to shave weight and to be run at higher psi for flat protection. The race tire is designed to have a lower rolling resistance by running a harder compound rubber in the centre tread and using a softer tread on the sides for cornering grip. The BHT-1 is the third model, which is described by Syncros as its "journeyman" tire at their lowest price point.
I was provided with a different tire model for the front and the rear. I used a BHT-3 freeride tire on the back of my hardtail, and the BHT-2 race tire on the front to keep the front end as light as possible. I've run them in dry, dusty conditions right through to wet, muddy conditions. In dry conditions, the tires work best on rock, roots, ladders and hardpack. In loose conditions, they do drift slightly, which takes some getting used to. In the wet is where these really shine. They grip roots and rocks well and cut through the muck to find you traction. I ran the tires in the 2.5 width between 20-25 psi and have yet to flat out.
 Everything about this tire is big, it screams confidence. |
The only gripe I have with this rubber is the identification system used for each model. BHT-3, BHT-2 and BHT-1 was used for the 2004 tires, but unless you are in a shop with these in front of you for comparison, it is difficult to understand what each tire is built for from the name alone. For 2005 they have changed this, but it doesn't get a heck of a lot easier.
They are now, respectively, the Race BHT (which doesn't make a ton of sense because this is the freeride tire), the Factory BHT (the race tire) and the Hardcore BHT (the journeyman tire). Luckily, the biggest quirk with these tires lies in the names and not performance, and this is something that any shop employee should be able to steer you around. MSRP for these is US$55 for both the race and freeride tire, and US$44 for the Journeyman, available at your closest Syncros dealer.
Titec 7075 Pyro Post
It isn't unusual at this time of year to ask yourself as you pedal, "what
the hell is that noise?" After last winter and a high mileage summer, your
seatpost is probably tired and cranky. You can only ride a bike so many times
before contact points like these that bear the loads from your riding and wipeouts
begin to suffer.
Your seatpost can also be what is responsible for that phantom creak that no amount of grease can get rid of. Usually, creaks from parts like these are a warning sign that failure is near…and those of us that have broken a seatpost can all agree on it being better to be proactive with this repair.
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I made the decision to replace prior to disaster and went to Titec for the answer. Titec's line of Knock Rated parts is built to survive serious abuse and last longer than the competition. After months of chasing noises and dealing with a saddle than insisted on coming loose every ride, the Titec Pyro was the sure fix. The Pyro Post features Titec's confidence-inspiring Knock Rated warranty. No matter what you do on your bike - jumping, dropping, crashing or "just riding along" - Titec backs everything with a solid three-year warranty and will replace them for free if they break. |
Inspired by stem construction, the Pyro features a four-bolt clamping system that allows 360° of seatpost adjustment. This allows you to run any seat angle you like and easily fine tune things to meet your requirements.
Setting up the Pyro was fairly simple. Seatposts are generally a bit of a pain to get going on unless you have three hands. The Pyro wasn't automatic, but the four-bolt system makes things pretty painless. Once you slide your seat rails in, you can begin to tighten the 4mm Allen head bolts to pick up the slack and then set up your desired seat angle. Once you find what works for you, snug everything up and you are on your way.
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There is only so much you can say about a seatpost, which is ironic given it is one of the most important components on your bike. The things you're looking for from a post are ease of initial set-up, ease of adjustment and strength. The Pyro exceeds all of these requirements. I've had this on my steed for several months and have not yet had to make a single adjustment. It's handled several bad landings and countless out-of-control bull rider impersonations without so much as a squeak. The Pyro can be found at your favorite bike shop for a reasonable investment of US$55 (MSRP). The moral of the story here is that you don't always have to empty your wallet and tap into your overdraft to make dramatic changes to the way your bike rides. These are two simple upgrades to replace your tired summer parts with to make your bike feel significantly better, and to keep you at the front of the pack for the winter. |
 The best part about new stuff....using it. |
Ride hard and prosper,
Corey Anderson
