Schwalbe Nobby Nic 27.5 x 2.8" Addix Apex Speedgrip SnakeSkin (Whew!) initial impressions (all of five miles in, pavement and dirt roads and trails, no technical single track yet).
Installing: I was needlessly concerned when I received these that they would be way too stiff. The casing feels stiffer than the Maxxis Ikon+'s casing, the tire they replace, but the Maxxis have been ridden by me a few hundred miles and for whatever the demo bike did before heading my way and becoming Beorn. As esoteric as Schwalbe's rubber compounds are, they do know their stuff. I've also wondered with increased tire width how much more fortification is needed both for protection against sidewall rocks and just because there is more tire. I have no idea, and hope to one day try out a Rene Herse level supple 2.8" tire, whatever that may be. I installed these with tubes, as I don't do the tubeless slop shinnannigans (at least until they sort out the need for trailside fiddling and goop). No issues installing. As is often the case, I did need to go into the rim well with the tire bead to have room to get the last bit on. Nobby Nic has a soft, pliable rubber feel, and though the casing feels beefy, it also feels compliant, much more so than the Ikon. The profile is rounder, with the knobbies and profile giving an impression of a plus sized Steilacoom. Initial Ride I rode at the same pressure front and rear as my Ikons had for this mornings ride for direct comparison (15 front, 20 rear). Compared with the Ikons, Nic is a plush ride and rides much more like a supple tire than I would have suspected. The nobs on pavement are quiet, possibly quieter than the Ikon, also a surprise, though I expected something similar to the Steilacooms because of the soft rubber and nobby pattern similarities. Nic didn't feel slower, though almost 200 grams heavier per tire. I'll see if I notice it when climbing well known trails next time I get that far out. I am very hopeful this will be my tire of choice for daily riding and bikepacking. The big test was if it was more supple than the Ikon, and it is without a doubt. It is Steilacoomesque smooth on pavement, and the knob pattern is much the same, so I expect will grip rocks and roots well. Schwalbe designed this to be an aggressive all-rounder and that description fits so far. With abandon, Patrick -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "RBW Owners Bunch" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to [email protected]. To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. Visit this group at https://groups.google.com/group/rbw-owners-bunch. To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/rbw-owners-bunch/83f3fc9f-b00e-4782-b5a8-c9d56b9564f7%40googlegroups.com. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout.
