From: truesdel@ics.uci.edu (R. Scott Truesdell)
Subject: Re: Smoke/Dart, Ground Control
Newsgroups: rec.bicycles
Organization: University of California, Irvine
Date: 22 Aug 92 05:54:56 GMT

In article <86808@netnews.upenn.edu>, tfarring@eniac.seas.upenn.edu (Mr. A.
Pemberton Trammel Snipe-Treadwater IV) wrote:
>
>
> 	So what does net.land think of the Smoke/Dart combo?  What about
> various combinations of the Ground Control, Extreme, More Extreme?

Currently I use Ritchey Z-Max kevlar 2.1 on both front and rear wheels
and I like them a lot. They are light and have great traction. I ride
mostly So. California fire roads and single track, both of which tend
to be combinations of hard, rocky, sandy, dusty, and--the worst--1-1/2"
deep soft sandy dust with pea gravel over a hard base. My tire selections
have striven for solid and predictable high-speed descents (no front wheel
wash-out) and good climbing traction.

Other combinations I have used:

  rear:	Smoke          front: Dart
  rear: Smoke          front: Ritchey Megabite (not the newest (Z-Max))
  rear: Smoke          front: Specialized Ground Control
  rear: Smoke          front: Smoke
  rear: G.C. Extreme   front: Smoke
  rear: G.C. Extreme   front: Ritchey Megabite
  rear: G.C.           front: G.C.

I've been riding the Z-Max for about a month now and they seem to be
giving me the most of what I want for most of the time. The rounded
profile corners well on hard stuff and the tread seems to give good
predictable control downhill. I can feel it start to wash out on me,
then I can weight the wheel a little more and steer to grab a little
traction and barely wander off my line. The combo makes me feel very
confident on high-speed descents. The rear has very good climbing
traction.

The Smoke/Dart combo is pretty good, though kind of heavy. Smokes don't
really do much for you on hard surfaces but they don't hurt too much.
The Dart handles the downhills pretty well. It's rounded enough to deal
with hard stuff yet agressive enough to dig into the dust. It also
'talks to me' like the Z-Max but is not as forgiving. The Smoke on the
rear may just be the best climbing tire ever. It can dig up trails
pretty rudely, though, so it should be used conscientiously.

The Smoke/Megabite was an interim solution to the 'too digital' Smoke
up front (see below).

The Smoke/Ground Control was likewise an interim solution.

The Smoke/Smoke combo is a very aggressive setup but it only works
really well if the trail is soft enough for the front Smoke to dig
in on the corners. In these cases you can literally 'plant' the
front tire where you want it. The Smoke up front is sensitive to
weighting. It also gives what I call 'digital' traction in that it
is either holding great or (almost) not at all. It gives very little
feedback before it lets go up front. If you are strong and alert (i.e.
not all fatigued from a long climb) you can drive this tire hard
indeed, but if your brain is a little sluggish it can toss you. The
front smoke on hard surfaces is just not the hot setup. The squared-off
profile does not give a large enough contact patch. This combo seems to
work better than any other through deep sand. It sort of doesn't matter
though because I try to avoid that stuff at all costs. At well over
200 pounds, I don't 'float' over any of it!

The G.C. Extreme/Smoke combo is very similar to the Smoke/Smoke combo
with the exception that it doesn't climb quite as well.

The G.C. Extreme/Megabite combo was just O.K. The Megabite just doesn't
have enough bite in the slippery soft stuff. Not enough space between
the lugs. Fine for harder surfaces.

The G.C/G.C. is an ok combo for all-around riding. I usually take these
with me when I am going to a new place because they are predictable and
perform adequately across a braod range of conditions. However, they
don't have the Smoke's good climbing traction and they don't hold the
soft stuff very well on the descents. I think these are now relegated
to my beater bike for trips to the store. The Ritchey Z-Max's have
taken their place as the all-around tire.

 ----

Summary:

If I know it's going to be soft and dusty I'll grab the Smokes or Smoke/
Dart combo but for mixed terrain I prefer the Z-Max. I am still new on
the Z-Max but the love affair is pretty hot and heavy for now. I think
they are the hot ticket.

  --scott

P.S. I'm not a pro and I don't race. I ride three times per week for 15
to 20 miles usually. Occationally longer distances. I can't climb worth
squat (I <ugh!> weigh too much) but on gentle climbs, rollers, and down-
hill I think I do ok.